Many people have called on governments to do more in tackling this menace. However, I find it contradictory that these same folks still do or encourage things that promote it. I’m tempted to almost agree with those who say Nigerians are hypocrite!

Factors in Occurrence

A popular saying goes thus: “Prevention is better than cure.” That underlines the importance of being proactive rather than reactive. It captures the right approach to tackling (preventing) undesirable outcomes.

On this issue of rape, people have called for all kinds of punitive actions against culprits. What if those to make those decisions or enforce them will be affected? Wouldn’t it be better to just keep this awful act from taking place?

We know the right thing to do, but we just don’t want to. Let me state a few of the factors that could contribute to rape incidents that we’ve turned a blind eye to.

BBN

I’m struggling to understand the moral behind the show called Big Brother Nigeria. I’m appalled by how not only the young but also the old wax lyrical about it. I have even seen politicians showing interest in it and I’m like, “Wow!” Governors even celebrate those that participated in it.

This show promotes nothing that I can confidently say young people can emulate. All I see in immorality and behaviours that aren’t worth encouraging young people to emulate.

If you are having sexual intercourse on national TV, what message are you sending to people out there? You even go ahead to pay these participants huge amounts that could encourage more people to follow suit. Now, that’s indeed a good way to put an end to rape (ironically).

Songs with indecent lines

There are many songs on the airwaves today with sexually-suggestive lyrics that people are treated to regularly. Those that glorify sexual acts, those using words that bring sex to mind, and what have you.

It is disturbing how ineffective the Censor’s Board and whatever other agencies responsible for monitoring these songs are.

I go around hearing very young kids singing these songs and I feel unsettled, worried about what they’d grow to be under their influence. What’s more worrying is that their parents don’t seem to be bothered.

Raunchy videos

Perhaps, it can be said that censorship appears to be having effects on what we see in local movies. But I don’t think the same can be said of music videos.

You see half-naked ladies dancing, twerking, or slaloming in music videos. Any objective person would agree that these movements have practically no other motives than seduction. If it’s mere dance, you’d be properly dressed while doing it.

The raunchy moves can have probably unintended effects on men, and in particular those ones that enjoy watching such videos. After seeing this content, chances are that some male viewers could develop “konji” and any person with the V would probably do.

I can go on and on about some things happening in our society that we pay little or no attention to that play a part in rape. I want to believe most people already know this, but they lack the will power to deal with them seriously.

Protect Yourself and Your Children

There are wolves out there. Sadly, we live in a country where the government isn’t doing enough to protect its citizens. Only God is for us and only He cares.

We need to do more to protect ourselves while leaving everything to God. Let our ladies and parents do things that can help to protect against rape.

Dress decently

I know some people don’t like to hear this, but it’s a fact that should not be ignored. Yeah, a responsible man should be able to control himself. The sad reality, though, is that not everyone (male or female) is responsible. Chances are that the animal side of some men may be activated when they get visually stimulated.

Watch your kids

Ensure your children aren’t in a secluded place alone with a person of the opposite sex, even if they’re family members or older. Things have sadly degenerated to that extent!

It is also rather heartbreaking observing the quality of parenting these days. In addition to condoning improper dressing, many parents don’t do enough to protect their children – like knowing what they do, where they are, and who they are with at every point in time.

You’d see young ladies moving around in the dark of the night unaccompanied or in unholy places. Where are their parents!

Monitor content consumption

Lastly, it is important to watch the kind of content that young people are allowed to consume – they constitute a significant proportion of those involved in rape. What songs are they listening to? What are they seeing on TV?

I have seen children and adolescents sing along to some lewd songs having sexually-suggestive dance moves with no caution. An example is the “One Corner” song/dance.

They also watch movies and shows featuring sexual scenes, while adults they watch with do nothing.

I’m beginning to sound like a broken gong, actually. We all know these things! The earlier we started taking the right actions, the better for our society.

The post Rape in Nigeria: Who’s Fooling Who? appeared first on Viqta.com.

The other time, someone proposed a hate speech bill, perhaps, principally targeted at keeping Nigerians mute on social media. Now, another “lawmaker” is proposing a bill that would offer free foreign education to “repentant” Boko Haram members. You said what! So forgiveness is not enough? Hm.

