ABU best graduating student gets NNPC scholarship

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has announced the award of a full postgraduate scholarship to the 2016/17 best graduating student of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria.

The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Maikanti Baru, announced the scholarship in a statement by NNPC spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu.

Mr. Baru said the recipient, Al-Amin Bugaje, would be sponsored to further his education up to Ph.D level in any institution in the world.

Mr. Bugaje, 23, bagged a First Class degree in Electrical Engineering with the highest Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.93 to emerge the university’s overall best graduating student.

”This gesture is in line with NNPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative of championing educational excellence nationwide.

”We equally want to encourage other students who are still in school to aspire towards achieving excellence in their academic pursuits,” Mr. Baru, himself a First-Class degree holder in Mechanical Engineering from ABU, said.

He noted that the NNPC recently held the grand finale of its Annual National Quiz Competition.

”At the end of that quiz, we rewarded the state winners with a one-off educational grant of N100,000 each, the national finals winners: first place (Delta), second (Abia) and third place (Ondo) won N300,000, N250,000 and N200,000 respectively as annual bursary support for the entire course of their tertiary education,” he added.

Responding, an elated Mr. Bugaje expressed his gratitude to the NNPC for giving him the opportunity to further his education, stressing that he was “shocked” to hear the GMD announce the scholarship gesture to him.

”I thank the NNPC for this wonderful opportunity to go and compete with the best of the best in the world.

”Hopefully, I will utilise this opportunity to go and groom myself the more and see how we can come back to contribute our quota to nation-building,” Mr. Bugaje said.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Ibrahim Garba, lauded NNPC’s support to the institution’s best graduating student saying ”it is very encouraging on the part of the corporation.

”It would show the way to other corporate bodies to follow suit and invest in education.

”It also shows NNPC as not only a critical supporter of the nation’s economy, but also a pillar in the nation’s educational development,” the vice Chancellor said.

The vice chancellor also thanked the GMD for his gesture in supporting the university’s mini-petroleum refinery project, saying that most of the milestone achieved in the refinery initiative came from the NNPC.

NAN recalls that Baru delivered the Pre-Convocation Lecture where he harped on the need for Nigeria to diversify its economic base away from the vulnerability and fragility of oil and gas revenue.

A total of 50 of the 8,260 undergraduates bagged first degrees, 3,600 were awarded postgraduate diplomas, 256 graduated with Ph.D degrees and 2,300 obtained masters degrees across the university’s 13 faculties.

(NAN)

Former Ebonyi Deputy Gov. named VC

Gov. David Umahi of Ebonyi has appointed a former Deputy Governor of the state, Chigozie Ogbu, as the Acting Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University (EBSU).

The Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odo, announced the on Friday.

Mr. Odo said the governor, as the university’s visitor, directed that Mr. Ogbu would replace Francis Idike whose appointment as the acting vice-chancellor would elapse on November 26.

“Idike has been operating as the university’s acting vice- chancellor for the past six months while Ogbu’s tenure, which commences from Nov.27, will also last for six months,” he said.

Mr. Odo said the governor also approved the termination of Mr. Ogbu’s appointment as the university’s Pro Chancellor to enable him to assume duties in the new position.

He said the governor also approved the appointment of a former Minister of Culture and tourism, Franklin Ogbuewu, as the university’s Pro-Chancellor with effect from Monday, November 27.

Mr. Ogbu was deputy governor from 2003 to 2011.

Mr. Ogbuewu is also the chairman of the Ebonyi Elders Council. (NAN)

ABU: VC boasts about the university

No fewer than 50 students would graduate with first class degree during the 40th convocation ceremony of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) scheduled to hold on Saturday Nov. 25. 

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Ibrahim Garba disclosed this on Thursday while addressing a news conference held at the main campus of the university in Samaru, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The vice-chancellor said: “This year, we are graduating a total number of 8,260 undergraduates students, out of this number, 50 have made first class and these first class achievers were spread across almost all faculties. 

