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Tag: Rhodes

  • Rhodes scholarship for West Africa begins June

    The Rhodes Trust, has announced  the Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa.

    The Chief  Executive  Officer of  Rhodes Trust, Charles Conn, expressed happiness at the re-launch of the scholarship, which was once suspended in Nigeria.

    Speaking at Southern Sun, Ikoyi, Lagos, venue of the event last Thursday, Conn recalled that the scholarship was suspended in Nigeria in the early 90s, owing to nation’s political upheavals. Nonetheless, he said the re-launch was anchored on the fact that Nigeria’s young graduates could not be underestimated in view of their enormous intellectual deposits.

    He said: “Our aspiration is to identify and support innovative, energetic and ethical young leaders in West Africa. We see the value of additional cultural diversity in our cohorts of scholars every day and they learn from each other in profound ways. The new Rhodes Scholars from West Africa will contribute significantly through sharing their skills, experiences and energy with their peers at Oxford and we look forward to welcoming them to Rhodes House in October 2018.”

    According to Conn, this year would witness an increase in number of awardees from 83 to 95 across China, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Palestine, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and West Africa

    “This increases the number of Rhodes Scholars studying at the University of Oxford at any one time to approximately 250. The expansion into these regions marks a historic moment for the Rhodes Trust, and further strengthens the international Rhodes community,” Conn added.

    The scholarships valued at $45000 is open to only a Nigerian for now said Rhodes National Secretary for West Africa Ike Chioke, while appealing for more funding from Nigerian philanthropist so that more young graduates from the country could benefit.

    Identifying criteria for the scholarship, Chioke, noted that a prospective scholar must not be less than 26years at the time of applying. He said such applicant must be outstanding, intellectual, possess leadership qualities and have concern for community.

    “We are looking for those who have concern for communities. We have met potential scholars in Nigeria who have worked as teachers in IDPs in the North-eastern Nigeria. To think that young people could volunteer to go into different area to teach shows some sterling character,’’he said.

    Chioke said the selection window would open in July through to September and would be conducted by Rhodes selection team as well as the advisory group that has worked tirelessly to revive the scholarship in Nigeria. Interested candidates,he advised, could log on to www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/apply.

    The Rhodes Trust is one of the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international graduate scholarship programme in the world.

  • Nigerian to administer Rhodes scholarship

    A Nigerian, Ike Chioke, has been appointed National Secretary for the administration of the Rhodes Scholarship in West Africa.

    Chioke, Managing Director of Afrinvest (West Africa) Limited, was a beneficiary of the Rhodes Scholarship, which provides funding for exceptional students to undertake postgraduate studies at the prestigious University of Oxford.

    Charles Conn, Chief Executive Officer of The Rhodes Trust and Warden of Rhodes House in Oxford, United Kingdom, said Chioke was considered because of his role in seeking the restoration of the scholarship in West Africa.

    “For many years, Ike has been such a strong supporter of the reinstatement of the Rhodes Scholarship for West Africa. That, coupled with his knowledge of Nigeria, Ghana and the entire sub-region, makes him the standout choice for the role,” said Conn in a statement made available to The Nation.

    Chioke, who earned an M. Phil in Management from Oxford, will be working with another Nigerian, Tope Folarin, who has been named Strategic Adviser for the sub-region. Folarin is an award-wining writer and a former spokesperson for google.

    Conn described Folarin as “a highly motivated and hard working individual who is passionate about development in Africa.”

    He added that Folarin’s creativity and drive would be vital to strengthening the Rhodes scholarship in West Africa.

    The pair will work with others to oversee the selection process for a brilliant student from West Africa to get full funding to study at Oxford University for the September 2018 academic session.

    Over time, the Trust seeks to endow up to three Rhodes scholarships for the region each year to ensure that they exist in perpetuity.

  • MTN partners Rhodes varsity on media confab

    MTN Group is collaborating with Rhodes University to hold a conference as part of activities marking the 20th Anniversary of the Highway Africa this weekend in Grahamstown in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

    Highway Africa is the continent’s yearly journalism conference, which drives conversation and debate on key issues in the media and Information Communication Technology (ICT) on the continent.

