OPEN LETTER TO THE PRINCIPAL/CE P PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE

September 8, 2018.

RE: OPEN LETTER TO THE PRINCIPAL

The Principal/Chief Executive,
Petroleum Training Institute,
Effurun, Delta State.

Dear Sir,

BONFIRE NIGHT

Following my letter titled: Open Letter to the Principal, dated 6th July, 2018, addressed to you
and copied to relevant quarters, which I highlighted to reasonable limits, after careful environmental and moral evaluation, the adverse effects of the bonfire night that is usually observed during the annual students’ week celebrations; this piece seeks to propose an alternative program for the bonfire night (which held anyways in the same awful, or should I say, worst manner despite assurance from the responsible authority of the students union executive since my letter preceded this year’s event).
 There should be TALENT FAIR, a programme designed for fun, entertainment and for excavation
of obscure and invaluable talents in various categories. The categories shall include: music (various genre), comedy, public speaking and dance/choreography/acrobatics. And prices should be awarded to contestants who by the pre-selected judges’ assessment excelled above their fellows in the different categories, courtesy of the students’ union government..
 The event shall be attended by one or two of the Institute’s management representative/s, so as to:
 Ensure compliance to preset programme objectives and conformity to established standards
 Help market outstanding students in the none core academic angle to the outside world with her good contacts and influence
Thank you for your much appreciated audience and for your anticipated favourable response.
Yours sincerely,
--------------------------------------------

Nwachukwu Somto Augustus MNES

HND 2, ISET Department/Environmental Technology Option

Immediate Past President, Nigerian Environmental Society (N.E.S.)

Immediate Past President, Anglican Students’ Fellowship (A.S.F.)

+234(0)9080001560, iamsomtonwachukwu@gmail.com

Cc:
 HSSE Committee, Students' Affairs Office.

NDII STUDENT DIES ON HIS BIRTHDAY

SAD: ACHILLE SAMSON, NDII SLT STUDENT DIES ON HIS BIRTHDAY.

A student of the  department of Science Laboratory Technology NDII of the Petroleum Training Institute Effurun, Delta State ACHILLE SAMSON gave up the ghost onThursday 23/08/18 evening, which happens to be his birthday after suffering from a little sickness.
   According to the information gathered, Samson died Thursday evening. He was reported to have died as a result of the illness which he suffered for a short period of time, Samson gave up in the hospital where he was receiving treatment.
  He was the assistance secretary general of the Arewa Students Union Petroleum Training Institute chapter, before his demise he was among  the organizer of the union cultural day which holds on Saturday, 18/8/2018.
  According to his close friend Seun Paul, who spoke to TATpress said "Samson is my close friend his death was very painful, he is a very cool guy, humble, nice, jovial and easy going person who always smiles to everyone he met, and those are the things I envy about him always."
   The class representative of the department of science laboratory technology NDII when contacted said "me and my coursemate are just returning from his home where we went to pay his parents a condolence visit, he is a gentle and easy going guy."
   TAT correspondence speaking with one of the deceased associates Hammed by name said "I receive the  information this morning that Samson is dead, I was shocked because I still have a conversation with him on Tuesday when he was going home not knowing that would be the last discussion with him. I also join my other coursemate to visit his parents." Hammed express his emotions.
  Also one of the deceased coursemate who happens to be the queen of Arewa Students Union Petroleum Training Institute chapter Hadiza said " I don't know how to describe him because he was so cool, easygoing and hate troubles."
  As at the time of filling this report the remains of Samson is still at the morgue awaiting burial.
     The Actualizers Team Petroleum Training Institute press hereby mourns with the department of Science Laboratory Technology and PTI students at large on the demised of our beloved student. May his soul rest in peace and I pray the almighty God grant His parents the fortitude to bear the loss.
Akinwale Akinyanmi, reporting for ptitat press.

Rip Samson

Rip Samson

EFFECT OF JAMB POLICY ON STUDENT AND REPUTATION OF THE PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE

The Petroleum Training Institute, known for its strict policies has been perceived by most Nigerians to be an Institute of learning meant for only smart and serious students. This idea had been birthed from the fact that the PTI entrance examination was to be compared to that of few tertiary institutions in Nigeria in terms of difficulty.

