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FUSTECH Seeks Strategic Partnership with YABATECH to Boost Science, Technology Education
The newly established Federal University of Science and Technology (FUSTECH) has stated it’s readiness to partner with Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) in science education, research, laboratory development and manpower support as part of efforts to advance the federal government’s technology-driven education agenda. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kazeem Oshikoya, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by the university’s management team to the college, aimed at strengthening collaboration among federal tertiary institutions. Describing the engagement as both symbolic and strategic, Oshikoya said YABATECH’s vast experience, infrastructure and reputation as one of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary institutions positioned it as a valuable partner in supporting the successful take-off of the new university. According to him, the institution was established by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to produce graduates equipped with cutting-edge skills in science, technology and innovation, capable of competing globally and creating employment opportunities. “We considered it appropriate for a new institution like FUSTECH to pay homage to one of Nigeria’s foremost tertiary institutions. Beyond that, we have come to explore areas of collaboration that will enable us to fulfil the mandate given to us by the Federal Government,” Oshikoya said. He revealed that the Minister of Education had directed the university to focus on emerging areas of science and technology that would contribute significantly to national development and economic transformation. The VC noted that despite challenges associated with securing a permanent site and developing infrastructure, the university had recorded notable progress since its establishment. He disclosed that FUSTECH had secured approximately N4 billion in TETfund intervention for the construction of laboratories, ICT facilities, faculty buildings and a university library, in addition to N2 billion facilitated by the minister of education for the construction of male and female hostels. Oshikoya, however, explained that delays in land acquisition and documentation had compelled the institution to make interim arrangements and seek partnerships with neighbouring institutions. He said FUSTECH was seeking collaboration with YABATECH in areas such as laboratory access for practical training, use of library facilities, student accommodation, security support and the sharing of academic expertise. “We are looking at ways through which our students can benefit from existing facilities while we continue developing our permanent campus. We believe institutions should work together in advancing national educational goals,” he stated. In his response, the Rector of YABATECH, Dr. Ibraheem Adedotun Abdul, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a commendable example of institutional cooperation within the Nigerian higher education sector. He commended the university for prioritising collaboration with institutions within its immediate environment rather than focusing exclusively on foreign partnerships. “In Nigeria, we often see institutions looking far beyond their immediate environment for collaborations while overlooking opportunities around them. What FUSTECH is doing is commendable and represents the way forward for tertiary education development,” Abdul said. The rector assured the visiting delegation that YABATECH was willing to explore mutually beneficial areas of partnership and would carefully review the university’s requests. “We are open to collaboration and partnership. Once we identify areas where we can support one another for the advancement of education and national development, we will gladly work together,” he added. Abdul further noted that the proposed partnership aligns with YABATECH’s longstanding commitment to promoting collaboration in teaching, research, innovation, skills development and institutional growth.
16 Jun 2026
EGO Foundation Equips Lagos Pupils with STEM, Leadership Skills Through Lead The Future 2.0
Funmi Ogundare EGO Foundation has successfully implemented its Lead The Future 2.0 programme, equipping primary school pupils across selected schools in Lagos State with critical STEM, leadership, civic leadership and personal development skills, aimed at preparing them for future opportunities and responsibilities. The initiative, which targeted pupils at a crucial stage of their educational and personal development, provided practical learning experiences designed to strengthen leadership capacity, communication skills, problem-solving abilities, emotional intelligence, creativity, teamwork, civic responsibility and critical thinking. Implemented in collaboration with the Nigerian Children Cultural Heritage as part of activities commemorating Lagos at 59, the programme also received support from Access Bank and the National Union of Lagos State indigenes. Participating schools included Dabitos Secondary School, Adegoke Primary School, Shitta Primary School, Abdullahi STEM School, Dedeke Primary School, Alisa Bashua Primary School, Agutasolo Primary School and Salvation Army School. Through interactive workshops and experiential learning sessions, pupils from primary three to six were introduced to foundational STEM concepts, leadership principles, civic engagement, communication techniques and personal development skills. The programme encouraged learners to think critically, collaborate effectively, solve problems creatively and build confidence in expressing their ideas. Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Executive Director of EGO Foundation, Toluwase Olaniyan, noted that the programme was designed to nurture future innovators, responsible citizens and problem-solvers. “Lead The Future 2.0 is an investment in the future of our communities and our nation. We believe leadership development should begin early. When children are exposed to the right values, skills and opportunities, they are better positioned to become innovators, responsible citizens and problem-solvers who contribute positively to society,” Olaniyan stated. According to him, the initiative is helping young learners build confidence, strengthen critical thinking abilities, embrace innovation and understand their role in shaping a better future for Nigeria. Teachers and school administrators who participated in the programme commended its practical and engaging approach, noting visible improvements in students’ participation, confidence, teamwork, communication skills and leadership potential. The foundation said the implementation of Lead The Future 2.0 reflects its continued commitment to advancing quality education, youth development, leadership capacity building and community transformation through innovative learning initiatives and strategic partnerships. It noted that as Nigeria continues to invest in the next generation, programmes such as Lead The Future 2.0 underscore the importance of equipping young people not only with academic knowledge but also with leadership, civic and life skills required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic world.
16 Jun 2026
YABATECH Seeks Alumni Support for Transition to Varsity Status
Funmi Ogundare The Chairman of the Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Prof. Funsho Afolabi, has called on alumni of the institution across the globe to mobilise their resources, expertise and influence in support of the college’s ongoing bid to transform into a University of Technology and Vocational Studies. Afolabi, who made the appeal at the opening ceremony of the 2026 Annual General Meeting of the YABATECH Alumni Association recently, described the proposed transition as a historic milestone that requires collective commitment from stakeholders, particularly graduates of the institution. Afolabi, who was represented by Dr Maruf Adebakin, said that the college has reached a defining moment in its history and is already implementing strategic measures to facilitate a seamless transformation into a university of technology and vocational studies. According to him, the process would require resilience, innovation and collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the desired outcome. “The college stands at a critical point in its history, and the support of the alumni association has become more important than ever. We need an association that will deploy its intellectual resources, professional expertise, national influence and global networks to support the institution,” Afolabi said. He urged alumni members to leverage their positions in government, industry, academia, and the private sector to attract partnerships, facilitate interventions, influence favourable policies, and contribute to projects that can accelerate the institution’s growth and development. Afolabi also appealed for sustained unity within the alumni body, warning against divisions that could undermine the progress of both the Association and the institution. He noted that YABATECH, as Nigeria’s premier higher institution, occupies a unique position in the nation’s educational history, having produced generations of professionals whose contributions have impacted national development. The governing council chairman reiterated the institution’s commitment to maintaining its legacy of excellence through quality teaching, technological innovation, industry-driven programmes and alignment with national development priorities. Afolabi further commended the leadership of the alumni association for promoting cohesion among members and repositioning the body as a strategic partner in the institution’s development agenda. In his remarks, the Rector, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, described the college as a national asset and a centre of technological excellence that has consistently produced innovators, entrepreneurs and professionals contributing to Nigeria’s industrial and economic growth. He stated that achieving the institution’s aspiration to become a world-class university of technology and vocational studies would require stronger collaboration among management, staff, alumni, and other stakeholders. He described the theme of the AGM, ‘Food Security, Drug Safety and National Prosperity: The Strategic Role of Tertiary Institutions and Alumni Bodies’, as timely, stressing that tertiary institutions must increasingly provide practical solutions to national challenges. Abdul reaffirmed management’s commitment to strengthening engagement with the association through mentorship programmes, collaborative initiatives, and industry-academia partnerships to advance innovation and institutional development. The Chairman of the alumni Board of Trustees, Wing Commander Solomon Ajayi (retd.), said the institution is on the verge of a historic transformation and that the alumni body is repositioning itself to take advantage of emerging opportunities while addressing attendant challenges. He restated reforms within the association, including strengthened governance structures, active committees and the revitalisation of its college of elders to enhance professionalism, continuity and stakeholder engagement. The National President of the association, Yemi Osinbajo, noted that the AGM was designed to serve as a platform for strategic collaboration and collective action towards promoting education, innovation and national development. He disclosed that the association had launched a ‘Pick A Project’ initiative to attract support for infrastructure development, student welfare, entrepreneurship, research, innovation hubs, digital transformation and security enhancement within the institution. Osinbajo underlined the association’s commitment to supporting the college’s elevation to a university of technology, insisting that the institution possesses the academic capacity, technological orientation and industrial relevance required for such status.
16 Jun 2026
ISDD 2026: Rethinking Sustainable Development for the Global South
Experts, policymakers and scholars at the 2026 International Sustainable Development Dialogue, organised by the Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Institute, Osun State University, Osogbo, in partnership with Rosa-Luxembourg Stiftung, Germany, and the University of Warwick, UK, examined why many development initiatives have yielded limited results despite significant investments and policy interventions. They called for more inclusive, locally driven and collaborative approaches to sustainable development, anchored on stronger governance, indigenous knowledge and active citizen participation. Funmi Ogundare reports Scholars, researchers, development and sustainability experts, policy makers, as well as traditional rulers from Nigeria and other parts of the world recently converged on the Osun State University, Osogbo, for the 2026 International Sustainable Development Dialogue, hosted by the university’s Global Affairs and Sustainable Development Institute, in partnership with Rosa-Luxembourg Stiftung, Germany and the University of Warwick, UK. The three-day conference, with the theme ‘The Problem with ‘Solutions’: SDGs and Global South Development Challenges’, was designed to examine alternative approaches to sustainable development and climate change adaptation, and to explore solutions better aligned with local realities in Africa and other developing regions. The Vice-Chancellor of UNIOSUN, Prof. Odunayo Adebooye, who declared the conference open, urged stakeholders to champion Africa-led approaches to achieving the SDGs. Adebooye,, who was represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Research, Innovation and Partnership (ARIP), Prof. Adetunji Kehinde, noted that while the SDGs provide a noble and necessary roadmap for human progress, their implementation frequently overlooks the historical, cultural and institutional realities of communities in the Global South. “The problem with solutions to the SDGs and global sustainable development challenges lies in the tendency to mistake uniform solutions for universal realities,” he said. He argued that societies do not exist within a neutral development framework, but in complex environments where externally designed interventions can unintentionally disrupt local economies, institutions and indigenous knowledge systems. “Our task is to interrogate these ready-made frameworks and challenge the shift from merely importing solutions to creating alternatives that respect our specific material realities,” he said. Speaking with THISDAY, the Director of the institute, Prof. John Agbonifo, challenged decades of global development prescriptions, arguing that many of the solutions promoted by international institutions and developed nations have failed to address the realities of countries in the global south. On the theme, he explained that the conference was convened to interrogate why numerous development initiatives have produced limited results despite significant investments and policy interventions. According to him, the theme emerged from years of academic inquiry and observations of development practices across the world. “Since the emergence of modern development theories and the era of globalisation, there have always been top-down prescriptions from global institutions and developed countries on how poorer nations can overcome their developmental challenges. These policies have been implemented, governments and NGOs have invested resources, yet the results suggest that many countries are not moving forward as expected,” he stated. Agbonifo noted that the persistent development challenges facing many countries in the global south necessitate a deeper examination of the assumptions underpinning conventional development solutions. Addressing concerns that a lack of political will is responsible for policy failures, the director acknowledged that political commitment is important but argued that it is only one of many factors. He explained that governments often operate within complex environments shaped by competing interests and external influences that can undermine reform efforts. Agbonifo further argued that domestic policy decisions are increasingly influenced by international actors and global economic interests, making it difficult for governments in developing countries to pursue policies that may conflict with external priorities. According to him, even when policies are beneficial to national development, international pressures can discourage their implementation if they are perceived to be contrary to the interests of powerful global stakeholders. On the way forward, Agbonifo called for greater accountability of governments to their citizens, insisting that sustainable development can only be achieved when governments are genuinely responsive to the people they serve. Reiterating the prospects of achieving the United Nations SDGs by 2030, Agbonifo expressed scepticism, citing global conflicts and worsening insecurity across many countries. He argued that the architects of Agenda 2030 underestimated the impact of local realities and failed to anticipate the scale of geopolitical tensions currently affecting the world. “The local conditions across the world were not adequately taken into consideration. There was also an assumption that the world would remain relatively peaceful and stable. Today, we are confronted with conflicts in different regions, including the Russia-Ukraine war, tensions in the Middle East, and various internal security challenges across countries in the global south,” Agbonifo stated. Agbonifo added that persistent insecurity, including banditry and other forms of violence in Nigeria, has created conditions that make the attainment of many SDG targets increasingly difficult. The Head of School for Cross Faculty Studies at the University of Warwick, Dr Jane Webb, stressed that genuine partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration are essential for addressing complex sustainability challenges, warning that solutions become problematic when imposed by one group on another without meaningful cooperation. She cited the growing collaboration between the University of Warwick and Osun State University as an example of how reciprocal partnerships can foster meaningful change. She recalled a series of academic exchanges involving scholars from both institutions, describing them as simple acts of reciprocity that provide a model for advancing sustainability goals. Webb stated that sustainable development can only be advanced through mutual respect, shared responsibility and collaborative problem-solving among institutions and stakeholders. She argued that the challenge of fully achieving the SDGs by 2030 lies not in the goals themselves but in the gap between global frameworks and local realities. Webb said that discussions at the conference highlighted the complexity of the SDGs and the difficulties involved in translating broad aspirations into practical outcomes. “The SDGs appear to be a simple formula, but they are actually quite complex. They should not be treated as a blueprint. They are important aspirational goals, no poverty, zero hunger and others are objectives that nobody can disagree with, but there is a massive gap between these ambitions and how they are achieved in society,” she said. According to her, one of the key themes that emerged from the conference was the disconnect between governance structures and local realities, as well as the tendency to overlook indigenous knowledge in development planning. Webb described the concept of development itself as problematic, noting that communities have lived sustainably on their lands for generations and possess valuable local knowledge that is often ignored in favour of externally defined notions of progress. On the prospects of meeting the 2030 deadline, she said achieving the SDGs within the timeframe was unlikely. “I don’t think Agenda 2030 is going to happen, not because the goals are wrong, but because there is a gap between the framework and the mechanisms needed to achieve it,” she stated. She stressed that while issues such as poverty, hunger and insecurity remain urgent concerns, solutions should build on existing local knowledge and community strengths rather than rely solely on external prescriptions. The Warwick scholar also stressed the importance of effective governance, pointing to the complexity of Nigeria’s governance structure, which includes state institutions, traditional rulers and other centres of authority. “What is important is understanding how all these structures fit together and how they can be made to serve the people. That is where the real gap lies,” she said. Webb further warned against placing the responsibility for sustainable development entirely on individuals, arguing that governments and communities must share the burden of action. John Meyer, a professor in the Department of Politics at Cal Poly Humboldt, California, USA, noted that sustainability goals cannot be achieved through technical policy reforms alone but require broad political mobilisation, strong institutions and active citizen engagement. He explained that efforts to achieve the SDGs must move beyond the assumption that sustainability can be pursued without addressing political realities. According to him, many actors within global governance circles, including the United Nations community, often view sustainability as a matter of technical policy adjustments that can transcend political divisions. “At the core of my argument is the sense that many people, especially in the global governance community at the United Nations level and elsewhere, seem to believe that sustainability can be pursued through technical policy changes and avoid political divisions. The bottom line is that it can’t,” Meyer said. He noted that developments across the world over the past decade have demonstrated that sustainability issues are inherently political, citing growing resistance to sustainability agendas in some countries. “We see this much more clearly today than when the SDGs were first adopted. The backlash against those goals in many places shows that achieving sustainability requires large-scale political change and therefore needs to be politicised,” Meyer stated. Reiterating the need to achieve the SDGs by 2030, Dr Leena James of the Department of Management Studies, Christ University, Bangalore, India, stated that significant progress can still be made if governments, institutions, businesses and citizens work together to address existing gaps. James, who chairs the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) SDG 5 Hub on Gender Equality and heads the SDG Cell at the university, noted that although the 17 SDGs are largely off track globally, the conference provided an important platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas and forge partnerships to accelerate progress. According to her, the gathering brought together diverse perspectives and practical solutions that could help bridge implementation gaps before the 2030 deadline. She expressed concern that gender inequality, the focus of SDG 5, remains a major challenge worldwide despite years of advocacy and interventions. “The inequality is persisting, and to close that gap, these kinds of dialogues and discussions create important reflections for people from different parts of the world,” James added. James stressed that sustainability challenges are global in nature and require sustained collaboration beyond national borders. “It is not only for one country or one state; it is for the entire world. These problems are persisting everywhere, though in different magnitudes,” she said. The Special Adviser to the Osun State Governor on SDGs and Multilateral Relations, Hon. Bamikole Omisore, stressed that sustainable development initiatives in the Global South can succeed only when rooted in local realities, indigenous knowledge, and local languages rather than externally imposed frameworks. He stated that many development challenges facing countries in the global south persist because solutions are often designed without adequate consideration for local contexts and the people they are meant to serve. According to Omisore, the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke has adopted an approach that prioritises home-grown solutions tailored to address local challenges while creating models that can be replicated beyond Nigeria. The adviser noted that while international development frameworks and partnerships remain important, effective implementation depends largely on how well such initiatives are communicated to local communities. Omisore argued that development programmes often fail when technical information is not delivered in languages and formats that people can understand. Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the African Forest Forum (AFF), Prof. Labode Popoola, stressed that sustainable development should not be viewed as a project with an expiry date but as a lifelong commitment requiring integrity, strong institutions and collective action. He pointed out that while the current SDG framework may eventually be replaced by a successor arrangement, the underlying challenges of poverty, inequality, environmental degradation, climate change and governance failures would remain long after 2030. According to Popoola, sustainable development is not a time-bound programme that ends with the expiration of the 2030 Agenda, but an ongoing process that demands sustained attention and action from governments, institutions, communities and individuals. “The challenges addressed by the SDGs will not be resolved by the passage of a calendar deadline. They will persist, and they will require our continued, sustained and increasingly urgent attention,” Popoola stated. Popoola, who was represented by the Country Manager of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network, Nigeria, Emmanuel Ola-Olowoyo, noted that discussions on a post-2030 development framework are already underway in international organisations, academic institutions, think tanks, and civil society circles. He said emerging conversations point towards a future framework that is more rights-based, justice-centred and better integrated with climate and biodiversity concerns. The event featured presentations by various speakers on governance, policy, and development; youth and mental health; qualitative education and the policy implementation of Nigeria’s 9-3-4 system in rural areas; gender inequality and vulnerability in healthcare under Vision 2039; nurturing intergenerational relationships for sustainable well-being, among others. It also witnessed a high-level special roundtable on ‘Deconstructing Agenda 2030 and the SDGs’ and ‘Constructing What Comes Next’. In her remarks, the Director of Sustainability at IHS Nigeria, Titilope Oguntuga, stated that achieving the SDGs requires greater individual responsibility, ethical conduct, and the adaptation of global development targets to local realities. Speaking on ‘2030 Agenda: The Global Disquiet’, she explained that sustainable development is not solely the responsibility of governments but also depends on the everyday actions of citizens. According to Oguntuga, progress towards the SDGs becomes more meaningful when people understand how their daily activities contribute to achieving specific targets and indicators. Issues such as poverty reduction, good health and environmental sustainability, she noted, can be addressed through simple acts of honesty, accountability and civic responsibility. Oguntuga also highlighted the importance of community participation in promoting public health, urging citizens to take responsibility for environmental sanitation rather than leaving everything to government authorities. She further argued that governance should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of elected officials, maintaining that citizens and government are partners in the development process. Oguntuga acknowledged that while some progress has been recorded since the adoption of the SDGs in 2015, the pace of implementation remains slow, with many countries still grappling with basic challenges such as food insecurity, poor healthcare and environmental concerns. She expressed concern that with only a few years left before the 2030 deadline for achieving the global goals, there is an urgent need for accelerated action and more practical implementation approaches. The expert called for greater localisation of development strategies, noting that countries face different realities and therefore require context-specific solutions.