Truthopology

An Irony of a Bill

It is befuddling trying to figure where the ideas for some legislative bills in this country emanate from. I think the legislature is increasingly becoming a joke! It’s not like I have been a big fan, anyway; things are just getting worse.

The Good Book said something about not casting our “pearls before the pigs.” In other words, we should not give something valuable to someone that does not appreciate or know the value.

Based on what I have heard people say about Boko Haram in the past, the two words in the term “foreign education” represent two things they are opposed to. So what’s the sense in offering their members things that they detest?

Apparently, someone thought differently.

Yet, these are people who have destroyed a whole generation’s education. But what they deprived others of was most likely substandard, “local” education. Now, they are getting a better education as their reward. What the heck!

Encouraging the bad

In my own opinion, the “Bill for the Establishment of the National Agency for the Education, Rehabilitation, Deradicalisation and Integration of Repentant Insurgents in Nigeria and for Other Connected Purposes” is a scary proposition. It’s somewhat like an encouragement for violent behaviour.

This raises the likelihood that some other groups might surface in the future and its “repentant” members can expect some benefits after committing all sorts of atrocities. Is this really what the country wants?

There are many people who are dissatisfied about one thing or another in this country. So they can all be violent to achieve their aims?

What about Jobs?

This country teems with millions of unemployed people. According to a report, the Minister of Labour and Employment has projected that the unemployment rate will surge to 33.5 per cent in Nigeria this year.

We are looking at 1 in every 3 Nigerians of working age not having a job!

It makes me wonder whether the bill, which has passed first reading, also includes plans to provide jobs for the so-called repentant Boko Haram member after their foreign education. Otherwise, it will make for double insults and injuries to every law-abiding Nigerians.

Some people will even argue that it was the lack of a livelihood that make some persons to join the sadistic militant group, and rightly so. So education is now the best they could get?

In case jobs are also part of the deal, that might spell more trouble for the country. It could send the message that the millions of unemployed people should toe the same path to get their much-desired job.

The free foreign education part should immediately be removed from the bill if it’s truly meant for the good of Nigeria. Vocational training should suffice in its place.

The Boko Haram situation is a good example of what happens when government fails to do things that nip possible problems in the bud. You don’t come up with ridiculous “solutions” afterwards!

The post Foreign Education for Boko Haram Members: What Balderdash! appeared first on Viqta.com.

I was listening to a favourite on-radio comedy programme today when I heard about a proposed hate speech bill. It wasn’t the first time I heard about something like that – learnt about similar months ago. I tend not to bother much about things political leaders do in this country anymore. What piqued my interest was a mention of death penalty against persons found guilty of hate speech. Really!

Pixabay

What’s really the gain of this ‘democracy’?

This is a question I have asked myself on several occasions over the years. If I’m going to be frank with anyone, freedom of speech is the only benefit of democracy I will likely mention if I am asked to cite one without thinking about it.

Even the freedom of speech of a thing already has a question mark hanging over it. However, that’s another topic on its own.

Democracy should mean a lot more than just freedom of speech. But, hey, that’s the only benefit that I can say I enjoy more under the current system of government. Now, my opinion is simply based on my experience of ‘democratic’ and military regimes in this country, plus historical facts.

Not that the right to freedom of speech means a lot around here, though. We keep talking, but it’s like there is no effect at all. However, we’d rather retain the right.

Now, some people seem to be trying to take away the only benefit democracy in this country seems to offer, under the guise of ‘hate speech.’

This hate speech bill is actually a sad reminder that the so-called democracy in the country isn’t far from what obtained during the years of the military.

Is a bill against hate speech that bad?

Hate speech is an appalling thing. Everything possible should be done to stop it! So, I have no problem with promulgating a law to this end.

I’d probably not have paid much attention to the bill, which has just been reintroduced, before the Senate. The only thing that just piqued my attention was the mention of a death penalty. I had to search online to confirm if that part was true.

I found out that death penalty was prescribed in the first hate speech bill proposed by the current deputy chief whip Aliyu Abdullahi in the previous Senate. What is unclear, however, is whether that remains a part of the new bill.

The scary thing in all of this is that one cannot be fully sure what truly constitutes hate speech. This is going by apparent interest of government in censoring what Nigerians post on social media.