Mostly, those who were well prepared were offered provisional admission into the institute. While sometimes persons who were well prepared before writing the entrance examination are scarcely not admitted, it was counted a privilege to be in the institute as a student by those that were.

The last PTI entrance examination was conducted for the 2016/2017 academic session of which the number of students admitted was pretty small compared to the number of persons who wrote the examination all over Nigeria, as it had always been anticipated.

And although almost every first examination result comes with an ‘advised to withdraw’ notice for one or two students in few departments, this was part of what made the remaining students firm and serious. Once it was heard that a student was caught cheating in an examination hall, with evidence, in the institute, everyone knew the student was going home, this was a standard which kept all students in every department on their toes, resulting to total dependence on themselves and in return good grades at least.

Students from the Petroleum Training Institute could stand with colleagues from other institutions and display brain power, even they could be distinguished by certain persons and organisations outside the walls of the Institute.

All these experiences were counter balanced with one session of change, maybe mimicking the current administration in the country. What was meant to be help to the Nigerian students had become a blow both to their families and to the reputation of the institute, although the institute had collected all that money already, who is really at loss?

The number of students admitted for the 2017/2018 academic session skyrocketed due to the policy put in place which substituted the PTI entrance examination with the use of JAMB as a means into the Petroleum Training Institute. This was a good thing, of which more persons would obtain the privilege of gaining admission into the institute, but it became as though admission was offered to every single person who applied, unsurprisingly with Nigerians knowing how low the standard of the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) had become.

At least from the rumours and orientations that these new students had gotten outside and within the premises of the Institute, it was expected that most of them would buckle up, especially those who gained admission to the National Diploma programme. There were so many faults and lapses which the returning students had never seen before in PTI, ranging from students smoking in public to the midnight romance which was now a norm as most students now had someone to meet up with each night, while their academics suffer.

News of the exceedingly poor performance of students in the institute after the first semester exam for the session was no shocker since almost every returning student had been like a fortune teller, revealing the amount of un-seriousness which had been displayed formerly.

What used to be ‘one or two’ withdrawals from some departments had become like an award to a lot of students who were now advised to withdraw from the institute, and this ‘advice’ hasn’t actually ever been an advice, if you know what I mean.

      Writing this does not give me joy, because I am currently a student of the Petroleum Training Institute, and I have imagined what it would feel like to be withdrawn from the institution after paying numerous amount of fees, especially in a country as ‘good’ as Nigeria.

Well, I say kudos to all students who did well in their first semester examination and those who did not do too well but are still students of the institute, there is always room for improvement.

Petroleum Training Institute, (PTI) and the Federal University of petroleum Resources (FUPRE) both in Effurun city co-hosted the 9th NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATIONISTS (NAPE) AND NIGERIAN MINING AND GEOSCIENCES SOCIETY (NMGS) mini-conference for tertiary institutions.

"The era of transferring lecture note from one generation of lecturers to the other is over as things are evolving on a daily basis and also the days of ‘handouts and keypoints’ should pave the way for digital research as well as creative and critical reasoning." Dr E. Andrew Ejayeriese (FNAPE, FNMGS) president of the NAPE told the lecturers as he also encouraged the students to explore with their minds generating, testing and validating hypothesis, during the conference that gatherred high profile personnels from Oil and Gas sector.

The conference kicked off on Wednesday 6th of June, 2018 with all the student leaders from across the country arriving and the pre mini-conference leadership submit workshop held at Petroleum Training Institute conference centre.

On Thursday 7th of June, 2018 the leadership submit continued and all the students' chapter across the nation arrived and short courses on Petroleum system (History, definition, types and application), Seismic data acquisition and processing, Operation and wellsite geology and Clastic reservoir geology overview were taught by Dr Joe Ejedawe (FNAPE), Mr Phillip Ajaebili, Mr Ebenezer Bamigboye and Mr Jude Omuije respectively to the student.