16 Jun 2026
How Rivers Philanthropist Splashed N15.8m on Students in Ogoni at Science Quiz Competition
Blessing Ibunge reports that as part of his philanthropic gestures, the President of KAGOTE and Chief Executive Officer of Giolee Global Resources Ltd, Chief Lesi Maol, recently doled out over N15 million on schools and students that participated in the Ogoni Secondary Schools Science Quiz Competition, held in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State Chief Lesi Maol, President of KAGOTE, is known for his philanthropy in the Ogoni Kingdom and across Rivers State. This time, to mark his birthday on May 27, the Chief Executive Officer of Giolee Global Resources Ltd decided to host the grand finale of the 2026 edition of the Ogoni Secondary Schools Science Quiz Competition in Bori, Khana Local Government Area of the state. The highly competitive quiz featured student competitors from across the four Ogoni LGAs of Khana, Tai, Eleme, and Gokana, with eight outstanding secondary schools emerging as finalists. The organisers of the competition disclosed that 60 schools initially registered for the science-based competition, while 37 schools eventually participated in the preliminary round; eight schools progressed to the finals. The finalists were Birabi Memorial Grammar School (BMGS), Bori; Community Secondary School, Kenpoly, Bori; Government Secondary School, Kpite, Tai; Community Secondary School, Kira; Community Secondary School, Bera; Community Secondary School, Yeghe; Sunshine International Academy, Onne; and Community Secondary School, Akpajo, Eleme LGA. Maol said that the annual competition aimed at promoting science education, intellectual development, and healthy academic competition among secondary school students. He informed the participants and guests that the competition, first hosted in 2024, has had a great impact on students, stressing that some participants from past years are currently at various higher institutions and excelling academically. The KAGOTE president said he chose to celebrate his birthday with students rather than travel abroad because education “remains the bedrock of development, adding that education remains one of the greatest investments any society can make”. “So, I decided not to fly abroad for my birthday because I wanted to celebrate with our children, our future leaders,” said Maol. He commended the students for displaying intelligence, confidence, and academic excellence, insisting that every participating school deserved recognition. “From my observation, there was no loser here today. All eight schools are winners because the competition was healthy, inspiring and highly competitive,” he said. Apart from the monetary declaration for the winners, Maol urged the Chairman of Khana LGA, Dr Thomas Bariere, to identify any dilapidated school in the area for renovation. “We are not here to criticise government unnecessarily; we are here to partner with government so that our children can learn in a conducive environment,” stated Bariere. At the end of the contest, Birabi Memorial Grammar School, Bori, emerged as the winner with a reward of N5 million. Also, CSS Akpajo scored 13 points to occupy second position with an award of N3 million. CSS Kenpoly came third with N2 million. Others were: CSS Yeghe (4th), Sunshine Intl Academy (5th), CSS Bera (6th), GSS Kpite (6th), CSS Kira (7th). Delighted by the students’ performance, Maol announced N5 million in awards for the schools that placed fourth to seventh. He also announced N400,000 to the four judges led by Nuka Akekue, and also N50,000 each to the 16 participants. “You agree with me that it was a keen contest and a good competition. And the participation was very encouraging. So, on my birthday, I won’t leave here, and any school will go empty-handed. So, I saw that the fourth position is one million. The other four schools will each go with one million. So, everybody won. They will not go back empty-handed. “Those of you who sat here, read throughout this week, last night, those of you who searched, come here and sit down to represent your school, I’m going to give each of you here in this room now, 50 thousand each as participation fee for participating, so that your classmates and other students will fight next year to participate, knowing that there is a participation fee,” Maol explained. Bariere commended Maol for what he described as an extraordinary demonstration of generosity and commitment to education, adding that the philanthropist’s work goes beyond celebration and is an investment in the future of Ogoniland. “With what we have seen here, we are confident about the secured future of Ogoni. Maol has created a platform that you already know will always be running. So, go prepare so that in subsequent editions you will come out stronger and better. And to those of us who have come to celebrate our friend and brother, may people also celebrate you when it is your time. But sir, rest assured that the Khana local government under our watch is a willing and worthy partner,” Bariere stated. The Paramount Ruler of the Barako Community in the Gokana Local Government Area, Kadilo Kabari, expressed joy at the educational interventions and commended Maol for his commitment to human capacity development and philanthropy. He said he was not surprised by the gesture because the “seed” Maol planted years ago in the lives of the people had continued to germinate and bear fruit across Ogoniland. “Today, he is planting more seeds by investing in the lives of children and empowering communities. Gokana and Ogoni people are proud of him because he keeps lifting people and creating opportunities for others to grow,” Kabari said. The monarch further urged residents to avoid every form of crisis and violence, insisting that peace is necessary for educational and community development. “Anyone who wants to cause trouble in our communities will be flushed out because Gokana must remain peaceful. Our children must go to school because education brings development,” he said. Before the competition began, Maol visited B-Dere Community, where he donated a befitting apartment to a physically challenged man, Nawnvin Be-Ega, drawing widespread commendation from residents. Speaking on behalf of the community, Friday Asa said that the gesture has restored dignity and hope to the beneficiary, pointing out that for many years, Be-Ega had no decent place to call home, “but today Chief Lesi Maol has wiped away his tears and given him comfort and dignity”. At Gbe Community in Gokana Local Government Area, Maol also distributed educational materials, desks, chairs, school bags, and books to students while promising continued support for education in Ogoniland, saying, “No child in Gbe will continue to sit on the floor to learn.”
16 Jun 2026
Blurring the Lines: What Sweden’s Smoke-free Success Teaches
Molly Ogbodum Globally, the global conversation around tobacco control is undergoing a major shift, with discussions moving away from treating all nicotine use as a single, uniform risk. Sweden is leading the way globally with a clear real-world example of this shift by successfully lowering its smoking prevalence to 5.4 per cent and getting closer to the internationally recognized 5 per cent smoke-free threshold. Between 2012 and 2024, the country’s smoking rate declined by more than 54 per cent, much faster than its other EU contemporaries. This milestone by Sweden demonstrates that an approach centered on recognizing and distinguishing between different nicotine delivery systems yield rapid results. Sweden’s success was not a matter of product availability, but rather the result of a willingness to recognize risk differences, speak plainly about scientific evidence, and prioritize realistic public health outcomes. Central to understanding Tobacco Harm Reduction (THR) is debunking the myth that all nicotine products carry the exact same dangers. The scientific reality relies heavily on risk differentiation. The primary health hazard in tobacco uses stems from the toxic substances produced by burning tobacco. Nicotine is not the primary cause of smoking-related illnesses; the real danger is the smoke generated by burning. A landmark report by the Royal College of Physicians, titled ‘Nicotine Without Smoke’, concluded that the health hazards associated with long-term e-cigarette use are unlikely to exceed 5 per cent of those smoking traditional tobacco. Independent reviews by Public Health England have corroborated these findings, establishing that while non-combustible, reduced-risk alternatives are not entirely risk-free, they are less risky and safer than smoking traditional cigarettes. Yet, a significant misconception persists where public discussions treat all nicotine delivery systems as an identical threat tobacco product. When public awareness campaigns refuse to distinguish between traditional tobacco products and reduced-risk alternatives, they inadvertently deny adult smokers a realistic exit from combustible tobacco. This information gap is particularly evident in Nigeria, where smoking prevalence remains a significant challenge. While alternative products like nicotine pouches and vaping devices are increasingly accessible in the marketplace, they circulate without standardized public health guidance or accurate information for the consumer due to the complete absence of formal public education. This creates an environment where adult smokers looking to quit traditional cigarettes and tobacco products are left to rely on unsafe information or myths just to understand their choices. Public health outcomes are fundamentally shaped by how evidence is interpreted and communicated to the public. The potential risk for Nigeria is failing to engage with the changing nature of this global scientific debate altogether. In over a decade, success seen in advanced smoke-free nations occurred because alternative nicotine products were made accessible, affordable, and socially acceptable based on clearly communicated evidence with Sweden as a core case study. Moving Paving the way forward will requiredemands a strong focus on education and the dissemination of accurate information. The middle ground of tobacco control – where evidence-based harm reduction occurs – is where the most significant gains in population health are achieved. By prioritizing THR awareness, we can dismantle long-standing myths and ensure that adult smokers are provided with the clear, accurate and correct information necessary to transition away from the most harmful forms of tobacco use Ogbodum is a Public Health Advocate
16 Jun 2026
2027: After Sacrificing Reps’ Ambition, Dayo Alebiosu Unifies Stakeholders in Kosofe
Saheed Rabiu In the intricate world of Lagos politics, where ambitions often collide and old rivalries can linger for years, few developments have generated as much conversation in recent months as the role being played by Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo “Bush” Alebiosu, in reshaping the political atmosphere in Kosofe. The former member of the House of Representatives has become a central figure in efforts aimed at fostering harmony among key stakeholders within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kosofe and adjoining areas ahead of the 2027 general election. What makes the development particularly noteworthy is the sacrifice many political observers say lies at its heart. According to insiders familiar with the evolving dynamics within the ruling party, Alebiosu elected to step aside from any ambition to return to the House of Representatives in 2027, a move said to have been taken in the interest of preserving unity and preventing potentially divisive contests within the APC. For many party faithfuls, the decision was viewed as a significant demonstration of political maturity and commitment to the larger interest of the party. Sources disclosed that the commissioner has in recent months devoted considerable energy to rebuilding relationships, resolving lingering disagreements and encouraging collaboration among various tendencies within the APC structure in Kosofe. “Many thought he was positioning himself for a return to the National Assembly, but when it became clear that he was willing to sacrifice that ambition in the interest of party unity, it changed the conversation entirely,” a source familiar with the developments revealed. Perhaps more striking is the extent to which Alebiosu has reportedly gone in mending fences with former adversaries. Political observers point to his cordial relationship with Rotimi Agunsoye, the former lawmaker widely believed to have denied him a return to the Federal House of Representatives in 2015. Today, insiders say the relationship between both politicians has evolved remarkably, with Agunsoye reportedly paying regular visits to Alebiosu’s residence. The commissioner is also said to enjoy warm relations with Kafilat Ogbara, the incumbent member representing Kosofe Federal constituency in the House of Representatives, as well as Dele Osinowo, who emerged as the APC candidate for the constituency ahead of the 2027 election. Beyond those relationships, Alebiosu’s political disposition has continued to attract attention because of his willingness to engage across old divides. One example frequently cited in political circles is his growing rapport with Babatunde Osinowo, son of the late Sen. Bayo ‘Pepper’ Osinowo. The relationship has generated discussion largely because of the history between Alebiosu and the late senator. Though both belonged to the same political family, Pepper Osinowo was widely regarded as one of Alebiosu’s fiercest political opponents and was believed by many to have played a decisive role in frustrating his return bid to the House of Representatives through a controversial primary process more than a decade ago. Until the senator’s passing in June 2020, both men maintained what observers described as a cautious coexistence within the party. Yet, in a development many now regard as symbolic of Alebiosu’s broader approach to politics, he has cultivated a warm relationship with Babatunde Osinowo, a businessman and Managing Director of Ostia Property and Homes. “That is classic D’Bush. He deals with people based on who they are, not where they come from,” one associate observed, adding that the commissioner has long maintained an open-door approach to politics and community engagement. Those familiar with the relationship say that Babatunde initially reached out to Alebiosu as a constituent, with mutual respect gradually developing into a cordial working relationship. The commissioner has simultaneously continued to strengthen his profile within government. Since his appointment by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in 2023 to head the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Alebiosu has overseen initiatives aimed at shoreline protection, waterfront management and sustainable coastal development. His ministry recently hosted the maiden Lagos Waterfront summit, a gathering that brought together experts and stakeholders to examine opportunities within the state’s emerging blue economy and chart a path for sustainable waterfront development. For supporters however, it is not merely his performance in office that has become the subject of discussion. Rather, it is the growing perception that he has chosen consensus over confrontation and relationship-building over political score-settling. As preparations gradually begin for 2027, many within Kosofe believe the atmosphere of cooperation now being witnessed among several influential stakeholders owes much to the quiet but deliberate bridge-building efforts of Dayo Bush Alebiosu. In a political environment often defined by competing interests, that may prove to be one of his most enduring contributions. Rabiu is a public analyst based in Lagos
9 Jun 2026
Girls Left Behind: How Digital Learning Can Expand Educational Opportunities for Marginalised Girls
Millions of girls in Nigeria remain excluded from education due to poverty, insecurity and other social barriers. However, digital learning platforms and artificial intelligence are creating new opportunities for marginalised girls to continue learning, acquire vocational skills and improve their future prospects. Funmi Ogundare writes For millions of girls across Nigeria, access to education remains a daily struggle. Poverty, early marriage, insecurity, cultural barriers and household responsibilities continue to keep many girls out of school, limiting their chances of building better futures. Yet, emerging digital technologies are offering new hope. Through online learning platforms, mobile applications and artificial intelligence-powered tools, girls who might otherwise be left behind are finding new pathways to education, skills development and economic empowerment. One such beneficiary is Bisola Abolaji, a computer and graphic design student at the Ruth Aina Ataiyero Foundation Skills Acquisition and Vocational Training Centre, Ilesha, Osun State. Her story illustrates the transformative potential of digital learning for girls seeking opportunities beyond traditional classrooms. Soft-spoken but determined, Abolaji chose graphic design because of her fascination with creative works such as banners, flyers, books and other visual materials. “I like graphic design because of the things designers create, such as flyers, banners, books and jotters,” she stated. What began as a personal interest has evolved into a valuable vocational skill. Today, Abolaji designs logos, banners and flyers for clients, earning income while continuing her training. A key factor in her journey has been the Learning Passport, a digital learning platform that provides educational resources and self-paced learning opportunities. According to her, the platform has helped her understand lessons better through detailed explanations and assessments that allow learners to monitor their progress. “It has made a difference in my education. The lessons are explained deeply and in a way that helps you understand. The tests also help you know whether you are improving,” she said. For girls who may face interruptions to their education due to family responsibilities, financial challenges, or limited access to schools, digital platforms offer flexibility that conventional learning often cannot provide. Learners can revisit lessons, learn at their own pace and access educational materials whenever they are able. Abolaji noted that she also embraced AI as a tool for creativity and productivity, helping her improve her designs and expand her capabilities, adding that through AI, she can create logos, banners, and flyers and do “small design jobs for people and earn money from them”. Wunmi Adebayo, 15, is another school leaver at the same vocational centre who has made her waiting period a season of growth, learning, and self-improvement, thanks to the Learning Passport digital education platform. Having completed her secondary education in 2025, Adebayo was determined not to allow financial constraints or admission delays to interrupt her educational journey. Instead of remaining idle, she turned to Learning Passport, a digital learning platform that is helping thousands of young people continue their education beyond the classroom, using it to design banners and even make shoes for customers. She told THISDAY how the programme has transformed her daily routine and expanded her horizon. Like many students from modest backgrounds, Adebayo understands the importance of making every opportunity count. With her parents engaged in small-scale occupations, she knows that education remains one of the most reliable pathways to a brighter future. Rather than viewing the gap year as a setback, she has used it as an opportunity to sharpen her academic skills, explore new subjects and remain connected to learning. The flexibility of the Learning Passport platform has been particularly valuable. Through digital devices and online educational resources, she can access lessons and learning materials at her own pace, regardless of location or time. “I wanted something that would help me continue learning and prepare for the future. This programme has given me that opportunity,” she said. Director of the centre, Olanubi Fadahunsi, explained to journalists that the institution was established to offer practical skills and productive engagement for young people who are unable to continue their education immediately after secondary school. According to her, of the 48 trainees who graduated from the centre in its first year of operation, the majority were out-of-school children and youths, while the remaining participants were students awaiting admission to tertiary institutions. “In my record last year, about 70 per cent of those we graduated were out-of-school children. The remaining 30 per cent were those waiting for admission into universities. Rather than staying idle at home, we engaged them here,” she stated. Fadahunsi noted that vocational education can be a critical intervention to reduce the number of out-of-school children by equipping them with employable and entrepreneurial skills. She explained that the centre currently has about 28 trainees enrolled in various programmes, including fashion design, catering and event planning, ICT, plumbing, hairdressing and makeup artistry, and entrepreneurship training. Fadahunsi said that the centre is also leveraging digital learning tools to enhance training delivery. She noted that the introduction of the Learning Passport platform has enabled trainees to complement classroom instruction with self-paced learning. To attract more out-of-school children and youths, the centre conducts awareness campaigns through churches, radio programmes, schools and community networks. “We also tell PTAs to encourage students who are waiting for admission not to waste their time at home but to come and acquire skills,” she said. Fadahunsi restated that all programmes at the centre are provided free of charge, including registration, training materials and practical sessions. Despite funding constraints, Fadahunsi said that the centre remains committed to supporting disadvantaged youths. She revealed that some graduates received empowerment support last year, including business equipment and shop spaces to help them establish their own ventures. Statistics released by UNICEF on digital learning in Nigeria revealed that about 38 million Nigerian youths currently lack digital literacy skills, while approximately 1.5 million teachers lack basic digital competencies, raising concerns about the country’s readiness for a technology-driven economy. UNICEF noted that despite the federal government’s target of achieving 70 per cent digital literacy by 2027 and 95 per cent by 2030, access to digital learning opportunities remains limited for many children and young people. The organisation’s findings showed that 82 per cent of Nigerians lack internet access at home, while only 27 per cent of schools are equipped with computers. The situation is more pronounced in rural communities, where just six per cent of schools have computers compared with 37 per cent in urban areas. Although internet access has improved nationally, UNICEF reported that only 55 per cent of Nigerians have internet access, with a significant disparity between urban areas, where 84 per cent of residents are connected, and rural communities, where access stands at 25 per cent. The report also highlighted a widening digital skills gap among young Nigerians. According to UNICEF, 78 per cent of Nigerian youths lack digital skills, significantly higher than the global average of 63 per cent. In addition, more than half of non-internet users identified digital illiteracy as a major barrier to accessing online services and opportunities. Teacher capacity remains another major challenge, with only 47 per cent of teachers considered computer-literate, which limits the effective integration of technology into teaching and learning. Beyond digital access, UNICEF identified broader challenges affecting educational outcomes across the country. These include limited access to quality education delivered in languages children understand, inadequate learning materials, poor infrastructure, and shortages of qualified teachers. The organisation further noted that many learners lack proper records of their educational achievements, while teachers often have limited access to professional development opportunities and psychosocial support resources for children. The findings come against the backdrop of Nigeria’s youth unemployment crisis. UNICEF data indicate that 42 per cent of young people aged 15 to 34 are unemployed, even as nearly half of employers report difficulty finding workers with the skills required in the labour market. According to UNICEF, addressing these challenges will require increased investment in education, improved digital infrastructure, expanded teacher training programmes, and greater access to foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills development initiatives. Speaking with journalists, recently, at a two-day media dialogue on Digital Learning, Artificial Intelligence and Skill Development for out-of-school children, organised by Osun State Ministry of Education, in collaboration with UNICEF, UNICEF Education Specialist, Harold Kpojime, harped on the deeper structural issues, stating, “The challenge is not just enrolment. It is retention, transition and completion. Unless children are kept in school and supported through to completion, enrolment figures alone will not solve the crisis.” He noted that the country faces the prospect of a workforce unprepared for a technology-driven global economy, unable to compete internationally, and condemned to low productivity and poverty. UNICEF Chief of Field Officer for South-West Nigeria, Celine Lafoucriere, warned that the rapid advancement of technology and Artificial Intelligence is widening the gap between children with access to education and those without it, stressing that young people who lack foundational skills risk being left behind in an increasingly digital world. Lafoucriere noted that girls remain disproportionately affected by the education crisis, adding that they are often the most disadvantaged among out-of-school children. She, however, underscored the critical role of the media in driving change, saying that sustained reporting on the issue could compel policymakers and other stakeholders to take action. “When journalists keep coming back to an important issue, like this week after week, people start paying attention. Policymakers listen, politicians listen, and stakeholders listen. That is how things change. A story that does not go away is a story that gets acted upon,” Lafoucriere stated.
9 Jun 2026
LASU Student Wins N2m LASEPA Inter-tertiary Debate
Esther Oluku A 300-level Mass Communication student of Lagos State University (LASU), Mary Fajana, has emerged winner of the 2026 Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) inter-tertiary institutions debate competition, clinching the star prize of N2 million. The grand finale of the competition, themed, ‘Combating Transboundary Pollution in Lagos State: A City-Level Intervention or National Effort?’ held in Lagos, also saw Eniola Abdullahi and Daniel Akinkuowo, of the University of Lagos, finishing in second and third positions respectively. They received N1 million and N500,000 respectively. The General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, stated that the competition was designed to strengthen collaboration between the agency and tertiary institutions, while encouraging innovation, environmental advocacy and career interest in the environmental sector. According to him, the initiative has already begun yielding positive results, with students developing innovative ideas to promote environmental sustainability and gaining greater awareness of career opportunities within the sector. “After the first edition, we realised that partnerships and collaboration among university students had grown significantly. Students are beginning to develop innovative solutions that can support environmental sustainability in Lagos, while also becoming more aware of environmental career opportunities,” Ajayi said. He described debates and similar engagements as effective advocacy tools capable of amplifying environmental awareness among young people and the wider public. “Many students here will return to their campuses and share what they have learned with their colleagues. Through media coverage and online streaming, even more people will benefit from the discussions and ideas generated,” he added. Chairman of the jury and former Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, commended participants for their research efforts and the quality of solutions presented during the competition. He urged tertiary institutions to integrate environmental awareness more deeply into their general studies curricula, stressing that such knowledge would help cultivate environmentally responsible graduates regardless of their chosen career paths. Reacting to her victory, Fajana described LASEPA’s role in addressing environmental challenges in Lagos as critical, noting that the competition reflected the agency’s commitment to finding practical solutions to pollution and environmental degradation. She called for stronger collaboration among environmental agencies, including the Lagos Waste Management Authority, (LAWMA) to achieve a cleaner and healthier environment for residents. “LASEPA’s role is very critical, and the fact that it organised this event shows its commitment to solving environmental problems. If agencies such as LAWMA and LASEPA work together effectively, we can build a cleaner Lagos and create a healthier environment for all Lagosians,” she said.