Who knows? Omoyele Sowore would probably have been found guilty of so-called hate speech the other time. You just can never tell. This is why caution needs to come into play with the hate speech bill currently before the Senate.

Inappropriate use of force

In my opinion, the newly re-introduced bill is somewhat like wrong channelling of energy. It is somewhat like killing a gnat with a sledgehammer or a bazooka – in the light of the alleged penalty.

We often hear about how corrupt politicians get sentenced to death in China. That, to me, represents more appropriate use of force.

Corruption is a bigger problem, probably the biggest, in this country. I think we should instead be talking of death penalty for those found guilty of it.

The National Assembly has never proposed a bill including capital punishment for corruption. Or did I miss it? Yet, someone there could think of the same for hate speech as if it’s a greater evil.

I don’t condone hate speech. But there are other offences for which a death penalty may be more appropriate, including corruption and kidnapping.

The post Hate Speech Bill: Isn’t This Absurd? appeared first on Viqta.com.

This is so because the individuals making up the awarding body could have simply ‘minded their own business.’ We live in a world and a society where all many care about is to grab and grab.

Well, enough of the rant. You are probably just interested in getting the full gist about the 2019 PICFI scholarship award for Nigerian undergraduates. Without much ado, let’s unload the details.

About the Scholarship

PICFI is a group of petroleum industry professionals of different Christian denominations. It comprises Christian professionals working in both local and multinational companies operating in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

The organisation says its aim is to establish the Kingdom of God in the petroleum industry. It seeks to improve performance and advocate for just and equitable distribution of industry wealth for the good of the country.

The 2019 PICFI scholarship award is one of the tools the group wishes to use to achieve its vision. It, therefore, invites all qualified, full-time, 100-level Nigerians in state and federal universities to apply for an undergraduate scholarship award.

Eligibility Conditions for 2019 PICFI Scholarship Award

The following are the requirements for you to be eligible to apply for an award:

• Be a certified full-time, Year-One student of any Nigerian Federal or State University at the time of this application
• Must not be older than 25 years of age by 31st December 2019
• Have a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of not less than 3.5
• Must not be on any other scholarship award from other companies or agencies.

In addition to the foregoing, you also need to be currently enrolled in a discipline related to any of the following areas:

• Sciences/Applied Sciences
• Engineering/Engineering Technology
• Mathematics
• Law
• Economics
• Accounting

Application and Deadline

Visit the 2019 PICFI scholarship award page to apply, if you think you are qualified. Click on the ‘Apply Now’ button near the top-right corner of your computer screen to begin your application.

You should get copies of the following ready before beginning your application because you will need to upload them:

• Passport sized photograph
• WAEC or NECO result
• JAMB result
• University admission letter
• University student ID card
• LGA Letter of Identification
• Short essay of no more than one page, detailing why you need and should receive the scholarship (not more than one typed page. Font: Arial; Font size 11)

Please note of the following:

– You must fill in valid contact details when applying.
– You will be disqualified for incomplete attachments, incorrect information supplied, or non-adherence to advertised criteria.
– Be prepared to take an aptitude test, if you are shortlisted.

You have until 22nd June 2019 to submit your application for the 2019 PICFI scholarship award, according to the Scholastica website.

You may visit www.picfi.net, if you wish to know more about PICFI.

Good luck!

The post 2019 PICFI Scholarship Award for Nigerian Undergraduates appeared first on Viqta.com.

For some of us, the above quote by respected Swiss-born philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau is evergreen! It is a protest against the shortcomings of the Social Contract.

In and of itself, the social contract is a great thing. But many countries, including Nigeria, have convoluted the basic tenets of this theory, especially as regards equality before the law. The NIMC card phenomenon is just one of those things that prove Rousseau was right.

Weeks ago, I got a text message from a financial institution that it was then mandatory to provide an NIMC card or NIN to access some services. I was like: what the heck? What happened to the national passport and other IDs?

‘Everywhere in chains’

While I’m not a fan of anarchy, it is very uncomfortable how the government that should promote well being is more interested in punishing. The ideals of the social contract have morphed into something else.

Now, you may wonder what could be harmful in something as simple as the NIMC card.

