Akby:
Somersaults into the thread

University of Alberta all the way... I just started my thesis based application and it looks super exciting.

Any prospective Alberta student here?

Present but I'm a PhD prospective. The application is smooth and you'll even get an institutional email address as an applicant. Which department did you apply to?

Hey house,

Just to be sure. It seems the Police Character Certificate is not compulsory, as many people haven't been indicating it in their list of submitted items. Am I wrong to think so?

Question for doctoral students or other applicants:

Did you guys include a working bibliography in your Statement of Program/Purpose/Intent? Is it actually necessary to do such? I cant seem to find a definite answer to this question but I want to sample opinions so that I know what to do. By extension, I'll also ask if you did any in-text citation in your SOP.

I'll appreciate answers, please.

jdhills:
my people wetin i go do again o? been contacting supervisors in usask and MUN.....most keep saying 'am not taking students' some no even gree reply my mail... what am i not doing right? could it be because i indicated next fall semester? abeg help me guyz
obviously a thesis based master....

Did your department expressly state that you should find a supervisor before hand?

CuteCeo:
Hello guys. I graduated in 2016 with a 2:1 from unilag

I intend to apply to Nscc
Course: Geographic Sciences – Advanced Diploma (It's a post Bsc certificate.)

What are my chances?

Does admission guarantee visa?

Also, i am my own sponsor

Why not go for a Masters?

henricson:
In regards to this transcripts matter, I have a colleague at work who did b.sc 2008 but has just statement and transcripts. School takes time to process original degree after one applies. Now his issue lies with his MBA which he did 2012, now he has only statement result. Certificate is not yet ready and the school doesn't give students copy of transcripts. He wants to apply for the winter program, is it ok if he applies that way and explains in his SOP?

If possible, he should try to get any of the transcript officers to scan a copy of the transcript to his email or upload directly to the school's portal (he will have to plead and pay, of course).

If the above doesn't work, he should get an unofficial result from the department and get it signed by the HOD, and if possible, the Dean/Secretary of PG School.

If the above doesn't work, I doubt that anything else can be done.

Josh1996:
Good morning guys, my school of graduation isn't offering transcripts for now but I was able to get a collated copy of my results from my HOD which he signed and used it to apply to a school in Canada (they took it as unofficial transcript) And as admitted. Now the school upon admission wants official transcript from my undergraduate studies school which they can provide. Do I have any cause to worry that my admission could be dropped?

Official transcripts are 100% important for any international admission. Nigerians have been known to forge transcripts so the school will only accept transcript sent directly from an accredited institution, with a stamped and signed confidential seal. Even with this, many foreign universities still contact the school to confirm the authenticity of the transcript..

The unofficial one you used for admission was just to save you the stress because, under normal circumstances, unofficial transcripts can be downloaded online from the school (Nigerian universities are backward in this regard and they may only offer student copies of transcripts after days/weeks or even months of applying. Some don't even offer student transcripts).

Try and get your school to send an official transcript, signed and stamped by the registrar or his/her representative. It's very important.

kylexy61:


Firstly, September is the perfect time to start contacting supervisors. Some even start in August. Trust me, if you wait till Oct/Nov before you email them, they'll tell you they've already taken their students or they don't have funding for you at the moment. So start contacting them NOW.

Secondly, English proficiency certificate is NOT an exam you prepare and write (like IELTS, TOEFL, etc). It is merely an official letter written by your undergrad institution attesting that English was the primary means of communication while you were receiving your undergraduate education. So just contact your sch in Nigeria and enquire about the procedures for obtaining an English Proficiency letter.


Greetings from Toronto
Cheers

PS: Pardon me if there are grammatical or spelling errors, I'm almost running late for class.

Even though there's nothing wrong is getting a supervisor before application, it is not all universities or all departments that require prospective students to get supervisors before they apply. One has to be sure of this requirement. Many departments offer general funding and assistantship so I don't think hunting for a supervisor is so important. From what I learnt, the department meets over the applicants and potential supervisors select prospective candidates at this point.

Harbhmborlar:
Guys... am trying to get admission in Canada. What skools would yu suggest I apply to with this profile
UG course: Civil Engineering
Calss of degree: 2.1
UG GPA: 4.10
1 published paper in an international journal.
Intended masters course: Water Resources & Environmental Engineering
Am looking for funding too abeg.

I understand admission is pretty tight in Canada. Please suggest safe skools for my profile. Its pretty urgent pls cos am gunning for fall 19

Research into the University of Alberta and McGill University, they have some of the best funding packages in Canada. Just write a good SOP. If you need easier schools with less funding packages then consider Memorial University of Newfoundland or University of Manitoba.

