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ASUU Gifts N1.7m To 15 UNIUYO Students

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities, University of Uyo Branch, has distributed more than N1.7 million to 15 financially challenged students of the university who excelled in their academic pursuits.

It also bestowed heroes’ awards on past leaders who guided the union through challenging periods in the history of the branch.

The awardees were honoured during the Heroes’ Day Celebration held at the university on Monday.

The union’s National President, Prof Emmanuel Osadeke, commended the awardees for their steadfastness and selfless service to the union despite the difficulties they faced and urged them to remain committed to the course.

The ASUU president urged past and present leaders of the union to rise against the alleged injustice by
vice chancellors who have turned staff employment into their ‘constituency projects’ by employing all manners of people without due process.

He noted that no university in the country has advertised for vacancies in the past six to 10 years but that staff strength have tripled in such universities, adding that those appointed have nothing to do in the academic world .

“I must heartily congratulate all the heroes honoured today for the sacrifices they made to the point of termination of appointments, seizure of salaries, demotion among other travails for speaking truth to powers for the benefit of others.

“Before now, university employment was done through advertisement followed by rigorous interviews but now how do people get here? It is through temporary appointments. That’s the problem that we have today. I do not know of any university for the past six to 10 years that has advertised, but the staff strength has tripled.

“Vice-Chancellors just sat down somewhere and packed people from traditional rulers, governors, and all other politicians into the Nigerian universities as lecturers and most of them are now scavengers in the system, going after money and all manners of things.

“Unfortunately, university employment has turned into a constituency project and we have to struggle to reverse this misnomer and bring sanity to the system,” he said.

A retired Professor of Ethnocomunicology, Prof Desmond Wilson, in a keynote lamented that the struggles of the union have been made difficult by fifth columnists and other agents employed by the government to cause confusion.

While stressing that heroism was not a blank cheque to misbehavior, the professor urged all members of the union to remain selfless and committed in the fight for the betterment of all and the redemption of Nigerian Universities from its quagmires.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Nyaudoh Ndaeyo, who was represented by Prof Ben Etuk, commended ASUU for it selfless service to humanity.

He noted that the role played by the union has contributed immensely to the better welfare among the University staff.

Responding, one of the student beneficiaries of the ASUU-UUB scholarship award, Ekpo Friday, from the Faculty of Education commended the union for bringing succour to the indigent students of the institution, adding that the gesture was a morale booster for them to concentrate on their studies to finish their University Education with good grades.

Prof. Opeyemi Olajide, the acting chairperson, stated that the gesture was intended to encourage the students—who were also recognised as exceptional members of their respective faculties—to complete their course of study.

Prof. Joseph Ushie, Prof. Edet Akpan, Prof. Desmond Wilson, and Dr. Etop Ndiyo are among those awarded for their dedicated contribution. Profs. Ashong Ashong and Aniesua Essiet are among the others.

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Tinubu Sends Six NMDPRA Executive Director Nominees to Senate, Retains Three

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President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of six nominees for executive director positions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, retaining three existing directors while introducing three new nominees.

The nominations were conveyed to the Senate in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued on Friday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

The six nominees comprise three executive directors seeking reappointment and three new candidates proposed for different leadership positions within the petroleum regulatory agency.

SEE ALSO: Tinubu Promises to Boost Local Production with NNPC Refineries

The officials nominated for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, proposed as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, nominated as Executive Director of Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, nominated as Executive Director of Corporate Services and Administration.

If confirmed by the Senate, all six nominees will serve five-year terms.

President Tinubu urged the lawmakers to consider the nominations expeditiously, stating that the appointments would ensure institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.

In a related development, the President has approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser of the NMDPRA.

Her appointment is subject to the completion of the statutory processes stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The latest nominations follow Tinubu’s appointment of Engr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April.

The Senate’s consideration and confirmation of the six nominees will determine their formal appointment to the respective executive director positions.

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Osun Tackles Sanitation with Adhoc Road Sweepers

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Four gang-killed two in Osun, destroy N8M properties

In the bid to improve environmental sanitation, the Osun State Government plans to engage with immediate effect, able-bodied men and women as ad hoc road sweepers.

