Metro
Over 41,000 Sub-Saharan Africans Currently Studying in U.S. Institutions—EducationUSA
The EducationUSA section of the U.S. Department of State says no fewer than 41,000 students from Sub-Saharan Africa are currently studying in American universities and colleges.
The network made this known on Wednesday at the second annual two-day EducationUSA Sub-Saharan Africa virtual fair.
The network promotes U.S. higher education to students around the world by offering detailed and current information about opportunities to study at accredited institutions in the U.
S.The network of over 430 international student advising centers in more than 175 countries and territories also provides services to the U.S. higher education community.
This is to help institutional leaders meet their recruitment and campus internationalisation goals.
Mr Eric Kneedler, Chargé d’Affaires, U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya, said that American colleges valued international students.
According to him, American institutions have over the past year, demonstrated their commitment to supporting international students and navigating the unprecedented circumstances that came with the pandemic.
“We have witnessed firsthand the adaptability of the U.S. institutions in ensuring that international students continue to access their education with as minimal interruptions as possible.
“Schools have also been innovative and intentional in their engagements.
“This commitment is on display at this virtual EducationUSA fair, where prospective students will receive comprehensive, impartial and current information on study opportunities in the U.S.”
Kneedler said that American education could be accessed not only on campus, but also from home through online programmes and certifications, or hybrid options that combined in person and virtual classes.
“Whatever you envision for your education, there are numerous possibilities in the United States, for you to achieve your goals and you can rest assured you have a supportive accessible community that truly wants you to succeed,” he said.
Fadzi Muzhandu, an Education USA advisor in Zimbabwe, highlighted smart ways through which prospective undergraduate students could find “best fit schools”.
According to her, selecting colleges and universities is the hardest part of the U.S. admissions process.
She said that there were over 4000 accredited institutions in the country, making the selection process a tricky one.
Muzhandu added that there were five key steps in the process of applying to American universities, stressing that researching options was one of the most important parts.
“This is the most time consuming process but you have to learn to use resources online, especially google.”
The EducationUSA Advisor said that in strategising for success, prospective students should maximize their chances of admission by applying to as many schools as possible.
She urged students to determine their non-negotiable criteria when selecting schools of interest.
This, she said can be the quality of the institution, diversity, facilities available, academic strength in courses of study, tuition, and the availability of financial aid for international students.
She also stressed the importance of completing applications, adding that some students work hard in finding schools that offered scholarships and financial aid but would give up towards the end.
“Regardless of how much work you put into the application process, if you do not complete your application, if you do not click submit on your application, no one gets to see your amazing profile.”
She said that with more than one million international students in the U.S., the country was the number one recipient of international students in the world, making it a choice destination for students.
“Students in Sub-Saharan Africa have become the most mobile tertiary students in the world. From this part of the continent we are sending more students abroad than any other parts of the world.
“If you apply and get accepted to attend, you will be joining the over 41,000 exceptional students who are already there,” she said.
The first day of the fair had in attendance 60 colleges and universities from 26 U.S. states with their representatives on ground to connect with African students virtually. (NAN)
The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission has begun the regularisation of staff appointments in the FCT Administration and the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA).
The Head of the Civilo Service, Dr Udo Atang, said at the commencement of the exercise in Abuja on Wednesday, that the move was to ensure accurate data of all staff.
Atang described the regularisation as a “critical” exercise, which forms the bedrock of the new FCT Civil Service Commission (CSC).
He pointed out that all the staff were holding letters of appointments from various agencies, departments, area councils, and the defunct Ministry of FCT and FCDA among others.
The holders of these letters, he said, have been raising issues of discrimination based on letters of appointment.
According to him, the exercise and the gazette by the commission that will come thereafter, will give all staff a sense of identity.
“The essence of this regularisation is to ensure that staff are properly documented.
“You will now have letters that will now qualify you as a bonafide staff of the FCT Civil Service Commission.”
