SCHOLARSHIPS AND EMPLOYMENTS GALORE AT PTI

It was an unforgetable experience as over 3,000 Technicians and Technologists were awarded National Diploma, Higher National Diploma and Certificates for the last three academic sessions at the 2016 Convocation Ceremony of The Petroleum Training Institute Effurun, Delta State, Gbenga Ojo reports.

Hundreds of students led by the President of the students' union Government (SUG) Petroleum Training Institute Effurun, Comrade Theophilus Ukuyoma, The President Students' Union Government Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun(FUPRE), Comrade Ozubu Blessing and the National Association Of Polytechnic Students' Senate President,  Comrade Jeremiah Friday were at Osubi airstrip as early as 7am on Saturday 8th October, 2016 with banners to welcome the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who was invited for the Convocation. On the Minister's arrival, the students raised songs to welcome him, after which Dr. Ibe was officially welcomed.

The event which was anchored by the Institution's Public Relation Officer, Mr. Brown Ukanefimone and opened with Exhibition of different creative works from the different departments in the Institute got started on the Friday 7th of October with Pre Convocation lecture tittled The Role of Research and Training in Sustainable Economic Growth and National Development with the former Vice Chancellor of University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Joseph Ajienka as the guest Speaker.

There was joy and jubilation as different awards  were presented to top students from different department. The awards included , The Institute Award, Typa Cenia Award, PTI National Alumni Association Award, PPMC award, Chevron Award, Mobil Award, Principal's Award, Miss Ama Pepple's Award Shell Award and David O. Etiejirhvwe's Award.

Also the lecturers were not left out as Dr. G. O. Agiri, Dr. H. A. Adimula and Mr. P. E. Akumagba were honoured for their outstanding research on  'Immobilized Oil Degrading Microorganisms in Local Cellulosic Materials for Rapid Deployment in Bioremediation of Oil Polluted Soils'.

“I have ordered Petroleum Trust Development Fund (PTDF) to award scholarships to the three best OND graduands and I have also asked institutions under me to employ the three best HND graduands.” Dr. Ibe Kachikwu crowned it up.

The Minister of State for Petroleum, who assured Nigerians of the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to build a solid structure for the country, commended the institute for proper management of funds and urged them to evolve ideas that could make the institution self reliant. The minister pledged to liaise with relevant agencies to ensure that PTI remained relevant in building the manpower needs of the oil and gas industry in the country. The minister advised the graduands not to bother looking for jobs but utilise their skills to create jobs for themselves and to employ others.

In a remark, the Principal/ Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Training Institute, Prof. Sunny lyuke urged the HND graduands to continue to play active roles and be good
ambassadors of the institution. He also challenged the best ND graduands to make quick plans and return for the HND programmes. The Principal said that the school planned to partner with other foreign universities to undertake Post graduate programme and a Master of Science Programme in ICT. He said PTI would soon become a centre for digital innovations which would create jobs for the teeming youths. “We are soliciting your support and collaboration in this regard. The project is estimated at N120 billion and when completed will be first of its kind in the entire sub-saharan Africa”, he said.

The Chairman of Council, Mr. M.D.B. Ladan appealed to the Federal Government to consider increasing budgetary allocations to the Petroleum
Training Institute to enable it achieve its mandate.

Alordiah Ovie Andrew, from Electrical Electronics Department who had four distinctions in four semesters and won three different awards which includes, Best HND Graduate in Mathematics, Best Overall HND Graduate and the Best student in HND-Electrical/Electronic Engineering Technology (Electronic & Telecommunications option) for 2014 /2015 session said "I feel so elated and its a dream come true . It wasn't easy coming this far and the greatest challenge was how to become the best but I thank God I made it through. . To crown it all, the immediate employment, courtesy of the Hon Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kaichukwu was mind blowing."

The winner of 2013/2014 Institute award for best graduating student in Industrial safety department, Miss Ama Pepple award for the best graduating female and PTI retired staff award for best graduating female, miss Sarah from Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology department told Campus Life that she felt exhilarated winning the three awards. "Especially knowing that the achievement made my mom and folks so happy and proud" she said.

Another award winner that spoke with Campus life was Nmadi Evis Ani who emerged as 2013/2014 Best ND Graduate in Industrial Safety and Environmental Technology Departmental, had this to say "I am very pleased to have emerged as the  best in my department, I want to specially thank God for the great privilege, my appreciation also goes to this great institute PTI for creating the platform for some of us and the nation at large. I say thank you" he said.