Is it your prostitution? Are you the prostitutor? Are you the prostitutee? Are you the prostitute?

Better go and mind your business and leave people to prostitute however they want. It's a free world.

Dan90s:


If you don’t have your transcript, you can use statement of results (that’s what I used because my school doesn’t release official transcripts to students). Explain what you mean by one of the schools you went to...do you want to apply with two school certificates?

I have a first degree and a masters degree. My first degree university gives transcripts to students while the second degree university does not, no matter how you explain.

Dan90s:


Since you’re just applying, a copy of your transcript is what they need. It’s when you’re offered conditional admission that you have to make a request for your school to send your original transcript. Is it winter session you’re applying for?

What if your school doesn't give out student copies of transcripts? One of the schools I attended will only issue transcripts to institutions directly. They don't hand it over to students. What do you advise in such a case?

jnyuwa02:


Looks like your chances are great. Don’t narrow the list yet. Try and obtain supervisors first, I think the list may narrow itself down and possibly more may need to be added for you to arrive at 3 schools in which to apply.

Thank you sir. Is it really compulsory to find a supervisor before I apply? Can't I just apply like that?

Hello House,

I am a prospective doctoral student. I have a Bachelors degree with a 2.1 (4.04/5). I have a Masters with 4.75/5 (distinction). I have 8 publications, 4 conference papers and about 2 years of experience as a lecturer. My discipline is English. I want to apply to 3 good universities with some funding for PhD candidates. So far, I've researched into University of Alberta, McMaster University, University of Saskatchewan, McGill University and Memorial University of Newfoundland. I need to narrow down my list to 3, especially those with good chances of admission, given my educational background, and good funding (I'm currently not working so funding is important for me). I'll appreciate any advice or suggestions I can get at this point.

clefstone:
what u wrote are mostly speculations. Oral traditions are usually strong in Africa and most historical kingdoms in Africa hv rich oral histories. The Urhobos on the other hand are weak in this regard. No rich oral history to be enjoyed by the people and visitors. I am saying this because I grew up among Urhobos and in Urhobo land. Now as a grown up I think to myself, why didn't I ever hear of a great historical Urhobo figure like a great king or warrior. I'm not trying to be anti-urhobo(actually I can't be) but there are a lot of questions begging for answers

I have come to the conclusion that the Urhobo people at the start of colonization were a group of people, not well organized, possibly constantly migrating and primeval, lacking an organized system of govt(this u alluded to) and maybe subject of another group most likely the Benin Kingdom. Correct me where I'm wrong

cc efewestern

And what you have written is not speculative?

I won't repeat myself. The point has been made.

jared007:
Actually by landmass u right concerning Okpe and Agbon but Uvwie isn't 3rd. Ughievwen in Ughelli South is larger than Udu lga. Udu is larger than Uvwie. Even Ughelli is larger than Uvwie. Uvwie is very small by landmass but heavily populated.

By respect we have Okpe, Uvwie and Ughelli which is actually the oldest Kingdom in Urhoboland and it practices the true monarchy by heredity.

Oniovo, thank you for correcting me. Regards.

iguita:
I am not tackling you, I am just asking for information basis. Is this king more important than Olu of Warrior?

No king is more important than another. For one, they are both first class kings. Their kingdoms are about the same size. However, the Olu had always curried favours from both the colonial masters and the successive governments. The Ovie represents his people well and so does the Olu. The Olu appears to be a little bit popular because of the anomalous title that he bears as the Olu of Warri because Warri is a popular city.

However, the point should be noted that the Warri kingdom is different from Warri City. Warri or Iwere Kingdom is mainly an offshore kingdom, whereas Warri City is a mainland locale with diverse ethnicities and multiple kings.

Nothing wrong here. However, this should not be a precedent for us to allow religion influence commonsensical situations.

Nowenuse:


Ok, great responses from you.
I am actually from Plateau state, but I was born and bred in Ekpan, Uvwie.

I thought you were Ijaw? I'm surprised! So which ethnic group in Plateau are you from? There are so many groups in that state that I can't even remember them. I wonder why there are so many micro-groups!

Burgerlomo:


The public holidays are declared for the government employees and that doesn't stop any private businesses from operating during that period if they choose to

What about curfews?

Efewestern:


Dude everywhere is dirty in Nigeria, have u been to Lagos of recent?, so I don't understand your point, the only place that is even very dirty is effurun, alaka axis. Some places like Ubrumede, jakpa road, etc are very neat and okay.