9 Jun 2026
ADEB Foundation Advocates Healthy Masculinity among Boys
As part of activities marking the 2026 International Day of the Boy Child, Adebukola Eniobanke Foundation for Impact visited Alimosho Junior Grammar School, Lagos, to engage students on meaningful conversations around masculinity, emotional wellbeing, and mental health. The outreach, held on June 3, with the theme ‘Redefining Masculinity and Mental Health in Boys’, brought together students, educators and volunteers in an interactive session aimed at challenging harmful stereotypes and encouraging healthier perspectives on what it means to be a boy in today’s society. The guest speaker, Comrade Abiodun Ajayi represented by Comrade Elijah Jagbadi, emphasised the importance of creating safe spaces where boys can express their feelings without fear of judgement. He noted that while society often places expectations on boys to appear strong and unemotional, true strength also involves self-awareness, seeking support when needed, and caring for one’s mental well-being. The session featured discussions on emotional intelligence, self-esteem, peer pressure, responsible behaviour, and the importance of speaking up about personal challenges. The boys were also encouraged to share their thoughts and experiences, fostering an atmosphere of openness and mutual respect. Representative of Education District I, Mrs. Oluyinka Iyanda, commended the initiative, describing it as timely and relevant in addressing issues that many young boys face but rarely discuss openly. For ADEB Foundation for Impact, the outreach reflects its ongoing commitment to youth development, education and community-based interventions, aimed at promoting the well-being of children and young people. Through programmes like this, the foundation continues to advocate for a society where every child irrespective of gender is equipped with the knowledge, confidence, and support needed to thrive. The event concluded with a renewed call on parents, educators, community leaders, and policymakers to pay closer attention to the emotional and mental health needs of boys, recognising that their well-being is essential to building stronger families and communities.
9 Jun 2026
EKSU Don Seeks Urgent Pension Reforms, Early Retirement Planning
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti A Professor of Industrial Sociology at Ekiti State University, Prof. Lukman Adesida, has called for urgent reforms of Nigeria’s pension system and a renewed focus on retirement planning to address the growing challenges confronting retirees. Adesida stated this while delivering the university’s 106th inaugural lecture titled, ‘Skin Trade, Sociological Imagination and Life Scripts: The Paradox in the Triad of Work, Retirement and Pension’. He argued that retirement should not be regarded as the end of productive life, but as a crucial stage of human development that requires deliberate preparation and institutional support. According to the professor, many workers approach retirement ill-prepared, often grappling with identity crises, financial uncertainty and social isolation after exiting active service. He noted that retirement does not automatically translate into a fulfilling life, stressing that successful ageing depends largely on personal preparation, family support and responsive social institutions. Adesida maintained that retirement planning should commence from the first day of employment, warning that workers who fail to prepare adequately for life after work risk becoming “tired of life” rather than merely retired. “The day you receive your employment letter is the same day your retirement process begins,” he said, urging workers to adopt long-term financial and social plans early in their careers. He also drew attention to demographic projections indicating a rapidly expanding elderly population worldwide, particularly in developing countries, a trend he said requires urgent attention to pension administration, healthcare delivery and social welfare systems. He called on government at all levels to strengthen pension management and ensure that reforms are designed to protect both current and future retirees. According to him, pension systems must be founded on trust, transparency and a firm commitment to fulfilling obligations owed to workers after years of service. Adesida stressed that any reform agenda should adequately protect contributors, safeguard retirement benefits and inspire confidence among younger workers who are increasingly concerned about the sustainability of pension schemes. He further advocated increased public awareness on retirement issues, greater youth engagement and policies capable of stimulating economic growth to support long-term pension obligations. The don also advised Nigerians to create multiple streams of income rather than relying solely on salaried employment, describing personal economic diversification as a critical strategy for retirement security. He emphasized the need for broad consultation among governments, labour unions, employers and pension administrators before implementing major reforms. Reflecting on the realities of ageing, Adesida observed that retirees are often undervalued despite their continued contributions to society. He maintained that retirement should never diminish a person’s dignity, noting that academic, professional and personal accomplishments retain enduring value beyond active service. The scholar added that societies that plan effectively for retirement are better positioned to guarantee dignity, security and wellbeing for their ageing populations. He therefore urged policymakers, employers and workers to view retirement as a lifelong process that requires deliberate preparation, supportive institutions and sustainable pension policies. EKSU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodele Babatola, described the presentation as insightful and thought-provoking. He said that the lecture provided a comprehensive examination of the sociological dimensions of retirement and pensions, while underscoring the importance of preparing for life after active employment. He commended Adesida for his research and practical recommendations, adding that EKSU remains committed to the prompt payment of retirees’ entitlements and to ensuring a seamless transition for staff into retirement. “The university has consistently prioritized the welfare of its retirees and will continue to support policies that make retirement more rewarding and dignified,” he said.
9 Jun 2026
Entries Open for 2026 Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition
Uchechukwu Nnaike The Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund has announced that the submission of entries for the 12th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition, which opened on June 3, will close on August 7, 2026. The competition is a nationwide initiative aimed at identifying, recognising and rewarding outstanding secondary school teachers for their invaluable contributions to shaping the country’s future. Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Lagos, Secretary of the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, Uaboi Agbebaku, described the competition as a vital platform for celebrating teachers, whose dedication, innovation, and commitment continue to transform lives and strengthen the nation’s education system. Agbebaku disclosed that a few organisations have expressed interest in partnering with the trust fund to support this year’s competition, adding that the fund is now open to partnership opportunities with reputable, progressive organisations that share the initiative’s vision and mission. Public Relations Officer, NB-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, Uzodinma Odenigbo, disclosed that the overall winner of the 2026 edition would receive a cash prize of N10 million, a brand-new Honda HR-V, a year’s supply of Maltina, and a capacity-building training opportunity overseas. In addition, the winner’s school will get an infrastructure project valued at N30 million. “The first runner-up will receive N5 million and a trophy, while the second runner-up will receive N3 million and a trophy. All state champions will be rewarded with recognition plaques and a cash prize of N1 million each,” Odenigbo said. He reaffirmed the company’s longstanding commitment to supporting education through impactful interventions that strengthen teaching and learning outcomes nationwide. “The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition remains one of our flagship interventions in the education sector. Through this initiative, we continue to celebrate teachers who go beyond the classroom to inspire excellence, nurture future leaders, and contribute meaningfully to national development. At Nigerian Breweries, we believe that investing in teachers is an investment in Nigeria’s future,” he said. He thanked all the partners, including Honda Automobile West Africa Limited, Union Bank Plc, and Air Peace, for their support in advancing the initiative. Delivering the keynote remarks, guest speaker Azeez Saheed underscored the significant role of teachers in shaping the future of young students. Azeez explained that most teachers in Nigeria do not get adequate recognition for their efforts, urging the federal government to reverse the narrative. Speaking during a panel session titled ‘How Educational Support Can Enhance Learning Outcomes for Teachers and Students’, the Lagos State Coordinator, Teachers’ Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Princess Adaobi Ekwuno, called on government at all levels to invest and upgrade facilities and infrastructure in public schools. The Secretary, Nigeria Union of Teachers, Lagos Chapter, Gbenga Ayetoba, explained that the teaching profession had suffered neglect by governments, both past and present, and called for a change in the orientation or mentality toward education in Nigeria. The President of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPPS), Lagos State, Olushola Masheyi, commended NB Plc for the initiative and regretted that the teaching profession is no longer attracting the best. This, he said, was responsible for the low quality of education in the country. Masheyi stated that the challenges confronting teaching cannot be addressed by the government alone, urging stakeholders to explore different support structures to find a lasting solution to the myriad of problems. In separate submissions, representatives of the initiative’s partners commended the trust fund for its tireless efforts to sustain the initiative. The Maltina Teacher of the Year Competition was established in 2015 and funded by the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which was set up in 1994 to make an active contribution to the development of Nigeria’s education sector, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 4). Interested, eligible teachers were advised to visit the dedicated competition website at www.maltinateacheroftheyear.com to complete the online application form. Applicants may also download and complete the forms, scan and email to maltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com .
9 Jun 2026
NECO to recruit 22,000 supervisors for 2026 SSCE Internal examination
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has announced that over 22,000 supervisors will be recruited by the Council to ensure the seamless conduct of the 2026 SSCE Internal, which is scheduled to commence on June 15, 2026. Announcing the exercise in a statement on Tuesday, the acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Sani Azeez, warned against a fake recruitment website already circulating on social media, adding that fake portals were requesting interested applicants to submit details of their academic credentials after making payments. He noted that “the supervisor recruitment process on the NECO website is fully automated, and no third party is required”. Consequently, all qualified pensionable teachers on Grade Level 12 and above who are not less than 30 years of age and are interested in serving as supervisors in the 2026 SSCE Internal are advised to apply through the NECO website. According to the statement, the new recruitment system will help prevent fraud in the recruitment of supervisors, curb examination malpractice, and enhance fairness and credibility in the process. “NECO wishes to inform the public that the Council does not request any payment from teachers applying to serve as examination supervisors in the forthcoming 2026 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Internal,” Azeez stated. He noted that, in line with the recommendations of the Ministerial Committee on the Improvement of the Quality of Examinations in Nigeria, and in a bid to strengthen the examination supervision mechanism, NECO has transitioned from the analogue mode of recruiting supervisors and assistant supervisors to a fully electronic process. NECO to recruit 22,000 supervisors for 2026 SSCE Internal examination
9 Jun 2026
Dislodgement of Alibi by Superior Evidence
In the Supreme Court of Nigeria Holden at Abuja On Friday, the 4th day of July, 2025 Before Their Lordships Mohammed Lawal Garba Adamu Jauro Moore Aseimo Abraham Adumein Obande Festus Ogbuinya Abubakar Sadiq Umar Justices, Supreme Court SC/1008/2017 Between SOLOMON IBORO SANDY APPELLANT And THE STATE RESPONDENT (Lead Judgement delivered by Honourable Moore Aseimo Abraham Adumein, JSC) Fact s The Appellant was charged before the High Court of Akwa Ibom State, for the offence of murder contrary to Section 326(1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Akwa Ibom State, 2000. The Appellant was accused of murdering one Godwin George Udofia on 1st June, 2014. Following the plea of not guilty by the Appellant, the Respondent called 4 witnesses and tendered the Appellant’s statement to the Police, the Post Mortem Examination Form and Medical Report on the deceased, and the Police Investigation Report dated 25/08/2014, as Exhibits A, B-B3, and C respectively. The Appellant testified in his defence and called 3 witnesses. A cash receipt issued in favour of the Appellant on 1st June, 2014 was tendered through the Appellant’s third witness – DW4. At the close of trial and after taking the addresses of Counsel for the opposing parties, the trial court delivered its judgement in which it found the Appellant guilty as charged. Consequently, the trial court sentenced him to death by hanging. Aggrieved, the Appellant lodged an appeal at the Court of Appeal. However, the Court of Appeal upheld the decision of the trial court and dismissed the appeal. Consequently, the Appellant filed a further appeal at the Supreme Court. Issues for Determination The Supreme Court adopted the issues formulated by Counsel for the Appellant, with slight modifications, as follows: 1. Whether or not the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was breached, when he adopted Exhibit A without the same having been interpreted to him. 2. Whether or not the Appellant’s defence of alibi ought to have been sustained, if the evidence of DW3 and DW4 were not discountenanced. 3. Whether or not the case of murder, levelled against the Appellant, was proved beyond reasonable doubt. Arguments On the first issue, Counsel for the Appellant submitted that the Appellant’s right to fair hearing was breached, because he was misled to adopt Exhibit A which was tendered by the Prosecution as the Appellant’s extrajudicial statement, without the same first being interpreted to the Appellant who is an illiterate. Counsel also argued that the Appellant was not given the opportunity to deny making Exhibit A before he adopted it at the trial court, as it was not interpreted to him to enable him to verify if the content actually represented his statement. Conversely, Counsel for the Respondent argued that the Appellant failed to object to the admissibility of Exhibit A at the point of tendering it, therefore, it was assumed that he was comfortable with it, and it was too late in the day to complain about it. Counsel further submitted that Exhibit A did not in fact, form the basis upon which the Appellant was convicted, but rather the eye witness testimony of PW1 which was corroborated by PW2 and PW3. The Respondent’s Counsel concluded that the evidence of PW1, was enough to convict the Appellant outside Exhibit A. On the second issue, the Appellant’s Counsel argued that the Appellant’s defence of alibi was established by the uncontroverted evidence of DW3 and ought to have been sustained, however, the said evidence was discountenanced thereby, occasioning a miscarriage of justice on the Appellant. In response, Counsel for the Respondent argued that the Respondent, through the testimony of PW1 who was an eyewitness, proved beyond reasonable doubt that the Appellant was at the scene of the crime, and this overrode the Appellant’s defence of alibi. On the 3rd issue, Counsel for the Appellant argued that the Respondent failed to prove the charge of murder against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt, and that the prosecution failed to tender the statement of deceased in evidence because the content may be exculpatory. Counsel also argued that the other prosecution witnesses apart from PW1 gave hearsay evidence, which the trial court ought not to have been relied on. Responding, Counsel for the Respondent submitted that all the ingredients of the offence of murder were successfully established against the Appellant. Counsel submitted further that there was no controversy on the death of the deceased, and the evidence of the prosecution witnesses and Exhibits B – B3 all established that the Appellant killed the deceased. Court’s Judgement and Rationale Deciding the first issue, the Apex Court held that a party to any judicial proceedings should be consistent in his allegation, claim or defence. The Supreme Court further held that an objection to the admissibility of an extra-judicial statement must be raised at the point when it is being tendered, and a party who consented to a document being admitted in evidence, is not permitted to resile from such comment. The Court held that by Section 169 of the Evidence Act, 2011, such party is estopped from resiling from such consent by the doctrine of estoppel by conduct. Reliance was placed on ORJI v FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA (2019) LPELR-46534(SC). The Supreme Court held that from the facts contained in the records, particularly the proceedings of 27th August, 2015 at the trial court, it was evident that when the Prosecution Counsel sought to tender Exhibit A in evidence, the Appellant’s Counsel stated unequivocally that they were not objecting to its admissibility. The Court held that the Appellant who was represented by his Counsel throughout the trial, cannot be said to have been misled or prejudiced by the fact that the content of his extra-judicial statement in Exhibit A was not read out or interpreted to him, in so far as he had not raised any objection to it when it was tendered. The Supreme Court held that the Appellant was afforded all the opportunity to defend himself, including the right to object to the admissibility of any exhibit or evidence tendered or adduced by the prosecution; therefore, his complaint that he was denied fair hearing was baseless. On the second issue, the Supreme Court held that the basis of the defence of alibi is the physical impossibility of a person being at more than one place at a time, hence, the alibi raised by an accused person must account for the accused person’s whereabouts at the time of the commission of the offence, and eliminate the possibility of the accused being present at the scene of the crime at the time when the offence was committed. The Court held further that the defence of alibi will physically and logically crumble once there is superior, positive and credible evidence fixing the accused to the scene of the crime. The Apex Court relied on its earlier decisions in OKERE v IGP (2021) 5 NWLR (PT. 1770) 537 and IBRAHIM v COP (2020) 15 NWLR (PT. 1746) 122. The Supreme Court held that with the evidence on record, although the Appellant claimed that he was at Edyson Hotel when the offence was committed, the Police Investigation Report – Exhibit C showed that he only lodged at the hotel at around 9pm on the fateful day, whereas his whereabouts at 7pm when the offence was committed could not be accounted for. The Court further held that as a matter of fact, the evidence of PW1 who gave credible detailed eyewitness account of how he saw the deceased being brutally attacked by the Appellant with an axe, conclusively neutralised the defence of alibi set up by the Appellant. The Supreme Court found that the issue of whether the Appellant was at the locus criminis was thus, conclusively resolved by the evidence of the prosecution witnesses which proved beyond reasonable doubt that the Appellant was at the scene of the crime, and not somewhere else when the offence was committed. Deciding the third issue, the Apex Court held that for the prosecution to successfully establish the offence of murder, it must be proved beyond reasonable doubt that: (i) the deceased died; (ii) the death of the deceased was caused by the act of the accused person; (iii) the accused person’s act was intentional or with the knowledge that death or grievous bodily harm was the probable consequence of his act. The Court relied on TINA OKORODUDU v THE STATE (2024) 12 NWLR (PT. 1951) 111. The Apex Court held that, in this case, there is no dispute that the deceased died on 1st June, 2014, which established the first ingredient of the offence of murder. The Court held further that the direct eyewitness testimony of PW1 – the deceased’s brother, on how he saw the deceased being brutally attacked with an axe by the Appellant before he fled into the bush, was consistent with Exhibits B1-B3 – the post mortem medical documents which stated that the deceased died as a result of a head injury from an axe. The Court held that the credible evidence of PW1 conclusively established that it was the deceased’s dastardly act that killed the deceased, and PW1’s direct evidence alone was sufficient to ground the conviction of the Appellant. On the 3rd element, the Supreme Court held that any sane man is presumed by law to intend the natural and probable consequence of his action. The Court held that it was clear from the evidence on record that the Appellant’s violent attack on the deceased was motivated by the urge to avenge an earlier clash between the deceased and the Appellant’s brother, and hitting an axe on the head of a human being is such a violent and callous action which clearly shows that the Appellant intended the natural consequences of his conduct. The Court held that the fact that the Appellant hit the head of the deceased with an axe twice, reveals that there was an intention to either kill or cause grievous harm. The Apex Court found that the Respondent established the offence of murder against the Appellant beyond reasonable doubt, and the Court of Appeal rightly affirmed the trial court’s decision convicting the Appellant accordingly. Appeal Dismissed. Representation G. A. Umoh for the Appellant. F. J. Itim (Director of Public Prosecutions, Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Justice) for the Respondent. Reported by Optimum Publishers Limited, Publishers of the Nigerian Monthly Law Reports (NMLR) (An affiliate of Babalakin & Co.)