EMBITTERED STUDENTS IN SOUTH AFRICAN STAGE NAKED PROTEST OVER FEES

No longer able to bear the constant school fees hike and police brutality, some South African students, took things into their hands and protested by stripping and baring their breasts. The girls who have been dubbed the ‘Naked Protesters’ by the media, according to Times Live, reportedly stripped themselves of their blouses and bras as they confronted the
police, saying they were tired of being brutalized and shot at by the officers in the protests march organized by the student body.

The ladies were seen with their hands across their heads, telling the police to stop shooting at them.

“It’s for free education. Stop shooting us‚ comrades. Ceasefire fire‚ comrades. It’s for free education‚” the girls were heard chanting in the video. There has been an ongoing protest by university students who disrupted classes on Tuesday, October 4, 2016, in the ongoing fees protests which have hit the universities in the past few weeks.

The unrest began when the education board in that country, announced on September 19 that fees will continue to rise with an 8% cap in 2017.

Since then, students from different universities have been staging protest marches, while some schools have been forced to close down with lectures disrupted.

Source:
Allure News

Detention of 50 Nigerian students in Turkey

Detention of 50 Nigerian students in Turkey, an insult on Nigeria’s sovereignty – Rep Orji

CHAIRMAN, House of Representatives
Committee on Diaspora matters, Barrister Rita Orji yesterday said that the detention of 50 Nigerians by the Turkish government was an insult on the sovereignty of the country. Orji who represents Ajeromi-Ifelodun Federal Constituency of Lagos State on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP, said the arrest of the students would have been understandable if there was any conflict between Nigeria and Turkish government.

Speaking to journalists in Abuja, the lawmaker said, “This is not the first time Nigerians based abroad are being dealt this way. It was so sympathetic that students left their homes to where they are studying, if there is any conflict involving the two countries, it would have been understandable, but the issue of taking them right from the airport to detention and collecting their passports, I think this is the height of insult on sovereignty of a nation.

“This is not the issue of parents of these children, it is the issue of how you respect the sovereignty and dignity of where they come from.

“It is just a terrible outcry on a mere insinuation, a mere allegation or assertion that they may be, or they are studying or they are linked to any of these schools they said the proprietors or the owners have link with overthrown or the coup.

“It is terrible because even here in Nigeria, the Turkish Ambassador attended the graduation ceremonies of students of those same Turkish schools that are purportedly to be shut down on the order of their government.

“So, you come to ask, where is our sovereignty if on this level in this same universe, do we really have a diplomatic relationship, couldn’t they have called on the government of Nigeria before taking such a drastic action.

“They are not ruling Nigeria for us, Nigeria is a sovereign nation and as such we are not taking instruction from them. The students are in a lawful course. Non of the students has been listed as a terrorist, non of them has been mentioned as a terrorists and not on the list of wanted persons.

“It is high time we rose up to this challenge so that people will know that the life of every Nigerian matters,It this is not the issue of black life matters that is in the United States, but this time life and rights of every Nigerian student abroad matters.

“It is unfortunate that it is happening at this critical time but I know the government of Nigeria is going to do due diligence. I believe this is an insult and assault on the dignity of persons and if not for any reason, African chatter respects the life, we have freedom, it can’t be from your assumption you take people and detain them.”

Continuing she said, “This case is premeditated, you can’t tell me that this is sudden. This is a target that has been set waiting for their arrival, it is not that it is
something that happened without knowing, it is orchestrated attempts to tannish the image of Nigeria.

“I think the relevant authorities are supposed to rise up to this defence, we should speak this time and that will save other of our students studying in other countries because this is Turkey today, who knows if we shut up our month and take it as usual maybe another country will wake up again and do their own.”

OVER 50 Nigerian students and other students arrested in Turkey over the attempted coup. They were arrested alongside some citizens of the country. The detained Nigerians were all escorted to a room and their passport confiscated by Turkish police, according to Thisday.

The detainees are mainly students of Fathi
University, a private university in metropolitan Buyukcekmece district of Istanbul. Turkish police claimed the students belong to a terrorist organisation and were offered to be transferred to government schools on the condition to pay the same fees as Private universities, Thisday further reported.

Fathi University happens to be among the
2099 schools, dormitories and universities
shut down by the Turkish government in the wake of the July 15th failed coup in Turkey. The schools and universities were accused by the Turkish government to be terrorist schools because they have links with Islamic scholar Fethullah Gulen, whom the Turkish government had accused of being the mastermind of the coup in Turkey.

