There are strong indications that the Federal Government may have jettisoned the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovations and Development (PRESSID).The development is linked to the dearth of funds to run the project which was initiated by the immediate past administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan. Government sources disclosed to The AUTHORITY that the scheme is not listed among the priorities of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration.It was learnt that because of the poor disposition of the government to the scholarship scheme, the PRESSID Implementation Committee has not called for applications for the next edition.The AUTHORITY also learnt that over 102 candidates who the last administration selected for the scheme were yet to be placed in any foreign university.

This has fuelled speculations that the government had caved in to pressure from some politicians, who called for the scrapping of the project because their zones could not meet the merit criterion for selecting beneficiaries.The scholarship scheme, under which Nigerian graduates with First Class honours degrees are sponsored to any of the top 100 universities in the world, was established in January 2012 and has awarded a total of 307 scholarships under three editions.Checks by The AUTHORITY revealed that entries for ap­plications which normally open in September are yet to com­mence, even as the website for the scheme, http://scholarship.nuc.edu.ng appear to be dormant.

Attempts to speak with the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, who doubles as PRESSID Implementation Committee chairman, were not successful as the commission's Director of Information, Mallam Ibrahim Yakasai was evasive. He also failed to answer calls or text messages sent to his phone.However, an official of the NUC, who craved anonymity, expressed doubt if applications for this year's edition would be opened.The official said the Federal Government was still having challenges in placing some of the successful candidates from the last edition into the relevant universities abroad.
The official said: "We have not opened applications for this year's PRESSID and I don't know when that will be because there are some issues on ground. We are still having some issues with the last beneficiaries.

"So, anytime we hear from the Presidency on this year's PRESSID, we will open applica­tions. For now we are waiting for the Presidency."
The list of the 102 successful candidates for the last edition of PRESSID, who emerged through a Computer Based Test (CBT), was released in the twilight of former President Goodluck Jonathan's administration.The uncertainty over the presidential scholarship comes on the heels of the recent review of the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) overseas scholarship scheme, due to a change in the policy direction, that include a partial or outright domestication of the scheme in Nigeria in line with the Local Content Policy of the Nigerian government.The PRESSID scheme pro­vides tuition fees, accommodation, transportation, living expenses and local travels to benefiting students and also offer them opportunities to pursue different courses of study up to PhD level in top universities abroad.

Some of the beneficiaries of the first edition of the scheme, who are mainly from the southern part of the country, had recently rounded off their studies while the fate of the recent graduates to benefit from the programme now hangs in the balance.
The Federal Government instituted PRESSID as part of efforts to develop a critical mass of professionals who would serve as catalysts of change and agents of scientific and technological advancement, as well as sustainable economic development.

source: http://www.authorityngr.com/2015/11/Austerity--Presidential-scholarship-scheme-threatened/#

Pls is anyone studying at McGill University? I need an urgent info. Thanks

I did my test on sunday and up to this moment I have not received any mail from them. My application status is showing " application under review". Anybody with the same issue?

adren:
by God's grace, come 21st of November, I would be graduating alongside a thousand others.
I am however dissapointed or nevertheless, full of pity for a good friend of mine passing out with a 2.2 in mechanical engineering..
He is ashamed of himself and his failure to attain a better grade though he's versatile in his field of study and profficient in the use of engineering softwares to solve problems- a feat i envy him for.
Dear ever gallant nairalanders, how can i help my friend who is in a state of depression?..

abeg, i don finish now ooo.. me sef need job oooo..quote me if you've got one.. thank you

see pictures after the cut..


Mods, Please help a bro.. kindly move to fp mods

I guess you attended futa I also did. While I graduated with a first class, I have friends who finished with 2.2 and are doing well for themselves I mean very well. Infact, one just left for his masters program in the the prestigious Texas A & M in USA. Your friend should not be demoralised. He needs the right information. Tell him to contact me. Btw, I lecture in futa

President Buhari please answer PRESSID scholars. Its been 7 months now.
https://www.nairaland.com/2654837/urgent-plea-pressid-2015-2016

Explorers:
10 billion tons of gold sits underneath the sea bed, it is destined to sit here however as there is no way to access it.