To be fair, having a national identity database is an awesome idea. But the ultimate end around here, in my own view, is mostly to keep the ‘ordinary man’ in chains when everyone ought to be treated equally. Talk about a lopsided means of fighting fraud and criminality.

People get asked from time to time to undergo one form of mandatory or necessary registration or another. These individuals leave more important things to do these registrations. What happens in the end? Nothing. You just have to wait until the next one comes along.

Back in 2002-03, there was registration for a national ID card. That was a failure, and no apology for saying that.

Since then, we have seen others, including residency registration, SIM registration, and biometric verification number (BVN) registration. There is also that of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), which is in focus here. Talk about too much personal information floating around.

Where are the cards?

I was particularly displeased about the message that informed me about the mandatory use of NIMC card. This is because this card project has been largely a failure. No, don’t blame me; my opinion is shaped by how I’m affected.

I registered for the card over three years ago, but I don’t have it yet. I checked again today and got the usual message of card not ready. All I have is the NIN.

It turned out my case isn’t the worst. I found out via the NIMC’s Twitter account a comment by a user who claimed to have registered back in 2013 but is yet to get his or her card.

As far as I am concerned, the NIMC card is not a ready product. An NIMC official told the Daily Trust of the challenges the agency was facing regarding card production. So, why make its use mandatory now?

But I should cut the NIMC a bit of slack because the text message I received suggested the slip provided at registration may be accepted in banks. Mine was not accepted back in 2016, though. I was forced to cough out a huge sum for a passport after my account got blocked.

Much ado about nothing

No, no, I’m not talking about the play by the legendary playwright William Shakespeare. I mean the NIMC card and the like have proven to be unnecessary fuss, a travesty.

In the ideal world, such projects should help to curb corruption and criminality, but that’s obviously not the case here. We keep hearing about all kinds of evil and deprave behaviours that availability of identity information should ordinarily help guard against.

Yes, these measures may help expose fraudulent and potentially harmful activities. But that is only if appropriate punitive actions are taken when such activities or actions are exposed. Or what’s the use of telling me you caught someone embezzling money without commensurate legal penalty?

These folks need to stop disturbing us with all this ‘mandatory this, mandatory that.’ As long as people like me are concerned, this is a partial legal system that is effective and active only against the ordinary man.

The post NIMC Card or Slip Now Mandatory, You Said? appeared first on Viqta.com.

The above quote is credited to American politician Elizabeth Esty, the current U.S. Representative for Connecticut’s 5th congressional district. I don’t know anything about her sincerity in making this statement. But, in the ideal world, this is how elected leaders ought to think.

Sadly, I think it will be hard to find any politician around here that thinks this way. I’m sure the few that may come close are likely to be rendered ineffective by the majority that wishes no good to the masses of this country.

There has been so much talk in recent weeks about how Nigerians and other Africans seeking greener pastures outside their homelands were being enslaved in Libya. That’s quite sad. But lack of transparency and accountability by our leaders – more preferably, rulers – is to blame for this.

The insincerity, selfishness and lack of concern by these politicians have put many average Nigerians in serious quagmire. A huge number of these people can hardly meet their basic needs. This could be as a result of low income, unpaid salaries, or outright lack of job. Little wonder then than many are seeking to find their way out of here.

I won’t discourage anyone that thinks the grass is greener on the other side, even when it may not be. But I don’t think it’s worthwhile travelling through Libya and going on the high seas to reach Europe.

What Are The Issues?

It is no secret that we mostly have people who don’t care a hoot about us in political offices. How many corrupt political office holders can we convincingly say were made to pay the just price for sharp practices? I can’t honestly remember any. In a society where impunity thrives, there is hardly much to be hopeful about.

So, I don’t blame you if you want out of here. But I won’t support inter-country land and sea travel to reach Europe. You probably already know why, but let me shed a little light on this all the same.

Slavery

The trending news recently is that about migrants that were being sold as slaves in Libya. Imagine people who paid to reach Europe ending up being sold as slaves. That just doesn’t make sense. According to a recent exclusive report by the CNN, human beings were being sold for as low as $400! That’s crazy.

It is saddening to learn some of these people paid up to N0.5 million, probably more, for their journey and still ended up as slaves. There is even story of women there being used as sex slaves. They are repeatedly being impregnated and maltreated. Awful.