“The university has 13 faculties at the moment which include; Administration, Agriculture, Engineering, Medicine, Life Sciences, Arts, Social Sciences, Education, Law, Veterinary Medicine and Environmental Design, among others. “The university had continued to move more and more into a postgraduate university. ‘‘Our postgraduate population has been increasing, so also the graduands, so this year we are graduating 3,600 postgraduates,” he said. 

Giving the breakdown, Garba said, 256 Ph.Ds and 2,300 masters degree would be conferred with their degrees. He recalled that in the past the institution hardly graduate five Ph.Ds in just one year. This, according to him, showed that people were actually studying into higher degrees in Nigeria. “The numbers are so huge that we hardly can afford to accommodate all the applicants for higher degrees, because every given year, we receive nothing less than 12,000 applications for higher degrees annually. 

“But our carrying capacity cannot allow us take, maximum is 3,000. So, at any one time you have close to about 10,000 postgraduate students studying in the university,” he said. He said in the course of the year, the university had recorded some achievements and continued to develop the system being the largest university in West Africa. 

According to him, ABU has the largest carrying capacity, largest diversity and it remained the most sourced university in view of the fact that people still prefer to come to the university as matter of choice. “Given our resources and provision by government, our carrying capacity will not allow us to take all the candidates that applied, that is why it has become incumbent on us to open up the space more in any innovative way. 

“This will pave way for more people to meet their aspirations of taking ABU degrees, so, what we have is to increase our affiliation with tertiary institution. ‘‘Now many Colleges of Education particularly in the north are taking their degrees from ABU through affiliation. “So all these Federal Colleges of Education in Zaria, Kano, Zink, Taraba State, Sokoto, Kwara and Kontagora in Niger State, among others have affiliations with ABU to run degree programmes,” he added. (NAN)

Assessment of basic schools in Nigeria to improve education standard

Worried by the perceived low quality of basic education in the country, the Nigerian government said it has commenced a national assessment of teaching and learning quality in that sub-sector.

The assessment will hold between November 22 and 24.

The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Hamid Bobboyi, said this on Monday in Abuja while briefing journalists. He said the exercise was part of the commitment of the current administration to reposition basic education in the country.

He said the poor quality of teachers in basic education in the country is due to poor remuneration of teachers by state governments.

He said the recent incident in Kaduna “where a lot of teachers failed simple tests administered to them was a clear indication of the crisis and rot in the basic education sub-sector.

“The neglect of basic education over the years is responsible for the crises that have continued to plague the nation including the Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east”, he said.

“Boko Haram is an example. Boko Haram emerged out of this particular situation where schooling was a problem, learning was a problem in the North,” he said.

Mr. Bobboyi said UBEC is committing N3 billion to resuscitate the ”rudiments of teaching and learning in Northern Nigeria.”

He said the learning assessment last conducted in 2011 adding that the current one would enable the government gauge the state of basic education and proffer solutions.

Mr. Bobboyi said the assessment will enable ”the tracking of standards of education at the basic schools.”

“We have to know exactly which state is doing well in basic education and to know where basic education is functioning better. We also want to know why basic education is really having problems and to ensure that responses of intervention agency such as UBEC is tailor made to bring everyone on board”, he said.

He said the assessment of learners’ achievement is crucial to the implementation of the basic education programme.

“The exercise exposes learners’ performance in curricula delivery and impact of intervening variables”, the Executive Secretary explained.

He also spoke on the specifics of the intended exercise.

“For the primary level, the Local Government Education Authorities in each of the 36 states and the FCT were stratified on the basis of location. Simple random sampling was used to select six LGEAs in the urban and rural locations”, he said.

“The exercise will involve head teachers and teachers of selected primary 5 and 6 classes. The sample will consist of 216 LGEAs, 1080 primary schools, 1080 head teachers, 2160 teachers and 43,200 pupils.

“In the junior secondary school level, 17,280 students and 12,960 parents would participate. 432 principals and 1728 teachers of English, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology and Social Studies teachers will be selected to participate in the study”, Mr. Bobboyi added.

On the sustainability of the assessment, the UBEC boss said Nigeria will maintain international standard of conducting the exercise every 2 years.