I may disagree there have been recent advances in ocean and deep sea mining even mining in the artic. However, environmental concerns have restricted their exploration and exploitation .

UndisputedMan:


We are too blinded by the sweetness of oil that our government has decided to swim in the ocean of oblivion. I once had a conversation with a company that came to Nigeria for coal exploration but the company left when the procedure to get the exploration right was too mean and corrupt. Nobody cares and its a pity..

Thats the problem and it all balls down to corruption. I guess the bribe the company would settle guys became too much they had to run. Even most graduates would prefer go to europe, usa or canada and make the mega bucks to the detriment of the sector. I pray we break the dominance of oil.

We need to create a good environmemt for investors. We should learn from other succesful african countries. Inwomder why top multinational mining xompanies are situated in south africa, namibia, zambia, tazania etc yet we cant even boast of 1. We need a good policy framework. Dangote has seen the light sharp businesssman, he has seen the potentials in other african countries. If Dangote can become rich with his success in the cement industry , the government should havebgone past this stage nowm fornonce the government should employ someone with a sound knowledge in mining, geology or mettalurgical engineering

The problem of diversification and corruption has really affected our government also undocumemted mining activities going on in the northnand other parts of the country. The only mining sector booming at least is the cement industry. I wonder why succesive government have failed to utilise theses chances. KPMG indentified seven strategic minerals in Nigeria namely coal, bitumen,limestone,iron ore , barites , gold and lead/zinc for priority development. you can imagine the plethora of minerals lying untapped yet we keep complaining about oil prices. Your statistics of the mining sector in canada is absolutely correct. As at 2006, the total number of employees in the mining sector in canada was 368,745. This number doesnt include exploration and services, nor does it include industries that offer services such as railways, ports legal firms etc we keep complaining about unemployemt. I bet you if 4 mining multinational companies like syncrdude in canada, Rio tinto aclan, BHP billiton, acerlomittal enter the nigeria mining industry in Nigeria unemployment would reduce by 25% in any location they are. These are companies that employ across all fields and the pay scale is even higher than most mulitnational oil companies. We need to wake up

Nuellah02:
There are better ways of doing things, why not publish this stuff. I doubt PMB will ignore PRESSID,maybe he's not aware..

My dear we have tried our best. NUC keep saying they have submitted the letter for approval of funds. What is left is just for buhari to approve it. You can't ve so sure buhari cannot cancel it. Mosst northern senators and even the sultan of sokoto have previously made calls for pressid to be scrapped that it doesnt favour the north.

Seun:
Can you provide some evidence to back this story up? Are you related to her family?

Pls oga seun can you help us ensure this thread hits the frontpage. https://www.nairaland.com/2654837/urgent-plea-pressid-2015-2016

I have called the attention of the mods to it yet no response. thanks

ezeagu:
Let me just add that I believe the original name has actually been further distorted to 'Igwe Ocha' from it's Ikwere/Igbo name 'Igwu or Ugwu Ocha' meaning shimmering cliffs.

Interesting.

Nice research. I have a learnt a lot

Kudos to all hardworking teachers. Congrats Mrs Nkem

dany2k:
it will be in the best interest of the country to ensure continuity of programmes like PRESSID for sustainable development because the programme selects bright students who has demonstrated their academic prowess in various fields of study. its the only merit based scholarship in Nigeria and I hope this present administration gives it necessary support and approval especially for the 2015/2016 edition which has concluded the selection and not yet awarded.

A lot of things are just wrong in this country. we would get there

TonyeBarcanista:
Is it only me that observed that the government of Buhari will always manufacture story to distract the public whenever there are issues against it? This story was to divert the attention of the public from the morally bankrupt men that Buhari nominated as ministers AND to distract us from the spate of Boko Haram bombing. This distraction tactic of Buhari and his agents is Dead on Arrival.

On topic, Buhari SHOULD prosecute whoever is wanting and stop disturbing us with 'probe' noise.

