Education
Petroleum Institute Matriculates 1,901 Students In Delta
The Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State last Friday matriculated 1,901 students for its 2020/2021 academic session.
Acting Principal and PTI Chief Executive, Dr Henry Adimula, administered the matriculation oath on the students.
Adimula urged them to shun unlawful assembly as well as a protest on the campus.
He said that the management did not tolerate any social vices as spelt out on the institute’s handbook.
“Anyone caught would face the consequences,’’ the principal said.
He urged the matriculating students to take their study with all seriousness, which was their primary aim of coming to the institute.
The acting principal said that PTI, which was the foremost institute of oil and gas in Africa, was being reorganised in line with the current trend in the oil and gas industry.
He said that PTI being specialised for the training of manpower for the oil, gas and allied industries placed the students at advantage over their peers in other tertiary institutions.
“On behalf of the academic board, management and staff of PTI, I hereby welcome all the new students to this year’s combined matriculation of full-time and School of Industrial Continuing Education (Part-Time) programme of the 2020/2021 academic session.
“It may interest you to note that 2,831 candidates applied for admission for full-time programmes for the 2020/2021 academic session.
“You are privileged to be among the 1,901 candidates that qualified for admission based on requirements of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board and the PTI Post-UTME requirements.
“The focus of your studentship should be academic excellence, innovations, resourcefulness and character development.
“You are to prepare yourself to be part of the leadership in Nigeria now,’’ Adimula said.
He said that the vision of the management team was to develop investors, technologists and hands-on personnel among the students to fill gaps in the industry in areas of development.
He said that the institute was partnering with several organisations to exchange ideas to provide platforms for staff and students to get better exposure to the latest developments in the oil and gas industry.
The acting principal assured that the management team would provide a conducive learning environment for the students based on the available resources and urged them to preserve the facilities.
“Your actions should be guided by the rules and regulations as stated in the students’ handbook, study, meditate and acquaint yourself with the institute’s rules and regulations as ignorance of this will not be accepted,’’ he advised.
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.