8 Jun 2026
WAEC gives reasons for late-night examination
The West African Examinations Council, WAEC-Nigeria, has blamed its decision to conduct late-night examination on abduction protest and death of staff in Gombe. In a statement by its head of public affairs, Moyosola Adesina, the council also attributed the disruption to a combination of logistical and operational challenges. Adesina said the delay was caused by recent protests over abducted schoolchildren, the tragic loss of three WAEC staff members in a recent road crash in Gombe, and other operational challenges. Recall that the examination body came under criticism after delays in the delivery of examination materials forced candidates in several centres across Oyo, Lagos, Ogun and Osun states to write papers late into the night. It was reported that in some cases, candidates used torch lights, mobile phone flashlights and solar-powered lamps. DAILY POST reports that the examination disruptions began last week Monday when candidates reportedly waited several hours before sitting the Physics Essay and Objective papers, which had been scheduled for 2pm and 3:30pm respectively. WAEC gives reasons for late-night examination
8 Jun 2026
JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME, says no further exam will be conducted
Candidates scheduled to participate in the 2026 Mop-Up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, can now print their examination notification slips ahead of the exercise slated for June 13, 2026. The development was disclosed in a statement released by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin. According to the statement, the notification slip contains important details, including candidates’ examination centres, dates, time schedules and other instructions required for the examination. JAMB explained that the mop-up examination was arranged for candidates who were unable to sit for the UTME during the main exercise due to technical issues, as well as those whose biometric verification could not be successfully completed. The board advised eligible candidates to visit its official website and click on the “Print 2026 Mop-Up UTME Slip” link to access and print their examination slips. Candidates were also urged to print their slips early and familiarise themselves with their examination centres before the examination date to avoid last-minute challenges. “The Board wishes to emphasise that this Mop-Up Examination represents the final opportunity for eligible candidates to sit the 2026 UTME. No further examination will be conducted after this exercise,” the statement said. JAMB further urged all eligible candidates to take advantage of the opportunity and make adequate preparations for the examination scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026. From: Rasheedat Olanrewaju < rasheedat.olanrewaju@dailypost.ng >To: < staffposts@dailypost.com.ng > Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:35:07 +0100 Subject: JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME slip printing, says no further exam will be conducted Me 5:46 AMInbox Re: JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME slip printing, says no further exam will be conducted – 44% unique Precious Bello On Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:35:07 +0100 Rasheedat Olanrewaju<rasheedat.olanrewaju@dailypost.ng> wrote Me 5:46 AMSent Re: JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME slip printing, says no further exam will be conducted – 44% unique Precious Bello On Mon, 08 Jun 2026 04:35:07 +0100 Rasheedat Olanrewaju<rasheedat.olanrewaju@dailypost.ng> wrote Rasheedat Olanrewaju 4:35 AMInbox JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME slip printing, says no further exam will be conducted – Candidates scheduled to participate in the 2026 Mop-Up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, can now print their examination notification slips ahead of the exercise slated for June 13, 2026. The development was disclosed in a statement JAMB opens 2026 mop-up UTME, says no further exam will be conducted
8 Jun 2026
YABATECH Council Advocates Stronger University/Traditional Institution Partnerships for National Devt
Funmi Ogundare The Chairman, Governing Council of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Prof. Funso Afolabi, has called for a national policy framework that strengthens collaboration between tertiary institutions, traditional institutions and local communities as a strategy for accelerating sustainable development, youth empowerment and innovation-driven growth. Speaking during the official visit of the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom, Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, Oyinyosayeuyeyin III, to YABATECH, the council chairman noted that Nigeria’s development aspirations would be better achieved when educational institutions and traditional authorities work together to address societal challenges. He argued that modern traditional rulers have evolved beyond their ceremonial roles to become critical stakeholders in education, security, economic development and community mobilisation. According to him, the developmental strides recorded in Iyin-Ekiti under the leadership of the Oluyin, particularly the establishment and rapid growth of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, provide a practical model for community-led educational development. “The future of national development lies in strategic partnerships that connect educational institutions, local communities and traditional leadership structures. These partnerships create opportunities for innovation, human capital development and inclusive growth,” he said. The governing council chairman emphasised the need for policies that promote stronger linkages between higher institutions and their host communities, noting that educational development cannot be isolated from community participation and ownership. Drawing lessons from the successful take-off of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, he noted that community support remains a critical factor in the sustainability and success of tertiary institutions. He observed that many emerging institutions across the country struggle with enrollment and community acceptance, stressing that stakeholder engagement and visionary leadership are essential ingredients for institutional growth. Prof. Afolabi further advocated increased investment in technical and vocational education as a pathway to addressing unemployment, poverty and skills deficits among Nigerian youths. He said institutions such as YABATECH have a crucial role to play in supporting the Federal Government’s economic diversification agenda through workforce development, entrepreneurship training and technological innovation. The council chairman also identified tourism, hospitality management, environmental sustainability, digital innovation and security technology as strategic areas where collaboration between educational institutions and communities can generate socio-economic benefits. On national security, he called for stronger cooperation between the academia, government agencies and community leadership structures in developing home-grown technological solutions capable of addressing emerging security challenges. According to him, Nigeria’s tertiary institutions possess the intellectual capacity and research potential required to develop innovative security systems and community-based solutions that can support national security objectives. Afolabi further stressed the importance of preserving the relevance of traditional institutions in contemporary governance, describing royal fathers as critical partners in policy implementation, social mobilization and grassroots development. He noted that the country’s development challenges require a multi-stakeholder approach involving government, educational institutions, traditional authorities, the private sector and local communities. Responding, the Oluyin of Iyin-Ekiti expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his entourage, describing the visit as a strategic engagement aimed at delivering tangible developmental outcomes rather than a ceremonial exercise. “I deliberately came with members of our technical and development committees because I want this visit to yield concrete results. We want a partnership that will add value to Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom and also extend the impact of Yaba College of Technology to our community,” the monarch said. Oba Ajakaiye disclosed that his kingdom was currently developing a comprehensive security architecture designed to address emerging security challenges and promote safer communities. He expressed optimism that YABATECH’s expertise in technology and innovation could contribute significantly to the development of indigenous security solutions with national relevance. The royal father also stressed the importance of networking, cultural exchange and cross-fertilisation of ideas among institutions and communities as a pathway to national growth and development. He commended YABATECH for its commitment to community engagement and partnership, noting that the institution’s participation in the kingdom’s 2025 celebrations remained a memorable milestone. The monarch pledged the readiness of Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom to sustain its relationship with YABATECH and work closely with the institution on projects that promote education, innovation, youth empowerment and sustainable development. Welcoming the royal delegation, the Rector of the college, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, described the visit as a significant follow-up to commitments made during the monarch’s three-in-one coronation anniversary celebrations in 2025, where the institution pledged support for various developmental initiatives in Iyin-Ekiti Kingdom. He said the college remained committed to empowering young Nigerians, particularly girls, through entrepreneurship and skills acquisition programmes aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda. “We are committed to the training of young girls in entrepreneurship and skills acquisition with a view to preparing them for the future and empowering them to become wealth creators,” the rector stated. He noted that YABATECH was already exploring several collaborative initiatives with institutions and communities across the country, including partnerships with the newly established Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences in Iyin-Ekiti. Abdul commended the visionary leadership of the Oluyin, particularly for facilitating the establishment and rapid growth of the university, describing its maiden matriculation ceremony as one of the most remarkable he had witnessed. He also praised the monarch’s uncommon leadership style, noting that rather than waiting for institutions to visit him, the royal father had chosen to personally engage educational institutions in pursuit of meaningful partnerships. “This is a unique model of leadership that promotes development through collaboration and direct engagement,” he said.
7 Jun 2026
Tinubu Felicitates Jimoh Ibrahim on Election as Chair of UN Budget and Administration Committee
• Envoy to serve as keynote speaker at anniversary conference at Harvard University today Deji Elumoye in Abuja President Bola Tinubu has congratulated Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Jimoh Ibrahim, on his election as Chairman of the United Nations General Assembly Fifth Committee on Budget and Administration. Tinubu, in a congratulatory message on Wednesday, stated that the election of Ibrahim was noteworthy at a particularly critical moment for the United Nations, as the world body navigated significant financial realignment while advancing critical institutional reforms to strengthen its effectiveness, accountability, and long-term sustainability. Tinubu stated regarding Ibrahim, “Your election to chair this important committee within weeks of official resumption at the UN validates your wealth of experience in public service, diplomacy, business leadership, and governance particularly as member of Nigerian Senate Committee on Budget and Appropriation and Chairman of Inter-Parliamentary Relations. “Your previous roles in the private sector and public service distinctly equip you to provide the steady, strategic leadership required for this important responsibility. “Through your background as a respected legal scholar with commensurate expertise in International Taxation and Business Administration, you have consistently demonstrated intellectual acumen and a deep understanding of the global governance and financial systems, providing valuable insight into fiscal management, institutional efficiency, and sustainable growth.” The president said he was confident that, just as the reforms at home were yielding positive results, Ibrahim’s experience and unwavering commitment to excellence will justify his selection as Permanent Representative and make Nigeria proud in the work of the Fifth Committee and in support of the broader objectives of the United Nations. “Congratulations once again on this remarkable achievement and on the confidence reposed in you by the international community,” Tinubu stated. Meanwhile, Ibrahim will on Thursday (today) serve as keynote speaker at the Tenth Anniversary Conference of Ife Institute of Advanced Studies at Harvard University, Massachusetts, United States of America (USA). The envoy had on April 11, 2026 been invited by Department of African and African American Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences at Harvard University to deliver the keynote address. In the one-page invite signed by Chair, African and African and American Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Professor Jacob Olupona, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the United Nations was expected to speak on “The Nigerian Project Revisited: Crisis, Continuity, and Possibility.” The invitation letter read thus, “April 11, 2026 Harvard University, Dept of African and African American Studies Massachusetts, US ‘Re: invitation to Serve as Keynote Speaker at the Tenth Anniversary Conference of the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies.’ “Africa continues to produce exceptional individuals. Yet, it has not built institutions that can consistently sustain excellence. This conference asked why and whether that can change at scale. “For the past decade, the Ife Institute of Advanced Studies (IIAS) has worked to address this gap by investing in rigorous and independent scholarship. “Since its founding, IIAS has trained over 850 scholars, many of whom now shape academia, policy, and public life in Nigeria and across and beyond Africa. That progress is meaningful, but insufficient to meet the scale of the challenge. “At this ten-year mark, we are convening a small invitation-only gathering at the John Knowles Pane Concert Hall, Department of Music, Harvard University on June 4, 2026, to discuss the theme, Budding Lasting Instruments: Path, Scholarship, and the African Project. “I cordially invite you to deliver the keynote address titled: The Nigerian Project Revisited: Crisis, Continuity, and Possibility. “This keynote sets the conceptual and historical foundation for the conference by reviewing the theme of “the Nigerian project” as an unfinished and contested enterprise. “Moving beyond familiar narratives of failure and dysfunction. The address interrogates how Nigeria’s institutional challenges have been shaped by deeper tensions between inherited structure and lived realities formal governance and informal practice, aspiration and accountability. What does it mean to speak of Nigeria as a “project.” and who bears responsibility for its construction? By tracing patterns of continuity alongside moments of rupture. “The keynote reframes crisis life not as an endpoint, but as a condition that reveals both the fragility and the latent possibilities of institutional life. “The address, thus, opens the conference space for rethinking what it would take to build institutions that are not only functional, but meaningful and enduring.” Jacob Olupona, PhD, Chair, African and African and American Studies, Faculty of Arts and Sciences.
4 Jun 2026
Lagos Schools Debate Promotes Critical Thinking, Rewards Winners
Funmi Ogundare Winners have emerged at the maiden edition of the Lagos schools debate competition aimed at encouraging problem solving, critical thinking and the ability to exercise knowledge retention among students. Themed: ‘Empowering the Next Generation of Nigerian Leaders’, the initiative was spearhead by the World Schools Debate Championship. For senior secondary school category, students debated on ‘This house supports the use of technology to bring back extinct animal species’ , while the junior category debated on ‘This house believes that schools have the right to punish cyber bullying that occurs outside of school’. Wellspring College, Lagos, emerged winner of the senior secondary school category, while Maryland Comprehensive School, came second. In the junior secondary school category, British International Junior School emerged first position, while Grace High School, Gbagada, came second. The winners received trophies and cash gifts. Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the convener, Bukunmi Babatunde, stated that the competition successfully equipped participating students with the necessary skills demonstrating the value of debate as a tool for academic and personal development. She added that it exposed students to the internationally recognised Junior World Schools debate format, which emphasises impromptu speaking and analytical reasoning rather than rote memorisation. On the outcome of the championship, Babatunde described the students’ performances as remarkable, particularly given the demanding nature of the contest, where participants were required to prepare arguments on debate motions within a short period. “The performance of the competitors was quite remarkable considering that in six rounds, they were given debate topics about half an hour before the impromptu preliminary and elimination rounds.” According to her, students displayed confidence, enthusiasm and a strong grasp of core concepts and ideas throughout the competition. She explained that the initiative, is designed to encourage participants to think independently and develop practical problem-solving abilities through impromptu debates. “The purpose is to encourage problem solving, critical thinking and the ability to exercise knowledge retention,” she stated. Emphasising on the overall impact of the debate, the convener said the championship achieved its objectives, citing the quality of speeches delivered during the final round as evidence of its success. “The finals are a testimony to this success. The ability of the students to deliver exceptional speeches on topics they were only presented with 30 minutes before the round demonstrates independent thinking and problem-solving skills,” they said. She further stressed that debate contributes significantly to academic excellence by moving students beyond memorisation-based learning and encouraging deeper engagement with ideas. “Debates foster excellent academic performance because they move away from rote learning to encourage problem solving, critical thinking and the ability to exercise knowledge retention,” she added. While expressing appreciation to sponsors for supporting the initiative, Babatunde called for increased funding and partnerships to expand its reach and provide more Nigerian students with opportunities to participate in high-level debate competitions. “We’re grateful to our sponsors for all of their help in making this a success. Funding for this initiative is necessary to sustain it. We want to grow and expose more Nigerian students to this level of debate and, to achieve that, we need more individuals and corporations to support us,” they said. Babatunde’s aunt, Mrs Ife Fasola described how the project grew from the passion of her niece, who graduated with a first class from the Nigerian Law School and chose to pursue her interest in developing young minds through debate rather than following a conventional career path. According to her, Ayobami remained committed to her vision of teaching children debating skills, despite opportunities in other sectors. “She kept saying she wanted to teach children’s debates and was very adamant that was what she wanted to do. When we saw how passionate she was, we decided to support her,” she said. The initiative began with an online debate club that attracted children from different countries, including India and China. Building on that success, she approached private schools to introduce debate as a co-curricular activity and later sought ways to expose Nigerian students to global debating opportunities. Fasola explained that during discussions with organisers of the international debate competition, they were informed that Nigerian participants would need to demonstrate their capabilities before being considered for the global platform. Rather than waiting for such an opportunity to arise, she stated that the young entrepreneur decided to organise a local competition that would allow international coordinators to assess the quality of Nigerian students firsthand. “She didn’t wait for a competition to happen. She took the initiative to organise one and invited the coordinators to see what Nigerian students could do,” she said. “To bring the project to life, she mobilised support from family members, friends, private schools and sponsors. While participating schools paid registration fees, additional sponsorships were secured to support students from less privileged backgrounds,” she stressed. Fasola expressed optimism that the initiative would attract the attention of the Lagos State government and other stakeholders, particularly following the attendance of the Lagos State Commissioner for Youth and Social Development.the previous day. “We are hoping the state government can see what is possible and support the programme going forward. She also called for greater participation from schools and increased sponsorship in future editions, noting that awareness would grow as more people learn about the programme. “The first edition is always challenging because many people do not know about it. Once people start getting to know about it, more schools, sponsors and government agencies will want to be involved because they will see the value it brings,” she added. She believe the initiative will not only strengthen debate culture in Nigerian schools but also create pathways for talented students to compete and excel on the global stage. Also speaking, the Lagos State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr. Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, advised the students to leverage their critical thinking abilities and communication skills to develop solutions to the myriad challenges confronting society. He encouraged participants to see the exercise as more than a contest, but as a platform for intellectual engagement, self-expression and problem-solving. According to him, the competition provides an opportunity for students to demonstrate what they have learnt over the years, while showcasing their capacity to analyse issues, articulate ideas and contribute meaningfully to national development. “This competition is about displaying your critical thinking, your ability to communicate and your ability to analyse issues affecting our society. It is about identifying challenges and proposing solutions,” he said. Alli-Balogun stressed that the state government remains committed to the welfare, academic performance and overall development of students, noting that creating platforms for young people to express their views and talents is a key component of that commitment. He urged the participants to articulate their vision and mission with confidence, adding that such engagements help prepare them for leadership roles and active citizenship. While encouraging healthy competition among the students, the commissioner emphasised that the essence of the event was not merely to emerge victorious but to cultivate the spirit of participation, learning and collaboration. He also paid tribute to teachers for their dedication and sacrifices in nurturing students, describing them as second parents who play a vital role in shaping the future of society. “All of us must appreciate our teachers for nurturing us and ensuring that we understand the importance of education and character,” he stated. He also commended the students for stepping forward to showcase their talents and ideas, expressing optimism that young people possess the capacity to provide innovative solutions to contemporary societal challenges. Also speaking, the Commissioner for Youth and Social Development, Mobolaji Ogunlende, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to partnering with private organisations to create more opportunities for young people, with plans to scale up initiatives that enable them to compete and thrive on the global stage. He noted that government alone could not meet the developmental needs of young people, stressing the importance of collaboration with individuals and organisations investing in youth empowerment. According to him, the state government is committed to supporting initiatives that nurture leadership, critical thinking and talent among young people. “As a government, we can’t do it alone. When we see and hear about private people trying to do things for young people, our leaders of tomorrow starting today, we must be there to support them and see how we can make it bigger, better and brighter,” he stated. The commissioner noted that the government would continue to work with the organisers of the debate championship and explore ways to expand the programme to reach more young people across the state. “We will continue to work with them, and the plan is to see how we can scale up to give our young people the platform to thrive on a global scale,” he added. Commending the organisers for promoting intellectual engagement among students, Ogunlende described the initiative as one that aligns with the state’s vision of preparing young people for future leadership roles. Addressing the participants, he encouraged them to see themselves as winners regardless of the competition’s outcome, noting that the experience gained was as valuable as the prizes. To further motivate the students, the commissioner announced additional cash rewards for the top-performing participants in both categories of the competition. He pledged N200,000 for the first-place winners, N150,000 for the second-place winners and N100,000 for the third-place winners, in addition to the prizes already provided by the organisers.
3 Jun 2026
WAEC Advocates Stronger Academic Integrity to Boost Global Competitiveness
Esther Oluku The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has stressed the importance of strengthening academic integrity in African schools as a critical foundation for achieving educational excellence and enhancing global competitiveness. The Head of National Office (HNO), Nigeria, Dr. Amos Dangut, stated this at the 2026 Africa Top Schools awards held in Lagos, themed: “The Seamless Arc: Building a High-Integrity Foundation as the Bedrock of Global Tertiary Competition’, which brought together education stakeholders to discuss the role of integrity in shaping future leaders. In his remarks, Dangut said integrity remains indispensable in the assessment and certification process, noting that credible educational qualifications are essential for global recognition. Represented by the acting Head of the SPD Printing Division, Akinsola Akinbode, described certificates as more than mere documents, saying they represent a promise of competence and credibility. “It takes integrity in how we assess, how we measure and how we certify what our students know. A certificate is not just paper; it is a promise. When that promise is broken, the foundation for future success is weakened,” he said. According to him, integrity-driven assessments are not merely administrative requirements but a national imperative that supports Nigeria’s aspirations for global competitiveness and leadership. He warned that academic dishonesty, if unchecked, could undermine the quality of education and erode public confidence in educational qualifications. Dangut further noted that assessment systems built on integrity help cultivate habits of excellence, discipline and accountability among students, qualities that are essential throughout their academic and professional lives. At the event, King’s College Lagos and Queen’s College Lagos were honoured with the Africa Top Schools Award and inducted into the Africa Top Schools Hall of Fame in recognition of their outstanding contributions to educational excellence. Speaking on the significance of the awards, the Founder of Africa Brands Review and Convener of the Africa Top Schools awards, Mr. Joseph Ayodele explained that the initiative was designed to promote integrity within educational institutions, recognise high-performing schools and celebrate best practices across the education sector. He stated that induction into the Hall of Fame is valid for only two years, after which schools are reassessed to ensure they continue to uphold the required standards. “The Africa Top Schools Hall of Fame is about global recognition and remains valid for two years. At the end of that period, schools are re-evaluated, and any institution found to be involved in examination malpractice is removed from the Hall of Fame,” he said. Ayodele added that this year’s edition also featured the launch of the Nigeria Education Wheel of Progress Report (2023–2026) and the Students Talent Hunt competition, both aimed at promoting continuous improvement and innovation within the country’s education system.
3 Jun 2026
Akada Children’s Book Festival Inspires Young Readers, Celebrates Literary Excellence
Funmi Ogundare More than 1,700 children, parents, educators, authors, illustrators and book enthusiasts converged on Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic, Lagos, for the 8th edition of the Akada Children’s Book Festival (ACBF), which underscored the growing importance of literacy development and the promotion of African storytelling among young readers. The festival, regarded as Nigeria’s first and largest book festival curated specifically for children, featured a broad range of literary, educational and creative activities designed to inspire a love for reading and learning. Themed,’ Big Dreams, Brave Stories’, the event showcased 25 original children’s books written by Nigerian authors based both within and outside the country. Participants engaged in six book chats, two young authors’ panels, five parents’ workshops, seven children’s workshops, two illustration workshops and two animation workshops. Beyond book readings and storytelling sessions, children and families participated in interactive activities including scrabble and chess tournaments, STEM exercises, sensory play sessions, SIP-and-paint experiences and other hands-on creative engagements aimed at stimulating curiosity, imagination and critical thinking. A major highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Akada Children’s Book Festival Children’s Book of the Year Award. Lumi Drives from London to Lagos by Pelumi Nubi emerged winner of the 2026 edition, in recognition of excellence in children’s publishing and storytelling. Other award recipients included Enifome Uyoyou-Agha and Aiden Johnson, who won the writing competition; Sorcha Fischer, winner of the illustration competition; and Edward Peculiar, who clinched the chess tournament title. Speaking on the significance of the festival, Convener of the Akada Children’s Book Festival and renowned children’s author, Mrs. Olubunmi Aboderin-Talabi, noted that the initiative was established to address the gap in children’s access to meaningful and culturally relevant books. According to her, “the Akada Children’s Book Festival was created out of a clear need to address the gap in children’s access to books that are not only available, but meaningful, relatable, and reflective of their lived experiences. “From the beginning, our mission has been to build a strong reading culture among children in Nigeria by creating a space where stories, imagination and learning come together. Each year, we return with renewed purpose, and this eighth edition is no different.” She expressed optimism that the festival would inspire more children to embrace reading, encourage greater parental involvement in learning and motivate writers and illustrators to continue telling African stories with pride and excellence. The event featured readings from several children’s books, including ‘ Iwa’: Short Stories About Character by Zansi Adebowale, ‘Sleepy Guppy Says Bedtime Must Wait’, by Adebola Rayo, ‘What Happened On Thursday?’ by Ayo Oyeku, Kachi and the ‘River Guard ‘, by Amarachukwu Chimeka, ‘Lumi Drives From London To Lagos’, by Pelumi Nubi, and ‘Sim Sim Goes To The Salon’, by Tonye Faloughi-Ekezie. The festival also provided a platform for emerging literary talents through dedicated Young Authors’ Panels featuring Achiever Omotoso, Oluwatoke Aduradola, Tiwatope Oloye and Chimziterem Iloh. Attendees were further entertained with theatrical performances, puppet shows and an exclusive first reading of Dunoma the Brave by acclaimed author Lola Shoneyin, alongside appearances by leading children’s authors and storytellers.