Biztellers reports that the exercise would cover designated areas of the state.

The recruitment exercise, announced by the Osun State Taskforce on Environmental Sanitation (OSTES) is open to medically fit able bodied men and women who are residents of the areas where they intend to work.

According to the public service announcement, applicants must be at least 30 years of age, medically fit and resident in their preferred areas of assignment.

READ ALSO: US Hails DPRP as Nigeria’s Petroleum Exports Surge Seven Times

The designated areas mentioned by the Taskforce include Akoda- Abere, Ataoja -Ogo-Oluwa, Olaiya -Old Garage, Igbonna -Ayetoro, Power Line – Ota-Efun and Kobongbogboe.

Other areas covered by the exercise are Ataoja- Dele Yes Sir, Stadium- Testing Ground and Ilesa- Garage, as well as Oke-Fia -Dada Estate, Dele Yes Sir- Lameco and Oroki Housing Estate.

Interested applicants are required to submit application letters to the General Manager, Osun Waste Management Agency, at its office located at the former Boreepo House, West Bye-Pass, Ring Road, Osogbo.

The announcement further stated that the deadline for submission of applications is Thursday, November 12th, 2026.

The recruitment is expected to support routine road sweeping and complement the state’s efforts to promote a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.

Applicants have been advised to ensure that they meet the stated requirements and reside within the areas where they seek to be deployed.

It would be recalled that the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, had earlier declared every Thursday of the week as Environmental Sanitation Day throughout the state during which offices, markets, shopping malls and homes among other public places are to be swept clean between 8am and 10am.

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PTDF Succour 15,000 Nigerians with Scholarships

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The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) said it has sponsored nearly 15,000 Nigerians for studies at home and abroad, with 1,571 scholars currently studying in 15 countries, as of July 2026.

This is as the Fund is now asking the United Kingdom (UK) to help address visa rejections, high tuition fees and the monitoring of its scholars, which it says are putting pressure on the programme.

The executive secretary of the Fund, Prof Shu’aibu Shehu Aliyu, made the request on Tuesday at a meeting with the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pete Vowles. The meeting was held at the General Shehu Musa Yar’adua University of Geological Sciences and Engineering Technology, Kaduna.

According to Aliyu, the Fund had sponsored the beneficiaries through its Overseas Scholarship Scheme and In-Country Scholarship Scheme, for undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

He said that as of July 2026, 1,571 scholars were studying in 15 countries and more than 120 partner institutions. He added that demand for PTDF scholarships was still rising.

READ MORE: Investors Embrace DPRP IPO Globally, 120 Countries, 54 African Nations

The executive secretary said the UK had for decades been the Fund’s main partner in building skills for Nigeria’s energy sector.

He said the PTDF worked with 24 British universities, including Robert Gordon, Strathclyde, Portsmouth, Aberdeen, Newcastle, Birmingham, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool and Manchester.

He said the partnership had helped train thousands of Nigerian engineers, geoscientists, researchers and energy professionals.

Aliyu also said the Fund worked with institutions in Germany, France and Malaysia, where it sought cheaper ways to train Nigerians. He said the Fund still wanted to keep its long-standing ties with the UK.

The ES told the High Commissioner that the Fund was facing problems with its UK partners. He listed these as tuition fees that were high compared with other European countries, and visa rejections.

“I would like to take this opportunity to highlight several challenges we are facing with our UK partners for the High Commissioner’s attention,” he said.

He said the Fund also wanted a plan to monitor its scholars in the UK, with support from the UK government and the host universities.

Aliyu did not give figures for the fee increases or the number of visa rejections.

In response, Vowles said the British High Commission understood the difficulties, especially those linked to visas and increases in tuition fees.

“We will take these concerns away as a team and communicate them to the relevant stakeholders within the UK system,” he said.

The High Commissioner said the PTDF and the High Commission had worked together to simplify the process. He said the PTDF’s recognition as a government-approved sponsor was expected to help.

“Having the PTDF recognised as a government-approved sponsor will hopefully make the process much smoother,” he said.

He did not promise any change in fees or visa rules.

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