FG inaugurates remodelled Chibok school seven years after B’Haram attack – Newstrends
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FG inaugurates remodelled Chibok school seven years after B’Haram attack

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday inaugurated the newly remodelled Government Girls Secondary School in the Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.

The school was attacked by the Boko Haram terrorisms seven years ago, where they kidnapped 276 schoolgirls.

The new school is now renamed ‘Government Secondary School’ as a mixed school for boys and girls.

The attack which took place on April 14, 2014 had led to the schoolgirls, mostly Christians, being ferried into Sambisa Forest, causing agony for the parents, the state and the country.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan through his Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iwella, visited Chibok in March 2015, to lay the foundations for new school building.

But not until President Muhammadu Buhari came on board, in which, the Borno State Government under the leadership of Governor Babagana Zulum took over that the project was completed, this year.

While some of the girls escaped, some rescued, about 112 of them were held captive or married off to the terrorists as their whereabouts are still unknown.

Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen, who at the Monday’s inauguration represented Buhari, said she was in the state to bring a goodwill message of the President to the people of Borno, especially those in Chibok.

She thanked Borno State Government for singlehandedly renovating the school.

She said the FG was determined to provide quality education, especially to the downtrodden and improve the girl-child education.

She said the present administration was also unwavering to root out insurgency in the North-East region and the country as a whole to enable the displaced people to return to normal life.

The minister said, “We sympathize with the Chibok community. We know what you are going through. But I want to assure you that we are working day and night to make sure that life returns to normal both in your community and all others affected by terrorism.

“I want to appeal to Chibok leaders and the community to continue give their maximum support to the present administration under the leadership of Governor Babagana Umara Zulum who is ever willing to give girl child education the desire it needs.”

The chief host, Governor Zulum, thanked President Buhari for his support and cooperation to the state government to obtain the required funds which led to the completion of all the destroyed structures, and pledged his administration’s commitment to uplifting the education sector in the state.

He prayed God to rescue the remaining schoolgirls and all those still in the captivity of Boko Haram.

Zulum said, “The reconstructed Chibok school have a state of the art classrooms, library and laboratory, computer and ICT centre, a sports arena and a clinic.

“For security, it has a gate house and observation post to be manned by well-equipped security agents.

“This administration promised to rebuild the Government Secondary School in Chibok which was destroyed by terrorists. Today, I am glad that we are all witnessing the official commissioning of the completed befitting projects.

“We want our students to go back to school. We want them to get the education they need to live a decent life. We will support them and we will do everything we can to support their parents and the entire community.

“We will also not forget the Chibok girls. We are working hard to ensure that they return home. As a father, I can feel the pain of the parents. What happened was tragic. But I want you to know that this administration cares. We will not abandon our children. We are with you.”

A number of other projects executed by the state government were also commissioned to mark the governor’s two-year anniversary.

 

The projects executed by the Zulum administration are the newly constructed Government Lodges in Chibok and Askira Uba LGA,  Mbabala Technical College also in Chibok; primary health care centres in Mbalala and Wamdeo in Askira Uba; 200 housing units in Chibok town; 20 double classrooms in Damboa; boreholes in Mboa community as well as distribution of palliatives, among others.

Education

Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2

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Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2

The Chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Kaduna Polytechnic Chapter, Comrade Abubakar J. Abdullah, said the union will shut down all polytechnics nationwide by December 2 due to the Federal Government’s failure to meet its demands.

He explained that the union leadership issued a 15-day ultimatum to the Federal Government on October 6, 2024, outlining pressing demands aimed at resolving the systemic challenges that hinder the progress of polytechnics. However, he said the government failed to address the issues.

Speaking at a news briefing on Tuesday, Nov. 26, in Kaduna, the chairman listed some of the demands, including swift release of the second tranche of the NEEDS Assessment Intervention fund, immediate implementation of the approved 25/35% salary review across all public polytechnics, and the payment of accrued arrears.

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Other demands are the release and final resolution of the decades-long arrears of CONTISS-15 migration for lower cadres, the release of outstanding promotion arrears, addressing inadequate funding, and resolving the issue of unpaid allowances.

 

“Regrettably, as we passed the deadline of this ultimatum, we are yet to see the necessary actions from the Federal Government to address these pressing demands. The silence and inaction have left us with no option but to consider the possibility of a total shutdown of our institutions, scheduled for December 2nd, 2024, should our concerns remain unaddressed,” he said.

 

Comrade Abdullahi said the survival and quality of the educational system hinged upon the government’s responsiveness.

He stated that the union believe that a strong education sector is vital for the future of the nation and cannot afford to compromise on these issues any longer.

 

He urged the Federal Government to engage in meaningful dialogue with the union and take decisive steps towards resolving these challenges.

