News
PAP Student Emerges Overall Best As Varsity Graduates 119 …Four Others Bag First Class
By: Amadi Akujobi
A scholarship student under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Bassey Emmanuel, has emerged the overall best student of Ritman University, IkotEkpene, AkwaIbom State with a CGPA of 4.81 in a maximum scale of 5.00.
Other PAP students who graduated with first class are AkudikeIfeanyi Stephen;Obaila Christiana Church-Ere;Avura Blessing Elozino; and BalogaLivinusBaridupopnen.
Bassey, who graduated from the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics, was the valedictorian during the institution’s 2019/2020 convocation ceremony.
A statement signed by the Special Adviser, Media to PAP’s Interim Administrator, NeotaobaseEgbe, yesterday, said in his valedictory speech thatBassey attributed his academic achievements to hardwork and dedication.
He said the privilege extended to him by PAP to attend the institution motivated him to be at his best throughout the programme.
He thanked the Interim Administrator of the PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio (rtd) for the scholarship, and promised to be a worthy ambassador of the programme.
He encouraged other beneficiaries of PAP scholarship not to make best use of the opportunity.
In his remarks, Interim Administrator of the PAP, Col. Milland Dixon Dikio, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Projects, Godwin Ekpo, congratulated the graduating students for their academic feat, and urged them to continue to be shining examples in the society.
He said the PAP was elated to see that its students were among the very best, describing it as a testament that the investment in the scholarship scheme was not a waste.
Dikio also commended the school authority for what he referred to as the quality of learning and the facilities which helped the students, and charged them to maintain the standard.
The PAP boss also appreciated President MuhammaduBuhari for his support for the amnesty programme, and tasked companies in the region to employ the new graduates.
He said: “Education is beyond academic feats; there is the area of character building too. Let your successes in the academics reflect in worthy character development and the world is yours.
“I want to encourage other students and the youths of the region to emulate these ones. I am elated to see their CGPA, especially those from our scholarship scheme. It gives us the assurance that the scholarship is not a waste.
“I thank Mr. President for still believing and supporting the amnesty programme and I call on all stakeholders to continue to support the drive for human capital development in the region. For companies operating here, this is an opportunity to employ this new set of graduates who have so much to offer”.
On his part, the founder and visitor of the school, Sen. Emmanuel Ibok-Essien, said the institution would not relent in churning out quality graduates that would be employable and agents of societal transformation.
He lauded the PAP leadership for granting scholarship to deserving students to study in the institution, and assured that the school would continue with its penchant for academic excellence.
Ibok-Essien, a former Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and currently the national chairman of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), offered the best graduating student automatic employment in the university and a cash gift of N100,000.
Four other PAP scholarship students were among those who also graduated with a first class and 43 others with a second class upper.
The Organised Labour yesterday, called on the Federal Government to ensure inclusiveness in policy making and guide against erosion of rights, such as free speech and association.
The President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Joe Ajaero made the call at the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held at the Eagle’s Square, Abuja.
The Tide source reports Ajaero and the President, Trade Union Congress, Mr Festus Osifo delivered a joint statement on behalf of the organised labour at the event.
Ajaero described May Day as, not only a moment to honour workers’ sacrifices, but also a platform to demand justice and accountability from those in public office.
He frowned at the alleged suppression of protests, and the erosion of rights of workers by some agents
According to him, workers have a duty to resist economic injustice, insecurity, and policies that undermine their dignity.
Speaking on the theme of the day, the NLC President underscored the need for Nigerian workers to reclaim the civic space and resist policies that contribute to worsening economic conditions.
“Our theme this year – “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the midst of Economic Hardship – reflects the urgent need for citizens to protect democracy and push back against repression.
“The civic space, where Nigerians express their concerns and challenge injustices is shrinking.
“If we fail to reclaim this space, the foundation of our democracy risks collapse,” he said
Ajaero, therefore, urged workers to unite and resist division, fear, and despair.
He also urged them to mobilise and organise for change, declaring that the right to demand better conditions is non-negotiable.