Libya is not an entirely safe country for the citizens, let alone people who are from elsewhere. There is no real government to command as much as respect as the late Muammar Gaddafi used to. There are militant groups and rebels everywhere. Yet, people in their desperation felt such a country was safe to pass through.

Migrants in areas controlled by recognised government has hope. I don’t know what becomes of those sold as slaves in rebel strongholds. Is this risk worth living Nigeria for? I don’t think so.

Death

Well, let’s say you are lucky to make it through Libya. Do you have any idea of what awaits on the high sea? We often hear of migrants dying on the high sea as a result of storms or other factors. It is even said that some get thrown overboard.

There was a report recently of how 26 young Nigerian girls were found dead on the Mediterranean sea. As a formality, sort of, the government commiserated with the families of the deceased, describing their deaths as ‘monumental loss and a sad moment for our country.’ Talk about medicine after death.

Have things seriously degenerated to the level of wanting to brave such hazardous adventure to reach Europe? I think this could only be worthwhile if there was war in the country, something we don’t pray for.

You may feel I’m one of those benefitting from the current system, with this being why I sound this way. Definitely not. I’m a confirmed ‘ajepako’ and have been one all my life. I just don’t think this highly risky journey is worthwhile.

Organ harvesting

When people embark on journey of this kind, they never know what may happen at their destination or on the way. Among the risks that could be involved is an illegal practice called organ harvesting.

I assume you have probably heard something about this. The practice often involves killing a person to obtain his or her internal organs. The recent Libyan slavery phenomenon has brought this to the fore again. Who knows what slave masters can do to or with individuals they buy?

Researchers have observed an increase in illegal organ trade. A report by Global Financial Integrity estimated that those involved make up to $1 billion and even higher in profits every year.

There is, of course, ready market for human organs in many countries for diverse reasons. You probably have an idea what some devilish people around here can do with such. Over in the United States, many thousands of people are said to be on waiting list for organ transplantation due to lack of donors.

In a 2005 article, Sheri R. Glaser narrated the case of a Uzbek woman who lost her husband to suspected illegal organ traffickers. The man was promised a job in Canada. He was found dead alongside his children and others who wanted to relocate with him days after they were thought to have travelled. Organs were missing.

Demand The Rightful From Your Leaders

Maybe this country would have been better if people can use the same desperation they have to travel out to demand accountability from their leaders. How come we are so blessed with both human and natural resources yet majority live in penury?

Yet, we see people who ought to work to improve our lives living large. While they keep telling us the economy is experiencing a tough time, we hear almost every time how millions and billions of dollars are being misappropriated.

Truth be told, we cannot continue to shy away from making this political office holders accountable to us. It’s time to make the supposed rights we have to work for us. We should stop being fooled and distracted while we get milked to the bone.

It’s disappointing that we are already hearing some people campaigning for a former vice president despite being aware of his antecedents. The present government has failed us; it’s been a while since we started noticing the so-called change was a ruse. But is that man any better?

We Don’t All Have To Run…Yet

We can all choose to run away. But we need to have it in mind that no place is like home. We can only be second-class citizens or slaves elsewhere. Let’s demand to be the king we ought to be in our homeland.

There are just too many things going wrong in the country, so much impunity. If we don’t demand change, I don’t see life improving for the average man. Civil society groups and activists we need you!

How I wish we have politicians in Nigeria that think along the same line as people such as Elizabeth Esty. I mean Individuals who have concerns for those who elected them. Shame on those who collect things from these lots to vote for them, thinking those are dividends of democracy. Shame! What a country!

The post Don’t Sell Yourself Into Slavery, Make Your Leaders Accountable appeared first on Viqta.com.

Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka expressed support for same at a recent event. Even certain persons with seeming ulterior motives are among others supporting the idea.

But what do people have in mind when discussing restructuring? This is no doubt a rather ambiguous concept, as we can see in the country. What it entails for a person may not be what another conceives. How likely is this to happen?

What is Restructuring?

To restructure, according to the Cambridge Dictionary, is ‘to organize a company, business, or system in a new way to make it operate more effectively.’ Restructuring Nigeria, in this case, rightly means re-ordering our system of government – of doing things – for things to run more efficiently. The hope is that this will enable every Nigeria to enjoy better quality of living.

