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Tag: scholarship

  • Kano begins payment of scholarship to 23,000 students

    Kano begins payment of scholarship to 23,000 students

    The Kano State Government on Wednesday commenced payment of N300 million scholarship allowance to 23,987 students in various Nigerian universities and other institutions of higher learning in the country.

    Prof Fatima Umar, the Executive Secretary of the State Scholarship Board, disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano.

    Umar said the payment was part of the debt inherited from the immediate past administration that failed to pay the scholarship allowances from 2011 to 2015.

    She said that the payment was for 2013/14 academic session, adding that the board had already paid N360 million outstanding for the 2012/13 academic session to 24,901 students.

    According to her, the payment was for the Kano state indigenes studying various programmes in 55 institutions across the country.

    “Since 2011 to 2015, the immediate past government did not pay scholarship to our internal students throughout its tenure. This had incurred a huge debt over the current administration.

    “We have since begun the payment for the 2012/13 academic session. We disbursed N360 million to 24,901 students then.

    “From today, we are beginning the payment for the 2013/14 academic session. We will disburse N300 million to 23,987 students studying in 55 institutions across the country, ” she said

    Umar however, warned that any student that failed to access the payment should blame him/herself, affirming that the problem could happen if a student provided wrong account number, or failed to issue Bank Verification Number (BVN), or had a dormant account.

    She said the state government would continue to pay the scholarship as part of effort to improve the standard of education, adding that government would continue to support indigent students to acquire education.

    “In the scholarship programme, Ganduje administration has shown more concern than any other administration in the history of Kano,” she said.

  • A platform for legal scholarship 

    A platform for legal scholarship 

    Title of book: Azinge’s Journal of International and Comparative Law
    No of pages:     267
    No of articles:  6
    Author:  Epiphany Azinge Foundation, 2017
    Reviewer:   Osatohanmwen O.A. Eruaga (Mrs)

    In an era where the world has be come so interlinked that states are influenced by activities of others, avenues for scholarly critique and analysis of comparative and international law can never be too much.

    The maiden edition of Azinge’s Journal of International and Comparative Law, entirely inspired and initiated by an erudite scholar of no mean repute, provided a platform to interrogate legal experiences and practices from various climes.

    Mathias Zechariah and C.B.N. Wuyep provide the first article titled: Applicability of Customary International Law and Treaty Law in Municipal Setting: Nigerian and USA in Comparative Perspectives. The authors, using a doctrinal approach, undertook a comparative study of Nigeria and the United States in respect to the applicability of rules of treaty and customary international law to determine whether, and to what extent the states respect the treaty and customary international law rules that bind them as members of the international community.  The authors showcased their in-depth knowledge by considering first the nature of the relationship between municipal and international law. This is followed by an analysis of the law and practice in the selected states. The authors found that both countries in trying to strike a balance between their respective sovereign rights and international obligations, constantly practised subjected international law to their municipal law. They recommended that rather than pay lip service to responsibilities undertaken in international law and undermine its effectiveness, the states should clearly define the place of international law in their legal system.

    Kamal Alhaji Dawud’s‘ Comparative Analysis of the Models of Selected Federal Government’, which is the second article in the journal examined common characteristics of countries that are identified as federations. Conducting a comparative analysis of seven states, including Nigeria, he argued that there is no single general mode of a federal system. For him, federalism is an on-going process of constantly finding a new equilibrium between the centre and its member states or sub-units. However, based on the common features that are globally recognised, the author recommended a combination of what is obtainable under the Swiss and American federal systems for Nigeria.

    In the third article, Sunday Bontour Lugard addressed The Emerging Global Rights-based Approach to Environmental Protection. The article, which is straight forward, first examined the current tort regime for environmental protection in Nigeria.  He identified that the tort regime comes with numerous challenges, which makes it largely inadequate. Following a comparative analysis of environmental protection regimes under international law, regional treaties and in other climes, the author argued that the adoption of the rights based approach represented the prevailing global trend. As such, the author recommended adopting same in Nigeria.