The guy has an issue with Urhobos, especially Uvwie, so don't try to appeal to his higher faculty. He has none! Leave him to relish in his idiocy. What is in Uvwie that cannot be found in Warri South, Warri North or even Asaba? Mtcheww!

coputa:
There's is no such place as modern day warri.Warri is warri with three local government areas:warri north,warri south West and warri south.
Effurun is formally under okpe local government, when uvwie local government was founded with its headquarters in Effurun,it was then removed from okpe local government.
So,don't distort,bend and misinform readers with your bogus postulation.

You are uneducated and seem not to grasp the basic reality of modernity. Of course, Uvwie is Uvwie and its not Warri, just as Okpanam is not Asaba or as Choba is not Port Harcourt or as Ikorodu is not Lagos but we call these places by the cities they are annexed to. It is simple geography! Warri Kingdom is NOT Warri City (this is a point many Itsekiris fail to grasp). Warri City is mostly Agbassa, Okere, Ekurede, and Effurun. Of which Effurun (arguably another city in itself) has become a cornubation of Warri and thus, people inevitably refer to Effurun as Warri.


Do not reply me on this issue again. The point has been made and I cease from any further communication with you.

Nowenuse:


Ok interesting.

I wish Urhobo youths would value their language more. I only meet like 1 in 20 urhobo youths who actually take pride in their language. In Effurun-Warri Urban area for instance, you hardly see 2 urhobo youths speaking in Urhobo, but I commonly see Ijaw youths speaking their language together. Uvwie is the worst! In all my life in Ekpan and environs, I never saw an uvwie youth speaking the language.

Many of these youths have negative attitudes towards Urhobo all in the name of modernisation. However, Urhobo leaders and enlightened youths are trying to correct that misnomer. So many things are being done at the various schools and colleges around Urhoboland. The leaders are also adding incentives to learning the language by granting scholarships or financial reliefs to youths who can speak Urhobo fluently. So many things are in place to salvage the situation, at least for the next generation.

Nowenuse:


Ok, great answer.
I hope Okpe leaders never pull out of the union, they would be making a very big mistake by doing that. I wonder why people like to unnecessarily divide themselves into smaller bits, instead of uniting with each other to form a greater force.

As for Isoko, I have met many of them who are so proud of their oneness with urhobo and are very much okay if you call them Urhobo. But it seems like they are in the minority.
Do you really have an idea why Isokos pulled out of the union?

Don't mind my too many questions. I love history a lot. I was also born in Uvwie land, so I find it quite bad that I do not know much of Urhobo history.

Also, why is Sapele so big and developed compared to Orerokpe which is the headquarters of Okpe kingdom? It is ironic.

Sorry for replying late.

Isoko pulled out because they felt they were being marginalised by the other Urhobos. Isoko used to be regarded as Eastern Urhobo and they were grouped together with Urhobos in the current Ughelli North LGA. However, the headquarters of the Eastern Urhobo district was Ughelli Town. The Isokos didn't like that. They also didn't like the fact that many of their people were gradually learning Urhobo due to the Ughelli factor (as they had to learn it in order to communicate there).

However, one of the main factors in the division was essentially Awolowo, as Efe already hinted. Awolowo wanted Urhobos to support him and his party (AG) but Urhobos did otherwise and supported a largely Eastern party (NCNC). Unfortunately, AG won and Awolowo decided to punish the Urhobos in numerous ways. He retitled the Olu of Itsekiri to Olu of Warri (so as to create a wrong impression about the then Warri district, as well as to annoy Urhobos). He also quickly removed the Isoko from the Urhobo in order to reduce Urhobo's numerical strength in the Western Region. Although he did this in connivance with an Isoko man (James Otobo) who was then representing Eastern Urhobo division (majority of the Isokos seemed to have supported AG as against the generality of the Urhobo nation).

With the devolution of power to the Isoko people via the creation of an Isoko district, the Isokos were quick to emphasise their own identity. They immediately formed the Isoko Development Union and pulled out of Urhobo Progress Union. What was unfortunate was the fact that Urhobos couldn't do much to salvage the situation as there was already bad blood before Awolowo and James Otobo worked to expunge Isoko from Urhobo.

Interestingly too, Awolowo also tried to remove Okpe but the Okpe people decided against that move. Although a minority of them wanted it and fiercely campaigned for it but with the Orodje on the Urhobo wagon, nothing much could be achieved.