The following day which was on the 8th of June, 2018 was the opening ceremony which was attended by the governor of Delta state His excellency Dr Ifeanyi Okowa who was represented by the commissioner of higher education Engr Jude Sinebe who welcomed the students to Delta state and encouraged them to be of best conduct throughout the conference and also told them to visit some interesting places in Delta state if time permits them. The principal/CE of Petroleum Training Institute in the person of Prof. Sunny Iyuke (Ceng, PrEng, FSAAE, MIChem, SAIChE, AMNSChe, COREN) who in his welcome address stated that the theme of the mini-conference: EMERGING ENERGY CHALLENGE: A PARADIGM SHIFT IN GEOSCIENCES EDUCATION, is timely and very significant to the sustainability of the training in the oil and gas sector as well as in mining and geosciences sector with emphasis in the development of the next generation of leaders who today constitute the middle level and future players in the industry and also the Vice-chancellor of Federal University of Petroleum Resources in person of Prof. Akaehomen Akii Ibhadode (FAS) who in his welcome address stated that the theme for the mini-conference captured the deep narrative of our passion in bringing innovation to bear in the mission to make our university global centre of excellence. The Nigerian Mining and geosciences society (NMGS) also indicated in his presidential address that the theme of the mini-conference is very apt especially in the current dispensation of price vagaries in the oil sector and he asked a question if we have the requisite skilled personnel needed for the unearthing of these potentials for the benefit of the nation? Are our students been properly groomed to take over from the aging legends in the industry? Also the University Assistance Programme (UAP) Chairman the person of Dr Adeola Adesida (CPG) also indicated in his address that the theme of the mini-conference was carefully chosen to ignite our passion and prepare every geoscience student to handle the evolving energy needs of our country disruptive technologies/ artificial intelligence/ machine learning, virtual reality, energy transition, environmental footprint, decreasing reserves replacement ratio due to lack of recent major oil and gas discovery and dwindling exploration budget are some of our current realities.

After the welcome address the keynote speaker Prof. S.S Dada did justice to the topic EMERGING TRENDS IN MINERAL EXPLORATION IN NIGERIA. Then the exhibition was declared open by the president NIGERIAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM EXPLORATIONIST (NAPE) where PTI, FUPRE and other exhibitors displayed some of their works. Then the inter university quiz commenced immediately after the exhibition and different university was represented by their representatives and at the end of the quiz competition SHAIB DQUID representing the Federal university of Petroleum Resources emerged the winner and RIDWAN AMURE representing Obafemi Awolowo  University (OAU) came out second and DAVID CHIBUZOR representing Ebonyi state University came out third.

In the evening the student were not left out as a get together/ variety night was organized for the where MC Erickado anchored the event and artists from different universities like CYP (who dedicated a song to NAPE), ARMSON SLAM both from PTI, ILLUMINIOUS from FUPRE and a female rapper artist CRYSTAL all the way from University of Nsukka, Nigeria (UNN) thrilled the audience.

Then on Saturday 9th of June, 2018 which was the last day of the mini-conference was package with different student representing their universities participating in oral and poster presentation and at the end IDONGESIT M. AKWAOWOH and OLUGBENGA A. EHINOLA from University of Ibadan emerged the winner of the oral presentation who will be sponsored to AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PETROLEUM GEOLOGIST conference which will be held in South Africa. Then the students were taken on an excursion to PTI demonstration ground where they were shown the functional drilling rig, flow station with wellhead.

The conference ended with an award night where awards were given to all those who sponsored the mini-conference and cash prizes were given to the winners of NAPE UAP grant-in-aid for both undergraduate and post graduate student to support their research work. NAPE PTI student chapter won the award of the BEST STUDENT CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP DRIVE. The event ended with the LOC chairman person of Prof. Ebo Gabriel Imeokparia giving the closing remark wishing all those who attended the mini-conference from across the nation safe trip back to their various destinations.

How can geosciences education continue to develop in Nigeria with relevance to the emerging energy challenges? This question was answered at the 9th NAPE-NMGS mini-conference for tertiary institutions which was held at Petroleum Training Institution (PTI) and the Federal University of petroleum resources (FUPRE) Effurun, Delta state, Nigeria. 
          

