Day: January 15, 2022

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Nigeria violence: Gunmen attack Plateau community, kill ’15 people’

BASSA At least 15 people have been reported killed and many others injured in an attack on Ancha village of Miango District in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

The gunmen attacked the community at about 1:00 a.m. Thursday, while residents were asleep. The victims are believed to be members of the Irigwe ethnic group.

The spokesperson of the Irigwe ethnic organisation, Davidson Malison, in a Thursday interview with reporters, said six people were also injured in the attack. He said more than 20 houses were burnt; while many vehicles, motorcycles, and food crops were also destroyed.

Malison alleged that the attack was carried out by local Fulanis in the area, an allegation that was promptly denied by the latter.

The Chairman of Gan Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria (GAFDAN) in Plateau State, Garba Muhammed, denied the allegation in a statement.

“We are not aware of the attack but it is not surprising to hear our name mentioned because whenever an attack is launched, our name is often called and that is unfair.

“Remember that on Jan 2, our members were attacked and killed around Rafin Bauna. We have reported the case to security agencies for investigation,” he said.

The attack in Bassa is at least the third in Plateau in 2022. It occurred barely 24 hours after armed persons ambushed and killed three persons on transit in Tyaana village, Riyom Local Government Area (LGA). About nine days before that, three people were ambushed and killed in Rafin Bauna village of Bassa LGA.

The Plateau State Governor, Simon Lalong, has expressed sadness over the latest attack, describing it as another sad tale in the unending cycle of violent attacks in the area despite several measures taken by the government to tackle it.

He ordered security agencies to fish out the attackers and prosecute them.

In a statement by his spokesperson, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed sadness about the fresh killings in Bassa.

Buhari suggested that the attack had ethnic colourations. He said the incident is not in keeping with the principles of the peace agreements reached between the Irigwe and the Fulani in the area.

“My thoughts are with the families of the victims in this time of grief. May their souls rest in peace,” presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu quoted Buhari as saying.

The president urged the various communities in the area, and particularly the Plateau State Interreligious Council to do everything possible to commit to the peace agreement and prevent it from falling apart.

“Every group taking the law into their hands claims to be retaliating. As a society, there is no place for this sort of violence. This is unacceptable,” Buhari said.

Source: Nam News Network

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Dartmouth Offers ‘Need Blind’ Admissions to Foreign Students

Dartmouth College, the Ivy League university in New Hampshire, has announced that it will admit international students through a “need blind” process, meaning that their ability to pay tuition will not dictate their admission.

Dartmouth already had a policy of “need blind” admissions for U.S. applicants, but now foreign students will be considered for admission regardless of their or their families’ financial status.

The decision represents an effort to increase the number of international students at the university.

“Talent is spread all across the world. We want to remove any financial barriers,” Darthmouth President Philip Hanlon told the Financial Times. “This move benefits every student on campus, not just international ones. Tomorrow’s leaders have to be global citizens. By us bringing together students from all over the world … they will learn from their peers.”

In recent years, the college has increased its recruitment abroad, which is reflected in the growing proportion of international students in its student body. According to Dartmouth, its most recent class was composed of 14% international students, compared with 8% in 2013, when Hanlon became president.

Hanlon said in a statement from the college that there is no target for how many international students it now seeks, but he expects the proportion of international applicants to “skyrocket.” He said he would not be surprised if this figure reaches 25% in coming decades.

What is ‘need blind’ admissions?

Within the U.S., higher education costs have risen considerably in just decades. As a result, prospective students may be discouraged from applying because of their inability to pay tuition and other educational costs.

“Need blind” admissions are intended to encourage students to apply, even if they may not necessarily be able to afford a university’s tuition. This admissions process means that applicants are considered for admission without knowledge of their or their families’ ability to cover tuition and other fees.

How many universities use this process?

Across U.S. colleges and universities, the type of admissions process used for domestic and international applicants varies.

About 100 colleges and universities offer “need blind” admissions for U.S. applicants. Dartmouth’s new policy aligns it with five other universities using this process for international students.

Yale University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, Princeton University and Amherst College are the other universities that use this admissions process for all applicants, U.S. and international.

What does this process mean for students?

The “need blind” process means that students are not disadvantaged in the admissions process because of their financial status. Financial need is not a factor in the consideration process.

Some universities that operate under this status also work to meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial need when determining how much financial aid they will provide them, including Dartmouth College.

“Under this policy, students are not disadvantaged in the admissions process because of their financial status,” Hanlon said in a statement.

Complete “need blind” admissions policies alleviate a considerable worry for students across the globe when deciding to which schools they wish to apply or attend.

Source: Voice of America