Sapele is today more developed than Orerokpe due to its closeness to the Atlantic ocean (the British were able to access it and set up a colony there). It had always been an important trading town as it connects various cities and towns such as Benin, Warri, Koko, etc. Sapele also used to have one of the biggest wood markets and mill in the entire continent (indigenous governments ran it aground). Infact, Sapele was the relaxation spot of the British administrators and was described as a beautiful jewel by the Ethiope.

Orerokpe, on the other hand, like Efe hinted, used to be a ghost town because a tyrannical king was murdered there and many people ran away. In fact, it was not until as late as 1930 that people started moving back into the town, especially when the Orodje was reinstated by the colonial masters. So Orerokpe has had a shorter modern history than Sapele and it was of no real significance to the colonialists so nothing important was sited there. Infact, when the monarchy was reinstated, many people said it should be sited at Sapele instead but the Orodje wanted it to be at the traditional headquarters of the people.

Nowenuse:


Damn. That means Okpe is very huge. But how come with the very large Okpe population and landmass, yet most of them now seem to be switching to Ughelli urhobo dialect or general urhobo?

I had a very close friend in Uniben from Sapele and he told me this. I also ask other Okpe people this, it seems like it's mostly only the elderly people who speak the original okpe dialect, or not?

Okpe is quite a difficult dialect and that is why many of the youths fancy Urhobo far more than Okpe. Urhobos also saturate the entire Okpe kingdom and as such, Urhobo language became the default mode of communication. Furthermore, Urhobo language is the only indigenous language taught at the secondary school level and it is compulsory for all Junior Secondary School students in the entire Delta Central Senatorial District.

The pristine form of Okpe is spoken more in Mereje and environs than anywhere else in Okpe. That area is virtually untouched by Urhobo incursion.

Nowenuse:



Wow, Ok, I never knew. I always thought all Ughelli people were under one kingdom. I only thought Ughievwen to be seperate. Now I know better.

I guess the size of Okpe might be the reason why some Okpes claim to be a distinct group.
In my secondary school in Warri. Some Okpe people claimed that they were not urhobos and I never understood why.

One last question, don't most Ughelli people speak the same dialects?

Ughelli dialect is basically central Urhobo dialect. All Urhobos can understand it. However, those in Ughelli South speak various dialects that may or may not be understandable to some Urhobos from other clans.

Regarding Okpe, the truth is that many of them mistake the unintelligibility of their dialect to other Urhobos as a form of ethnic uniqueness. Okpe, Isoko and Urhobo have always been together from time immemorial. At a point, we were all called Sobo people by the colonial masters. Unfortunately, Isoko people opted out of the union due to politics of bad blood.

Quite interesting is that fact that there is no group known as "Urhobo". Urhobo describes the land we occupy more than the language we speak. So all who identify as Urhobos do so only by affiliation with their respective clans. I.e. I am an Urhobo because I am from Agbon. So you can't claim to be Urhobo without coming from a specific clan. This is the logic that many Okpe claimants fail to get. They think there is a group of people who are purely Urhobos as opposed to those who are purely Okpes. This idea is totally false. Okpe people are Urhobos by virtue of Okpe's classification as an Urhobo clan. Yes, they are Okpe but by being Okpe, they automatically assume Urhobo identity.

If and when the Orodje of Okpe or the Udogun Okpe, as the final authorities in Okpe matters, declares Okpe as an independent ethnic group from the Urhobos, then their affiliation would cease to exist. Until then, Okpe is Urhobo and no matter what a few may say, that stand will never change.

Furthermore, it is interesting to know that Okpe is mutually intelligible with Uvwie yet Uvwie people are not in doubts about their identity. It is also interesting to note that Urhobo Progress Union, the mother union of the Urhobo people, was formed in Orerokpe, the headquarters of Okpe Kingdom. It was this union that fought for the reinstatement of the Orodje of Okpe in the 1930s. They also fought against the Itsekiri's claim that Sapele was their land; a legal battle which Okpe won fair and square at all levels. It is also interesting to know that all Okpe people can understand Urhobo and infact, in Orerokpe, the headquarters of Okpe, Urhobo is the lingua franca!

Nowenuse:


Wow, Ok, thanks. I always thought they were Uvwie. They are so close to Uvwie.

Pls what about that famous army checkpoint close to effurun R/about? Is it under Okpe or Uvwie? Is that the exact boundary btw Uvwie and Okpe?

That is more like a buffer zone. But there are Okpe villages in the interior of that area so it's more of Okpe than Uvwie. Infact, Okpe people claim that some of their communities are administratively grouped with Uvwie.

obaataaokpaewu:
But that place(Aziza junction, Ohore) Nowenuse is saying, there is a signpost of the Ovie's 10th anniversary mounted there. Will Okpe allow such to be mounted in their land?