The head of service, who appealed for full cooperation of the workers, directed that a list of all staff on course, study leave, leave of absence and other related permissions be compiled and submitted.
He added that the list should be compiled with grade level, designation and record of service, including approvals.
Atang commended the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, for his doggedness and commitment in implementing the provisions of the FCT CSC Act, 2018.
Noting Wike’s support and love for the FCT workers, the head of service urged the workers to reciprocate the minister’s uncommon gesture, by being dedicated and committed to their respective duties.
Also speaking, the Chairman, FCT CSC, Mr Emeka Ezeh, stressed that part of the responsibilities of the commission was in the appointment, promotion and discipline of all FCTA and FCDA workers.
Ezeh also stressed the need for the workers to be more committed in the discharge of their responsibilities. (NAN)
From Jude Dangwam, Jos
The Catholic Women Organization of Nigeria (CWON) has organized a trauma healing session for survivors of the Jos Saint Academy School collapse alongside parents who lost their children in the unfortunate incident.The National President of the organization, Dame Mary Gonzum noted that the effort was part of their psychosocial support and counseling services for victims of the school building collapse as a follow-up to the assessment of the condition of the victims during their visit.
Gonzum speaking during a one day trauma session held at the Secretariat of the Justice Development and Peace/Caritas Commission (JDPC) of the Catholic Archdiocese located along Zaria Road in Jos the Plateau State capital said the trauma healing session was in continuation of their intervention to students who experienced the building collapsed.”Today, a trauma healing session was flagged off with a seminar on how to go about handling the trauma that victims of the Saint Academy School Busa Buji in Jos are passing through.”We will later select those that are so traumatic and need help to continue with the process of healing because it is not something that will end in a day or two but will need sometime.”The surviving students who experienced the building collapsed, parents of the students are all here because some parents are so traumatic, we have one other woman that lost two children”This trauma became necessary because when we went visiting in the hospitals, we observed that some of them are really traumatic. Like the other boy, his mother said up till today he kept telling his mother that he is seeing dead bodies, and anybody he sees he will say is his classmate.”Some of the affected parents while sharing their encounters after the incident said they hardly sleep in the day or night time. Some manage to sleep for two hours and they’re awake, and from the little lectures we received today it is clear that there is a problem,” She noted.The President calls on the government to ensure that those saddled with the responsibility of approving, inspecting and supervising structures are meant to do their job with all diligence to avert future happenings again.Some of the affected parents including; Hasana Suleman Sale who lost two of her children recalled with pains the unfortunate development that claimed the lives of her two children. She expressed gratitude for the trauma healing session which she said came as a means of consolation and strength for her to overcome the trauma she is passing through.
The Catholic Church in Nigeria has welcomed the newly-appointed Apostolic to Nigeria, Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty.
Crotty, an Irish, was appointed by the Vatican.
He will oversee the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through the church in Nigeria.
The position, an ambassadorial status, advances cohesion in the body of Christ.
In his welcome message for Crotty on Tuesday, the President of Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Lucius Ugorji, said that the Church was glad to receive him.
The CBCN president, who is also the Archbishop of Owerri Catholic Archdiocese, said,” With joy and gratitude to God, I extend a hearty welcome to Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty on behalf of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria, clergy, religious and lay faithful in Nigeria.
“We are thankful to His Holiness, Pope Francis, for appointing Archbishop Michael Francis Crotty as the Apostolic Nuncio to Nigeria to build on the good works of his predecessor, Archbishop Antonio Filipazzi.
“His appointment is a testament to the strong spiritual bond between our countries,” he said.
He said that although Crotty was the first Apostolic Nuncio from Ireland to serve in Nigeria, many Irish missionaries had played significant roles in spreading the gospel in Nigeria.
“We appreciate Archbishop Crotty’s acceptance of serving in Nigeria and assure him of our full support and cooperation.
“We pray for a fruitful mission and a blessed tenure for our excellency,” he added. (NAN)
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