17 Turkish schools in Nigeria had earlier been requested by the Turkish Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Hakan Cakil, to be closed down by Nigerian authorities for alleged links to the Hizmet movement.

SPE IN CELEBRATION WITH INMATES

The atmosphere of Federal University of Petroleum Resources Effurun, Delta State was unusual on the 3rd day of Octomber, 2016 as Society of Petroleum Engineers Young Professionals (YP) section 104 Put together a powerful and creative program to mark Nigeria at 56 in a native way. Gbenga Ojo was there.

The program that started with a visit to Okere Prison in Warri Delta  State gave hope to the inmates as they saw young and vibrant engineers visiting them with so much love and Gifts. Engr. Daniel Agbone, the chairman of the section said that "We care not to celebrate the independence alone but also with those that their freedom is still tied within the walls."

The Well attended program formally opened with a powerful drama that reveals the state of the country and the people's reaction to the ongoing recession. Fashion parade follows as the engineers were seen showcasing different cultural attires before jokes and Traditional delicasies were showcased.

The height of the program was the fantastic lecture from Mr. Erekosima Peters, SPE program Coordinator titled The Ethnics Diversity of Nigeria at 56. Mr. Peters enlightened the audience on the ehnics in Nigeria with some facts about Nigeria which includes, how Nigeria spent over three billion dollars and hundred of Soldiers to end the war in Liberia and Sierra Leone which the world ingnored because they don't have resources. He concluded the lecture as he advice the participants not to believe they are criminals as Nigerians, to be proud of Nigeria anywhere they go, to be proud of their green heritage and that they should be ethusuastic of their future greatness.

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) is a not-for-profit professional organization whose mission is to collect, disseminate, and exchange technical knowledge concerning the exploration, development and production of oil and gas resources and related technologies for the public benefit and to provide opportunities for professionals to enhance their technical and professional competence. SPE provides a worldwide forum for oil and natural gas exploration and production. SPE young Professionals Section 104 that covers Delta State also covers all the tertiary institutions in Delta State and has over 32 secondary schools in her catch them young program.

Onyenso Ifeanyi, an HND 2 student of Petroleum Engineers and Geophysis from Petroleum Training Institute Effurun told The Actualizer's Team  that the program was very enlighten, "It took us back to our Africa roots" he added.

A final year student from department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering at Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Adewale Adebowale commends the effort of those that Put up the event. He said it was really nice and enlighten and above all the colourfulness and the delicacies.

Mr. Sylvester Okotie, a lecturer from the department of Petroleum Engineering Federal University of Petroleum Resources said "I am glad to be part of the event because I valued diversity. The program reveals that reality is a perception from our point of view."

The young Professionals (YP) chairperson Augustina Ovuema who is also a staff at Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in her words said there were lots of fun shared amongst them. Most importantly, the message of hope to stay alive and having faith in God that as Nigeria goes through the recession period she will come out strong and refined.

"My sincere appreciation to the  vice chancellor of FUPRE, despite the short notice made the university available for the program to be held. Also thanking the chairman and all members of the section for the privilege to serve. She added."

The Chairman of the section drew the curtain of the event as he unfolds SPE programs for the year and promised to reward the most outstanding students chapter.

PTI: Enough is Enough

Have you ever imagined staying on the queue for hours trying to withdraw your hard earned money from the ATM , and when it gets to your turn the machine suddenly refused to dispense cash.

This happened after you had abandoned all the practical reports and huge assignments just to hastily cash one thousand naira from the ATM .

This exactly is what most PTI students experience every day while some even trekked kilometers just to use ATM and some paid huge amount for transport to cash small amount. In my honest opinion, it is barbaric!

As records will have it, many students have been victims of arrest by the Nigerian Police at the ATM machine Post in the past months. Now, should the School Management be blamed for their arrests? Of course no, because it happened outside the school premises, so they cannot take responsibility.

But how long shall will continue like this? I think and advocate enough is enough. Have you ever spent hours by the ATM machine before? Have you trekked miles just to use ATM or are you one of the students arrested in the past, then you will agree with me that we need ATM machine in the school premises.

We require an ATM machine in P.T.I, If you agree to this, then follow this link and tweet yes. https://twitter.com/ptisug2016_2017/status/­
782899109204197376.