3 Jun 2026
2026 UTME: Teesas Sustains Exceptional Performance Above National Average
Funmi Ogundare Teesas Learning Centres have recorded over 90 per cent success rate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for the third consecutive year, significantly surpassing the national average pass rate of about 25 per cent recorded over the last three years. The achievement comes as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) disclosed that about 1.9 million candidates sat for the 2026 UTME, out of the 2.2 million initially expected to participate in the examination. Among Teesas’ top-performing students was Moyosoreoluwa Noiki, 15, of Whitesands School, Lekki, who scored 357 out of 400, recording 69 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 97 in Physics and 93 in Chemistry. Speaking on his performance, Noiki attributed his success to the structured learning approach adopted by Teesas Learning Centres. “The teacher-led classes at Teesas reinforced what we had learnt in school and gave us an opportunity to ask questions and improve our understanding. The weekly assessments tested our readiness using JAMB-standard questions and highlighted areas that needed work,” he said. According to him, the mock examinations organised by the centre also helped him to gain confidence ahead of the examination by simulating the actual exam format, timing and computer-based testing environment. Another student, Chizaram Kwazema, 15, scored 323 out of 400 with 71 in English Language, 84 in Economics, 77 in Government and 91 in Mathematics. She expressed interest in studying Information Science and Media Studies at Pan-Atlantic University. Kwazema attributed her success to disciplined study habits, regular practice with past questions and mentorship from her father. “Teesas Learning Centre played a huge role in my results by helping me to focus on topics I struggled with. The tutors simplified difficult topics, while the weekly computer-based tests helped me to familiarise myself with the UTME format and improve my time management,” she said. Her mother, Rachel Kwazema, described Teesas as a centre with a proven record of academic success, noting that her daughter’s study habits improved significantly after enrolment. Also speaking, Toluwanimi Ajao, 16, of Trinity International College, who scored 324, said that the centre helped him to identify his strengths and weaknesses ahead of the examination. Ajao scored 98 in Physics, 91 in Mathematics, 73 in English Language and 62 in Chemistry, and hopes to study Electrical and Electronics Engineering at Covenant University. He advised candidates preparing for UTME to begin preparation early and revise consistently using past questions. Teesas currently operates four learning centres, three in Lagos and one in Owerri. Speaking on the sustained performance, Learning Centre Growth Manager at Teesas Education, Mrs. Gladys Osime, noted that the success was driven by collaboration between the organisation and partner schools. “At Teesas, our goal is not to replace schools but to support them. Schools such as Lagoon School, Whitesands School and Trinity International College laid strong foundations which our tutors built on using our Watch-Teach-Assess (WTA) model,” she said. Osime explained that the WTA model combines video learning, classroom teaching and assessment to improve understanding and retention among learners. According to her, students first watch instructional videos to stimulate interest and prior knowledge before teachers deliver detailed lessons and assessments to evaluate comprehension. She added that the model is used across all examination preparation programmes offered by Teesas Education.
3 Jun 2026
Anyiam Chimkwesiri Wins Verboheit Mathematics Competition
Oluchi Chibuzor A student of Penny International College, Anyiam Chimkwesiri, has emerged the winner of Verboheit Mathematics League Competition that featured over 350 participants from Abuja, Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and Ondo States. Other winners were Ukeme-Obong, Danison Kina High School, who came second; Kuranga Muhammad of Vetland Senior Grammar School came third, while the Dipo Olomofe Award went to Abdullah Adeyemo of Greater Tomorrow International Day College, who came fourth. Speaking at the awards ceremony in Lagos, the convener, Mathematics League Competition, Tosin Ojo, said that young people must see mathematics as a core skill that they need for life. With the third edition of the competition witnessing an increased participation, Ojo lauded the quality and intensity displayed by the students. She emphasised the need for parents to begin to teach their children numeracy as a core soft skill needed to succeed in life. “I realised that if students, teenagers, will still pay attention to the most important, most fundamental things, they will still make it out of life. Because these skills are at the core, at the bedrock of almost every profession. “That’s why we did not structure the competition to just be one day, write one exam, you get the prize. Because we recognise that there are students that may not be good enough to just compete for that one day and get a prize. “But we want to teach them the importance of perseverance, hard work, resilience, grit, which are the things you need to have to be good in mathematics. Because you need to practise and solve the questions. “When it’s difficult, you need to think about it again, approach it again, not abandon it. So, that’s why we structured it the way we did. It’s a three-month competition, from beginning to the end. And that’s the motivation behind it. This year, we have over 353 applicants.” Responding on behalf of the winners, Adeyemo pledged to continue to be excellent as the recipient of the co-founder award. “I want to thank the organisers for this competition which is very tough and transparent. The quality was high because it really pushed everybody,” he said.
2 Jun 2026
How ‘Hardest Truth’ Took Jubet From Oyo State to the Billboard Charts
From the quiet town of Ilora in Oyo State to the Billboard charts in the United States, Jubet’s rise has been anything but conventional. The Nigerian singer has captured listeners across continents with Hardest Truth, a record whose emotional honesty has helped transform it from a personal song into a global conversation. Jubet has attracted growing attention following the success of his breakout single, Hardest Truth, a record that has steadily gained traction across streaming platforms and social media communities around the world. What began as a deeply personal song has evolved into one of the most talked-about emerging Afrobeats records of recent months, driven largely by listeners who relate to its themes of heartbreak, reflection and vulnerability. The song’s performance has been reflected in its growing digital footprint. Hardest Truth has recorded more than 2 million streams on Spotify, over 3.7 million streams on Audiomack, more than 1.5 million streams each on Apple Music and Boomplay, and over 1.2 million views on YouTube. The record has also generated more than 2.2 million TikTok creations and over 586,000 Shazams globally. Its momentum extended to major charts, debuting at No. 14 on the Billboard U.S. Afrobeats Songs Chart while reaching No. 17 on the Afrobeats Global Chart. On Shazam, the song climbed to No. 2 on the Worldwide Chart, where it spent two consecutive weeks before moving to No. 7 globally. The record also reached No. 1 on Shazam charts in Ghana, Kenya, Uganda and Zambia. Beyond the statistics, Hardest Truth appears to have found a unique place among listeners who have adopted the song as a soundtrack for personal stories, emotional reflections and relationship-related content across social media. Born Akanbi Oluwa Jubelo Emmanuel and raised in Ilora, Oyo State, Jubet’s musical journey began from modest beginnings shaped by a passion for self-expression and storytelling. His profile received a boost in 2025 when he won the Best Performing Artist Award at Obong University, Akwa Ibom State, where he graduated the same year. The recognition marked an important step in a career that has since gathered momentum through independent releases and consistent audience engagement. A major turning point in Jubet’s career came when PR executive Starfaize recognized his potential and connected him with Nigerian talent manager Louiza Williams, who took on the responsibility of developing, positioning and strategically building the artist for long-term growth. The collaboration introduced structure, direction and intentional development around Jubet’s artistry, helping accelerate the global momentum currently surrounding his music. Through Loui-K Empire, Williams has focused on audience development, digital strategy, content rollout and international market expansion, helping to build a foundation for sustainable growth rather than short-term visibility. Industry stakeholders have increasingly taken notice of the trajectory surrounding Hardest Truth, particularly its ability to gain traction across multiple markets simultaneously. The song has recorded chart activity in more than 20 countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Barbados, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and Saint Lucia. For many observers, Jubet’s rise reflects a broader shift within African music, where emotional vulnerability and relatable storytelling are becoming increasingly valuable alongside traditional commercial formulas. As Hardest Truth continues to find new audiences across continents, Jubet’s emergence suggests that authenticity remains one of the most powerful currencies in today’s music landscape. For many listeners around the world, Hardest Truth is more than a song. It is a reflection of personal experiences, heartbreaks and life realities, a connection that has helped transform a young artist from Ilora into one of the most closely watched emerging voices on Africa’s music scene.
31 May 2026
How Nigerian Varsities Can Explore Alternative Funding Amid Rising Financial Pressures
At the Commonwealth Institute Universities Leaders Conference held recently in Lagos, university administrators, financial experts and education strategists explored practical ways institutions can diversify revenue sources, strengthen alumni engagement, commercialise research and build strategic partnerships capable of sustaining quality higher education. Funmi Ogundare reports For two days, vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors and registrars from federal, state and private universities across the country, as well as financial experts and education strategists, recently converged on the Golf View Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, for the Commonwealth Institute Universities Leaders Conference. Themed ‘Funding and Revenue Generation for Universities’, the conference organised by the Commonwealth Institute had the objective of deliberating on sustainable funding strategies and innovation for higher institutions in Nigeria, as well as strengthening the university systems at a time when institutions face mounting financial pressures, regulatory demands, and global competition. Discussions at the conference also focused on international student recruitment, donor attraction, and alternative sources of income for universities, among other topics. In his remarks, a professor of Strategic Development and Director of the Commonwealth Institute, Anthony Kila, called on Nigerian universities to rethink their relationship with students and alumni as part of efforts to strengthen endowment funding and diversify revenue generation. He said that the era when universities depended solely on government allocations or tuition fees is no longer sustainable, noting that globally successful universities generate significant revenue from multiple streams beyond tuition. He explained that the conference was designed not to copy foreign institutions such as Harvard University and the University of Cambridge, but to identify solutions suited to Nigeria’s peculiar realities and opportunities. Kila expressed hope that participants would leave the conference with practical ideas to improve funding and educational standards in their institutions. On the role of alumni endowment funds, he stressed that universities must deliberately build stronger emotional connections with students if they hope to secure future donations from graduates. According to him, many alumni in Nigeria feel disconnected from their universities due to negative experiences during their studies. He noted that universities must go beyond academic teaching to nurture, encourage, and inspire students so they develop a sense of belonging and gratitude towards their institutions. “Students should feel that the university and lecturers contributed positively to their lives, so they will willingly support the institution in the future,” he added. The Chairman of the Nigeria Higher Education Foundation (NHEF), Wale Adeosun, urged Nigerian universities to reduce their overdependence on government funding and instead leverage alumni endowments, research grants and innovation commercialisation as sustainable sources of revenue. He identified tuition, alumni endowments, research grants and commercialisation of faculty innovations as the four major funding sources for universities globally. According to him, while tuition remains a traditional source of revenue, universities must increasingly focus on building strong alumni support systems and attracting research funding through grants written by faculty members. He also stressed the need for universities to commercialise ideas and innovations developed within their institutions, especially in biotechnology and technology-related fields, saying that such innovations could attract venture capital investments and generate substantial income. Adeosun noted that many Nigerian universities possess gold mines in the form of their alumni networks, adding that many young Nigerian graduates are already developing globally relevant solutions through coding and Artificial Intelligence (AI). “The alumni of universities should be the critical source of funding for schools, while government funding should only be supplementary,” he said. He called on universities to establish professional advancement offices dedicated to alumni engagement and fundraising, describing such offices as best practice in higher education management. According to him, advancement offices should operate year-round, maintaining strong relationships with alumni and encouraging them to continually support their alma mater. Adeosun, the Chief Executive Officer of Kuramo Capital Management, added that the responsibility for driving this cultural shift rests largely on vice-chancellors, whom he described as the chief fundraisers of their institutions. He emphasised that university leadership must prioritise providing students with high-quality experiences during their academic years so that successful graduates will willingly contribute to the development of future generations. “The culture of treating students as potential lifelong stakeholders must begin within the university system,” he added. A finance and management expert, Ayo Abina, called for the overhaul of Nigeria’s tertiary education funding structure, warning that the current system is unsustainable and incapable of delivering the quality education needed for national development. He argued that most public universities in Nigeria remain overly dependent on government allocations, unlike private institutions, which operate more efficiently by adopting cost-reflective financial models and paying closer attention to balance sheets. Abina stated that Nigerian universities can no longer continue charging what he described as unrealistically low tuition fees while expecting world-class educational outcomes. “The average tuition in many public tertiary institutions is between N50,000 and N100,000 annually, and in some state universities it is even lower. In some cases, students spend more on mobile phone data than on tuition,” he said. He stressed that while education should remain accessible, the country must confront the reality that quality education comes at a cost. He proposed a gradual review of tuition fees alongside the establishment of an effective student loan system that would enable students to access education without immediate financial hardship. He explained that rather than insisting on near-free education, the government should provide long-term education loans repayable after graduation and employment, similar to systems in developed countries. “If quality education costs between N1.5 million and N2 million yearly, then the government should provide structured loans for qualified students, repayable over time after graduation. What matters is creating economically viable and employable graduates,” he stated. The expert also expressed concern over the migration of highly trained professionals, especially medical doctors, who leave Nigeria shortly after benefiting from heavily subsidised education funded by taxpayers. “You train doctors with public funds at highly discounted rates, and after graduation, they relocate abroad for better opportunities. The country must begin to ask what the return on investment is,” he added. Abina further advocated the creation of lean, specialised universities rather than large, conventional institutions struggling to maintain numerous expensive faculties and teaching hospitals. According to him, agrarian communities, for instance, could focus on specialised agricultural institutions that drive innovation and productivity in their local economies. He also urged universities to develop self-sustaining ecosystems through commercial ventures, research partnerships and industry collaborations. Drawing comparisons with institutions in advanced economies, the expert lamented that Nigerian universities have failed to fully commercialise research and innovation despite housing some of the country’s brightest intellectuals. “Why should major innovations and research solutions come from consulting firms rather than universities filled with professors and researchers? Universities should become productive economic centres,” he stated. He cited global examples such as Silicon Valley’s relationship with Stanford University, noting that strong collaboration between industries and academic institutions has been central to technological advancement elsewhere. He called on banks, oil companies, insurance firms and fintech organisations to establish industry-funded faculties and research partnerships within Nigerian universities, especially in emerging sectors such as financial technology and digital payment systems. He also emphasised the importance of alumni endowments and legacy projects, urging institutions to structure donations to encourage wealthy alumni to invest meaningfully in their alma mater. Participants at the conference emphasised the importance of building stronger relationships with students, alumni and host communities to ensure long-term institutional support. Several speakers argued that students who are well taught, inspired and treated with dignity are more likely to remain connected to their alma mater and contribute financially in future. University leaders were encouraged to establish professional advancement offices, promote stakeholder engagement, leverage technology and Artificial Intelligence, and pursue collaborations with international institutions to improve standards, expand opportunities and achieve financial sustainability. In her submission, a Professor of Health Promotion and Education and Vice-Chancellor of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Oyedunni Arulogun, called on Nigerian universities to strengthen relationships with students, parents and host communities as part of efforts to diversify funding sources beyond government allocations. She said institutions must first change their mindset and recognise that government alone cannot adequately fund higher education. The VC stressed that students remain the most critical stakeholders of any university and should be treated with utmost care and respect. According to her, students who enjoy positive experiences during their academic journey are more likely to remain emotionally connected to their alma mater and contribute to its growth in future. Arulogun added that universities must also strengthen their relationship with parents and communities through meaningful engagement and corporate social responsibility initiatives. She explained that institutions that positively impact their host communities are more likely to receive support and goodwill in return. She maintained that with the right approach and stronger stakeholder relationships, universities can successfully attract alternative sources of funding and reduce overreliance on government support. The Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), His Royal Highness, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, described the event as timely, noting that funding challenges facing higher institutions in Nigeria require innovative and collaborative solutions. According to him, one of the major takeaways from the conference was the need for universities to deliberately cultivate their alumni networks, especially graduates who have excelled in their various professions and businesses. “Over the years, universities have produced people who have done very well for themselves in society and in their private lives. Calling on them to come and support their alma mater is very important,” he said. The monarch stressed that the government alone could no longer bear the financial burden of universities, adding that both public and private institutions must explore sustainable revenue streams to support development and academic advancement. He commended the Commonwealth Institute for organising the conference, saying it provided a platform for chancellors, vice-chancellors, pro-chancellors, and proprietors of private universities to exchange ideas and develop strategies to improve financial sustainability in higher education. He also emphasised the need for universities to prioritise students’ welfare and personal development. “For every student in our higher institutions, we need to make them feel comfortable and help them realise their self-worth so they can become useful to society in future,” he said. Speaking on his vision for LASU as its sixth chancellor, Oba Ogunsanwo said he would focus on promoting industrial harmony among academic and non-academic staff, while supporting balanced infrastructural development across the institution’s four campuses located in Ojo, Epe, Ikeja and Badagry. The Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Prof Jeremiah Ojediran, said that funding remains a major concern for private universities, particularly self-funded institutions. According to him, the conference provided university administrators with an opportunity to explore new strategies to attract funding and increase internally generated revenue. He revealed that the institution has intensified efforts to strengthen alumni engagement through its Advancement Centre, established about three years ago to reconnect former students with the university and encourage them to contribute to its development. “Bells University, which is about 20 years old, has begun compiling a comprehensive database of its alumni both in Nigeria and in the diaspora.” He noted that the institution now has alumni leadership structures at home and abroad aimed at fostering stronger relationships among graduates and mobilising support for the university. “We are trying to put together a database for our alumni. We succeeded in getting some in Nigeria and a few in the diaspora, so we now have presidents for both the local and diaspora alumni groups,” he said. Ojediran added that the university hopes the strengthened alumni network will encourage graduates to give back to the system and create opportunities for partnerships and development initiatives. The Vice-Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Prof. Joseph Ayodele, said that public universities, particularly state-owned institutions, could no longer depend entirely on government funding because of increasing competition for resources from other sectors of the economy. He said that universities must begin to look inward by mobilising resources within their environment, strengthening partnerships and developing innovative ways to generate additional income to support academic growth and infrastructural development. The VC stated that while universities in Nigeria may not necessarily be underfunded, many institutions are underfunded due to the rising costs of running modern academic programmes and maintaining quality standards. He explained that the expansion of universities and the increasing demand for technology-driven education require huge investments in facilities, equipment and state-of-the-art learning resources.
27 May 2026
Tinubu’s Appointment of 40-year-old Prof. Segun Aina as JAMB Registrar Receives Widespread Applauds
Ibrahim Aliu In what many stakeholders have described as another bold statement of confidence in young Nigerian excellence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Prof. Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), entrusting one of Nigeria’s most critical educational institutions to a 40-year-old scholar, technocrat, and examination systems expert. The appointment has generated widespread conversation across the education, policy, and technology sectors, not merely because of Prof. Aina’s age, but because of the depth of expertise, institutional experience, and reform credentials he brings to the role at a pivotal time for Nigeria’s education system. Announcing Aina’s appointment, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, noted that the appointment underscores the administration’s belief in merit-driven leadership and the importance of positioning forward-thinking professionals in strategic public offices. “President Tinubu remains committed to building institutions that are efficient, transparent, and future-ready,” Onanuga said. “Segun Aina’s appointment reflects the administration’s confidence in his exceptional academic background, technological expertise, and deep understanding of Nigeria’s examination ecosystem.” He added that the president believes national development requires “a deliberate blend of experience, innovation, and generational inclusion.” “This administration recognises that many young Nigerians are already demonstrating world-class competence across sectors. The president will continue to identify and empower capable professionals who can drive meaningful reforms and deliver measurable impact for the country,” Onanuga stated. The appointment further reinforces President Tinubu’s growing reputation for identifying and empowering younger technocrats and professionals with demonstrable records of achievement. In October 2023, the president appointed Mustapha Abdullahi, aged 40, as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. In 2024, Jennifer Adighije, aged 42, emerged as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, becoming the first woman to occupy the role. Zacch Adedeji, another prominent appointee widely credited for driving major tax reforms as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, also represents the administration’s push to bridge generational divides by placing younger, highly skilled Nigerians at the centre of governance. Political analysts say the emergence of Professor Aina as JAMB Registrar further reinforces the president’s belief that competence, innovation and delivery capacity must take precedence over traditional age expectations in governance. His credentials have already drawn attention within academic and policy circles. One of the youngest Professors of Computer Engineering in Nigeria, he holds a PhD in Digital Signal Processing and a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security from the prestigious Loughborough University, alongside a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from University of Kent. Currently a Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Aina has built a reputation as a scholar whose work extends beyond theory into practical institutional reform, digital systems development, and educational process integrity. Over the past 15 years, he has worked extensively within Nigeria’s examination ecosystem, collaborating with institutions including the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), the Osun State Examinations Board, and several State Universal Basic Education Boards and Ministries of Education across the country. Education stakeholders believe this experience positions him uniquely to address some of JAMB’s most pressing challenges, including examination security, digital transformation, result integrity, candidate accessibility, and operational efficiency. With millions of candidates sitting for JAMB examinations annually, the institution remains central to Nigeria’s higher education framework, making the role of registrar one of immense national significance. Beyond academia, Prof. Aina also brings governance and private-sector oversight experience into the role. He has served on the Governing Council of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, chaired the Advisory Board of Queensland Academy in Lagos, and held governance responsibilities within the United Kingdom’s educational framework as a Governor of Booth Wood Elementary School. He is also a Non-Executive Director overseeing diversified investments across education technology, agriculture, real estate, and technical education – experience analysts say could prove valuable in managing the operational and strategic complexities of JAMB. Industry experts believe his appointment comes at a time when Nigeria’s education sector increasingly requires technologically savvy leadership capable of modernizing legacy systems while restoring confidence among students, parents, and tertiary institutions. For many young Nigerians, the appointment also carries symbolic significance. With Nigeria’s median age estimated at approximately 18 years and a majority of the population under 40, the elevation of a 39-year-old Professor to lead one of the country’s most consequential education agencies is being interpreted as a message that excellence and preparedness can earn national responsibility irrespective of age. As reactions continue to trail the announcement, one sentiment appears increasingly shared across sectors: Professor Segun Aina’s emergence is not simply about youth representation, but about placing proven expertise, innovation, and institutional knowledge at the heart of Nigeria’s education reform journey. Aliu is a public affairs commentator based in Kaduna.