Nigeria operates federal system of government, or so we are made to believe. Ideally, this is the best we could probably ask for, considering the great diversity of people. Let’s tell ourselves the truth: our experience is not the perfect federalism you might have read about in textbooks.

The relationship between federal and state governments is far from the ideal. The former is superior, too much so, to the latter. There appears to be excessive accumulation of power at the centre.

The outcome of the current situation of things is the increasing calls for restructuring. But, as we have seen, this seems to mean different things to different people.

How Do You View Restructuring?

This question might sound redundant or maybe stupid. But the truth is that restructuring may mean anything you conceive it to be.

Greater power for federating units

Some see it as giving more powers to the state. The current federal arrangement is not the best we can have. States have become beggars of sort to the centre. During periods of economic crises, it is not uncommon to see them running cap-in-hand to the federal government for revenue sharing.

States have no control over resources in their domain; everything belongs to the central government. This inability to control exploration of resources by individual states has a connection to most political issues around this part.

Revenue derived from a state gets shared out to others, even those contributing nothing. Now, will such a state or people there be happy? The other time I heard on-air that tax proceeds from alcohol consumption get to states that prohibit consumption. While I’m not the type that drinks alcohol, I think this is unfair!

Regionalism

Some other actors think restructuring is going back to regional government of yesteryears. These cannot be said to be wrong, though. The current system, in my own view, appears to have made some parts of the country lazier. For instance, agriculture, which some of these could focus on, is left to suffer. Regionalism may not be a bad idea really, from this perspective. Competition could make us better.

Secession

Restructuring, for some, is being allowed to secede from the country. Let us go if you won’t help our situation. Well, everyone knows what cooks his beans. Available evidence suggests this may not necessarily be the best, though. Consider the Sudan example.

Unfortunately, I do not always believe that the other man has my best interest at mind. That’s what experience here can do to you. Most of these political actors do not have your interests at heart. If you want to be objective, you will observe that all those bent on running this country aground are not all from a particular part. They all come from different sections.

I find it saddening, therefore, when some clueless, ordinary Nigerians exhibit their folly on public forums, such as Nairaland. Any report of a bad incidence leads to tribal name calling. A pity.

Should You Be Optimistic About Restructuring?

Well, that’s for you to decide. I am not optimistic, if you care to know. The sham ‘democracy’ we practice around here may not allow that to become a reality. Majority decision required for that may not be feasible, considering the lopsided arrangement of the National Assembly, the legislature. You got the clue?

With the system of government we operate around here, I do not think a saint can make things to improve for better. The dubious checks and balances or separation of powers won’t let that work. For instance, a bill with good intention may never scale through the legislature, if some interests would suffer.

How likely do you think it will be to make the lawmakers reveal their entire earnings, along with allowances? They might tell you the constitution allows them to keep it secret. So how about amending that constitution? It’s not happening.

The legislature and the judiciary are not necessarily minnows to the executive, as one Mr. Lloyd Ukwu wrote in an article. We have heard stories. They are all to blame, I dare say. The whole experience is just depressing.

However, I agree with Mr. Ukwu’s call for a National Conference. This should contribute ideas for the drafting of a new constitution. The outcome needs to be put to the people to vote on in a referendum. It is only then that a constitution can rightly claim that the people in a country agreed to live under it.

The only other solution I can think of is costly and may not be worthwhile in the longer term. Don’t ask me what that is. I don’t want law enforcement disturbing my peace. I beg you.

Are You Part of The Problem or Solution?

Restructuring starts with each one of us, I would say. We also need to realize that the problems that led to the increasing calls for this are the result of the decision and indecision of people like you and I.

If we only sought to live right and justly, we might not have found ourselves in this quagmire. Will you be vindicated by your creator and posterity by what you are doing currently? Think about it.

The post How Can Restructuring Happen in Nigeria? appeared first on Viqta.com.