 

PTI participants @ the conference

PTI- Exhibition booth

Participants during a short-course

PTI participants

FUPRE VC giving his welcoming address

PTI Principal/CE giving his welcoming address

Dignitaries

Poster presentation

 

PTI Students Laud Principal for his Great Achievements

The current and graduated students of Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun Delta State gathered in mass recently to celebrate the institute Principal/CEO; Prof. Sunny Iyuke and his management team for a great achievement in the institute. Gbenga Ojo reports.

A year ago, during the school fees hike in the institute, the delegation of NANS, Ex Presidents & the present Executives of SUG PTI visited the CEO/ Principal Prof. Iyuke and he gave the delegation his words that in three months from that day if transformation is not noticed, that they should shut down the Institute.

The team has been on the watch ever since, until recently when they gathered together again to appreciate the management led by Prof. Iyuke saying  that he has delivered on his word.

It will be recalled that during President Olusegun Obasanjo's regime over 18billion naira was approved for the renovation of PTI, which kept still all the activities in the institute for over 12 months in 2007.

Few months after the renovation, the institute Students' Press body, popularly known as The Actualizer's Team (TAT) came up with an article titled "PTI Upgrade or DownGrade?" The press body explained in the article that the question on the lips of all the students on campus that were sent home for one year in the name of renovation came back to meet what they tagged "below expectation" as what they met was down grade and not upgrade. According to the article everything moved from good to bad. The student were reported to be wondering what the urge amount of money was used for, because many buildings were abandoned including hostels, class rooms, admin and many buildings left untouched. PTI moved with a great speed from grace to grass in that year.

From that 2007 till date many Principals and Acting Principals have ran the affairs of the institute with little or no achievement.

 On the 19th July, 2016 the federal government appointed a renowned South African based professor of Chemical and Process Engineering, Mr Sunny Iyuke, as new principal and Chief Executive Officer of Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Delta State. Until his appointment,  the Prof. who came with the vision to digitalizing PTI was the Head of School of Chemical & Metallurgical Engineering of the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa.

Less than two years of his stay in the Institute, The Prof has been honored with so many awards and commendations for his great innovations which includes:

Reconnection of the burnt 33KVA line which has led to regular power and water supplies in the institute; uninterrupted academic activities; commencement of National Diploma Programme in Computer science and information technology; introduction of post HND and Masters Programme in Petroleum Engineering; industrial peace on campus; confirmation of 159 staff employed in 2015; revitalization of the offshore technology centre (OTC); establishment of skill development academy centre at the osubi campus; reactivation of research and development directorate;  construction of 300 seater auditorium and road network on campus; renovation of the ultra-modern swimming pool;  renovation of male and female hostels;  opening of the long abandon female NDDC hostel; fixing of all the street lights in the school premises. Also, the additional male hostel project that has been on hold since 2007 is now on use and the road leading to the hostel is under massive construction.

Furthermore, renovations are going on in different areas of the school, like the General Studies department building and construction of the new lecture theatre.

Other achievements were mentioned by both old and current executives that spoke with Campus Life.

"Mr principal prof. Sunny Iyuke with the one year I spent with him in office, I must say he has achieved more than you can think of. His coming to the institute lead to great achievements which includes;

In his two years in the office, he has conducted 2 convocation a record that had not been in the institute before.

It was the first time in over 15 years that graduate  from the institute are mobilized for NYSC the same year they graduated due to the smooth running of the calendar

His managerial skills have seen him manage agitations from both students and staff amicably a record that has not been set by any principal without protest and strike

He brought up policy that has been inclusive of the students more than the staff in term of student’s welfare and comfort. I must say a man like Prof Sunny Iyuke deserves more than an accolade." Theophilus Ukuyoma, SUG president 2016/2017 academic session.

Comr Akamune Oke Stage, SUG President 2014/2015 session described it as a 'ROUND PEG IN A ROUND HOLE.' "The proof of great leadership and transformation agent. As a passionate Student lovely Ex President of PTI, I have being on the watch and the management led by Prof. Iyuke have done marvelously well beyond expectation." He added.