27 May 2026
LSUBEB Welfare Programme: Lagos Commits to Better Life for Workers, Retirees
Funmi Ogundare The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to the welfare of civil servants and retirees, assuring workers of prompt salaries, health and life insurance benefits aimed at improving their well-being during and after service. Director of Teachers’ Pension Department, Toyibat Olona, who disclosed this recently, at the annual septuagenarian welfare programme organised by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for retired workers, stated that it was designed to appreciate civil servants and encourage younger generations to join the public service. According to her, the state government remains intentional about taking care of its workforce, both serving and retired personnel. “The essence is to show civil servants that they should be happy to be part of Lagos State service because the government is very responsible and intentional about taking care of the workforce, whether in or out of service,” she said. Olona explained that several welfare initiatives have been put in place for workers, including group life insurance, health management services, and prompt salary payments. She noted that under the group life insurance scheme, beneficiaries of workers who die in active service are entitled to about 350 per cent of the deceased worker’s annual emoluments. She also emphasised the state’s healthcare support system through the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), noting that workers continue to benefit from health insurance coverage while in service. Speaking at the annual welfare gathering for retirees, the director said the event provides a way for former colleagues to reconnect and maintain social ties after retirement. According to her, the gathering has become an event that many retirees look forward to every year because it allows them to interact and share experiences outside the workplace. She advised workers and retirees to pay closer attention to their health and financial well-being, urging them to avoid living beyond their means. “They should take care of themselves and not go beyond their means. Health is very important,” she added. Speaking to THISDAY, a retiree and former Head Teacher of St. Peter’s School, Faaji, Lagos Island, Mr Samuel Awoleye stressed the need to restore discipline and respect in schools, saying these values played a major role in shaping successful pupils during his years in service. He expressed excitement about the recognition he received decades after serving as head teacher of St. Peter’s School, Faaji. The retired educationist described the honour as a reflection of the positive impact teachers can have on their pupils through dedication, discipline and moral upbringing. According to him, discipline, respect for parents and teachers, and commitment to learning were central to the educational system during his time in service. “When we talk of discipline, respect for parents and teachers, that was what made children develop the spirit of learning,” she said. The former head teacher recalled that during her years in the classroom, parents worked closely with teachers in correcting children whenever they misbehaved, adding that such collaboration contributed significantly to academic excellence and character formation. Comparing the educational system of the past with the present, he noted that although modern education has improved in several areas, there has been a noticeable shift in parental attitudes towards discipline. He, however, commended the government’s ongoing efforts to improve education, expressing optimism that education remains the pathway to national development. The retired teacher also praised the current curriculum and learning environment, particularly in public schools, saying pupils are now better exposed to communication and debating skills. “Government schools are performing impressively and, in some cases, better than private institutions. The value system is still there. Students are learning how to speak, read and express themselves confidently. Even government schools perform better than some private schools,” he added.
27 May 2026
JAMB sets date for 2026 UTME mop-up exam
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has fixed Saturday, 13th June, 2026 for the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME mop-up examination. The exercise is for all candidates who presented themselves and were biometrically verified for the 2026 UTME but were unable to sit the examination for one reason or another. The Board made this known in a statement by its spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, on Monday in Abuja. DAILY POST recalls that the 2026 UTME was conducted between 23rd and 29th April, 2026. Meanwhile, some centres were said to have experienced technical challenges which made it impossible for a number of candidates to sit the examination. Similarly, some results were subsequently withdrawn over examination infractions, while some candidates who presented themselves for the examination could not be verified biometrically. According to JAMB, all such candidates have been listed for the mop-up examination, stating that the mop-up examination represents the final phase of the annual UTME exercise. It added that the mop-up examination serves as an opportunity to address all outstanding examination challenges involving candidates who duly presented themselves but encountered difficulties in taking the examination. “Candidates in this category are advised to begin printing their Examination Notification Slips from Saturday, 6th June, 2026. “Affected candidates are hereby urged to print their Examination Notification Slips, familiarise themselves with their examination centres, and make all necessary arrangements ahead of the examination date, as there will be no further opportunity for any candidate to sit the 2026 UTME after this mop-up exercise,” the statement said. JAMB sets date for 2026 UTME mop-up exam
25 May 2026
RESTORATION OF CHARACTER IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM
Nigeria’s educational crisis did not begin in one generation, nor can it be healed by slogans, political speeches or the construction of a few magnificent buildings. The decay is moral, intellectual and institutional. Yet the nation once had leaders who understood that education was the foundation of civilization, social mobility and national dignity. Men like Obafemi Awolowo invested heavily in free education because they believed that ignorance was the greatest enemy of progress. His educational revolution in the Western Region produced teachers, lawyers, doctors, journalists and thinkers who transformed society. Later, Tai Solarin continued in the same path by emphasizing discipline, self-reliance and moral training. In the Eastern Region, Nnamdi Azikiwe championed nationalism, journalism and political consciousness, but the Igbo society historically leaned more toward commerce, apprenticeship and enterprise. Long before colonial rule, trade routes through the River Niger sustained powerful economic centres like Onitsha Main Market, one of Africa’s largest markets. Industry and entrepreneurship became part of the cultural identity of the people. Education therefore developed alongside business ambitions rather than through a fully state-driven welfare system. Today, however, Nigeria faces a painful contradiction. Degrees multiply while wisdom declines. Campuses that once produced intellectuals now struggle with cultism, examination malpractice, internet fraud and the glorification of sudden wealth. Some students pursue certificates merely to satisfy parents or display social status. Expensive vehicles parked in university compounds often symbolize a culture where wealth is admired more than knowledge. Primary and secondary schools increasingly train the mind while neglecting character. A nation that rewards shortcuts inevitably raises a generation impatient with process, discipline and sacrifice. The solution may lie in the philosophy of John Dewey, one of the world’s foremost advocates of modern education. Dewey believed that education was not merely preparation for life; education itself was life. According to him, schools must not only transmit information but also cultivate critical thinking, morality, responsibility and democratic values. Nigeria cannot restore its educational system through certificates alone. The country must rebuild the moral purpose of learning. Education should produce human beings who can think independently, respect labour, solve problems and contribute meaningfully to society. Moral instruction, civic responsibility, vocational skills and community service should become compulsory parts of the curriculum from primary school to university level. Parents, teachers, religious institutions and traditional leaders must collaborate with government ministries to rebuild discipline among teenagers facing the pressures of modern social trends, internet influence and materialistic culture. There are practical examples within Nigeria that prove reform is possible. Peter Obi, during his administration in Anambra State between 2006 and 2014, renovated school structures, returned mission schools, provided buses and donated computers to improve learning environments. His reforms demonstrated that leadership and accountability can revive public education. Presently, Chukwuma Charles Soludo has continued educational interventions through free education policies from nursery to senior secondary school level. Such efforts show that investment in education remains one of the surest paths toward social transformation. However, infrastructure alone will not save the system. As students all over the country dedicate themselves to external examinations as JAMB, WAEC, NECO, NABTEB; it would be paramount to go beyond fighting malpractices to transformation of the mind. Nigeria must stop celebrating overnight success and easy wealth. Academic achievements obtained without diligence should never become objects of national admiration. Human beings without morality lack the soul of diligent commitment to a purpose. Young people must be taught that genuine greatness grows through patience, consistency and honest labour. A society that crowns people before character is formed will eventually suffer disappointment. True education demands endurance. Tagging learning through schools as a “scam” would further abdicate the chances of growth and development in the society. Being angry with the society because of quest for ‘overnight success’ is falling from the initial beginning. Frustration often follows those who seek recognition without first developing their talents, skills and passions through years of hard work. Engaging with modern trends without self-discovery and awareness is the easiest route to destruction. Nations rise when they honour integrity, competence and discipline above noise, luxury and shortcuts. Until Nigeria restores the moral soul of education, classrooms may continue to produce graduates, but not necessarily responsible citizens. Obiotika Wilfred Toochukwu, Awka, Anambra State
25 May 2026
Kaduna NUT decries exempting college of education candidates from JAMB exams
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kaduna State chapter, has upheld the position of the National Executive Council of the union, urging the Ministry of Education and the Federal Government to retrace their steps on excluding candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from sitting for the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), in the interest of national development. The National Executive Council of the union has described as counterproductive the decision of the Federal Ministry of Education to exclude candidates seeking admission into the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) programme from sitting for the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Ibrahim Dalhatu and Adamu Ayuba Kaltungo, chairman and secretary of the union, in a joint statement, explained that the position of the union stems from the fact that exempting candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from writing the JAMB examination would adversely affect the quality of teacher education and consequently impact the standard of education in Nigeria. The NUT Kaduna State wing re-emphasized that teaching is a “highly intellectual and strategic profession,” and that the process of training teachers must remain vigorous and highly competitive. According to the statement, “Excluding candidates from taking the examination will imply that the profession is for academically weak candidates and ‘all comers’.” It observed that the teaching profession is already suffering from low esteem, and that exempting candidates would further reinforce the erroneous belief that teaching is a “last resort” profession, adding that it contradicts global best practices, as countries with high-performing education systems recruit their teachers from among the best and brightest students. It would further confirm the belief that teaching is an “all-comers” job rather than a profession for those genuinely passionate about teaching, stressing that it would weaken the ongoing efforts and reforms aimed at making teaching a respected profession by the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). The union posited that, rather than removing Colleges of Education candidates from JAMB requirements, the Federal Government should make concerted efforts to improve teachers’ welfare packages and remuneration to attract brilliant candidates to the profession. It added that the Federal Government should consider providing scholarships, bursaries, and special incentives for students studying education courses, while also providing special admission incentives without compromising standards. The union also called for the full implementation of the bill signed into law by the Muhammadu Buhari administration on April 9, 2022, stating that it would address the issue the Federal Government intends to tackle through exempting candidates seeking admission into Colleges of Education from writing the JAMB examination. Kaduna NUT decries exempting college of education candidates from JAMB exams
23 May 2026
ASUU Benin zone threatens industrial action over non-implementation of 2025 agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, under the Benin Zone has warned of imminent industrial action if the government continues to breach and disrespect the collective bargaining and binding agreements to which both parties are signatories. DAILY POST reports that the union issued the warning at a press conference on Thursday, May 21, 2026, in Benin City. The universities under the zone include the University of Benin, UNIBEN, Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Adekunle Ajasin University, AAUA,, Akungba, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, OAUS, Delta State University, DELSU, Abraka, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Effurun, University of Delta, UNIDEL, Agbor, Dennis Osadebay University, DOU, Asaba and Southern Delta University, SDU, Ozoro. Speaking at the briefing, Prof Monday Lewis Igbafen, the ASUU Zonal Coordinator, said in 2025, the Federal Government of Nigeria and ASUU had an agreement that was formally unveiled on January 14, 2026, by the Nigerian State. Igbafen opined that the unveiling marked what they believed would be the end of years of struggle to renegotiate the 2009 Agreement and secure lasting industrial harmony in the nation’s public universities. He alleged that the federal university administrators are, however, selectively and partially paying Consolidated Academic Allowances, EAA, and professorial allowances. He noted that the development violated the agreement, which directed that all allowances must be mainstreamed into the Consolidated University Academic Staff Salary as part of monthly salaries for professors. Igbafen also accused state governors of refusal to comply with the agreement, alleging that nearly five months after the Federal Government directed full implementation, many state governors who are visitors to state universities have refused to act. The coordinator of the Benin zone, particularly accused the governors of Edo, Delta and Ondo States who are under the zone of reneging on the agreement. According to him, we condemn the partial and non-implementation of the salary component of the 2025 FGN/ASUU agreement. This is a recipe for an industrial crisis in our universities. “We berate the Edo, Ondo, and Delta State governments for failing to implement the agreement five months after the Federal Government’s directive. We urge them to comply immediately or face industrial action on their campuses. “The government remains insensitive to outstanding issues, unpaid arrears of the 25-35 % salary award, promotion arrears, unremitted third-party deductions, salary shortfalls from IPPIS errors, and the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries from the 2022 strike”, he said. While commending the management of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, for the full implementation of the agreement, he however, lamented the non-implementation by the University of Benin, UNIBEN. The Zone also condemned plans to discontinue certain academic programmes in Nigerian universities, describing the move as risky and capable of weakening the country’s higher education system Igbafen posited that the attempts to scrap courses deemed “irrelevant” undermine the university’s autonomy and academic freedom and would be opposed. “The government unilaterally announced plans to scrap courses deemed” irrelevant”, a move that undermines universities’ autonomy and academic freedom and it would be rejected,” he added. Other concerns of the zone are the alleged policy inconsistencies in education, where the minister of education Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa announced the plan reversal of the mother-tongue policy in early childhood education, which undermines pedagogical evidence and national policy coherence. Igbafen, further condemned the federal government’s plan to establish a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the transnational education framework, which was made without consultation. He contended that it is an aberration for the government to establish a campus of a university in the United Kingdom in Nigeria when over 140 publicly-owned universities are underfunded. He appealed to all lovers of Nigeria to prevail on both federal and state governments to fully implement the agreement and resolve outstanding issues without further delay. The Benin zone of ASUU, however, warned that public universities face imminent paralysis if the government continues its old tactics of disrespecting collective bargaining and binding agreements. ASUU Benin zone threatens industrial action over non-implementation of 2025 agreement
22 May 2026
President Tinubu’s Appointment of 40-Year-Old Professor Segun Aina as JAMB Registrar Receives Widespread Applauds
In what many stakeholders have described as another bold statement of confidence in young Nigerian excellence, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), entrusting one of Nigeria’s most critical educational institutions to a 40-year-old scholar, technocrat, and examination systems expert. The appointment has generated widespread conversation across the education, policy, and technology sectors, not merely because of Professor Aina’s age, but because of the depth of expertise, institutional experience, and reform credentials he brings to the role at a pivotal time for Nigeria’s education system. Announcing Prof Aina’s appointment, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, noted that the appointment underscores the administration’s belief in merit-driven leadership and the importance of positioning forward-thinking professionals in strategic public offices. “President Tinubu remains committed to building institutions that are efficient, transparent, and future-ready,” Onanuga said. “Professor Segun Aina’s appointment reflects the administration’s confidence in his exceptional academic background, technological expertise, and deep understanding of Nigeria’s examination ecosystem.” He added that the President believes national development requires “a deliberate blend of experience, innovation, and generational inclusion.” “This administration recognises that many young Nigerians are already demonstrating world-class competence across sectors. The President will continue to identify and empower capable professionals who can drive meaningful reforms and deliver measurable impact for the country,” Onanuga stated. The appointment further reinforces President Tinubu’s growing reputation for identifying and empowering younger technocrats and professionals with demonstrable records of achievement. In October 2023, the President appointed Mustapha Abdullahi, aged 40, as Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria. In 2024, Jennifer Adighije, aged 42, emerged as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Power Holding Company, becoming the first woman to occupy the role. Zacch Adedeji, another prominent appointee widely credited for driving major tax reforms as Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, also represents the administration’s push to bridge generational divides by placing younger, highly skilled Nigerians at the centre of governance. Political analysts say the emergence of Professor Aina as JAMB Registrar further reinforces the President’s belief that competence, innovation, and delivery capacity must take precedence over traditional age expectations in governance. Professor Aina’s credentials have already drawn attention within academic and policy circles. One of the youngest Professors of Computer Engineering in Nigeria, he holds a PhD in Digital Signal Processing and a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security from the prestigious Loughborough University, alongside a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from University of Kent. Currently a Professor in the Department of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Aina has built a reputation as a scholar whose work extends beyond theory into practical institutional reform, digital systems development, and educational process integrity. Over the past 15 years, he has worked extensively within Nigeria’s examination ecosystem, collaborating with institutions including the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), the Osun State Examinations Board, and several State Universal Basic Education Boards and Ministries of Education across the country. Education stakeholders believe this experience positions him uniquely to address some of JAMB’s most pressing challenges, including examination security, digital transformation, result integrity, candidate accessibility, and operational efficiency. With millions of candidates sitting for JAMB examinations annually, the institution remains central to Nigeria’s higher education framework, making the role of Registrar one of immense national significance. In his first remarks following the announcement, Professor Aina described the appointment as “a call to national service and institutional transformation.” “I am deeply honoured by the confidence reposed in me by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Government,” he said. “JAMB occupies a strategic position in the future of Nigerian education, and I fully understand the weight of responsibility that comes with this office. My commitment is to strengthen institutional integrity, leverage technology for efficiency and transparency, and ensure that every Nigerian student experiences a system that is fair, credible, and future-facing.” He added that innovation and public trust would remain central pillars of his administration. “We must continue building an examination system that reflects global best practices while responding to the realities of Nigerian students and institutions. Technology, accountability, and human-centered leadership will guide our approach,” Prof. Aina stated. Beyond academia, Professor Aina also brings governance and private-sector oversight experience into the role. He has served on the Governing Council of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, chaired the Advisory Board of Queensland Academy in Lagos, and held governance responsibilities within the United Kingdom’s educational framework as a Governor of Booth Wood Elementary School. He is also a Non-Executive Director overseeing diversified investments across education technology, agriculture, real estate, and technical education — experience analysts say could prove valuable in managing the operational and strategic complexities of JAMB. Industry experts believe his appointment comes at a time when Nigeria’s education sector increasingly requires technologically savvy leadership capable of modernizing legacy systems while restoring confidence among students, parents, and tertiary institutions. For many young Nigerians, the appointment also carries symbolic significance. With Nigeria’s median age estimated at approximately 18 years and a majority of the population under 40, the elevation of a 39-year-old Professor to lead one of the country’s most consequential education agencies is being interpreted as a message that excellence and preparedness can earn national responsibility irrespective of age. As reactions continue to trail the announcement, one sentiment appears increasingly shared across sectors: Professor Segun Aina’s emergence is not simply about youth representation, but about placing proven expertise, innovation, and institutional knowledge at the heart of Nigeria’s education reform journey. President Tinubu’s Appointment of 40-Year-Old Professor Segun Aina as JAMB Registrar Receives Widespread Applauds
22 May 2026
Poor Leadership, Failing Education System Hindering Nigeria’s Progress, Says Expert
Funmi Ogundare Founder of the Nigerian Teachers Community, Dr. Peter Ogudoro, Wednesday, blamed poor leadership and the failure of Nigeria’s education system for the country’s slow pace of development despite its vast human and natural resources. Ogudoro made this known at the Geoffrey Nebo 20th anniversary and fifth memorial public lecture in Lagos titled, ‘Rethinking Nigerian Educational System: The Need for Paradigm Shift’. He emphasised Nigeria’s vast potential, saying that it is one of the most blessed nations in the world with fertile land, abundant mineral resources, and a resilient population capable of driving Africa’s economic transformation. According to him, Nigeria possesses the capacity to feed the African continent if the nation demonstrates the political will and commitment required to harness its resources effectively. He noted that projections placing Nigeria among the world’s most populous nations by 2050 should ordinarily be an advantage, but warned that the country’s rapidly growing population could become a liability if citizens are not empowered through quality education. “The challenge is not population growth itself, but the inability to empower the people through functional education and opportunities,” he said. Ogudoro stressed that Nigerian youths still possess a strong desire for higher education unlike what obtains in some western countries where many young people are losing interest in university education. He recalled his academic experience in the United Kingdom, saying that while institutions abroad struggle to encourage students to enrol in universities, Nigerian youths actively seek admission opportunities. “In Nigeria, young people want to go to school. If they do not get admission, many become depressed because they genuinely desire education,” he stated. He, however, lamented that the country’s education system has failed to provide the quality and accessibility needed to translate such enthusiasm into national productivity. Ogudoro, who is also the Managing Consultant at Ogudoro Leadership Trainers, also criticised what he described as excessive dependence on charity instead of sustainable empowerment programmes. He urged leaders and philanthropists to focus on creating systems that empower citizens economically rather than temporary handouts. He further described electricity supply as a critical indicator of Nigeria’s underdevelopment, comparing Nigeria’s poor power generation with South Africa’s electricity capacity despite the latter having a significantly smaller population. According to him, “Inadequate power supply has continued to cripple businesses, healthcare delivery and industrial growth across the country.” Ogudoro maintained that Nigeria’s biggest challenge remains leadership failure, particularly within the political class. He cited the transformation of Lagos State under former Governor Babatunde Fashola as evidence that effective leadership can rapidly change society. Recalling developments in Lagos during his administration, Ogudoro said strategic investments in infrastructure, security and urban renewal significantly improved public safety and economic activities within a short period. “One good leader can transform society. Political leadership has failed Nigeria for many years,” he stated. He criticised Nigeria’s political leaders for sending their children abroad for education while neglecting local institutions attended by the masses. According to him, “Leaders would feel greater pressure to improve the country’s education system if their children attended the same public schools and universities as ordinary Nigerians.” He therefore advocated policies rooted in equity, fairness and justice, insisting that quality education should not be reserved for the privileged few. Ogudoro urged stakeholders across government, education and civil society to work collaboratively towards building a functional educational system capable of producing innovative and solution-driven citizens for national development. In his remarks, the chairman of.tbe occasion, Elder Okoroji Onoh, expressed concern about the rising number of out-of-school children in Nigeria and called for urgent reform increased investment in education to address the crisis. He lamented that about 18.3 million Nigerian children are currently out of school, with over 66 per cent of them located in northern Nigeria, most of whom are girls. According to him, the alarming statistics highlight a major disconnect between government efforts, educational policies and the realities on ground across the country. Onoh, who is the Chairman of The Brains Premier School, Lagos, stressed the need for stakeholders to critically examine the direction of the nation’s education sector and chart a sustainable path for the future. “There is a disconnect between all the efforts educational experts and government are making and what we are seeing on ground,” he said. He also raised concerns over funding for education, questioning whether Nigeria was doing enough in budgetary allocations to universities, polytechnics, unity colleges and other educational institutions. “The country must begin to reassess its priorities if it hopes to build a competitive and inclusive education system capable of driving national development,” Onoh said. Earlier in her remarks, the Founder of Nebo Foundation, Mrs. Mary Lotachukwu Ohagwasi, called for an urgent transformation of Nigeria’s educational system, stressing the need for innovative and forward-thinking reforms to prepare young people for future opportunities. She said the theme of the event was aimed at encouraging policymakers, educators, parents, students, and other stakeholders to reflect on the current state of education and embrace meaningful reforms. According to her, Nigeria’s progress depends largely on the quality of its educational system, noting that the country faces several challenges that require urgent and innovative solutions. “It is with this belief that we must rethink and reshape our educational system to serve as a catalyst for positive change in Nigeria,” she said. Ohagwasi described the memorial lecture as a platform designed to ignite fresh perspectives, challenge outdated educational models, and inspire practical strategies capable of repositioning Nigeria’s education sector for excellence, inclusivity and relevance. Quoting former South African President Nelson Mandela, she said: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world,” adding that education remains central to national development and social transformation. The founder urged stakeholders to ensure that educational practices in the country remain equitable, relevant and responsive to the demands of a rapidly changing world. She stressed the importance of positioning Nigerian youths for emerging opportunities by equipping them with the right knowledge, skills and values needed to thrive in the future. In his remarks, the guest lecturer and Professor of Curriculum Studies and Physics Education, University of Lagos, Adeniyi Adeyemi, who emphasised the theme, stressed the need for reforms that would make education more functional and impactful. He expressed concern that unemployment remains one of the major challenges confronting the country, adding that improving the welfare of teachers would significantly enhance the quality of education. “If teachers are well paid, things will go well,” he said. He further explained that education should go beyond academic learning and certificates, noting that it must positively shape individuals from within and influence their contribution to society. “Education needs to help you from inside to your outside. To be happy for a lifetime, you need to educate someone,” he stated. The don, however, acknowledged the continued importance of certificates in achieving functional education and societal relevance and urged Nigerians, particularly young people, to develop a positive mindset towards themselves and the country. “Changing perceptions about Nigeria is critical to national development,” Adeyemi stated.
