The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Post-graduate

  • NLNG awards 10 overseas PG scholarships

    NLNG awards 10 overseas PG scholarships

    Nigeria LNG Limited has awarded 3,053 scholarships to Nigerian students.

    The latest set of 10 beneficiaries – among whom is a visually impaired female Law Graduate from Bonny Island, NLNG’s primary host community, – were awarded the Overseas Post Graduate Scholarships at a ceremony hosted recently in Port Harcourt.

    The event was attended by the beneficiaries, their families and friends, as well as representation from the Rivers State Government and NLNG.

    This batch of the Post Graduate Scholarships beneficiaries brings to 48, the total number of such awards since the commencement of the scheme in 2013.

    The beneficiaries from all over the country, who emerged via a rigorous qualification exercise involving more than 2,000 applicants, shall be pursuing further education in specialty areas in top universities in the United Kingdom.

    Speaking at the occasion, the General Manager, External Relations of Nigeria LNG Limited, Dr Kudo Eresia-Eke said, “The goal of the Nigeria LNG Post Graduate Scholarship Scheme is to provide support for the development of competent professionals who will bridge the specialists’ manpower gap in the country, especially in high profile fields of Engineering, Geosciences, Environmental Studies, Management Sciences, Information Technology, Law and Medicine at Masters Level only.”

    The 2016 award will cost the company over N200 million to cover tuition, living expenses accommodation and travels for the beneficiaries.

    “The overseas scholarship scheme is another effort by Nigeria LNG Limited to consolidate on its human capital development aspirations, in a bid to trigger the necessary indices required for the growth of Nigeria’s economy besides the current state of dependence on oil and gas.” said Kudo Eresia-Eke, General Manager, External Relations.

    “When most companies are winding down their operations and reducing production costs; including laying off workers and abandoning all Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in order to survive the recession, NLNG is still keeping faith with its programmes, particularly, the aspect that touch on human capital development”, he added.

    Beneficiaries of the 2016 scheme include Miss. Ibiere Helen Jumbo, a Law Graduate who is going to study Energy & Environmental Law with Professional Skills at the University of Aberdeen UK; Miss Zainab Diana Titus, awarded to study Petroleum Engineering also at the University of Aberdeen; Ihuoma Mamma Onwusor proceeds to study Public Health at the University of Bradford in the UK; Miss Ihuoma Gift Amadi will be studying Medical Science with specialisation in Human Nutrition at Glasgow University, and Mr Jonathan Olanrewaju Aina who was awarded to study Digital Communications at the University Of Leeds.

    Other beneficiaries are Miss Tamunoibim Elaine Anidima awarded to study International Health at the University Of Leeds; Miss Mvena Jennifer Chubu is going to study Sustainable Energy Systems at the University Of Leeds; Miss Bisa Tuwonimi Tuonims was awarded to study Human Resource Management at the Glasgow Caledonian University; Miss Hafsat Muhammed Kaugama who was awarded to study Information Systems at Middlesex University; and Miss Loveline Chizobam Owoh who declined the award offer to study Oil and Gas Management at Coventry University for personal reasons.

  • Don laments postgraduates’ inability to write research proposals

    Don laments postgraduates’ inability to write research proposals

    A don, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, on Wednesday said that postgraduates’ inability to write robust research proposals was a setback to research and development in Nigeria.

    Akinboye, the Dean, School of Postgraduate Studies, University of Lagos, made the observation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    According to him, aside from funding, one of a major setback for attracting stakeholders from within and outside the country is the postgraduates’ inability to write detailed and meaningful research proposals.

    “I think the challenges of research and development in our university system is multifaceted.

    “On the part of the postgraduates, they seldom avail themselves the opportunity of getting research funds by not doing the first thing first.

    “So, many of them still lack the skill of writing very good and robust research proposals that can attract funding from within and outside the country.

    “This is majorly what is lacking on the part of students,’’ the university teacher said.

    According to the professor, there is the need for university authorities to consider organising research proposal workshops for postgraduate students.

    Akinboye said that such workshops should be organised in collaboration with those with expertise on proposal writing that could attract research grant.

    He suggested that such workshops should hold annually.

    The professor said that there was no way Nigeria could move forward without research and development, in terms of actualising all that had been put in place to reposition the country.

    He said that many advanced countries of the world had gone very far in terms of achievement as a result of research.

    “So, we must ensure that we put our resources together to enhance productivity.

    “We must also device a means of ensuring that the bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow down the process are reduced to the barest minimum.

    “In other words, let’s find a way of fast tracking the process,’’ the don said.

    Akinboye urged the government to adequately fund research to enable postgraduate students to engage in serious research works.

    He said that without funding, no institution would grow.

    “Funding is very essential in promoting research the world over. It is critical; it is of paramount necessity and indispensable.

    “It is only when this is available for postgraduate students that they can engage in serious research. And any serious research requires serious funding.

    “So, sometimes it becomes difficult for our postgraduate students to get the necessary financial support for their research,’’ Akinboye said.