    Nkiruka Chidia Maduekwe carefully scrutinised the viability or otherwise of utilising environmental mediation to achieve conflict resolution in the Nigerian petroleum industry in the fourth article titled: Ensuring Energy Security in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector: Is Environmental Mediation a viable tool? The article before discussing environmental mediation as a tool for conflict resolution generally, explained the meaning as well as importance of energy security and stability. The article further examined the scope of the Niger Delta Conflict and how it influenced energy security and stability in Nigeria so as to highlight the need for tool that would ensure sustained resolution of conflict.

    She made a link between environmental mediation as a tool for conflict resolution of environmental disputes in Nigeria when she stated that parties are empowered to take responsibility for resolving the dispute, which means that the outcome is owned by the parties. The author found that if all stakeholders in the incessant conflicts present their interest with the aim of creating a solution to the conflict, energy security and stability will be achieved in the Nigerian petroleum industry.

    The freedom to access information has become a front burner issue in Nigeria in recent times, as individuals, non-governmental organisations and public institutions function within the milieu that the Freedom of Information Act creates. Emmanuella Ngozi Maduka dealt with the subject matter of access to information in the fifth article titled: The Freedom of Information Act and Sectorial Responsibilities: An Appraisal. In reviewing the obligations placed on public institutions, which she termed sectorial responsibilities, the author highlighted logistic and practical challenges impeeding the effective implementation of freedom of information by public institutions in Nigeria. She maintained that a viable freedom of information culture in Nigeria would only be viable if the logistic and practical challenges, which she highlighted were reviewed to reflect the unique circumstances that public institutions in Nigeria face.

    The last, but certainly by no means the least, in the display of legal scholarship is the article written by Mahmud Kayode Adebayo titled: “Rape as an International Weapon of War: The Human Rights Approach in Nigeria and Some selected Jurisdictions”. In this article, the writer scrutinised the function of rape as a tool in modern warfare, noting that the idea of rape as a weapon of warfare has a distinctly feminist heritage. The author identified that the reason the gruesome act has assumed the status of a warfare instrument was unclear. However, he went on to isolate several reasons that were averse to tackling rape as a weapon of war. He identified that the effect of rape as a weapon of war has long lasting scars on the individual, families and the community. He suggested, specifically among, his numerous recommendations that rape, which occurs in war should be rephrased as an offence against humanity.

     

    Comments

     The book is neatly clothed in a blue cover, with the title written in white coloured ink. The 267-page book is divided into six articles, written by individual writers. Professor Azinge (SAN) serves as the Editor-in-Chief, supported by a seven-man editorial committee. The Journal revealed that the editorial team received advice from an Editorial Advisory Board, consisting erudite Nigerian jurists with undisputed knowledge in international law.

    The articles in the maiden edition of Azinge’s Journal of Comparative and International Law employed the use of narrative, analytical and expository methodologies. The articles, authored by the six scholars included a combination of expert reasoning in the various articles and the consistency in the consortium of ideas by the writers. It is worthy of commendation. It fulfilled the promises made by the Editor-in-Chief in the preface to provide a platform for the dissemination of legal developments in various jurisdictions while comparing same with the development in other parts of the world.

     

    Observations

    The articles in this maiden edition generally live up to the title of the journal as one of international and comparative laws. However, a few articles lacked in depth discussions on the titles they sought to interrogate. For instance Rape as an International Weapon of War: The Human Rights Approach in Nigeria and Some selected Jurisdictions did not in the reviewer’s view, adequately address the laws, municipal and international, relevant to discussing rape as a weapon of war. Also, ‘The Freedom of Information Act and Sectorial Responsibilities: An Appraisal’, did not give adequate scrutiny to the UK law, even though it is stated as an objective of the paper. However, other articles made up for any perceived deficiency by the sheer brilliance with which they were addressed.

