₦airaland Forum

jsleekysleeky:
I am very disappointed in you @Dmainman, I always thought you had the capacity clear, coherent and unbigoted thinking but it appears I am wrong. Many Nigerians from the south erroneously believe that Northerners are uneducated, this is far from reality. If you have travelled around Nigeria and have interacted with graduates from the North and South, you will realize that talent and academic potential is spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Being a northerner does not make one dull and being a southerner does not make one sharp. Yes, there have been northerners who got the PTDF Scholarship without merit but there are also southerners who got the same PTDF scholarship without merit. I don't know why Pressid was cancelled but I believe if there was true merit in the process almost 50% of the 102 recipients would be northerners. If your position is that there was merit in the Pressid process then you should also agree that there was merit in the recent DSS recruitment exercise that yielded 51 recruits for Katsina and 5 for Akwa Ibom. The reality of Nigeria is that every ethnic group in Nigeria tries to outdo the other when someone from their group occupy any office whether in public or private sector. If a Hausa man occupies an office most of the recruits for that office would be Hausa, same thing happens if an Igbo man occupies the office. Every Nigerian is marganilized and no Nigerian is marginalized. This is the reason for over 50 years of Royal Dutch Shell's operations in Nigeria no northerner has made director or even manager. It is the reason why for over 50 years the Igbo produced a Chief of Army Staff just once.

If we want to build a new and better Nigeria, we must move away from painting one group as culprit in our collective failure. We must admit how we have wrong one another and collectively resolved to change our ways.

maikant:
@damian. See the truth from one of the links you posted

Eligible candidates from the northern part of the country were excluded from the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), Daily Trust investigations have revealed.The PRESSID was established by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration in January 2012, basically to achieve the goals of Vision 20:2020 and federal government’s transformation agenda.
The scheme was meant to sponsor qualified Nigerian graduates that have obtained first class honours degrees, from any recognised university, to pursue their postgraduate studies at the top 25 universities in the world.


But Daily Trust findings have indicated that only few candidates from the North have been considered eligible in the three editions of the exercise conducted thus far.
Although Daily Trust could not get a copy of the shortlisted beneficiaries, it was gathered that a total of 204 candidates benefitted from the scheme for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions, while 102 students benefitted for 2015/2016 session.
It was gathered that the perceived injustice in the exercise usually begin from the selection stage where first class candidates from the North were excluded by the screening committee, allegedly on the ground that they submitted their applications late, even when they applied within the stipulated time.
Also, the announcement for the commencement of the scholarship application by the National Universities Commission (NUC) did not include as criterion that candidates must attend a popular private school, but the screening committee apply that as a condition to exclude candidates from the North, Daily Trust learnt.
A source in the committee, who did not want his name in print, said that the screening exercise used to be influenced by the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The source said: “Because these people were determined to disqualify northern candidates, they insisted that only candidates that graduated from popular private schools should be considered and most of the candidates from the North attended public schools. So, they were disqualified.”
He said that each geopolitical zone had a representative in the committee but that did not make the exercise credible, alleging that other members were not allowed to do their job selflessly.
The House of Representatives committee on education led by its chairman Aminu Suleiman, had on Thursday met with the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Julius Okojie, in Abuja where he claimed that northerners were sidelined in the awards, leading to what he called “education imbalance and monumental abuse.”
He lamented that of the 104 short-listed for the scholarships this year, not a single candidate came from the North-West and North-East with the North-Central with seven slots, while the FCT did not get any.
Responding, Prof Okojie said that no considerations other than merit qualified the beneficiaries for the awards.
He said: “Unless we are saying that the criteria have to change, I will not advise that the programme should be scrapped.”
It would be recalled that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has also condemned the exercise, alleging serious foul play in the selection process.
In a communiqué, ACF has accused NUC of bias against the North in the scheme, alleging that there was a deliberate plan aimed at denying students from the North participation in the scheme.
The ACF said the federal character principles were not adhered to in the selection of beneficiaries. It, therefore, called on the NUC to ensure fairness, transparency and equity in distribution of available slots among all qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their regions.
Daily Trust gathered that when the House’s committee challenged the second edition of the exercise, last year, the committee promised to review the process but the SGF directed it to ignore complaints from all quarters and implement the scheme.
And when the committee summoned the NUC boss over the issue, he refused to appear before it. Also, when members of committee visited the commission during their oversight function, Okojie avoided it and directed his deputy to receive the members on his behalf.
About 400 scholarships have been awarded by the scheme for the 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions.
When contacted, the NUC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Yakasai, debunked all the allegations against the commission, saying that the award of PRESSID was based on merit. He added that historical background of candidates and their class of degrees were thoroughly scrutinized to check foul play.
He said that NUC operated an open-door policy, adding that northern stakeholders were fully involved in the process of the scholarship award.
He added: “A committee was set up which involved professors from all the six geopolitical zones, and even the exams were computer-based. So many entries were made and the best were selected.”