Bro I sent you a message on twitter. @eddycollins2003 pls kindly respond

Chucksty:
PRESSID is one of the policies that I would recommend the present administration to key into and continue from where the past administration stopped. For the first time in our national history, we have a program devoid of federal character sentiments, strictly on merit, to breed set of individuals who will drive this nation for future generations.

I do not buy into the idea of revisiting the process of selection, we have enough scholarship based on character. Let the present administration maintain this merit course for the sake of nation building in earnest.

Well said.

cc: lalasticlala and seun pls do the needful

sunnyb0b0:


They want to introduce quota system to PRESSID.

At least they should first sort out those that have been awarded before they change the criteria. Your submission is not far-fetched considering the fact that even the Sultan of Sokoto and most Northern elites have been against pressid from day one. Pressid does not use quota system like you have with most other Nigerian scholarship it is strictly by merit.

DSSHQ:
I thought the government wants to convert the PRESSID scholars to PTDF?

I dont think so. Both are separate scholarship with different requirements and criteria

We wish to use this opportunity to congratulate His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari(GCFR) on his historic victory at the polls and inform him that we are confident of his ability to bring the desired change.

At the same time, we would appreciate his swift response to our situation, because we believe it will be for the best interest of the country, both in the medium and long term. This is considering the economic challenges confronting the Nation in recent times.
We were awarded the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development(PRESSID) which goal is to build a "critical mass of individuals for the development of the country through innovation and technology".

It was initiated by the immediate past Government and administered by the National Universities Commission(NUC). The scholarship was meant for the "best of the best" in that only First Class graduates with Nigerian origin were invited to apply. Please note that we are the third edition recipients and as part of our selection process, we undertook a rigorous Computer Based Test(CBT) and our scores were displayed immediately after submission from which 102 candidates were selected for the Award. Names of shortlisted candidates were later published on National Dailies (See Daily Trust, 16th April 2015, Page 54) and we were asked to seek admission into any of the top 100 universities in the world. Virtually all of us have gotten the admission and fulfilled other requirements.

Unfortunately, more than six month after the shortlisting, no contact has been made about our awards. This development has hampered our ability to process our visa and accommodation before the August and September resumption dates of most schools in the UK/US.
We therefore humbly seek your urgent approval for the release of our award certificates and necessary funding, as we have incurred huge costs pursuing the admissions, and the scholarship in general.

Finally, We reiterate our confidence that your administration will empower the youth and will encourage excellence in all ramifications by innovating new programmes and sustaining positive policies of past administrations such as the PRESSID programme.
Thank you.

cc lalasticlala

kettykin:


If John Dongara meant that Emeagwali was a fraud then why did his committee award the Gordon Bell prize to him.

His prize-winning work in 1989 was the development of the first "pseudo-time" approach to reservoir modelling. His model and subsequent modifications are vastly used in the oil industries.

Congrats ma!

solonazzy:

God bless u.... Hw much did dey rqst for

3,000( sending + personal copy) when sending it local.
11,000( sending + personal copy) when sending it abroad.

Shinelle:
this thread is really insightful...
thanks to all contributors.

I'm actually in a similar dilemma...
(B.sc Accounting-First class/Best Graduating student , M.sc in view, ICAN in progress, rounding off nysc very soon)

I schooled in a state university however and I'm not an indigene of that state as such I'm wondering how easy/difficult it would be getting in... I applied to start my M.sc there also.. I've always loved teaching people, my only reservation with GA/ lecturing is I really would love to go to the field before coming back to teach others.

for example, I find it amusing that someone who lectures Auditing has never audited any accounts before.. I dont know...

therefore.. would y'all advise a graduate like to work and garner experience or to go straight with my "textbook knowledge"?

You can always do both. In any case even if u focus on academics now you can easily get an industry job much later and vice versa.

butanep:
Nice comments from you guyz.


Getting a GA job is not really easy even if you graduated with a first class. It takes God's grace and lots of connections to succeed in the race.

I graduated from a first generation federal university with a second class upper( 4.2) and a sound knowledge in my field. I have discussed with some lecturers in my department about getting a GA job.