    The Journal is compelling as a platform for cross pollination of ideas in legal scholarship. The content of the maiden edition of the journal, without a doubt, is a  very enlightening and informative literature.

  • INTELS offers scholarship, jobs to 66 physically challenged persons

    Oil and gas logistics giant INTELS Nigeria Limited has taken its community support a notch higher by offering full scholarships to no fewer than 66 physically challenged persons.

    The scholarship scheme, which was set up in 2003 to assist persons with physical disabilities including polio, covers primary, secondary and tertiary education.

    Some of the beneficiaries enjoyed the scholarship from primary school through to tertiary education, attaining professional qualifications in various fields of endeavours, including Economics and Law, among others.

    The beneficiaries also have the opportunity of working at INTELS after completing their education.

    One of the beneficiaries, Uchechukwu Nwafor, who is an Economics graduate of the University of Port Harcourt, said: “words cannot capture the good works INTELS is doing.

    “INTELS has changed my life for good. What INTELS is doing cannot be quantified. The company has been able to make me achieve the desires of my heart. They have empowered me and made me independent. Thanks to INTELS I am not on the road begging for money or food to eat. No company in Nigeria has ever done what INTELS has done for the physically challenged.

  • Cleric to give scholarship, empower 500 widows, others

    A cleric at the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), Mountain of Mercy, at Erio-Ekiti in Ekiti State, Prophet Sam Olu Alo, has empowered 500 widows and artisans at Ido-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of the state.

    Indigent secondary school pupils and students of tertiary institutions are also to get scholarship to pursue their education under the annual scheme.

    Alo said the beneficiaries will be selected at the church’s programme, tagged: Adamimogo Outreach Ido/Osi Open Air Crusade, which will hold from December 3 to 7.

    Addressing reporters at Erio-Ekiti, the cleric said the power-packed programme will hold at Oganganmodu Grammar School’s playground at Ido-Ekiti.

    Alo said the theme of this year’s programme is: Prophet in The City.

    The cleric said it will feature revival, scholarship for Senior Secondary School (SSS) III pupils and tertiary institutions’ students, youth empowerment for artisans and welfare package for the aged and widows.

    He said: “They said a prophet doesn’t get honour in his town, but my own is different. Last year, when I organised this programme at Ido-Ekiti, my country home, the crusade attracted a mammoth crowd.

    “I am a man of God and my own philosophy of evangelism is taking concrete steps by giving to the needy. The widows, the aged and students from poor homes are feeling the current economic heat in the country. This step will help in ameliorating their sufferings.”

  • Igbinedion Varsity offers scholarships to 360 students 

    Igbinedion Varsity offers scholarships to 360 students 

    Nigeria’s premier private university, the Igbinedion University, Okada has offered to give scholarship to 360 students from across the country.

     

    It said the scholarship would be granted to 10 brilliant and best students from each of the 36 states in the country.

     

    Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Eghosa Osaghae, stated this at the award of first degrees and prizes to the 15th set of graduates of the institution.

     

    Prof. Osaghae noted that the gesture was to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by making quality education available to every Nigerians.

     

    Osaghae stated that both the federal and state government have continued to fail private universities in critical areas by not extending bursary and scholarship award to students attending private universities.

     

    He also lampooned the private sector for depriving many Nigerians quality education by refusing to give support to students and management of private universities.

     

    The VC said 11 out of the 85 graduates from the federal government amnesty programme scored Second Class Upper honours.

     

    Prof. Osaghae announced automatic employment for the best graduating students from the federal government amnesty programme including best graduates from its Smart Partnership Programme with some state governors.

     

    His words, “Many people who desire private quality university education don’t have the means to do so. When government gives scholarship and bursary, they only give to students of public universities which are tuition free.

     

    “Private sector is the worst enemy of itself. The private sector also gives support to public universities and thereby deprive many people quality education. This is the time to support people so that we can bridge the gap between the rich and the poor.

     

     Chancellor and founder of the university, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion who was represented by his son, Lucky, said the running of a private university was not to make profit but contribute to national development.