Source: Google Images/NDLink

About the Scholarship Programme

The National University Scholarship awards, a product of the Joint Venture (JV) between Chevron Nigeria Limited and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), have been offered for several years already and this year will not be an exception. A number of awards are up for grabs for the 2017-2018 session. This might just be your turn to benefit from the largesse.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply for the NNPC/Chevron National University Scholarship Awards 2017/2018, you must be:

• A full-time, second-year (200-level) student in a Nigerian university.
• Enrolled for any of the following study programmes:

1. Accountancy
2. Agricultural Engineering and Agricultural Science
3. Architecture
4. Business Administration and Economics
5. Chemical Engineering
6. Civil Engineering
7. Computer Science
8. Electrical and Electronic Engineering
9. Environmental Studies and Surveying
10. Geology and Geophysics
11. Law
12. Mass Communication and Journalism
13. Mechanical and Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
14. Human Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy
15. Petroleum Engineering

The organisers say you cannot apply for any other scholarship awards by Chevron Nigeria Limited, or its affiliates, advertised simultaneously. This means you cannot apply for other programs such as the ongoing Agbami medical and engineering scholarships.

Application

Visit the scholarship page and click the “How to Apply” tab to submit an application for the NNPC Chevron University Scholarship Awards 2017/2018. But first you need to have scanned copies of the following documents ready:

• Recent passport photograph (not older than three months) with white background, measuring 450 by 450 pixels and not larger than 200KB in size.
• School ID card
• Admission letter
• O’ Level result
• JAMB result, and
• Birth certificate
• Local government area letter of identification

Applicants need to give each of these a name that depicts what the document represents.

NOTE: It appears you are going to need your National Identification Number (NIN) issued by the NIMC. Therefore, you will do well to have that ready when applying, although you may be able to add it later.

Check the scholarship page for more comprehensive information on the application process, including frequently-asked questions (FAQs).

Deadline and Selection

Your application for the NNPC Chevron University Scholarship Awards 2017/2018 should be submitted on or before 9 April, 2017. Shortlisted applicants will get invitation to participate in a qualifying test for eventual awards. You need to make sure you submit correct email address and telephone number(s).

Good luck!

The post NNPC Chevron University Scholarship Awards 2017/2018 appeared first on Viqta.com.

It must be the government, right?

What is playing out in the country is a reminder of how people can easily turn their back on you when the going gets tough. I remember a recent match between Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur in which Pedro Rodriguez wasn’t playing as well as fans expected. Many of the fans took to social media lambasting the midfielder. Few minutes afterwards, the Spaniard scored and accolades started pouring in from some of these same fans. Life!

This brings me to the immense criticisms being directed at the present government, especially at President Buhari. Almost two years ago, people were waxing lyrical after the All-Progressives Congress (APC) took control at the centre. But all that euphoria and optimism have obviously waned, virtually gone with the wind, occasioned by the economic challenges being experienced now. What we hear now are bad words and phrases directed at Buhari, who some even now call ‘Buhaha.’ One question I think is really relevant to ask here is that: is the president to be blamed entirely for the challenges people in this great country are facing?

The devaluation of the domestic currency has contributed significantly to the problem in the local economy. Ordinarily, the move should have improved the fortunes of Nigerians, but the case of this country is peculiar. I must admit that I was one of those who thought a non-fixed exchange rate regime would be beneficial to the economy as you can tell from the tone of this post. I appear to be wrong. To his credit, President Buhari was not in support of devaluation and was reportedly angry with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CNB) after it came into effect. While I do not in any way intend to exonerate the APC-led government of causing the economic recession in the country, I think it would be unfair to apportion the entire blame to it.

Imports craze worsening recession

I mentioned earlier that devaluation hasn’t delivered desired results due to the peculiar nature of this country. What do I mean? This is a country whose citizens depend heavily on imported goods. Some have even described Nigeria as a ‘consuming’ nation. We love to consume, but not very good at producing. The issue here is that devaluation is an economic tool that is beneficial to a country that has goods to export to foreign market. It makes local products more attractive to foreign buyers due to cheaper prices (you may refer to my previous post linked above to better understand how the local economy is supposed to benefit).

Many Nigerians have great predilection for imported goods. It is not bad at all to buy imported goods. What I consider excessive is spending large amount of money on things that are just meant for show-offs, rather than for their productive capability. For instance, I think it’s a bit unreasonable to go for a phone costing N200,000 and above just to wow your peers, even when you can get an amazing substitute for less than N100,000. Unnecessary big-ticket items contribute in one way or the other to the recession problem people are dealing with in this country. They compete for dollars or foreign exchange with more important commodities that could be more useful to the economy and well-being of Nigerians at large.