21 May 2026
ASUU threatens action over delay in implementation of 2026 agreement
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned the Federal Government to brace for severe actions over its alleged failure to adhere to agreements reached in 2026, including the failure to establish the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) as agreed. ASUU said the enthusiasm generated by the unveiling of the agreement on January 14, 2026, is gradually diminishing and may soon disappear if the government fails to honour its commitment to fully implement the agreement. Speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of the Union, Kano Zone, Professor Abdulkadir Muhammad, on Wednesday said, “Our concern arises from the government’s inability to constitute the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC), which was expected to protect the Agreement from bureaucratic delays and inertia and ensure its effective implementation.” He said that up to this point, Federal Government officials have implemented the agreement in a fragmented and poorly coordinated manner, while only a few state governments have adopted and enforced it. Administrators of federal universities have selectively implemented aspects of the Consolidated Academic Tool Allowances (CATA), Earned Academic Allowances (EAA), and Professorial Allowances (PA), despite the fact that all these components were meant to be integrated into the Consolidated University Academic Salary Scale (CONUASS) as part of the monthly remuneration package for academics. Professor Muhammad similarly hinted that some state governors, who are visitors to state universities, have disregarded the agreement despite the active participation of representatives of their governing councils and universities during the renegotiation process. “While appreciating the efforts of some state universities that have taken the lead in implementation, Kano Zone strongly condemns the partial or outright refusal to implement the salary component of the 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement by a number of vice-chancellors of public universities,” he said. ASUU explained that the zone therefore calls on both Federal and State Governments to respect the agreement in order to sustain industrial peace and harmony within Nigerian universities. ASUU remains committed to ensuring that all its members fully benefit from the modest achievements secured through the eight-year negotiation process spanning 2017 to 2025. According to him, “The consequences of failing to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) are also evident in the flawed implementation of another major provision of the December 2025 Agreement, which is the proposed National Research Council (NRC).” ASUU also expressed concern that on Wednesday, April 7, 2026, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, announced that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had finalised plans to establish a National Research and Innovation Development Fund (NRIDF), a proposal in which ASUU had no involvement whatsoever. Prof Muhammad stated: “The Union is alarmingly surprised that the Minister made reference to a funding figure of $500 million without acknowledging the provisions of the FGN-ASUU research, innovation, and development. “Although the union does not oppose contributions from critical stakeholders toward developing the legal and policy framework of the fund, it urges the Federal Government to adhere strictly to the carefully designed objectives outlined in the new FGN-ASUU agreement. “The Union will strongly oppose any attempt by external interests and their local collaborators to undermine or divert the nation’s research and development agenda.” ASUU threatens action over delay in implementation of 2026 agreement
20 May 2026
Venite University to Expedite Take-off of Law College
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti As part of efforts to ensure the seamless commencement of academic activities at its proposed Law College, Venite University has intensified engagements with key stakeholders in Nigeria’s legal education sector through a strategic visit to the Nigerian Law School. The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Charity Aremu, led officials of the university’s Abuja Liaison Office on a courtesy visit to the headquarters of the Nigerian Law School in Abuja, where discussions centred on the successful establishment and smooth take-off of Venite Law College. The delegation was received by the Director General of the Nigerian Law School, Olugbemisola Titilayomi Odusote, alongside the Secretary to the Council of Legal Education and Director of Administration, Aderonke Olufemi Osho, as well as the Law School Librarian, Olayinka Akinwumi. During the meeting, the Nigerian Law School management offered advisory support and encouragement to the university as it prepares to launch the Law College, stressing the importance of maintaining high standards, professionalism and integrity in legal education. In a symbolic gesture of support, Akinwumi donated a book to the proposed Law College and assured the institution of continuous guidance towards achieving excellence in legal training. Professor Aremu reaffirmed the commitment of Venite University to producing globally competitive legal professionals through quality academic training and institutional excellence. The visit is seen as another major step in the university’s ongoing expansion drive and preparations for the commencement of its Law College programme. https://meet.google.com/call?authuser=1&hl=en&mc=KAIwAZoBFDoScGludG9fcnZsZ2Zib2d5b2w2ogE7GgIQADICUAA6AhABSgQIARABWgIIAGoCCAFyAggBegIIAogBAZIBAhABmgEEGAEgAKIBAhAA4gECCACyAQcYAyAAKgExwgECIAHYAQE&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmail.google.com&iilm=1779231779587 Page
20 May 2026
Cambridge, Alsama Partner to Expand University Access for Refugees, Displaced Youths
Omolabake Fasogbon Cambridge University Press and Assessment, and Alsama Project, have signed an agreement to develop and expand a new qualification aimed at helping refugees and displaced youths gain access to universities, vocational training and employment in Nigeria and across the world. The agreement, signed during the Education World Forum, in the presence of representatives of UNESCO and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, will support the rollout of the G12++ qualification, an alternative secondary school-leaver credential designed for young people whose education has been disrupted by conflict and displacement. Nigeria hosts about 3.6 million forcibly displaced persons, while globally, there are about 117.3 million displaced people, including 49 million children. The partners noted that only nine per cent of refugees worldwide have access to higher education compared to the global average of 42 per cent. The G12++ qualification was created by Alsama Project, an NGO operating in the Shatila refugee camp in Beirut, Lebanon, to provide displaced youths with recognised proof of learning outside formal school systems. Managing Director, Partnership for Education at Cambridge, Jane Mann, said that the initiative would help displaced youths to regain access to education and employment opportunities. “When young people are forced to leave school and flee, it’s not only their past they leave behind, but their future too. Working with Alsama Project, we will help them take back their futures through a new global qualification that will open pathways to universities, vocational programmes and employment.” Mann added that displaced youths in Nigeria and across the world need educational models that reflect their realities, noting that the world also needs their talents. The first G12++ examination was conducted in February 2026 in the Shatila Refugee Camp, with many students earning the qualification after completing the programme. Under the partnership, both organisations will further develop the qualification, expand delivery through NGO partners globally, build recognition among universities and employers, engage governments and international bodies, and seek funding support for wider implementation. Co-founder and CEO of Alsama Project, Meike Ziervogel, described the partnership as a major step for displaced youths whose education outside formal systems is often unrecognised. According to her, “the barrier has never been ability. What has been missing is recognition. The G12++ exists to change that.” A Syrian refugee student, Wissal Al-Jaber, said the qualification would help her to pursue her ambition of studying psychology. “I have not had the opportunity to complete a full education, but I deserve the same future opportunities as those who have. The G12++ gives me that,” she said. Professor Bhaskar Vira of the University of Cambridge said the initiative demonstrated that quality assessment for displaced learners is achievable globally. He described the G12++ as “a unique, transformative opportunity for refugee youths, universities and the global education community alike.”
20 May 2026
Taraba NUT rejects waiver of JAMB requirement for colleges of education admissions
The Taraba State wing of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has rejected the Federal Ministry of Education’s decision to waive the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requirements for admission into colleges of education. The state chairman of the union, Nathan Solomon, disclosed the union’s position while addressing journalists on Monday in Jalingo. According to Solomon, the resolution was reached during the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the Nigeria Union of Teachers held in Abuja, where members strongly condemned the policy. He stated that the union was not consulted before the decision was announced and called for its immediate reversal. Solomon argued that many countries across the world place a high value on teachers by providing incentives and special attention to the profession, warning that the policy could further weaken the education sector in Nigeria. “The decision will negatively affect the standard and dignity of the teaching profession,” he said. The NUT chairman also urged stakeholders in the education sector to reconsider the policy in the interest of national development. He further called on JAMB to take the necessary steps to safeguard the quality of education in the country. Taraba NUT rejects waiver of JAMB requirement for colleges of education admissions
18 May 2026
2026 UTME: JAMB opens portal for change of institution, course
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has announced the commencement of the process for candidates seeking to modify their choice of institution or programme following the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME. In a statement released by the Board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, JAMB confirmed that the portal for correction of data has been officially activated for eligible candidates. According to the statement, “Candidates wishing to change their institution or programme of choice may now proceed to do so by visiting any of the Board’s approved CBT centres.” The examination body advised candidates across the country to complete the changes only at accredited Computer-Based Test, CBT, centres to ensure proper processing and avoid errors. JAMB also disclosed that the printing of original result slips for the 2026 UTME will commence on Monday, May 18, 2026. “Furthermore, the printing of the original 2026 UTME result slip will commence on Monday, 18th May, 2026,” the statement added. 2026 UTME: JAMB opens portal for change of institution, course
15 May 2026
PRESIDENT Tinubu’S Economic Voyage And Taiwo Oyedele’S Midas Touch
By Matthew Maxwell WHEN in 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu assumed office, he came in sailing on stormy waters, tempest tossed. First, he contended with a very turbulent economy, on a paradoxically dry treasury that had been desertified by subsidies and siphoned wealth. This arbitraged benefits for a few while bringing hardship for many through multiple exchange rates. Inflation was digging deep convulsive holes into the purchasing power of the common man and eroding investors’ confidence. The choices before President Tinubu were few but direct: stabilize, restructure, and grow. Unfortunately, as a politician, he understood that all politicians want to win elections. Therefore, the people must be able to interpret the pains they feel as a temporary sacrifice for a greater purpose. This was the takeoff point of the voyage. It is not a mere slogan; it is an intentional and deliberate, well-calculated paradigm shift from a consumption-driven, rent-seeking economy to an investment and production-driven economy. At the onset, the vehicle had a tough and rough start, with the removal of fuel subsidy, the FX unification, and the tax reforms. Each step drew excruciating pains and very loud noise. However, the target was clear: eliminate all distortions and make Nigeria investor-friendly. Today, the story has turned into testimonies. The voyage has set sail and is bringing in results, especially with the coming in of Mr. Taiwo Oyedele and his Midas touch. There is macro stability as the FX market is unified. The multiple-rate circus is gone, and investors can now price risk without guessing which rate applies. As for inflation, the month-on-month figures reveal that supply chains are adjusting and monetary policy is biting. Though still high, the direction is right. This is because external reserves are stabilizing as oil production edges up and non-oil exports receive policy support. On fiscal discipline, while subsidy removal freed up fiscal space, that money is now in the budget for capital projects such as education, health, and targeted transfers, while also bringing revenue collection up. Unarguably, the tax reforms and digitalization are closing leaks that existed for decades. This is making debt servicing as a share of revenue trend downwards because revenue is growing faster than debt. The signals from the real sector also reveal appreciably positive momentum. Local contractors are getting back on site in several states because payment cycles are shortening. Meanwhile, the agriculture and manufacturing sectors are getting targeted FX allocations and input support. The stock market is improving with renewed foreign interest as policy clarity improves. These certainly are not miracles. They represent the outcome of unpleasant but necessary work done in clearing arrears, fixing processes, and sticking to a plan even when it seemed unpopular. Indeed, it is abundantly clear that the appointment of Mr. Taiwo Oyedele as the Minister of Finance was not politically driven, but competence-driven. His Midas touch has brought solutions to challenges that had hitherto defied all forms of solutions. First, Mr. Oyedele inherited a situation where contractors were owed for up to 18 months of stalled payments, with no clear timeline. There was an opaque verification process where ghost contracts mixed with real ones. The Ministry’s management team was working in silos, at variance with each other, without coordination or synergy. Painfully too, patriotic contractors desirous of completing their jobs had to borrow at 25% interest rates, only for their money not to be paid even after completion. Given that local contractors can best be described as canaries in the local mine, stalling their payments for that long was a clear invitation to chaos. This was why projects all over the country collapsed, thousands of citizens whose livelihoods depended on jobs from the contractors were laid off, banks had to cut credits, leading to cash flow destruction and a vicious cycle that contracted the economy. A man determined to change the status quo and make a difference, Mr. Oyedele altered the narrative from the usual “we’re working on it” to a clear, precise payment schedule, which he instinctively tied to budget releases. He proceeded to also give details of the verification process so as to put paid to the problem of ghost contracts. To put action where his words were, he proved commitment by releasing monthly payment updates. Mr. Oyedele is not alone, but he fits the mold. He has the capacity, competence, and capability to sit with IMF technocrats as well as local wielders of influence in the nation’s capital without losing credibility in either place. Mr. Oyedele’s Midas touch was strengthened by the fact that he is no longer working with competing fiefdoms but with clear responsibilities and work specifications. Finance is to manage cash, debt, and entrench budget discipline, while trade and industry push non-oil exports and industrial policies. The Central Bank is to focus on coordinating monetary policy, fostering a predictable and efficient, result-oriented fiscal direction. To achieve its mandate, each of the different ministries was expected to deliberately provide to the citizens tangible, verifiable infrastructure, tested against the capital allocation released to each of them. Mr. Oyedele brought with himself a rare blend of technical depth, private sector fluency, and an astute mind with sagacious political discipline. A man who does not theorize, Mr. Oyedele prefers talking in cash flows, timelines, and deliverables. This certainly was the imperative of the context of his interface with the local contractors on the 4th of May, 2026. The 4-Part Reform Framework agreed upon with the All Indigenous Contractors Association of Nigeria is the demonstration of a man who met a challenge and is deliberate about solving it. His multifaceted approach, which includes structured reconciliation with monthly updates, claims verification before scheduling, and a robust joint institutional effort that has tied payment schedules to budget releases, has effectively reduced cash flow stress and restored confidence and trust. The verification-first process is intended to separate legitimate obligations from inflated or varied contracts, focusing spending on capital expenditure claims, delayed payments, and contract variations. While the structured settlement did not make room for lump-sum blowouts, it based payments on fiscal reality. The institutional coordination brought together all the principal officers, aligning thoughts and expenses and eliminating cross-purposes. To further build trust, Mr. Oyedele pledged a ‘clear and sustainable payment structure, scaling liability and ensuring that the budget lines are supported by current allocations.’ On the sidelines of this brilliant, pragmatic dispute resolution strategy is the first superlative official engagement of Mr. President and the Finance Minister in France. The meeting, which brought together top investors at President Tinubu’s France engagement, revealed global confidence in Nigeria’s economy and a rapidly increasing trust in the nation’s direction. Indeed, President Tinubu and his counterpart from France, President Emmanuel Macron, met in a strategic ongoing effort to market the country as an investment destination. The meeting with representatives of reputable global institutions such as Citibank, Amundi, PGIM and Ninety One — high-net-worth institutions with Assets Under Management (AUM) running into trillions of dollars across the world, including Blue Crest, Kirkoswald, Principal, Finisterre and Mesarete Capital — represents the world’s multinational institutions with highly established global ratings. This resonates as a major vote of confidence in the effective handling of Nigeria’s economy by the President Tinubu administration. It is not contradictory to agree that no institution of the calibre of those at the meeting will waste their time if there was nothing at stake. With discussions largely centred on securing investments for Nigeria to accelerate its quest for a $1 trillion economy by 2030, detractors can now be convinced that the Midas touch of Mr. Taiwo Oyedele is working in lifting citizens from poverty to prosperity in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President. There is no doubt that Taiwo Oyedele is a superlative addition to the administration. His recent interface with local contractors was heart-touching. He delivered a heart-touching speech that reinforced confidence in the government. The recent economic voyage has returned results showing that Mr. President and the economy team are indeed meeting with the best of the best, and doing their best in moving Nigeria and Nigerians from poverty to prosperity. Maxwell writes from the National Assembly.
14 May 2026
Education Consultant Urges Youths to Embrace AI Literacy
Oluchi Chibuzor As AI continuously disrupts modern education, Nigerian youths have been urged to embrace new technical skills to align with modern technological innovation. Speaking at its second career fair, the MD of Fastrack Academy, Dr Oladapo Akinloye, an educational consultant, said that Nigerian youths must embrace AI skills quickly, as it will displace repetitive jobs while creating new roles. “How can we improve productivity? Because the operating environment, what’s called capital, is not enough. So everybody’s looking at how we can do more with less of what is available. So artificial intelligence is coming into that space to remove all those repetitive jobs. “That is why we organised this. Nigerian education must position our youths for the opportunities. There will be new jobs created by the displaced ones. There will be new opportunities,” Akinloye stated. The COO, Praxis MCE, Oghara Adebusuyi, said that Nigerian youths need to upskill to remain relevant in society. “So the youths need to equip themselves with new skills, upgrade themselves with new skills, so that they can be relevant in whatever profession they find themselves in. Otherwise, the education they get in the school will not be sufficient for them to compete favourably and add value in this current world,” she said.