    The don, however, said that research grants would not come that easy because it was limited.

    He said that there was the need for government to pay more attention in this area by investing hugely in the various universities.

    Akinboye urged the universities to seek means of generating funds internally for the purpose of encouraging research and development.

  • Kaduna varsity begins post-graduate programmes

    Management of the Kaduna State University (KASU) will begin post-graduate and Master’s degree programmes (MSc) in the 2014/ 2015 academic year.

    KASU’s Vice-Chancellor Prof Barnabas Williams Quirix said the introduction of the programmes followed their approval by the National Universities Commission (NUC).

    “Ten years after the establishment of this university, we are pleased to let you know that NUC has approved 44 out of the 52 courses that we applied for as Post Graduate Programmes,” the Vice Chancellor said.

    Quirix said they were commencing lectures in the 2014/2015 academic year with MSc in Procurement Supply in Management, Criminal Justice, Crime Management and Security Studies, Environmental Biology, Renewable Energy, Geographic Information System and PGD in Investigative and Sport Journalism.

    The VC disclosed that as part of their research interest, the university was embarking on a research on ginger adding, “Ginger is a natural resource and we are embarking on an extensive research of the product. Some people are coming to our university on sabbatical for this purpose.”

    Quirix thanked the Kaduna State Government for their support that led to the approval of the programmes, adding, “We will run both academic and non-academic programmes.”

  • Crawford Varsity post-graduate students take oath

    Crawford Varsity post-graduate students take oath

    Forty-six pioneer postgraduate students of Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun State, have been administered oath of matriculation.

    Welcoming the fresh students, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Samson Ayantunji, advised them to sustain the high moral standard of the faith-based institution.

    “You can only be a leader if you are a reader” Ayanlaja noted.

    Giving a breakdown of the new students at the university where the event was held, Ayanlaja said that 17 enrolled for M.sc Economics, six for M.sc Business Administration, 15 for Masters in Business Administration as well as eight for Post-Graduate Diploma programme.

    He challenged them to justify their opportunity and take advantage of the platform provided by the university to realise their dreams.

    He said: “You are not only to study to pass examinations and obtain certificates, but to get knowledge that would be applied to solve society, business and national problems.”

    Professor Ayanlaja urged Nigerians who are desirous of quality education to take advantage of the university’s international business exchange programme with Galilee International Management Institute’s (GIMI) integrated course work and practical for its MBA programme.

  • Post-graduate students elect leaders

    The executive of the Abdulsalami Abubakar Postgraduate Hall at the University of Ibadan (UI) has emerged. The student-leaders were sworn in at a ceremony attended by members of the Hall Management Committee and residents of the hall.

    The oath of office was administered on the officers by the Hall Warden, Dr A.I Abiona.

    Chukwudi Ayozie was elected Hall Governor and Judith Ani, Deputy Hall Governor.

    Others included Dere Adewumi, General Secretary; Emmanuel Eze, Commissioner for Finance; Stanley Ibeku, Commissioner for Information; Olumide Adeleye, Commissioner for Welfare; Bandele Ben, Commissioner for Sports and Abiodun Aderemi, Commissioner for Health.

    Before the election, a manifesto night was held. It was a contest of ideas as the candidates displayed good oratory skills. Judith Ani caused an uproar when she told the the audience that she would facilitate a free HIV/AIDS screening for the hall members if elected.

    Immanuel Umukoro, a Masters student of Information Science, advised the new officers to justify the trust reposed on them by “translating their manifestos into tangible and executable projects for the benefit of those who elected them.”

    In his acceptance speech Dr Abiona praised members of the past executive for their achievements. He congratulated the new officers and urged them to work hard to make positive impact on the hall’s residents. He stressed the importance of accountability, praising the Electoral Committee for a successful election.

    In his valedictory speech, the outgone Hall Governor, Ojo Adeniyi, thanked God for the successes recorded during his tenure, noting that no member of the hall died.

    He thanked the Hall Warden for his support and cooperation, adding that his achievements included the ongoing construction of the cafeteria, improved sanitation and supply of water and electricity.

    Certificates were presented to the past executives and others who served in various capacities.

    Ayozie thanked God for the success of the occasion, praising the hall management and the past executive for their efforts.

    He said: ‘’We promise that we shall serve with transparency, accountability and integrity; to prove ourselves worthy of service to humanity; to live up to expectation in the exercise of our duties; to create an atmosphere of peace and hope for the development of a strong interpersonal relationship among us; and to leave as a legacy for our successors, a strong foundation and an enduring spirit of selfless service for them to work and build on.’’

    Members of the legislative arm of the hall were also inaugurated. They are:  Fatoki Jimoh, Speaker; Onovughe Blessing, Deputy Speaker and Akogun Opeyemi, Clerk of the house. Others were Olaleye Titilola, Chief Whip.

    Election for the position of Sergeant-at-Arms was postponed till the next legislative sitting.

    There are 650 students in the hall.