Education
Adikibi Scholarship For Indigent Students Begins ..1,000 To Benefit
A philanthropist, Profes
sor O. T. Adikibi has promised to offer fully-funded in-country scholarships to more than 1,000 applicants to undertake undergraduate studies in federal and state universities as well as polytechnics in the country. In an exclusive interview with The Tide in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, Administrative Manager, O.A. Adikibi Foundation, Miss Ibiene Kalio, said the scholarship programme was the first of its kind, adding that the maiden edition would begin selection of as many prospective students as possible from March 14, irrespective of local government or state of origin.
Kalio, who is also the spokesperson of the programme, stressed that the scholarship selection process closes June 24, 2016, noting that the Okrika-born philanthropist decided to use the multi-million Naira scholarship scheme to invest in education of less-privileged Nigerians as a way of reciprocating the support given to him as an intelligent but indigent teenager, to further his education and become somebody academically.
She said the scholarship targets young school leavers with required five- credit passes in the West African Examinations Council’s Senior School Certificate (SSC) and good scores in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The administrative manager explained that the benefitting students must be within 18-25 years of age brackets, who are interested in offering courses in Medicine, Information Technology, Engineering, among others.
Kalio further added that beneficiaries must not only be Nigerians, indigent and intelligent but must be young orphans with bright future, adding that the foundation believes that one way to invest in the future is to create opportunities for the less-privileged to excel in life, and contribute their quota to national development.
She appealed to interested applicants to go online and download the scholarship forms at www.adikibi.scholarships.org. and follow the instructions in filling the forms, advising that once the forms are completed, applicants can summit same at No. 203, Victoria Street, Port Harcourt, or by post through P.O. Box 9192, Port Harcourt, with sender’s name on the reverse side of the envelope.
The spokesperson added that the foundation prefers physical submission of the application forms to give them opportunity to conduct on-the-spot interview of potential beneficiaries, given the strict selection criteria.
She hinted that to benefit fully from the scheme, selected applicants must submit four passports, birth certificate, JAMB result, O ‘Level WAEC results, and National Identity Card or Permanent Voter’s Card, emphasising that to remain a beneficiary, students must maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.0: every year until graduation. The foundation’s spokesperson said that the aim of the programme was to promote academic excellence amongst indigent young Nigerians with little or no prospect of geuing good education, regretting that a large proportion of the less-privileged in the country has the “potential to turn around the fortunes of the nation, if they are integrated into the productive group of Nigerians.
She appealed to indigent teenagers from the 23 local government areas of the state to take advantage of the opening of the selection process of the scheme to rewrite their stories, and begin a new journey towards greatness, adding that the state needs their immense contributions to compete favourably in the comity of states in the federation.
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Education
Hardwork, Unwavering Focus Key To Success -VC
Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof. Nlerum Okogbule, has tasked newly admitted undergraduates to be hardworking and be more focused to their academic works as this, among others is key to success.
Prof. Okugbule also warned students to desist from joining secret cults, and engaging in examination malpractices, among other vices.
The Vice Chancellor stated this in his address at the 42nd matriculation ceremony of the university for the 2023/2024 academic session, held at the convocation arena in Port Harcourt, last Wednesday.
According to Prof. Okogbule, a total of 9,035 were formally admitted into the university.
“Today, a total of 9,035 candidates, who have satisfied the minimum requirements for admission into various programmes of the university are being formally admitted as students.”
The breakdown of the new students and their faculties is as follows: Faculty of Agriculture – 360 students ; Basic Medical Sciences – 1,085; Communication and Media Studies – 1,061; Education – 606; Engineering – 1,271; and Environmental Sciences – 268.
Others are: Humanities – 755; Law – 250; Management Sciences – 816; Science – 1,814 and Social Sciences – 479 respectively.
The Vice Chancellor added, “You are therefore expected to take your studies seriously and do not waste your valuable time on unproductive ventures or activities.
“Let me inform you that this university has zero tolerance for all forms of anti-social activities, such as membership of secret cult groups, examination malpractices or what is now known as ‘sorting.’