maikant:
@damian. See the truth from one of the links you posted

Eligible candidates from the northern part of the country were excluded from the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovation and Development (PRESSID), Daily Trust investigations have revealed.The PRESSID was established by the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration in January 2012, basically to achieve the goals of Vision 20:2020 and federal government’s transformation agenda.
The scheme was meant to sponsor qualified Nigerian graduates that have obtained first class honours degrees, from any recognised university, to pursue their postgraduate studies at the top 25 universities in the world.


But Daily Trust findings have indicated that only few candidates from the North have been considered eligible in the three editions of the exercise conducted thus far.
Although Daily Trust could not get a copy of the shortlisted beneficiaries, it was gathered that a total of 204 candidates benefitted from the scheme for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 academic sessions, while 102 students benefitted for 2015/2016 session.
It was gathered that the perceived injustice in the exercise usually begin from the selection stage where first class candidates from the North were excluded by the screening committee, allegedly on the ground that they submitted their applications late, even when they applied within the stipulated time.
Also, the announcement for the commencement of the scholarship application by the National Universities Commission (NUC) did not include as criterion that candidates must attend a popular private school, but the screening committee apply that as a condition to exclude candidates from the North, Daily Trust learnt.
A source in the committee, who did not want his name in print, said that the screening exercise used to be influenced by the office of the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The source said: “Because these people were determined to disqualify northern candidates, they insisted that only candidates that graduated from popular private schools should be considered and most of the candidates from the North attended public schools. So, they were disqualified.”
He said that each geopolitical zone had a representative in the committee but that did not make the exercise credible, alleging that other members were not allowed to do their job selflessly.
The House of Representatives committee on education led by its chairman Aminu Suleiman, had on Thursday met with the Chairman of the Implementation Committee, Prof. Julius Okojie, in Abuja where he claimed that northerners were sidelined in the awards, leading to what he called “education imbalance and monumental abuse.”
He lamented that of the 104 short-listed for the scholarships this year, not a single candidate came from the North-West and North-East with the North-Central with seven slots, while the FCT did not get any.
Responding, Prof Okojie said that no considerations other than merit qualified the beneficiaries for the awards.
He said: “Unless we are saying that the criteria have to change, I will not advise that the programme should be scrapped.”
It would be recalled that the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has also condemned the exercise, alleging serious foul play in the selection process.
In a communiqué, ACF has accused NUC of bias against the North in the scheme, alleging that there was a deliberate plan aimed at denying students from the North participation in the scheme.
The ACF said the federal character principles were not adhered to in the selection of beneficiaries. It, therefore, called on the NUC to ensure fairness, transparency and equity in distribution of available slots among all qualified Nigerians, irrespective of their regions.
Daily Trust gathered that when the House’s committee challenged the second edition of the exercise, last year, the committee promised to review the process but the SGF directed it to ignore complaints from all quarters and implement the scheme.
And when the committee summoned the NUC boss over the issue, he refused to appear before it. Also, when members of committee visited the commission during their oversight function, Okojie avoided it and directed his deputy to receive the members on his behalf.
About 400 scholarships have been awarded by the scheme for the 2013/2014, 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 academic sessions.
When contacted, the NUC’s spokesperson, Alhaji Ibrahim Yakasai, debunked all the allegations against the commission, saying that the award of PRESSID was based on merit. He added that historical background of candidates and their class of degrees were thoroughly scrutinized to check foul play.
He said that NUC operated an open-door policy, adding that northern stakeholders were fully involved in the process of the scholarship award.
He added: “A committee was set up which involved professors from all the six geopolitical zones, and even the exams were computer-based. So many entries were made and the best were selected.”