    With the theme The internet and media – Celebrations, reflections and the future, Highway Africa 2016, the two-day event is to explore the impact of the internet on journalism and media, including film, music and books.

    “This year’s theme is one that resonates with MTN. As an organisation that is extending connectivity and providing digital services across Africa, we know that ICT is changing how we consume media. In addition, it is enabling greater access to information and to services in our communities, which is part of the positive narrative around this continent. We believe that Africa has many good news stories to tell and that platforms like Highway Africa go a long way to boost the media sector so that these stories can be shared. We have been part of this conference for the past fifteen years and our continued support is based on our commitment to the development and advancement of journalism on the continent,”  General Manager for Corporate Communication and Stakeholder Management, MTN Group, Xolisa Vapi, said.

    As part of its support of Highway Africa 2016, MTN pledged to sponsor journalists from media houses in seven of its markets to attend the conference.

    “We are humbled and grateful that MTN is once again partnering with us on this journey of development for African journalism. We have seen many changes and immense growth of the conference over the years. However, it is thanks to the support of our partners, that Highway Africa has been so successful and remains relevant to our media stakeholders across the continent,” says Chris Kabwato, Director, Highway Africa.

    Using keynote addresses, plenary sessions, panel discussions, workshops, book launches and networking dinners, Highway Africa 2016 will be at one level a celebration of 20 years of the existence of Africa’s premier journalistic assembly, and at another level an occasion for reflection on internet and society.

  • Rhodes scholarship returns to Nigeria

    Rhodes scholarship returns to Nigeria

    Nigeria will, once again, be among beneficiaries of the Rhodes scholarship after a 21-year break.

    The scholarship will see two bright students receive full funding (£40,000 – £50,000) annually to study at the prestigious Oxford University, United Kingdom.

    Mr. Charles Conn, Chief Executive Officer of The Rhodes Trust and Warden of Rhodes House in Oxford, announced the re-introduction of the scheme during the 3rd Business Forum of the Oxbridge (Oxford & Cambridge) Club of Nigeria at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja.

    Conn explained that the scholarship covers all fees, allowances for accommodation, health insurance and travel, as well as the costs of the Rhodes programme.

    “Depending on the course of study, the total value of the scholarship could range from £40,000 to £50,000 per annum, with the average tenure for a Rhodes Scholar being 2 to 8 years and 3 to 4 years for PhD courses. Over time, up to four scholars in residence will be supported under each scholarship at a total of approximately £200,000 each year per Scholarship, which is sustained by a  4 per cent take rate on the endowment funds,” he said.

    Ike Chioke, Managing Director, Afrinvest and a Rhodes Scholar, is driving the campaign with the Rhodes Trust to reinstate the Nigerian award which led to Conn’s visit to Nigeria.

    “The Rhodes Scholarship is indeed, a great opportunity for young Nigerian scholars to fulfill their dreams. As a beneficiary of the scheme, I am passionate about helping young people develop to their full potential through quality education and training,” he said.

    Nigeria was dropped from the scholarship in 1993 on account of political interference. To reinstate the Nigerian awards, the Rhodes Trust is seeking to partner with contemporary Nigerian philanthropists, who share the desire to help identify and develop young leaders for Nigeria’s and indeed, the world’s future.

    The Trust seeks to fully endow two Rhodes Scholarships for Nigeria to ensure that they exist in perpetuity, which requires £9m in funding or £4.5m for each one.

  • Suspected kidnappers of Rhodes-Vivour’s wife paraded

    Three members of a gang which allegedly kidnapped the wife, daughter and driver of Supreme Court’s Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour, were among seven suspects paraded by the State Security Services (SSS) in Benin City, the Edo State capital, yesterday.

    The others were three suspected extortionists, who reportedly threatened to kill their victim if he didn’t pay them and a musician, who was paraded for alleged trafficking in persons.

    The SSS State Director, Bello Bakori, who paraded the suspects before Governor Adams Oshiomhole, said they had reportedly confessed to the crime and that three members of the kidnap gang are still at large.

    Bakori said Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter, who were kidnapped in May, were kept in a house at Upper Sakponba in Benin City from where the kidnap suspects were arrested.

    He went on: “All the kidnap suspects were from Delta State while the suspected trafficker is from Edo State.