"This is the first time according to my knowledge that  P.T.I has a great leader as Principal after many years. Professor Sunny Iyuke brought P.T.I from a 'Thick hole of Darkness’ of financial mismanagement, and nepotistic appointment of directors, to the mountain top of  'Bright lights and innovations.' In my opinion, there is no room for comparison!" Oride  Christopher, SUG President  Aspirant  2017/2018.

"Prof Sunny Iyuke has been a blessing to the PTI community since the day of his appointment as Principal/CEO of the institute. What thrills me most is the fact that Prof Iyuke did not just come to take up the appointment as just a job. He is passionate about it.  Sometimes, during weekends, you see him, simply dressed, taking a walk round the school, visits the students' mess when students are viewing a match, just observes and leaves.

I believe in a few years from now, Prof Iyuke and his management team will take PTI to a world class standard. Kudos!!"  -Omosebi Adedoyin SUG Secretary General 2017/2018

"The Principal, Prof Sunny Iyuke,  is a hardworking, kind hearted, innovative and easy going man.  Prof Iyuke is a simple man who you can walk up to even outside his office and you'll be rest assured he will listen to you. I was shocked the day I saw him at the new lab in the school premises on a Sunday evening. He was just taking a walk and funnily, he was alone.  I went to him and greeted him. We got talking and he told me he was going round the school to assist what was happening. Imagine! On a weekend, he still mapped out time to check the situation of things around the school. There and then, I knew PTI has gotten the long awaited Messiah that will perfect all imperfections."

-Akpomudhere Maryjane SUG Welfare director, 2017/2018

"The principal, Prof. Sunny Iyuke, is a father to all. Few times I had the opportunity to be in council chambers to discuss union issues with the management, I see display of humility and wisdom in the way he tackles union issues. He is a good listener, a friendly father and above all he's visionary."

-Godwin David Okemena, Junior Chamber International, PTI president, 2017/2018

Prof Sunny has re-engineered the vision, mission and actualization of the essence of PTI establishment. We hope for more positive transformation.

AFOLABI Ajibola former Students'Press President (TAT) and Students' Care Taker Committee Secretary General 2008/2009 session.

On this note, Comrade Stage who on behalf of PTI community, lauds & appreciate the good works of the Prof. & his team of immeasurable transformation, use the opportunity to indulge the management to do more & keep the good works, and also call all leadership, individuals & cooperate agencies to support the vision, mission and transformation agenda of the CEO/Principal.