DreManuel:
My brother I feel you.

There are hundreds of people viewing this thread. And when it comes to ethno-religious issues everyone develops quick fingers

usqoh:
yes bro. I just saw previous pages now so let me comment.

@ jsleekysleeky, Mballowa, jelani01, EazyMoh and others.

You guys are complete bigot and tribalist. Someone was talking about why the nation is not progressing due to federal character, incompetence, God-fatherism and corruption, you then change it and start talking about Northerners being marginalised trying to act victim. Are you all stupidly and foolishly born in a nincompoop world. If there is any people in Nigeria crying marginalisation, it shouldn't be northerners.

You have the plentiest states, highest number of financial allocation, the highest number of leaders and presidents in the history of Nigeria, the highest number of Billionaires due to Nigeria resources and many more. You guys Connive with Shell to kill Ken saro wiwa and taking over oil blocks at the expense of Niger Deltans which you still benefit today.

And yet, you are the poorest and the most impoverished segment in Nigeria due to your bad and corrupt leaders. Instead of you the Northern youths to fight and help save your people, you all do like zombies to them.You connive with these same bad leaders further making the ordinary people to be helpless. You guys are intentionally not enlightening your people on education so they can be tools for all of you at the top so you can control them easily thereby making them beggars and Almajiris. You lie against Islam principle by using Boko harm as an Islamic tool to brainwashand kill innocent people. You also lie against Islam by marrying the poor underage helpless family trying to survive with the money they will get yet you rich and educated females never get marry early.

See I am not dmainman or dremanuel that is forming gentle man. I have not started any abuse at all. If any of you respond to me critically, I will abuse such person that the next day you will feel like commiting suicide. Better crawl back to the hole you guys came from. Apart from Mballowa who by the way gave us fake news, we never saw your comments other than this tribal stuff.

ademed1:
Fellow hopefuls, I would like us to further bombard @PTDF_Nigeria with a lot of tweets. If they could say something via that platform, I suppose enough tweets and hashtags (#ReleaseTheList) could propel them towards doing the needful. I mean this is really getting out of hand, I've almost lost two admissions from top class institutions just because of some people's incompetencies - it's really crazy. I'm sure a lot of us fall in this category too.

I'm tired of hearing all sorts of gibberish unto the reason the list is being delayed. To those of us turning this thread to a battle of insults, all I have to say is "grow up".

So, back to the matter, I think twitter would be a really good platform to let out our anger and frustration, not here!

maikant:
And who told you abuse do stick to people's body. Hahaha ah aah.. The only thing u can do to show u re not damian is to come and kidnap me.
Wen u re alive in this world there 's notin u won't see. Including this guy

DreManuel:
Join me on Twitter bro. I don drop like 5 tweets this night already.

ademed1:
Nice one man! I've dropped 4 already!

usqoh:
I, Renzel, DMainman, Dremanuel and many more did this.

That was why PTDF and Flexisafsupport replied us telling us that we should be patient. Guess you don't know that

usqoh:
I, Renzel, DMainman, Dremanuel and many more did this.

That was why PTDF and Flexisafsupport replied us telling us that we should be patient. Guess you don't know that

jelani01:
Please nobody should respond to this child of baby factory @usqoh. From his comment one can understand where he comes from. I am afraid he is going to trace our locations to kidnap or rob us

I am sure, except him and @Nigerdcritics no one has to date insulted anybody's tribe on this thread

Let's move on!

adakoleagbenu:
I have like 2 dummy accounts I've been using to tweet at ptdf and retweet other people's tweets.



Like someone said, let's use d hashtag #ReleaseTheList.


let's pressure dem
to all those viewing d thread Bt don't want to comment, help us via twitter.



c u on twitter

modash:
No need for the pressure, its coming out soon. I believe before the week runs out

modash:
No need for the pressure, its coming out soon. I believe before the week runs out

modash:
No need for the pressure, its coming out soon. I believe before the week runs out

jelani01:
Please nobody should respond to this child of baby factory @usqoh. From his comment one can understand where he comes from.