Okpe and Uvwie are of the same ethnic group. There is no animosity between them. Signposts can be mounted anywhere and besides, that army checkpoint is considered neutral grounds.

Nowenuse:


I thougt Ughelli is bigger than Okpe? Is Ughelli kingdom not Ughelli north and south combined?

Also, Ughelli seems to have a larger population than Okpe. Ughelli natives are extremely many.

Ughelli Kingdom is just a minute part of Ughelli North and South LGAs. More than 10 kingdoms inhabit the 2 LGAs. Okpe is the largest, followed by Agbon, and this is both in population and landmass.

obaataaokpaewu:
The new palace is directly opposite my former parish.

My question for the Urhobos here: Among all the Urhobo kings: Ovie of Uvwie, Ovie of Ughelli, Oroseun of Okere-Urhobo , Orodje of Okpe, King of Agbon clan etc, which of them is the most popular or should I say commands the most respect?
Frathermathy, Efewestern

Urhobo operates a policy of equal kingdoms no matter how large or how small the kingdom is. This is so practical such that the Ovie of Okparabe with a small kingdom is not inferior to the Orodje of Okpe with a large kingdom.

However, even though equality manifests in theory and praxis, the popularity of kingdoms and their sizes take center space. Kingdoms such as Okpe, Ughelli and Uvwie, are known for their large landmass and historical monarchies. These kingdoms are also urbanised. In truth, they can be said to be the most populous, with Okpe taking the lead and Uvwie being cognate. However, their Kings are not of more importance than other kings in Urhoboland.

In terms of size, Okpe is also the largest, covering 2 LGAs. Agbon comes next in size and Uvwie takes the 3rd position.

If I am to give my personal opinion on this, I'll say that the Orodje of Okpe and the Ovie of Uvwie, by virtue of the size of their kingdoms and their education/pre-kingship achievements, command more respect. The Ohworode of Olomu also commands respect as the oldest living Urhobo king!

Nowenuse:


@the bolded. There are some communities along Effurun-Sapele road before you get to the boundary between Uvwie and Okpe if you are going from Effurun R/about to Sapele ...Those communities are not urbanized... Are they not Uvwie communities?
Cc Efewestern

They are not Uvwie communities. They are Okpe communities. Uvwie terminates at Effurun at the Effurun-Sapele Road axis. Any community you encountered after Uvwie would most likely be those in the Mereje dukedom of Okpe. The only area in Uvwie that used to be semi-urban was the Ugbomro axis but the federal university has changed that too. Uvwie is 100% urban.

clefstone:
I grew up in Uvwie but I'm surprised that the Uvwie and indeed the Urhobo people do not talk about their history to as far back as 200yrs ago. Since u r a proud Urhobo son, my question to u is, do the Urhobo people have a long history, why don't we have an urhobo kingdom(exception is Okpe kingdom) with up to 10 kings in their history

Many Urhobo clans never fancied monarchies. What was in vogue was gerontocracy or otherwise quipped as ekpako r'Urhobo oyin Ivie r'Urhobo (Urhobo elders are Urhobo Kings). We also had a few cases of plutocracy.

Taking care of a king was expensive and tasking and so the Urhobos of old were not interested in setting up kingdoms. They were satisfied with the wisdom of the elders in arbitration and administration.

It was in the colonial period that many of the so-called kingdoms were created due to the British policy of indirect rule. The British wanted a direct leader that they could use for their own good and so they mandated all the Urhobo polities to set up kingdoms. That is why some of these kingdoms are fairly new.

However, there are exceptions to the foregoing. Some historical monarchies, heriditary even, exist in Urhoboland. The Ughelli Kingdom can trace their heriditary monarchy to the very first king that reigned when they arrived their present location (and they have had more than 10 kings). Same goes for Okpe, Agbarha, Olomu, and others. Historians are yet to publish many works on the history of these kingdoms and that is why they seem not to have a long line of kings. But rest assured that if you look for them, you will find them. Urhobo kingship was never about subjugation or conquest as obtained in many other polities. It was primarily for arbitration, consultation and other ritualistic functions. The Ivie
never sought to increase their territories or wage wars. They were mainly charismatic figures who garnered respect.

Finally, stop making sweeping generalisations on monarchies in an ethnic group. You have to research thoroughly and consult the people before you assume anything. Some groups, probably due to early contacts with the Europeans, have documented kings but others did not have such luck but that is not to say kings did not exist in those polities. Luckily for us, many Urhobo scholars are researching into our past and many more findings will be made.