Where do you come in?

All hands must be on deck in order to get the economy out of recession. You may be less concerned about the present situation if things are going so well for you right now, especially if you are someone that earns in U.S. dollars or who is to a significant extent immune to the high inflation in the country somehow. But concern and care needs to be shown for those who are more affected by the current trend, such as fixed-income earners and the poor of the society.

If it is not obvious yet, you might be wondering where you come in. One of the ways you can help is by ‘buying Nigeria.’ It will help if you can start considering locally-produced alternatives when buying stuffs, especially if the latter are of about the same quality. Prohibitively dear items that do not add to productive capacity could be done without for now. In short, we should all endeavour to make some sacrifices when it comes to unnecessary imports.

I’m just addressing the consumer side of this whole recession issue. The supply side as regards production for possible exports is practically beyond what any of us ordinary Nigerians can do a lot about. The significant job in that aspect has to be done by the government, which of course knows what to do as regards providing necessary infrastructure and conducive environment for businesses to thrive. But whether what needs to be done is being or will be done is an entirely different cup of tea. Let’s just play our part and be justified. Or wouldn’t it be great to be able to say: I have played my part?

On the bright side, some experts see things improving for the better in 2017 – we’re almost there, God permitting. We can make that more realistic by playing our parts in one way or the other.

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About the Shell University Scholarship Award

The Shell Nigeria University Scholarship award scheme is open to current second-year undergraduates in all universities in Nigeria. Shell Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarships 2016-2017 is an educational support initiative of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) of Nigeria Limited, operator of the NNPC/Shell/TEPN/Agip Joint Venture. Under the scheme, an annual grant is provided to successful applicants for the full duration of their undergraduate programmes. The organisers wish to promote academic excellence and enhance skill levels of young people in Nigeria.

Shell Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarships 2016-2017 will, as usual, be made in two categories: National Merit Award and Areas of Operation Merit Award.

National Merit (NM) Award – This category is open to university undergraduates hailing from any of the states in Nigeria.

Areas of Operation Merit (OM) Award – Only students who hail from Shell’s areas of operations are eligible to apply in this category. The areas or states include Abia, Bayelsa, Delta, Imo and Rivers.

Eligibility Requirements

You need to meet the following requirements to be able to apply for the Shell Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarships 2016-2017:

– Be a Nigerian by citizenship and currently enrolled for an undergraduate or first-degree programme in an approved university anywhere within the country
– Admitted to a first-degree programme in the 2015/2016 academic session
– Possess O’ Level credit in at least seven subjects, including English Language and Mathematics
– Be a full-time undergraduate student with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 (transcripts or official records to be attached)

Documents Required

You need to have scanned copies of the following documents ready to submit your application:

– A recent passport-sized photograph of the applicant (i.e. jpeg format, not more than 200kilobytes);
– University or JAMB (UTME or D/E) Admission Letter
– Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) Scores
– O’ Level Result(s)
– A’ Level /OND /NCE Result(s) as applicable
– Letter of Identification from State (showing Local Government) of Origin.

If you are applying for the Areas of Operation Merit (OM) Award, you also need to submit scanned copies of letters of identification, (which must be duly stamped and signed) by:

a) The Paramount Ruler of the Community; and
b) The Chairman of the Community Development or Executive Council (CDC or CEC)

The letters should be addressed to The Manager, Social Investment, Shell Petroleum Development Company, Prodeco 5, Room 10, Shell Industrial Area, Rumubiakani, Port Harcourt.

NOTE: The size of EACH scanned document should not be larger than 200KB and must be saved in JPEG (.jpg) format.

Application and Deadline

You may visit the Shell Nigeria’s educational programmes page for further information on the Shell Nigeria Undergraduate Scholarships 2016-2017. Applications are to be submitted online via www.shellnigeria.com.

Registration has to be done with a valid email address and phone number – this must be emphasized as some applicants do take such things for granted. Interested undergraduates in Nigerian universities have until Friday 2 December, 2016 to get their applications in. You obviously do not have a lot of time, so hurry!

Only shortlisted candidates would be contacted, as always. Good luck!

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