Education
WAEC Warns Candidates Against Patronising Fraudsters
The West African Examinations Council recently warned candidates against patronising fraudsters in the ongoing 2017 May/June West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).
The Head, Public Affairs of the council, Mr Damian Ojijeogu, said in a statement in Lagos that schools and parents should also warn candidates against patronising cyber criminals, who are out to swindle them.
According to Ojijeogu, the attention of the council has been drawn to the activities of some fraudulent individuals who are out to extort money from gullible candidates participating in the ongoing WASSCE.
“These fraudsters try to distract the candidates by posting on the internet cloned/photo shopped images of supposedly WASSCE question papers and answers.
“We wish to advise candidates to remain focused and shun any form of distraction in order not to ruin their future by participating in the fraud.
“The council has deployed software that can detect any form of cheating, even in objective tests.
“In this regard, therefore, we advise candidates to study hard for their examination, as that is the only honourable way to success,’’ he said.
Ojijeogu also warned parents to discourage their children, wards from patronising fraudsters, but rather encourage them to stay focused and strive for success.
“We also strongly appeal to school principals, supervisors and invigilators to help the council to enforce the rules and regulations guiding the conduct of the examination.
“This is especially by preventing candidates from bringing foreign materials such as cribs, cell phones and other electronic devices into the examination hall.
“The penalty for a defaulter could be as stiff as the cancellation of candidate’s entire results.’’
Meanwhile, the Head of National Office (HNO) of WAEC, Mr Olu Adenipekun, told newsmen that the council would continue to strive hard to protect the integrity of its examinations.
He said no amount of blackmail by fraudsters would make the council compromise the pedigree of its examinations.
“So far, I am happy with the conduct of the ongoing examination nationwide.
“Everything has been going on fine as intended, and our supervisors, council members and examiners are all fully on ground to see to the success of the examination.
The Acting Vice Chancellor of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, Prof. Okechuku Onuchuku, emphasised the need for students to go beyond academic achievements during the university’s 43rd Convocation ceremony.
The theme, “The University Culture In Practice, The IAUE Experience,” highlights the importance of embracing cherished traditions and intellectual values that define great universities.
Prof. Onuchuku encouraged the new graduates to work hard and persevere, noting that their convocation marks a new beginning in their careers and personal lives. He emphasised that they must prove themselves worthy of the certificates and prizes they have received.
According to him, out of 2,887 first-degree graduands, four made First Class, 403 secured Second Class Upper, 2,030 got Second Class Lower, and 450 graduated with Third Class. Additionally, 1,492 postgraduate students graduated, including 306 PhD holders.
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd), praised the university’s commitment to academic excellence and institutional maturity. He commended the Acting Vice Chancellor for achieving full accreditation for 47 academic programmes and implementing the NUC’s Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards.
The administrator urged the new graduates to uphold the positive values instilled in them by the university and strive for continuous knowledge and improvement.
By: King Onunwor
The Niger Delta Students Union Government, Rivers State Chapter (NIDSUG), has suspended its planned protest against the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) state office in Port Harcourt. The suspension followed an intervention by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju.
The students had planned to protest on Thursday, citing alleged neglect by the NDDC, particularly in welfare and capacity-building programmes for students from the state. However, after the police intervention, the students agreed to participate in a roundtable discussion with the commission to address their concerns.
NIDSUG leader, Comrade Loveday Njoku, expressed dissatisfaction with the commission’s alleged exclusion of students from benefiting from its programmes. He presented a seven-point demand, including the reintroduction of scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate students. Njoku emphasised that education is crucial for community development and urged the commission to invest in the future leaders of the state.
The students warned that if their demands are not met, they will resume the protest and occupy the state commission office until their demands are addressed. Despite previous attempts to reach out to the commission’s management team, the students claimed their efforts were unsuccessful.
By: Akujobi Amadi
As part of efforts to improve the welfare and overall quality of education for students in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, the Sole Administrator, Sir (Dr.) Clifford Ndu Walter DSSRS, FCAI, JP, paid an unscheduled visit to Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi.
During the visit, Sir Walter expressed deep concern over the deplorable state of the school and its surrounding environment. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of the education sector, stressing its critical role in nation-building.
“I have visited the primary school in Ogbogoro, and now I’m here at the Universal Primary School, Rumukwurusi. I am not satisfied with what I’ve seen,” he stated, indicating that more surprise visits to schools would follow.
To address the issues, the Sole Administrator directed the Council Engineer to commence process for rehabilitation of the school.
The visit was part of a broader initiative aimed at conducting on-the-spot assessments of educational facilities to determine the level of intervention required by the local government council.
Dr. Walter also assured the teachers of his unwavering commitment to revamp the school and improve the learning environment for both staff and students.