     

    Chief Igbinedion urged the Federal Government to change its policy on private university funding by allowing access to TETFUND.

  • IBB plans scholarship to immortalize late wife, Maryam

    IBB plans scholarship to immortalize late wife, Maryam

    Former Nigerian Military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.) has concluded plans to establish a scholarship programme at all levels of the Nigerian school system in memory of his late wife, Maryam Babangida.

    Babangida made the disclosure in his address at the Inaugural Annual Memorial Lecture in honour of the former first lady, who died from Ovarian cancer on December 27, 2009 in California, USA.

    Babangida, who was represented by Chief Emmanuel Eboh, poured encomiums on late Maryam, who he described as a faithful wife, role model and supportive partner dedicated to the emancipation of Nigerian women.

    He said that late Maryam worked with passion and commitment towards alleviating the poor living condition of Nigerian families, through her pet project, the ‘Better Life for Rural Women’, which she initiated to empower the women.

    According to him, the late Maryam made her mark in her lifetime and would ever be remembered as a good wife, sweet mother and role model by the Babangida family and the Nigerian women.

    “The late Maryam Babangida, whom we are honouring today is a great woman of value. She is a supportive wife, a caring mother and a role model who brought out the true colour of the Nigerian woman.

    “She is a woman of colours in every aspect of her life. It is in view of her contribution to the emancipation of the Nigerian woman, that as a family, we want this annual event to embody scholarship awards.

    “The scholarship award programme will be part of our contribution to the preservation of the memory of this great Nigerian woman. The scholarship will cut across all levels of the Nigerian school system,” Babangida said.

    Earlier, Chief Leo Okogwu, late Maryam’s elder brother and the convener of the inaugural Lecture, eulogized the late first lady for her efforts in advocacy for a better life for Nigerian families.

    He said the Better Life programme for rural women initiated by the late Maryam Babangida was an innovation that lifted the prestige of Nigerian women and also empowered them to live an improved life.

    Okogwu listed the likes of late Margaret Ekpo, and Mrs. Ransome Kuti, as some of the prominent women leaders and activists who did so much for the promotion of women empowerment in the Nigerian society.

    “The late Margaret Ekpo and Mrs. Ransome Kuti’s memories appear to have disappeared with ever-retreating horizon as they question the gratitude of Nigerians for the bravery of these departed golden women,” Okogwu noted.

    He, however, appealed to Nigerians not to allow the memory of late Maryam Babangida waste away, but rather continue to eulogise and appreciate the efforts and contributions of the late former first lady in nation building.

    In an address, the acting Governor of Delta, Mr Kingsley Otuaro described the late Maryam as a trail blazer, who despite the economic challenges, worked tirelessly to improve the lots of the Nigerian woman.

    The acting governor, who was represented by the State Commissioner for Information, Mr Patrick Ukah, said Delta was proud of the achievement of the late first lady for her initiative in giving rural women a better life.

    “The late Maryam Babangida, of whom we are all gathered here to honour, is a Delta woman of whom all of us are really proud of. She was a supportive wife and a role model to the Nigeria woman,” Otuaro said.

    In a lecture, the guest speaker, Dr Fati Ibrahim said the late Maryam Babangida was a resourceful woman, who supported her husband and brought great exposure to the women folks through her better life programme.

    “The Better Life Programme of late Maryam Babangida envisioned the emergence of a confident, well-informed, economically and socio-political empowered African Woman.

    “An African woman participating effectively and fully integrated into the process of national development and engaged in the promotion of family values,” she said.

    Ibrahim, a political activist and internationally acclaimed goodwill and fashion ambassador, explained that the better life initiative of the late former first lady was set up with the aim of improving the standard of living and the quality of life of the rural populace.

    According to her, the focus of the poverty alleviation programme is on rural women, with the aim of integrating them into national development by creating awareness in the general public to the plight of the ordinary women.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the inaugural lecture is, ‘The Nigeria Woman, Before, During and After the Better Life for Rural Women: A Salute to Maryam Babangida.’