JAMB sets proposed date for 2018 UTME and prices of forms

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has proposed a date for the 2018 examination.

The board proposed March 9 to 17 and said it is taking into cognisance dates of other public examinations.

The Registrar of the board, Ishaq Oloyede, said this during a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with stakeholders on the plans and programmes for the 2018 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, and Direct Entry, DE.

Mr. Oloyede said students who express interest will write mock examination from January 22 to 24.

“The mock examination is starting the same date the sales of form is ending.”

He said the price of the form will be N5000.

“Eye glasses are to be examined properly before candidates are allowed into the examination hall,” he said.

Details in abit.

UNICAF offers scholarships to NYSC corps members in Lagos

UNICAF is proud to announce its partnership with the National Youth Service Corps, Lagos State Secretariat in Nigeria. The partnership was reached by the NYSC State Co-ordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, and Dr. Nicos Nicolaou, Chief Executive Officer of UNICAF, in the presence of Olufemi Apena and Emmanuel Ebanehita, Country Manager and Marketing Manager of UNICAF Nigeria and distinguished members of the NYSC management.

Through the partnership, all eligible members of the NYSC in Lagos will be offered guaranteed 80% UNICAF scholarships to pursue online degree programmes of Unicaf University, plus free Windows 10 tablets upon payment of the required deposit. Furthermore, one selected NYSC member will receive a full UNICAF scholarship, covering 100% of tuition fees, to study with Unicaf University, with the added bonus of a free Windows 10 tablet. All successful applicants must meet the academic and financial criteria set out by UNICAF and Unicaf University.

With a physical presence in 9 African countries, with learning centres and branch campuses, UNICAF is rapidly becoming a key player in online and blended learning education on the continent. The UNICAF Scholarship Programme is one of the most generous in the world today, and the UNICAF Virtual Learning Environment is the largest digital platform available for online study in Africa. Studying with a UNICAF scholarship towards an internationally recognized undergraduate or postgraduate degree, offered from partner universities is flexible, affordable and easy to do and it connects you with an international community of UNICAF scholars in 156 countries.

• The application for a UNICAF scholarship is quick and easy; experienced student advisers guide applicants through the whole process, helping them select payment plans that suit their financial capabilities.

• The 24/7 online delivery of study material allows students to study at any time and in any place convenient to them, provided they have Internet access. New modules start every month, so students can commence their studies as soon as they are accepted.

• The easy to navigate UNICAF VLE (digital platform) facilitates delivery of course material, submission of assignments, access to a well-equipped e-library, and regular contact with tutors and fellow classmates from around the world.

• Unicaf University offers a wide range of well-structured degree programmes at Bachelor, Master’s and Doctorate levels.

Interested applicants should contact the local office of UNICAF for more information about the UNICAF Scholarship programme and the Unicaf University degree programmes on offer, at: Tel: 07066440343, email e.ebanehita@nigeria.unicaf.org  or visit www.unicaf.org

NNPC enters into partnership with WAEC!

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), says it has entered into a partnership with the West African Examination Council (WAEC), the Junior Engineering Technical Society(JETS), and the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), to grow the country’s educational sector.

Speaking at the grand finale of the 2017 National Quiz Competition, Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mr Maikanti Baru, said the partnership would help in deepening knowledge in science and technology

Baru said that the NNPC prized education, dearly adding that the corporation was working with its partners to ensure that the best standards of its competition were maintained.

He said that it was in realisation of the importance of science and technology that the NNPC decided to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, (STEM), education as a key element of its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, and strategy.

This, he said informed the establishment of the annual quiz competition.

“In this respect, our arc tilts towards Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, STEM, branches of knowledge, given the great roles they play in nation-building.

“For a reason, STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literary, and enables the next generation of innovators. Innovation is the pillars of any progressive economy.”

Baru said the 2017 edition was the sixteenth in the competition’s history, stating that it had been expanded from the previous editions, while the prizes had been improved upon also.

He noted that the 2017 edition took place in all the 774 local government areas of the country and also featured in states in the North-East, that were affected by insurgency.....NAN