I was told to apply for a master's program in same university then push my application with the help of my HOD and other key professors in the school. It has not been easy because of the protocol in the federal system.

My advised to those aspiring for GA jobs is to get other jobs doing during your masters programs before the GA job surface because it can take a long time to complete the process if actually you stand a better chance of getting it.

Most importantly, if you have passion in lecturing and ambition of becoming a lecturer one day, never stop studying, attending seminars & workshops related to your field, get professional certifications, acquaint yourself with the modern software related to your field.

Just keep learning and getting the knowledge. One day it will stand you out.


May God help us...

Lol in futa where I graduated, getting a GA job is as easy as ABC. Infact it has been approved by senate that first class graduates that are interested in lecturing should be retained without hassles. Although the law might change soon as more students are graduating with first class and the departmemtal strenght are already filled up. My appointment letter was ready before I even finished service. Even if you apply after service it should take 2 weeks max for the VC to approve your request

obioraval:

Teaching assistant. Does it work in Nigeria?

Very well. I cant say for other schools though. In my department previous teaching assistant were retained as assistant lecturers. The current ones have completed their masters ptogram and are in the process of conversion. Most times it is advisable to find an area of specialisation where there is shortage of staff in that case you would have a better chance. Even though you are not retained, a TA position would offer you more chances when you apply to other universities for an AL position.

I think I can advise you since I am in a similar position. In most universities, you can not get a GA position except if you graduated with a first class. It is automatic for most universities. If you graduated with a 2.1 the best you can do is to apply for your masters program and then apply for a teaching assistant (TA) position. Although the pay for teaching assistant is very meagre infact it wont be enough for your upkeep. The good thing about TA is you have a high possibility of being retained as an assistant lecturer (AL) since you would be conversant with the system and the profs in your department. So if lecturing is your thing and you care less about money for now I would advise you to obtain your masters form immediately. . With your teaching assistant position on your CV you can apply for another masters abroad or a PhD position. With your experience you should get funding much easier. All the best. Holla if you need any further info

Sincere9gerian:

With the formation of APC in 2013 came rampant cases of gas pipeline vandalism, which reached it's peak as the 2015 elections approached.
https://www.nairaland.com/1394288/why-someone-vandalize-gas-pipeline
https://www.nairaland.com/1579141/poor-power-supply-lagos-area
https://www.nairaland.com/1959085/power-generation-drops-1000mw-due

Here is what the former minister of power had to say about the menace of gas pipeline vandalism:

" Every two weeks, the gas pipelines are blown up. It takes two weeks to fix them only for them to be blown up again within 24 to 48 hours of fixing"

Immediately APC won the elections, gas pipeline vandalism stopped abruptly.

While gas pipeline vandalism has stopped, the usual crude oil pipeline vandalism has continued. It is well known fact that will vandals may derive immediate financial benefit from vandalism of crude oil pipeline, there is no such benefit when it comes to gas pipeline. Why then were those criminals hell bent on sabotaging our gas pipelines and the power sector?

From this history alone, it is obvious that APC was responsible for all the cases of gas pipeline vandalism we had in the last 2 years.

God bless you.

THE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Centre for Space Research and Applications (CESRA) and the Kyushu Institute of Technology (Kyutech), Japan, have concluded plans to launch a satellite into space.

To give effect to the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by the two institutions in May 2015, Prof. George Maeda from Kyutech was in FUTA to discuss the modalities of launching the satellite in 2017.

According to Prof. Maeda, the project tagged, “Joint Global Multi-Nation Birds (JGMNB), represents the initial alphabets of five participating countries (Japan, Ghana, Mongolia, Nigeria and Bangladesh).”

Maeda noted that the project intends to successfully build and operate the first University satellite of nation, make the first step towards indigenous space programme at each country with minimum budget.To actualise this, each country will send three students to Kyutech for training. The students will later be grouped into five teams, with each team having three students. The different teams will after their training build satellite for their country.

Source: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/08/futa-partners-with-japanese-institute-for-satellite-launch/