    High points of the event include a cultural dance play by the Organisation for the Advancement of Anioma Culture (OFAAC) and a play let, presented by the Theatre Arts Department, State College of Education, Agbor.

  • Learning from Liberia

    A former university course mate of mine from Liberia gave me a call recently. He was among several students from Liberia, Sierra Leone, Namibia and South Africa that Nigeria offered scholarship to study in the country in the 1990s. Yes, Nigeria was really the big brother of Africa back then. We played a key and strategic role toward the end of colonial rule in South Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Angola and Mozambique and in the end of apartheid in South Africa.

    We were also a staunch supporter of the Frontline States of Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe which was established to achieve democratic rule in South Africa. Back then we had a robust foreign policy thrust with Africa as the “centerpiece.” This was the major reason most Nigerians were saddened that we were not duly recognised and accorded our dues and earned respect during the burial of Nelson Mandela.

    My ex-course mate expressed sadness at the state of insecurity in the country. Because of the Liberian civil war, he travelled to Guinea as a refugee from where he came to Nigeria and was granted scholarship by the government. He is one grateful Liberian that sees himself as a Nigerian any day.

    “Are Nigerians aware of what they are toying with?” was his question to me after we finished discussing old times. “The untold misery I witnessed in my country and Sierra Leone is better imagined. I hope Nigerians will rise up and nip this in the bud before it gets out of hand. Nobody is safe during a civil war; we are still battling to put ourselves together over two decades after the war. I love Nigeria for giving me a degree and pray this ‘madness’ ends before degenerating into something else. I am eternally grateful for all you guys did for me.”

    After I hung up I reflected on some of the gory stories he told about their civil war, some of which I already knew because I have friends who fought in that brutal war, some never came back alive. I must confess that sometimes I feel weighed down, especially with the senseless killings of innocent citizens by elusive “herdsmen.” And now IPOB has been added to the dangerous mix just when we are trying to shake off Boko Haram.

    Surely, we all hope Nigeria pulls through. But that should not be taken for granted or to underscore the gravity of the issues the country faces in the context of a changing global order and the need for deep thinking and strategic action. This is time to put on our thinking cap on and be reasonable for once.

    Samuel Huntington once noted that the force that seems to be moving the world these days is not political ideology, but political identity. Everyone is asking the question: Who are we? And who are we not?

    The question is imperative for today. While answering the former may be contentious because of inflamed ethnic, regional and religious tensions in Nigeria today, the latter can be answered immediately that we are not suicide bombers neither are we terrorists or murderers.

    In the midst of this it appears our intelligentsias have gone to sleep. Gone are the days when our ivory towers use to be a beehive of heightened intellectual activities. Gone also are the days when economists, sociologists, historians and political scientists gather to take interdisciplinary approaches to solving complex national problems that the government often find very useful.

    This is why it is frightening that deep thinking is sorely missing in Nigeria and the need to urgently popularise it again. When the bombs started to go off in the Northeast, Abuja and elsewhere, there were no serious workshop and strategic meetings organised by groups to rethink the social and political currents of the new wave of terrorism. Apart from a touch here and there, we almost never heard insightful expositions by our scholars and social critics. This is a clear evidence of the dearth of public reason.

    The sad story is that this grave crisis has not elicited the expected rigorous thinking and analysis from policy and intellectual circles in Nigeria. There have been no high-profile intellectual events to headline a serious commitment on the part of researchers and policy thinkers to properly understand and prepare for what may be a persistent challenge of the 21th Century for Nigeria.

    With the exception of some editorials and often biased op-eds, we lack a commendable civic engagement aimed at proffering solutions to our crises.  How many seminars, workshops and focus group meetings have been convened to think through our crises? Definitely, the absence of such sort of engagements illustrates the low-energy public intellectualism that defines our public space.