    “The three suspects were arrested at 77, Norouwa Street, off 3 House, Upper Sakponba road, Benin.

    “The other members of the gang, who are on the run, are Kelly, Koto, Shaggy, Maxwell and Afoke.”

    One of the suspects, Austin Umukoro, said they were members of a six-man gang.

    He said: “Our first victim was a man who parted with N1.2 million; the Supreme Court judge’s wife, daughter and driver were our second victims.

    “For the days we kept them, they were fed with rice, which we bought from eateries. Mattresses were provided for them to sleep in the two-room apartment where they were kept.”

    Another suspect, Wisdom Ovwigho, said he was assigned to feed victims.

    “The first man we kidnapped, we collected N1.2 million from, and I was given N100,000 before they brought this woman and her daughter.”

    The governor said the buildings used by the kidnap suspects to hold the judge’s wife, daughter and driver will be demolished.

    He said: “For the landlords, we have already made the decision that anyone who aids and abets kidnapping will have his structure demolished. Any hotelier who does not follow the instruction of documenting who stays in the hotel and such is used for kidnapping or human trafficking we will demolish it. Nobody has the right to make money out of the pains of Nigerians.

    “This is a major breakthrough. What is important is for criminals to know that there is no more immunity. It is a matter of when, not whether they would be caught and that the officers and men are determined to do their best and those involved in crime would be brought to justice.

    Oshiomhole continued: “Most of these criminals are from Delta State. It shows in this business of crime, criminals are very mobile. No state can find a solution as they keep moving from one state to the other. When their colleagues hear that they have been put on trial, they would look elsewhere.

    “The lesson from this effort is that when we report to law enforcement agents, they can be arrested, but when we pay ransom, then we are providing additional incentives for the criminals to remain in business. Every ransom we pay is an opportunity for them to do more. For me, the message is clear; we must resist paying ransom. We must take law enforcement agencies into confidence. We must trust them.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our parents that we must watch over our children, particularly our daughters.”

  • Police deploy 1,000 men to rescue Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, daughter

    Police deploy 1,000 men to rescue Rhodes-Vivour’s wife, daughter

    The Edo State Police Command yesterday extended its search for the abductors of Mrs Adedoyin Rhodes-Vivour, wife of the Supreme Court Judge, Justice Bode Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter, whose name was not disclosed.

    It deployed over 1000 of its men drawn from the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), anti-kidnapping and Mobile Force units to comb the nooks and crannies of the forest.

    The development followed a marching order given to Police Commissioner Foluso Adebanjo by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Abubakar, to rescue Mrs. Rhodes-Vivour and her daughter alive.

    The police commissioner, who declined to give details on what his command has done for security reasons, told reporters that his men are not unrelenting in carrying out the IGP’s mandate.

    Adebanjo said: “I can tell you that we are working very assiduously to locate the victims and then arrest the criminals.

    “Believe me, all our striking units– SARS, anti-kidnapping, mobile force– have been in that area since Friday. I am just coming from there.

    “I will not want to say much because so far, they have not been released. But we are in contact with the family.

    “We don’t want to jeopardise what we are doing because they (kidnappers) too, read papers. So, it will not be nice to tell you what we are doing.

    “We don’t want to jeopardise their safety which is paramount, their family would want them to be brought back safe.”

    On the area they were actually kidnapped, the commissioner said: “It is in Edo State near Okada.”

    According to him, officers have been combing the forest.

    “I have been there with about 100 men, comprising mobile policemen, SARS, anti-kidnapping and other officers.

    “For Iruekpen axis, I was there about a week ago and we have mapped out strategies. If you have been following us, last week, we killed two robbery suspects in a gun battle with our men.

    “There was a distress call and our men killed two of them. And we have arrested many too. We have our CIB men around, I think they always come from Aduwawa, that is where the population of these people committing these atrocities come from, but lately, you have not been hearing so much of it and we are strengthening patrol in that area.

    “We are repairing some vehicles too so that there will be enough patrol vehicles.”

    Unknown gunmen suspected to be kidnappers on Friday night abducted the trio of Mrs Rhodes-Vivour, her daughter and their driver on their way to Edo State.