 

Poly lecturers to embark on nationwide strike from Dec 2

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US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students

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US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students

Montana Technological University (Montana Tech) has opened applications for its 2025 scholarships, offering international students the opportunity to pursue graduate studies in the USA.

These scholarships, available for both Master’s (MS) and PhD students, provide a tuition waiver and a competitive stipend for living expenses.

Scholarship overview and opportunities 

Scholarship Region reports that Montana Technological University is offering funded Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs) for Fall 2025. These assistantships are available for students applying to the MS and PhD programs, and they provide an opportunity to work alongside faculty on important research projects.

The university is focusing on key research areas such as advanced materials and manufacturing, critical mineral recovery and processing, environmental remediation, and biotechnology. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply soon to contribute to these cutting-edge fields.

Eligibility requirements 

To apply for the Montana Tech University Scholarship 2025, candidates must meet several criteria.

  • Applicants should have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university.
  • They must also meet the admission requirements for the program they wish to apply to and satisfy the English language proficiency requirements set by the university.
  • Additionally, applicants must submit their applications for admission by January 1st to be considered for the scholarship.

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Benefits for scholarship winners 

Students who are accepted into the MS or PhD programs at Montana Tech and are awarded a Graduate Research Assistantship will receive significant benefits. These include a

  • Tuition waiver and a competitive stipend to cover living expenses.
  • All applicants to available graduate programs will automatically be considered for the assistantships.

Required documents for application 

Details inform that candidates applying for the Montana Technological University Scholarship must prepare several documents as part of the application process. Required documents include the;

  • Application form,
  • A personal statement,
  • A CV, recommendation letters,
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores, GRE scores, and official academic transcripts.

These documents as mentioned, are crucial for the admissions review and scholarship consideration.

Step-by-step application process 

To apply for the scholarship, candidates are informed to first visit the graduate research fields page on Montana Tech’s Graduate School website. From there, they can apply for openings in the available research areas and complete the application form.

All required documents must be uploaded as part of the application. For more details and guidance, prospective students can contact the Montana Tech Graduate School at [email protected], where they will be connected with a faculty member leading a funded project.

 

US University opens 2025 scholarships for international students

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Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025

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Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025

Western University has announced that applications are now open for the National Scholarship Program for the 2025-2026 academic year.

The opportunity offers funding to outstanding students with a proven track record of academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.

According to Western University, the deadline for applications is February 14th, 2025.

Details of the program and eligibility 

The National Scholarship Program is aimed at Canadian citizens and permanent residents, as well as international students meeting specific criteria. International students who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents are eligible for the International President’s Entrance Scholarship.

Details inform that applicants must have an overall academic average of 90% or higher from their Grade 12 courses (or equivalent) and must apply for full-time studies at Western University’s main campus. Students must also be nominated by their high school.

Scholarship opportunities and amounts 

The program offers various scholarship opportunities based on academic achievement and extracurricular involvement.

  • The Neen Hodgins National Entrance Scholarship awards $80,000 over four years, while,
  • President’s Entrance Scholarships range from $50,000 to $70,000, depending on the amount of funding available.
  • For black students, the James Jenkins President’s Entrance Scholarship offers $50,000, and the Beryl Ivey Continuing Entrance Scholarship provides $92,000 over four years.

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International students have access to scholarships such as the Neen Hodgins President’s International Entrance Scholarship, valued at up to $80,000. Other awards include the Faculty Entrance Scholarships, valued at $30,000, and the National Merit Awards, which provide $2,000 for students who are interviewed but not selected for a National Scholarship or a Schulich Leader Scholarship.

Application requirements 

Applicants must submit a variety of materials, including a completed online application, a transcript from their school, and a reference letter from a teacher or staff member who is familiar with their academic and extracurricular achievements.

Additionally, applicants are required to write a 1,000-1,250 word essay on an issue of public concern. The essay, along with other supporting documents, must be submitted by the February 14th, 2025, deadline.

Nomination and assessor process 

The institution informs that in order to be considered for the National Scholarship Program, students must be nominated by their school. The application includes a “Nomination Request Form,” which is sent to the school administrator once completed.

Students are told to ensure that they follow up with their school to confirm that their nomination and transcript are submitted on time. Additionally, students must request one reference letter from a teacher or staff member who can assess their academic performance and involvement in extracurricular activities.

How to apply 

To apply, students need to access the National Scholarship application through the online portal, using their OUAC reference number and date of birth.

  • Western University advises that there may be a delay between submitting the admission application and being able to access the scholarship application, with a minimum wait time of five business days.
  • Once available, students can complete the application and submit all required documents before the assigned deadline.

For further details on how to apply, visit the Western University National Scholarship application portal.

 

Canadian university offers funded national scholarship program for 2025

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