“Without workers, there is no society; without labour, there is no development. We must take our place in the fight for economic justice and democratic governance.”
Speaking in the same veins, Osifo said workers are the backbone of the nation—the educators, healthcare providers, builders, farmers, and innovators who sustain its economy -.
He stressed the need for the labour to reclaim the civic space even in the midst of economic hardship.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has disassociated itself from a fraudulent site requesting payments from candidates who missed the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The board said that the site, “Copyrightwriter Personal J Rescheduling Flw” and account number 8520641017 at Sterling Bank, associated with it, are scam.
The disclaimer is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday by the Board’s Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.
Benjamin said the account is being exploited to defraud unsuspecting candidates who missed their UTME.
“We issue this urgent notice to inform the public about this nefarious scheme targeting candidates who were unable to participate in the UTME.
“Some unscrupulous individuals are deceitfully soliciting payments of N15,700 under the false pretence of offering rescheduling services for the examination.
“Let us be unequivocal: this, it is a blatant scam, and we are confident that the public will not fall prey to such cheap and regressive tactics.
” The individuals behind this scam have no affiliation with JAMB or any legitimate government agency.
“The account details provided in these communications are entirely fictitious and bear no connection to any official processes; they exist solely for the purpose of perpetrating fraud,” he said.
Benjamin called on Sterling bank to take immediate and decisive action against this criminal activity.
According to him, JAMB has reported the matter to the relevant security agencies and actively pursuing those responsible for this deceitful act.
He further said that “JAMB does not reschedule examinations for candidates who miss their scheduled tests due to reasons unrelated to the Board’s actions”.
He, however, said that the Board is conducting a thorough investigation for candidates whose biometrics failed during verification and were thus unable to sit for the examination.
He said those without discrepancies would be invited to retake the examination at no cost , stressing that “no cost is required”
“It is imperative to understand that JAMB does not charge any fees for examinations after a candidate has completed their registration.
“We strongly urge all candidates to remain vigilant and not to succumb to these fraudulent schemes.
“Protect yourselves and report any suspicious activity immediately,” he explained.
The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has expressed its willingness to partner with the United Nations (UN) to accelerate the development of the Niger Delta region.
Dr Samual Ogbuku, Managing Director of the NDDC, made the appeal in a statement issued by the commission’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Mrs Seledi Thompson-Wakama, in Port Harcourt on yesterday.
According to the statement, Ogbuku sought the UN’s support during his visit to the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator (UNRHC), Mr Mohammed Fall, at the UN regional office in Abuja.
He called on the global body to provide the NDDC with technical assistance and expert services to support the region’s development.
“We are eager to collaborate with the UN, recognising that the state governments in the region and the NDDC alone cannot achieve the level of regional development required,” he said.
Ogbuku identified key areas where support would be needed, including the provision of portable and affordable drinking water powered by high-tech solar energy sources.
He also highlighted the importance of reforesting the mangrove swamps, which have been severely damaged by decades of environmental degradation caused by oil exploration in the Niger Delta.
“Although the NDDC has made progress in providing solar-powered streetlights across the region, we still require UN support in delivering solar energy solutions for residential buildings.
“We also wish to explore the possibility of installing solar mini-grids in homes across communities, which would boost local commerce and trade,” he added.
The NDDC managing director further appealed for increased UN involvement in areas such as healthcare, education, youth training, gender development, and food security.
Ogunku stated that such interventions would significantly enhance the standard of living in the region.
In response, Fall affirmed the UN’s readiness to collaborate with the NDDC to fast track development in the Niger Delta.
He assured that the UN would support initiatives in food security, job creation, education, and renewable energy, among other areas.
“We aim to approach development in the Niger Delta holistically, rather than focusing solely on environmental pollution.
“This is merely an entry point; however, the UN’s development vision aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are designed to positively impact various aspects of people’s lives,” Fall stated.
He assured the NDDC of continued and fruitful engagements to drive the region’s development.