                Ojo Gbenga Nicholas

The Importance of Inspiration and Four Tips for Finding It

Thomas Edison once said, “Genius is one part inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration.” And while there’s no discounting the tremendous value of the latter, the former is what sets the wheels in motion. Here’s a closer look at inspiration, along with tips for finding inspiration of your own.
What Is Inspiration?
“Inspiration is a much-used, domesticated, amorphous and secular word for what is actually a revolutionary, countercultural and spiritual phenomenon. But what exactly is inspiration? What are we talking about when we use that term?” asks New York Times Op-Ed columnist David Brooks in a recent piece on the topic.
He goes on to establish some core characteristics of inspiration. For starters, the rules of normal logic don’t apply. Rather, Brooks writes, “[Moments of inspiration] feel transcendent, uncontrollable and irresistible. When one is inspired, time disappears or alters its pace. The senses are amplified. There may be goose bumps or shivers down the spine, or a sense of being overawed by some beauty.”
Inspiration is also inherently active, continues Brooks. “There’s a thrilling feeling of elevation, a burst of energy, an awareness of enlarged possibilities. The person in the grip of inspiration has received, as if by magic, some new perception, some holistic understanding, along with the feeling that she is capable of more than she thought,” he insists.
Other aspects of inspiration, according to Brooks? It’s not driven by self-interest, it’s not earned, it's out of our control, it “does not happen to autonomous individuals,” and it’s impermanent and mercurial.
Concludes Brooks, “Most important, inspiration demands a certain posture, the sort of posture people feel when they are overawed by something large and mysterious. They are both humbled and self-confident, surrendering and also powerful. When people are inspired they are willing to take a daring lark toward something truly great. They’re brave enough to embrace the craggy fierceness of the truth and to try to express it in some new way.”
Meanwhile, psychologists Todd M. Thrash and Andrew J. Elliot deconstruct inspiration into three core parts: evocation, transcendence, and approach motivation.
Given the “definitional ambiguity” involved with capturing the true essence of inspiration, perhaps the best way of putting it is, “You’ll know it when you feel it.”
The Inspiration Imperative
All of which begs the questions: If inspiration only accounts for one percent of optimal output, then why is it so important both in school and at work?
Contends Scott Barry Kaufman in Harvard Business Review, “Inspiration awakens us to new possibilities by allowing us to transcend our ordinary experiences and limitations. Inspiration propels a person from apathy to possibility, and transforms the way we perceive our own capabilities.”
Without inspiration, we’d all be butting our heads up against the same challenges day after day. Inspiration gives us both the means and the motivation to rise above, be creative, grow closer to our goals, learn from others, and achieve enhanced well-being.
4 Tips for Finding Your Inspiration
Anyone who’s ever tried to force inspiration knows that it’s easier said than done. But this doesn’t mean you need to sit back and wait for it to strike, however. Writes leadership communication expert Kristi Hedges for HBR, “Fortunately, inspiration is not a static state of mind but a process that we can cultivate. While we can’t force ourselves to be inspired, we can create an environment that’s conducive to inspiration.”
In other words, while may not be able to call for inspiration and expect it to come, we can take steps to open the door to inspiration, as shared by Hedges:
1. Make a move.
Waiting for inspiration to strike may lead to a life of waiting. While feeling stuck is normal, it’s also not productive. Says Hedges, “But inaction is your enemy in this effort. Inspiration doesn’t just happen while we’re at our desks returning emails. Don’t wait for a flash of insight to strike before making any changes. The field of cognitive behavioral therapy shows that our behavior affects how we think and feel. When we do different things, we feel different feelings.”
Perhaps Jack London put it best in advising,  “Don’t loaf and invite inspiration; light out after it with a club, and if you don’t get it you will nonetheless get something that looks remarkably like it.”
2. Stay in learning mode.
Just because you achieve expertise in a particular area doesn’t mean you’ve learned all you can learn. In fact, this mindset can lead to something called “earned dogmatism” and a close-minded outlook. Instead, commit to ongoing learning by developing an “inspiration routine.” 
Suggests Hedges, “There are lots of ways to gather [fresh experiences] – take a class, read a book, attend professional gatherings, travel. It’s best to pick one that works for you and then structure your time to integrate these actions into your routine. You might commit to traveling once every six months or take a few hours every Friday morning to read articles and books or set a goal to meet three new people in your field each quarter. Bill Gates was known for having a twice-yearly think week, spending full weeks away from his office, reading and mapping new ideas. For most professionals, this isn’t possible but devoting even a couple hours a week to perspective-expanding activities will help you stay engaged and interested.”
3. Expand your social network.
Spending time with the same people every day may be comfortable, but it can also lead to stagnation. In spending time with new people -- particularly those who are involved in different activities than you are -- you grow closer to new ideas and insights.
4. Limit your choices.
While open-mindedness is a necessary attribute of aspiration, too many choices can be immobilizing. Suggests Hedges, “We can boost our motivation by narrowing down our options, making it easier to act on them. We like to know we have a plan and are working toward it. If you feel stuck, try writing down all of your options and selecting the three you’re most excited about in order. Then allocate time to work toward your top choices.”

One last thing to keep in mind? We’ve all heard the adage “practice makes perfect,” and cultivating inspiration is no different: The more regularly you practice inspiration, the easier finding it will become.

Question of the week

Happy easter break to all oil republicans.... Answer this question and stand a chance a to win.... Which work can a Theatre art graduate with pass do in an engineering  firm?  Comment your answer below or send your answer to actualizersteam@gmail.com Submission closes Thursday evening.... Powered by Imperfect Me....

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.