“The penalty for involvement in any of these activities is rustication from the university, and I do not waste time in doing this once a student is found culpable.”
Okogbule, however disclosed that RSU Students’ Affairs Directorate has a list of ‘registered and acceptable clubs’ the students can belong to in the university to assist them in extra-curricular activities on campus.
He advised, “In order to encourage academic excellence, the university has a policy of declaring as University Scholars those who attain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 5.00 at the end of every academic session.
“The university will be responsible for the school fees of such students provided their CGPA does not fall below 4.50. In addition, such students, upon graduation, will be given preference when employment opportunities are available.
“The expo I will give you in this regard is that it is easier to make the 5.00 CGPA in 100 level of any programme. So the best time to strive to achieve this feat is now.”
He pointed out that RSU, among others, has become top choice higher institutions in the country for many students, following the infrastructural development and the non-disruption of academic activities in the institution for several years, saying, “Freshers should count themselves lucky to have been admitted there.”
While commending parents and guardians whose children are matriculating for their vision and sacrifices, Prof. Okogbule urged them to monitor their wards activities while on campus.
Education
Rector Gifts Best Students N400,000 As Edo Poly Matriculates 9,150
The Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State last Friday matriculated 9,150 new students into various courses of study offered at both National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels.
This was as the Rector of the institution, Engr. Dr. Man Yahaya Sani gave the sum of N200,000 cash gift each to two National Diploma students with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average.
The students are; Waliu Babatunde Bamidele from the department of Library and Information Science and Babatunde Joshua Ifeoluwa, a student of Mechanical Engineering, both with a CGPA of 3.98.
Sanni in his address, said the management is committed to providing an all-round education in a conducive, friendly teaching and learning environment.
The Rector noted that only 59.5% of candidates who signified interest to study in the Polytechnic were eventually admitted.
He added that the polytechnic had secured 18 new programmes at both the National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, taking its total to 64 programmes.
The Rector admonished the new intake to emulate the recipients of the cash gift and avoid bad companies that can lead them to violate the rules and regulations of the institution and jeopardise their admission.
“My dear matriculating students, I want to congratulate and welcome you all for finally making it here despite the tedious and rigorous processes that you passed through. You indeed struggled to scale the hurdles of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) and of course our own Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (POST-UTME) Screening before gaining admission to this prestigious Polytechnic.
“I must not fail to tell you loud and clear that the Polytechnic has zero tolerance for cultism and other sundry anti-social vices i.e. riot, looting, arson, disobedience, examination malpractices, drug abuse, drunkenness, cheating, disrespect for constituted authorities, indecent dressing etc.
Education
Bill To Increase UBEC Funding Passes Second Reading
A bill for the amendment of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC Act to increase its funding from the consolidated revenue from 2 per cent to 4 per cent has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives.
The Chairman of House Committee on Basic Education and Services, Bako Useni, stated this during the committee oversight function at the Digital Resource Centre, built by UBEC, in Abuja, Nigeria.
The centre was built for the training of teachers on digital education in Nigeria.
Bako said the 10th Assembly saw the need to increase financial resources to the basic education sub-sector for set objectives to be further met, hence, the amendment bill sponsored by Muktar Shagaya to increase revenue accruing to UBEC from 2 per cent to 4 per cent.
“The amended bill, which passed the second reading on Wednesday, when concluded, will make UBEC stronger.
“Since UBEC was established in 2004, to date, a lot has been achieved. However, the House felt that if UBEC is motivated with more funding, it will go a long way in achieving more of what it has achieved.
It was on this basis that one of us, Honourable Mukhtar Shagaya, proposed an amendment to the UBEC Act to increase funding to UBEC from 2 per cent to 4 per cent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund,” he said.
used to reshape those in the senior and management cadres of the basic education sub-sector.
The National Coordinator of the Digital Resource Centre, Professor Bashir Galandanci, said the Digital Resource Centre is part of the effort of the commission to transform the agency into a digital era.
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