    It is also depressing, but true, that it is mainly in foreign think tanks and centres that our crises are receiving the quality attention it deserves from scholars and policymakers. The government, intellectual and civil society actors have not done well in engaging with the challenges of nation building. The danger of this lack of intellectual rigour and vigour is that we may not effectively overcome these challenges if efforts are not made to contain it.

    Is because of our ‘underdeveloped’ nature? The predicament of ‘underdevelopment’ approximates to the chronic absence of problem-solving thinking. Whether viewed in terms of the weakness of institutions or the low quality of goods and services, countries that persist in underdevelopment are those that are unable to socially produce quality solutions to environmental, social, economic and political challenges.

    It is not rocket science that developed societies have successfully mainstreamed their universities and other epistemic communities with their policymaking institutions. The marriage of knowledge production and policymaking is definitive of societies that are on the forward march.

    Prof Nail Fergusson, a Harvard historian, in one of his books: “The Great Degeneration: How Institutions Decay and Economies Die” said the real issue for societies is the quality of public reason. He shows how the degeneration of western society occurred or could occur. What stands out from his analysis however is that the quality of institutions for coordinating social transactions makes the critical difference between prospering and declining societies. So, when societies think clearly and act intelligently, they create superior social institutions to solve their problems. But when public reason is weak then problems persist or compound.

    The dilemma of public reason in Nigeria is very evident and troubling. The quality of debate is also depressing. In the place of logic there is anger and fury. This is where a vibrant civil society comes in. The focus of civil society is formulating policies and programmes that affect social and economic outcomes for the people. It plays its role best when it plays the policy game and not politically partisan. Of course, policy is politics. But that is only to the extent that policy seeks to achieve broader political outcomes. Not just partisan outcomes.

    As we grapple with our security challenges, we need to remind ourselves that most of the more difficult problems we face today are not the products of mere partisan politicking. They are outcomes of leadership. And leadership begins with mobilising ideas that could change situations.

    Our continued underdevelopment is a product of low quality public reason. If we don’t improve the quality of public reasons, if civil leaders don’t see problems as opportunity for creative thinking and mobilise social engagement in search of solutions, we will wake up after much politicking and many elections and discover we have simply compounded our problems. Just like my Liberian ex-course mate prays, I also pray we don’t get to that stage.

    In order to bypass that stage, we need to realise that creative ideas are not generated through superficial one-off encounter; they are generated through persistent, intense, rational and deep thinking. We must realise that solutions to social problems do not end with good ideas alone. There should be great leaders as well who can use the good ideas generated to mobilise citizens toward quality and positive collective actions.

    How we need such leaders in these trying times.

  • 64 students bag Chinese govt scholarship

    64 students bag Chinese govt scholarship

    The dream of 64 students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, studying Mandarin at the Confucius Institute, has been fulfilled with their winning a scholarship to advance their study in various universities in China.

    Speaking at the send-off zin their honour, the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Joseph Ahaneku, said the scholarship was part of the opportunities inherent in the partnership between the Chinese government and the university, which started in 2008.

    He said: “Today, we are celebrating excellence. We are no longer in the stage of advocacy; we have made a statement with our partnership with China. UNIZIK has become a school where you can learn Chinese language to qualify for higher level of scholarship to achieve the dream you have set for yourselves.”

    To make the school the centre for learning foreign languages, the VC noted that efforts were being made to introduce Spanish and German in addition to French and Chinese being taught in the school.

    According to Prof Ahaneku, the school’s aim is to use languages as a  tool to solve unemployment, adding that there was the need to explore foreign languages to give students opportunities.

    He advised the beneficiaries to be disciplined and portray good examples of the institution during their stay in China.

    The Deputy VC (Administration), who is the Country Director of the Confucius Institute, Prof Carol Arinze-Umeobi, hailed the VC for supporting the goals of the institute as a world-class school to learn Mandarin. She urged the beneficiaries to be of good conduct.

