Education
Again, Abia Wins Secondary School Quiz Competition
For the second consecutive year running, Owaza Community Secondary School in Abia State has emerged the winner of the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria-organised 2018 Environmental Awareness Quiz Competition for four Land Hub community secondary schools in Abia and Rivers States.
The defending champions trounced Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Rumuokwurushi, Community Secondary School, Aleto and Community Secondary School, Rumuopara, all in Rivers State, to clinch the coveted prize.
The quiz competition, which covers questions drawn from Environmental Studies, Mathematics, English, Physics and Chemistry, was keenly contested by the representatives of these four schools.
The Owaza school scored a total of 98 points to beat Community Secondary School, Rumuopara, which came second with a total score of 90 points, followed by Community Secondary School, Aleto, which scooped third position with a total score of 85 points while Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Rumuokwurusi came fourth with a total score of 80 points.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after Owaza Community Secondary School was announced the overall winner, in Port Harcourt, last Thursday, the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Abia State, Aham Uko, said that the Abia State Government was doing everything humanly possible to ensure that education took premium place in the lives of the people.
Uko added that with the result, Abia State students have shown that the huge investment being made by the government in improving education infrastructure in the state was not in vain.
He expressed excitement over the performance of Abia students, promising to ensure that the Abia State Government gives free scholarship to the best performing debater, who excelled in the SPDC 2017 and 2018 Quiz Competitions.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr Tamunosisi Gogo-Jaja, stated that one of the surest ways of confronting militancy in the Niger Delta was investing in education, adding that “any man that opens the door of schools shuts the door of prisons”.
Gogo-Jaja noted that in the past, education helped to build the mind of people, and urged Shell to partner with the Rivers State Government to ensure that public schools achieved their mandate in efforts to sustain the development of the state.
In his remarks, External Relations Manager, SPDC, Mr Igo Weli urged the students to focus on making the best of the opportunity given them by their parents and the government, by working hard to excel at all times.
Weli explained that one of the reasons why SPDC targets students from public schools was to correct the erroneous impression that only those in private schools excel in academics, adding that Nigerian students in hard-to-reach communities also have the potentials to unleash high intellectual capacities never before imagined.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has inaugurated the newly constituted Governing Councils of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) and the University of Education and Entrepreneurship (UEE), Akamkpa.
At the ceremony on Thursday in Calabar, the Governor urged the members to drive institutional excellence, ensure accountability, and align with global best practices.
Governor Otu acknowledged that UNICROSS had long suffered from what many perceived as gross neglect, particularly in terms of physical development.
“After a deep thought and consultation, and having considered all available facts and evidence, I am today opening a new chapter in the relationship between government and its institutions of higher education,” the Governor declared.
He emphasised that while his administration is committed to a renewed focus on higher education, this attention must be matched with transparency and responsibility by the universities’ management.
The same expectation, he said, applies to the University of Education and Entrepreneurship in Akamkpa.
Governor Otu stated that the appointments into both councils and management were carefully considered and reflect the state’s finest minds and seasoned professionals.
“I have taken pains in appointing some of the best that the State has in both the Governing Councils and Management of the institutions. I implore you to apply your wealth of experience in making the institutions world-class,” he charged.
He also stressed the importance of respecting the distinct roles of Councils and management, pointing out that most university problems emanate from role conflict or interference. He tasked each of the councils to stick strictly to its clearly defined functions.
The Governor encouraged council members to leverage their networks to attract new sources of funding and value to their institutions.
“Do not limit yourselves to already known threads of resource sources.”, he said.
Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State has announced a 50 percent reduction in tuition fees for all Kaduna State-owned tertiary institutions, describing it as a major step toward removing barriers to higher education.
Speaking through his Principal Private Secretary, Professor Bello Ayuba, at the inauguration of the Kaduna State University Chapter of the Kaduna State Students Union, the Governor said the policy has made it easier for students from low-income backgrounds to pursue university education in the state.
He expressed gratitude to the students for presenting him with the Sword of Honour Award and for recognising the achievements of his administration, which were highlighted during the event’s public lecture.
He promised, “Government will continue to support students and the youth generally to realize their ambitions. On your part, make sure that an atmosphere of peace prevails to allow for government’s development programmes to run their full course.’’
The Governor advised students not to allow agents of disunity and chaos to use them to destabilize their communities and steer them away from their career goals.
Governor Sani reminded the students and lecturers at the event that ‘’no meaningful development can be achieved in a state of chaos, disunity and mutual mistrust.’’
However, he said that ‘’going by your conduct over the period that I have been at the helm of affairs of our state so far, you are reliable partners of progress and I can count on you every step of the way.’’
The governor recalled that Kaduna State was under siege owing to the insecurity in some of the local government areas, which had dire consequences on agricultural and business activities.
He noted that the security challenges have now been drastically reduced owing to the combined commitment of security agencies, resulting in safer high ways, people returning to farms and the opening of local markets.
120 Oldest Secondary Schools in Nigeria
The governor further said that the Birnin Gwari cattle market which had been closed for over 10 years, has been reopened, so have the other markets in security challenged areas in Giwa local government.
The management of Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic,Rumuola, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has admitted 1,882 fresh students to study various courses and programmes for the 2024)2024 academic session.
This announcement was made by the Rector of the polytechnic, Dr Moses Neebee during the 34th matriculation ceremony of the institution held in Port Harcourt over the weekend.
Dr Neebee described convocation as an annual rituals of every institution used to mark the end of admission process, adding that the polytechnic has recorded some academic milestones and achievements.
According to him, the institution recorded 100 percent in the just concluded NABTE accreditation and resources visitation exercise, adding that all the 24 courses presented by the institution during the accreditation were approved including the almighty Diploma in Law.
According to the admission statistics provided by the Rector,1,510 students were admitted for the National Diploma programmes ,while 372 students were offered admission into the Higher National Diploma and part programmes of the polytechnic.
The Rector while congratulating the matriculants urged them to take their studies seriously and ensure that they pass through the institution and as well allow the institution pass through them and not only in learning but also in character.
“ Let me congratulate you all for your successes to scale through the rigorous hurdles of our admission processes. Take advantage of the various technical and entrepreneur skills in the school to equip your self which will make yourselves employed and be better equipped in the society”, he said.
The Rector warned them to desist from any activities that will jeopardise their academic success, stressing that the school has zero tolerance for cultism, examination malpractices, sorting and sexual abuse.
He used the opportunity to thank the state government for the support given to the school especially in the areas of infrastructure development.