I am sure, except him and @Nigerdcritics no one has to date insulted anybody's tribe on this thread



Let's move on!

jsleekysleeky:
I am very disappointed in you @Dmainman, I always thought you had the capacity clear, coherent and unbigoted thinking but it appears I am wrong. Many Nigerians from the south erroneously believe that Northerners are uneducated, this is far from reality. If you have travelled around Nigeria and have interacted with graduates from the North and South, you will realize that talent and academic potential is spread across the length and breadth of Nigeria. Being a northerner does not make one dull and being a southerner does not make one sharp. Yes, there have been northerners who got the PTDF Scholarship without merit but there are also southerners who got the same PTDF scholarship without merit. I don't know why Pressid was cancelled but I believe if there was true merit in the process almost 50% of the 102 recipients would be northerners. If your position is that there was merit in the Pressid process then you should also agree that there was merit in the recent DSS recruitment exercise that yielded 51 recruits for Katsina and 5 for Akwa Ibom. The reality of Nigeria is that every ethnic group in Nigeria tries to outdo the other when someone from their group occupy any office whether in public or private sector. If a Hausa man occupies an office most of the recruits for that office would be Hausa, same thing happens if an Igbo man occupies the office. Every Nigerian is marganilized and no Nigerian is marginalized. This is the reason for over 50 years of Royal Dutch Shell's operations in Nigeria no northerner has made director or even manager. It is the reason why for over 50 years the Igbo produced a Chief of Army Staff just once.

If we want to build a new and better Nigeria, we must move away from painting one group as culprit in our collective failure. We must admit how we have wrong one another and collectively resolved to change our ways.

FiftyFifty:
Thank you Bro for saying it as it is. The way some folks here think & behave is unfortunate, to say the list. Thanks once again.

Mayflowa:
You seem to misquote Dmainman out of order. I am the last person to be bigoted. I acknowledge all tribes got intelligence. I have been classmate with genius northerners. He was a crazy mathematician.

But as regards PRESSID scholarship, the examination was only written by first class students in all universities in Nigeria. The exam was conducted by National University Commission (NUC) and candidates selected by NUC to produce the next generation scientific genius who can only attend the first 20 global universities in the world. Now, this is the only examination that has nothing to do with Federal Character Commission. The Jonathan Government only wanted the most qualified candidates by way of exam regardless of wherever state of federation they were coming from.

I think for 3 years in the conduct of the examination, less than 5 percent where coming out from the Northern extraction and that angered many northern leaders and group including northern law makers who pushed for the cancellation of PRESSID when Buhari got in so much so that the last winners were never sponsored.

Now there is an explanation to the few number of Northerners in the list: I noticed in there are relatively fewer applications from the north in this type of scholarship examinations. If there are 2000 applications from the south for instant, there would be 200 applications from the north. Maybe because northern like to stay and work in Nigeria or general lack of awareness. So it shouldn't be any surprise if 200 people are eventually selected, only 10 comes from north. They aren't dull but the probability is low because of the number of applicants in the North. But Federal Character seeks to equalise this. They make it compulsory that equal number must come from each state or region. Such that if 100 is selected from the South with 2000 applications, 100 must be selected from the north with 200 applications! However there are merits and demerits in this thinking. Though it may limits merit, but there is happiness all over and spread of wealth amongst states forming a whole. iN FACT, a PhD thesis can be written on this rationality and philosophical thoughts behind the approach.

I noticed when I was shortlisted for PTDF MSc scholarship some 8-9 years ago, while there were many of us from the southern state like 300 names per state, states like Zamfara had only 5 names! and PTDF was to select 9 scholars from Zamfara. They eventually have to source for other four interested students to accept the scholarship.

Lastly, we know we are all intelligent but don't also forget Nigerians states have been classed into education and education less developed states. While Bayelsa, Cross rivers, Rivers and Akwa Ibom have been classed as educationally-less developed states in the South, almost all of the states in the North are classed as educationally less developed state by Nigeria education committee and up till now no northern group has disputed it because it creates some kind of favourable consideration in gaining admission through JAMB.


Mayflowa, you are an intelligent guy... These Northerners are living in denial and soon they will wake to pay these scholarships from their farm money not oil money. I can bet this wont take another 2 years. We will show them that Nigeria was not created for them.