    UNIZIK Confucius Institute Director Prof Wang Bo said he was elated by the number of enrolment and induction at the institute yearly, since the partnership was signed. He noted that there was an increase in the number of scholarship beneficiaries compared to previous years.

    Bo disclosed that three of the beneficiaries were offered full scholarship by the Chinese government to study for their Master’s degree in a Chinese university, while the rest were offered scholarship by the Confucius Institute to obtain their Master’s degree in Mandarin.

    He praised the VC for providing the institute’s basic needs to ensure more students are offered scholarship to China.

    One of the beneficiaries, Joy Illodibe, said her decision to study Chinese language caused a disagreement with her parents, who regarded it as a waste of time. She said her joy knew no bound when her parents decided to support her choice of career.

    Another beneficiary, Joshua Emenike,  a graduate of History and International Relations, said he was privileged to be among the recipients. He recalled the challenges  he faced while studying at the Confucius Institute, noting that he almost gave up because of clashes of lectures.

    The highpoint of the ceremony was the presentations by the beneficiaries in Chinese.

    Guests at the event included Deputy VC (Academics), Prof Charles Esimone, the Bursar, Mrs. Joy Ojukwu, and the Director of Information and Public Relations.

     

  • Jumia offers N1m scholarship for essays

    ONLINE shopping company, Jumia, is going beyond shopping to influence the education sector through an essay competition that promises winners a total of N1 million worth of scholarship.

    The competition targets three categories of pupils in primary, junior secondary and senior secondary levels.

    Senior secondary pupils in SS1-SS3 will write on “What is the role of e-commerce as a means of diversification for the Nigerian economy?” for a chance to win N500,000 scholarship;  JSS1-JSS3 pupils will write for or against “Parental control on the internet should be enforced till age 18,” for N300,000 scholarship; while Primary four and six pupils will write for or against the topic: “Online shopping is better than Offline Shopping” for a N200,000 scholarship.

    The 250-word essays are to be sent with full names, class, school names and address, along with their parents/guardians phone number to community@jumia.com.ng by August 31, 2017

    Along with the competition, the Back to School sales event will feature items needed for school such as stationeries, backpacks, shoes, sneakers, insulated lunch boxes, water bottles, provisions, toiletries, clothing for boys and girls, socks and underwear tees, laptops and computer accessories, alarm clocks among others.

    Ojuola Asuquo, the Head of Engagement Marketing at Jumia Nigeria said the competition provides opportunity to contribute to education.

    “We are pleased to support and make a contribution to Nigerian students and their families towards the upcoming school year,” she said.

    She also urged parents to take advantage of the sales campaign and encourage their school-aged children to participate in the competition.

  • 222 girls get SDGs special scholarship

    A total of 222 girls have been offered scholarship to study in various tertiary institutions in the country under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Female Special Scholarship Awards.

    They were shortlisted from 338 candidates who participated in the screening process.

    Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Adamu Hussaini ,made a symbolic presentation of the awards to successful candidates in Abuja on Monday, August 21.

    He said the award was an effort by the Federal Government to achieve the SDGs goal four tagged “Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women” by the year 2030 and beyond.

    He said the ministry would continue to build on the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 2000-2015, which made gender equality a top priority.

    Hussaini enjoined states and local governments to key into the programme to afford Nigerian girls the opportunity to  access quality education.

    In a welcome address at the presentation, the Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Hajiya Natsu Aisha, said that the special scholarship programme focuses on enabling female scholars to enroll, be retained and complete tertiary education programmes at the university, polytechnic or college of education.

    Deputy Director, Nigerian Award at the Federal Scholarship Board, Mr Prinzo Nwanyadimo said that the awardees were nominated through an Inter-Ministerial Committee in February, based on their performances in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

    Nwanyadimo further explained that scholarship was only tenable in public tertiary institutions, with emphasis on nursing, medicine, laboratory science, law, technical and vocational education courses.

    “Each state was awarded two slots for university while GEP states got four slots each in polytechnics and Colleges of Education” he said.