13 May 2026
Purpose-led Branding: Aligning Brand Values with Stakeholder Expectations
Edafe Onoriode Before now, brands were largely defined by self-expression rather than demonstrable actions. While brand purpose lived in advertising campaigns, corporate reports, and leadership statements that were assumed to be accepted at face value, communication itself was treated as a one-directional exercise rather than something to be amplified across the board. Today, stakeholders are more discerning than ever, and this underscores the modern-day branding challenge. As expectations rise across consumers, employees, and investors, a purely transactional model is no longer sustainable as effective branding now requires organisations to align their core values with stakeholder expectations to earn trust, loyalty, and sustained competitive advantage. Many organisations, however, fail to operationalise this; they produce compelling mission statements that remain detached from decision-making, or adopt causes that lack relevance to their business model and weakens brand equity. Purpose-led branding requires embedding organisational values into tangible systems, product design, operations, culture, and communication for stakeholders to experience those values directly. This extends beyond corporate social responsibility or campaign messaging. It is the articulation of why an organisation exists beyond profit, what impact it contributes to this world and the disciplined execution of that purpose across all interactions. A locally relevant example of purpose translated into business operations is seen in a financial institution that positions itself around financial empowerment by extending beyond traditional banking services into platforms that enable economic participation. Through curated lifestyle initiatives, they create commercial pathways for entrepreneurs who might otherwise lack visibility or access. These are not peripheral brand activations; they are functional extensions of the bank’s purpose. The result is a multi-layered stakeholder experience where purpose is not abstract but lived. A persistent failure in branding, however, is reliance on generic messaging. Statements such as ‘we are sustainable’ or ‘we value diversity’, lack credibility without evidence. Effective purpose-led messaging is specific, measurable, and often involves visible trade-offs. This can include switching to higher-cost sustainable materials and disclosing margin impact, linking executive compensation to employee metrics, increasing local sourcing with transparent benchmarks, or publishing diversity data tied to procurement and hiring. The common denominator is verifiability. Stakeholders respond to decisions, not declarations. One of the most common breakdowns is purpose-washing. This often stems not from intent but from a gap between communication and demonstration. A petroleum company, for example, may communicate a strong commitment to energy transition, yet stakeholder perception is shaped by its continued investment in traditional operations. The issue is not a lack of messaging, but misalignment between narrative and observable behaviour over time. Embedding purpose requires organisational introspection before external articulation. For us, narrative and messaging development is approached as a structured communications system rather than a content exercise. The process begins with understanding the actual identity of the organisation. This involves gathering perspectives across leadership, management, and frontline teams to understand what the organisation truly prioritises, not what it claims to prioritise. Secondly, internal friction must be mapped as departments frequently operate with conflicting priorities, revenue versus compliance, innovation versus efficiency. These tensions reveal where purpose is either unsupported or structurally incompatible with current operations. Thirdly, a consistent underlying conviction must be identified. This is the principle that persists across functions and hierarchies; it forms the only credible foundation for purpose-led positioning. Fourthly, stakeholders and their expectations must be identified and tested against this internal reality. Where gaps exist, organisations must decide whether to evolve their operations or reposition their messaging as each group requires a different expression of the same underlying narrative. Finally, structural alignment is required. Hiring practices, incentives, supply chains, and capital allocation must reflect the stated purpose. Without these changes, messaging remains performative. Only after these steps can credible communication be developed, grounded in specific actions, trade-offs, and outcomes unique to the organisation. The role of narrative strategy is not to produce separate stories, but to ensure that each expression reinforces the same underlying meaning without distortion as it moves across channels. Purpose-led branding only delivers value when it is consistently translated into communication and behaviour across all stakeholder interaction points. Without that consistency, even well-constructed messaging loses coherence over time and begins to fragment under interpretation. In commoditised markets, where product differentiation is limited, purpose becomes a primary driver of choice, for customers, employees, and investors. It influences not only perception, but behaviour: purchase decisions, retention, advocacy, and long-term commitment. More importantly, it builds resilience. Organisations with a credible purpose are better positioned to withstand scrutiny, recover from failure, and maintain stakeholder trust over time. This is not a temporary shift in communications strategy; it reflects a structural change in how value is assessed. Purpose-led branding, therefore, is not about amplification. It is about alignment, between what an organisation says, what it does, and what stakeholders experience consistently over time. Onoriode is Director, Business Transformation and Strategy, SKOT Communications
13 May 2026
Ekiti School Gets Modern Science Laboratory Donation
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti Iroko Comprehensive High School, Iroko-Ekiti, has received a major educational boost following the donation and inauguration of a modern science laboratory complex designed to boost science education and practical learning among students. The facility, fully funded and donated by a native of Iroko-Ekiti and a Medical Doctor, Opeyemi Abe, was unveiled amid commendations from government officials, traditional rulers, education stakeholders and members of the community, who described it as a significant intervention in public education. The solar-powered laboratory complex comprises two standard laboratory halls, two teachers’ offices, a store room, wash room and four modern toilet facilities for students and staff. Designed to support practical teaching in Biology, Chemistry and Physics, the facility is expected to improve hands-on scientific learning and raise academic standards in the 10-year-old school. In his remarks, Abe stated that the project was inspired by his commitment to educational advancement and youth development. “Education remains one of the greatest investments anyone can make in society. It is the foundation upon which communities grow, nations develop and futures are secured,” he said. He explained that the project was aimed at ensuring that students gain practical scientific exposure. Abe advised the students to maximise the opportunity provided by the new facility. “Within this school may emerge future doctors, engineers, scientists, inventors and national leaders. Never underestimate what you can become through education and determination,” he said. Lawmaker representing Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II, Hon. Biodun Omoleye, described the donation as a timely intervention. “For a school like this not to have a befitting science laboratory means the school was not complete. Now, the school has become a complete school with this equipment centre,” he said. He described the project as a remarkable gesture by an individual to complement government efforts. Dr. Abe deserves to be commended even nationally for this uncommon act of generosity,” he said. He urged teachers and school authorities to maintain the facility properly. “This is another facility that will improve the quality of teaching and elevate the exposure level of students,” he stated. The lawmaker also announced plans for additional support to the school. “I am also donating an ultra-modern library for them, which will be well equipped, alongside solar lights to ensure the safety and security of the school environment.” Representing the Commissioner for Education, Dr.(Mrs) Olabimpe Aderiye, the TESCOM Chairperson, Mrs. Rhoda Ojo, lauded the initiative and described it as an example of community-driven development. “We are grateful because the people of Iroko love education and they love development. We want other communities to emulate what is happening here by giving back to society,” she said. The Oluroye of Iroko, Oba Sunday Ekundayo, commended Abe for his commitment to the development of education in the community. He also appealed to the state government to complement the gesture by providing additional infrastructure for the school. “Such support will encourage our indigenes to do even more for the development of education in this community,” he stated. The traditional ruler commended other indigenes contributing to the growth of the school and the community. The monarch also advised students and parents to prioritise education. “Our students must take their studies seriously, and parents must continue to support and encourage their children because education remains the surest path to a better future,” he said.
13 May 2026
UI VC Calls for Stronger Collaboration, Conflict Management Among Trade Unions
Funmi Ogundare The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, has called for strengthened conflict management mechanisms and deeper collaborative governance among trade unions, stressing that institutional stability and academic excellence depend on constructive labour relations. Adebowale made the call, yesterday , at a workshop themed ‘Strengthening Conflict Management and Collaborative Governance among Trade Unions’, held at the University of Ibadan. Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Peter Olapegba, he noted that while universities are naturally characterised by diverse intellectual and professional interests that may give rise to disagreements, what defines a progressive institution is not the absence of conflict but the ability to manage differences constructively and respectfully. “The University of Ibadan, as Nigeria’s premier university, has a long-standing tradition of excellence and resilience. Preserving this legacy requires strong partnerships among management, staff unions, and all stakeholders,” he said. The VC who declared the workshop opened, emphasised that collaborative governance is central to sustaining academic productivity and institutional development, describing it as not optional, but essential. He emphasised on the role of trade unions in university administration, noting that unions such as NASU, SANU, NAAT, and ASUU contribute significantly through advocacy, dialogue, staff welfare support, and institutional accountability. According to him, effective collaboration requires trust, transparency, empathy, and a shared commitment to the broader interests of the university community. Adebowale also observed that global trends in higher education increasingly favour dialogue-driven labour relations over adversarial approaches, warning that confrontational models often undermine institutional growth. “This workshop comes at a very appropriate time. We must continue to strengthen communication, consultation, negotiation, and early conflict resolution mechanisms,” he added. He expressed confidence that the engagement would provide a platform for frank discussions and practical strategies aimed at improving labour-management relations within the university system. He urged participants to engage openly, respect differing views, and work collectively towards advancing peace, mutual understanding, and institutional progress. He further reminded stakeholders that all parties share a common responsibility for the continued growth and global reputation of the university Adebowale also commended the organisers and facilitators for convening the workshop, expressing hope that its outcomes would deepen cooperation, reduce tensions, and foster a more inclusive governance culture within the institution. In his remarks, the Director of the Career Development and Counselling Centre of the university, Prof. David Oluwole, called for strengthened conflict management and improved collaboration among trade unions, as the institution intensifies efforts to promote peace, dialogue, and institutional stability. He stressed that effective governance within the university system depends on constructive engagement, mutual respect, and responsible communication among stakeholders. He noted that trade unions remain a critical part of the university structure, contributing to staff welfare, accountability, and institutional development, but emphasised that their effectiveness is enhanced when disagreements are managed constructively. “Conflict is a natural part of human interaction in any environment where people work together. However, what matters most is not its existence, but how it is managed and transformed into opportunities for dialogue, growth, and stronger collaboration,” he said. According to him, the workshop was designed to equip union leaders with practical skills in negotiation, emotional intelligence, problem-solving, trust-building, and effective communication to foster harmony across the university system. The training brought together leaders and members of key university unions, including the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU), Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Oluwole commended the vice-chancellor, for supporting initiatives that promote dialogue and peaceful coexistence within the institution. He also urged participants to apply the knowledge gained beyond the workshop, particularly in meetings, negotiations, and daily interactions. He further explained that collaborative governance does not eliminate disagreement but encourages respectful engagement, active listening, and fair negotiation in the collective interest of the university community. “Let me emphasise that collaborative governance does not mean the absence of disagreement. Rather, it means the ability to engage one another respectfully and work together in the best interest of the University,” he added. Oluwole expressed optimism that the workshop would strengthen a culture of peace, accountability, and cooperation within the University of Ibadan, urging participants to fully engage in the sessions and contribute meaningfully to discussions.
13 May 2026
SKOT Impact Academy to Train 200 Communications Professionals Free in 2026
Funmi Ogundare SKOT Communications has announced plans to train more than 200 early-career communications professionals tuition-free in 2026 through its SKOT Impact Academy, as part of its commitment to develope globally competitive talent across Africa and beyond. The organisation disclosed this while announcing the commencement of the second cohort of the six-week intensive training programme designed for communications professionals with one to two years of experience. According to the organisation, the initiative reflects the academy’s broader vision to nurture industry talent and expand its reach beyond Nigeria into key international markets. The second cohort attracted over 500 applications, highlighting the growing demand for accessible and high-quality training in strategic communications. Following a competitive selection process, 60 participants were admitted into the programme. To improve accessibility and inclusivity, the academy adopted a hybrid learning model for the new cohort, with 40 participants attending physical sessions in Lagos and 20 others joining virtually from different locations, including Kenya and the United Kingdom. Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SKOT Communications and SKOT Academy, The Chief Executive Officer, Tokunboh George-Taylor, said the increasing number of applications reflects a growing preference for practical and application-driven learning within the communications industry. “The continued demand and rise in applications for the SKOT Impact Academy reflects a shift towards more practical, application-driven learning in communications. Our focus for this year is to train over 200 professionals, ensuring they are equipped with the strategic and executional capabilities required in today’s landscape,” she said. She explained that the academy would run three cohorts in 2026 as part of its expanded programme targeted at strengthening participants’ storytelling, strategic thinking and execution skills through hands-on learning, real-world case studies and direct engagement with industry experts. The CEO noted that the Impact Academy is one of its three flagship programmes alongside SKOT Masterclasses and SKOT Elevate, all aimed at supporting professionals and organisations at different stages of growth within the communications industry across Africa and other global markets. She added that despite growing interest in the programme, the academy would continue to maintain its tuition-free model as part of efforts to reduce barriers to entry and promote a more inclusive communications ecosystem. An alumnus of the academy, Folasola Sodiq, described the programme as impactful to his professional development, noting that the practical structure and industry exposure significantly enhanced his approach to storytelling and strategy. “The knowledge gained has remained relevant in my work and has contributed to my professional growth,” he said.
13 May 2026
Ovuoba: How AI, Visual Development Tools Can Simplify Tech Learning for Students
As technology continues to reshape education and digital skills development, Sampson Ovuoba, a software engineer and founder of Windframe, explained in this interview with Funmi Ogundare how visual and AI-assisted development tools can help students learn UI/UX design and front-end development more easily by reducing the complexity of coding. He also highlighted how Windframe was built to simplify product creation, make tech more accessible to learners from diverse backgrounds, and help bridge the digital skills gap, particularly in developing countries. Excerpts: How did your background influence your approach to building Windframe? I’ve always been more of a builder in the traditional sense. Most of my background was in engineering, building products, and spending a lot of time inside codebases. But one thing that kept frustrating me was how slow UI work could feel sometimes, especially when you already knew what you wanted to build in your head. A lot of tools at the time either gave you beautiful designs with poor code output or good code with terrible editing experiences. I kept feeling like there had to be a middle ground where developers could visually build things without losing control of the actual code. That thinking heavily shaped Windframe. I approached it less like a design tool and more like an engineering tool for UI building. Even today, a big part of the product philosophy is reducing friction between idea and working interface. You built Windframe before AI became mainstream. What challenges did that present? Honestly, one of the biggest challenges was that people didn’t immediately understand the vision. Back then, visual development tools for developers were still looked at with a bit of scepticism. A lot of developers associated visual builders with bloated code, limited flexibility or ‘no-code’ platforms that serious engineers wouldn’t touch. So there was this constant balancing act of proving that you could have a visual workflow and still produce clean, production-ready code. Another challenge was that many of the things AI now makes easier had to be built manually. Things like component generation, layout suggestions, etc., all required a lot more handcrafted logic and engineering work. But in hindsight, building before the AI wave ended up being a good idea. The core product had to stand on its own without relying entirely on AI prompts. That foundation is still useful now. At what point did you decide to integrate AI into Windframe? It happened pretty naturally. Once large language models started getting better at generating structured output and code, it became obvious that AI could massively reduce the amount of repetitive UI work developers do. But I never wanted AI to become the entire product. A lot of tools started becoming basically prompt boxes. You type something, get a result, and if the result is wrong, you’re stuck prompting again and again. I didn’t think that was enough. So the decision was really: how do we combine AI generation with an actual editing environment where developers still feel in control? That’s why Windframe evolved into this mix of AI generation plus visual editing. AI helps you get started quickly, but the visual editor helps you refine and ship things properly instead of endlessly re-prompting. How can tools like Windframe change the way students learn UI/UX design and front-end development? I think one of the biggest barriers for students is that modern frontend development can feel overwhelming at first. You’re learning HTML, CSS, JavaScript, frameworks, accessibility, and design principles, all at once. Visual development tools can shorten that feedback loop. Instead of spending three hours debugging why a div is misplaced, students can focus more on understanding layout, spacing, hierarchy, typography, and how interfaces actually work. It also helps make learning more interactive. When students can visually tweak something and instantly see the underlying code change, they start connecting the visual side with the engineering side much faster. That bridge is really important. Do you think reducing heavy coding requirements makes tech more accessible to students? To an extent, yes. I don’t think coding disappears. I still think understanding logic, systems thinking, and problem-solving matters a lot. But I do think we sometimes gatekeep technology unnecessarily by making the entry point harder than it needs to be. There are a lot of incredibly creative people who get discouraged before they even get to the fun part because the initial learning curve feels too steep. Reducing some of the repetitive or low-level complexity gives more people room to experiment, build confidence, and stay curious long enough to improve. The interesting thing is that many people who start with visual tools eventually become better technical builders anyway because they gain confidence through creating things. Can platforms like Windframe help students without strong programming backgrounds enter the tech industry? Definitely! Not everyone enters tech through Computer Science. Some people come from art, business, architecture, psychology, or completely unrelated backgrounds. Windframe can help lower the intimidation factor. Someone who has an eye for design or product thinking can start building interfaces much earlier without feeling blocked by syntax or framework complexity. And once people start building real things, learning tends to accelerate naturally because the motivation becomes practical instead of theoretical. I’ve seen people learn faster simply because they were excited about bringing an idea to life. How can schools integrate visual development tools into their curriculum? I think schools should treat them as complements to traditional learning, not replacements. For example, students could use visual tools in introductory courses to understand layout systems, responsive design, component thinking, and user experience principles before diving deeper into advanced frontend engineering. You could also have project-based learning where students prototype real applications visually first, then progressively learn how the underlying code works. That mirrors how products are actually built in the real world anyway. Teams iterate visually, collaborate, refine, and then optimise technically. The goal shouldn’t just be teaching syntax. It should be teaching students how to think about building useful products. Do you see this approach helping to bridge the digital skills gap among students in developing countries? I really do. One thing people underestimate is how much access affects confidence. In many developing countries like ours, students already face infrastructure issues, fewer mentors, limited hardware, inconsistent internet and fewer opportunities to experiment. If the tooling itself also has a massive learning barrier, it compounds the problem. Visual and AI-assisted development tools like Windframe can help reduce that gap by making creation feel more approachable earlier on. Someone with just a laptop and curiosity can start building things that previously might have taken months or years to learn. I think that matters a lot. Especially because talent is everywhere, but access and opportunity are not always evenly distributed. Tools that reduce friction can help more people participate in the global tech ecosystem instead of feeling locked out of it.
13 May 2026
FCET Umunze Gets New Principal Officers
The eighth Governing Council of the Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze, Anambra State, has approved the appointment of Dr Virginia Nonye Ejezie as the new Provost of the institution. The council also appointed Joachim Eze as Registrar, Philip Oguegbulu as Bursar, and Ameh Godfrey Shaibu as Librarian. The appointments were made following a rigorous screening and interview process conducted by the council, led by Dr Gani Azeez. Letters of appointment were issued to the successful candidates on May 7, 2026, by the outgoing Registrar/Secretary to Council, Dr Bessie Nkah, at the directive of the chairman. The outgoing Provost, Prof. Theresa Okoli, congratulated the newly appointed officers and wished them successful tenures in their respective positions. She also urged staff to give their full support to the new leadership to sustain the institution’s development. The emergence of the new leadership was met with widespread excitement among staff, who expressed optimism about the college’s future under the new administration. Prior to her appointment as provost, Ejezie served as the teaching staff representative on the eighth governing council, where she played a central role in policy formulation and institutional governance. She joined the college in 1992 as an assistant lecturer and rose through the ranks to become a chief lecturer in 2011. Over the years, Ejezie has served the institution in several strategic capacities, including Dean, School of Sciences (2015–2016); Director, Academic Planning and Statistics (2010–2012); Coordinator, College Pre-NCE Programme (2009); acting Dean, School of Sciences (2014–2015); Cognate Dean, School of Agriculture and Home Economics Education (2015–2016); and many times Head, Department of Chemistry Education, among others. She has chaired and served on over 40 committees, with 40+ academic publications in both national and international journals. Her administrative experience is both extensive and diverse, having served as Vice Chairman of the institution’s chapter of the Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU). She has also served as an external examiner for institutions and as a resource person for the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) during accreditation exercises, demonstrating her deep expertise in quality assurance and academic standards in teacher education. She attended Girls High School, Ihite, where she obtained her West African School Certificate (WASC). She later earned the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) in Biology/Chemistry from the College of Education, Nsugbe (now Nwafor Orizu College of Education), and subsequently obtained a Bachelor of Science Education degree in Chemistry and a Master’s in Science Education (Chemistry) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She obtained her PhD in Science Education (Chemistry) from Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka. In her quest for diversification, Ejezie further obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration and a Master’s in Business Administration and Management. She is a member of several professional bodies, including the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN), Association of Women in Colleges of Education (WICE), Chemical Society of Nigeria (CSN), Fellow, Institute of Human and Natural Resources, World Council for Curriculum and Instruction, and the National Association for the Advancement of Knowledge, among others. The newly appointed registrar previously served as the congregation’s representative for non-teaching staff on the eighth governing council. Before his appointment, he was deputy registrar in charge of the admissions unit. With over 30 years of service in the institution, Eze joined the college in 1996 as an administrative officer and rose through dedication and diligence to the rank of deputy registrar. He has served on several college committees and maintained an outstanding service record throughout his career. Before his appointment as bursar, Oguegbulu served as deputy bursar. He joined the institution in 2003 as an accountant and was promoted to deputy bursar in 2025. He obtained a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State, in 1998 and later earned a Postgraduate Diploma in Management from the University of Calabar in 2000. He also obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, in 2012, a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Education from Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) in 2023, and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Accountancy from Imo State University, Owerri, in 2008. The new Librarian was formerly Chief Librarian at the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, Enugu State. He began his professional career in 1995 as an Assistant Librarian at Arewa House, the Centre for Historical Research and Documentation at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU). He later worked with the Kogi State Teaching Service Board between 2004 and 2006 before joining the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, as Assistant Librarian in 2006. He rose to the rank of Chief Librarian in 2022.
13 May 2026
ICOBA Holds 90s Reunion, Emphasises Collaboration to Improve Standards
The Igbobi College Old Boys’ Association (ICOBA) recently organised a colourful reunion for the 90s decade, with the theme ‘Reconnecting and Strengthening the ICOBA 90’s Decade’. In his remarks, chairman of the decade, Noble Habeeb Abdul-Quadri, described the gathering as a homecoming for members of the 90s set to strengthen fellowship and reawaken the bond that has sustained ICOBA through the years. The National President of ICOBA, Chief Yomi Badejo Okunsanya, stated that the sound of the school anthem stirred a nostalgic feeling in him and commended his mother for allowing him to be part of Igbobi College. He also urged members not to lose their identity after leaving school, reminding them that they are “elephants”. The festive atmosphere reached its peak when the school song reverberated through the venue. Old boys sang with unmistakable joy, a moment participants described as both nostalgic and instructive, reminding them of the discipline, camaraderie and ideals that set Igbobi men apart. Aside from from the songs and fellowship, the reunion provided a wholesome blend of health, recreation, and community bonding, with activities such as medical checks, indoor sports events, food, and entertainment. Delivering a keynote on the event theme, The Sheriff Adekoya spoke on ‘Reinvention, Relevance and the Power of our Network: Shaping What we Can Achieve Together in the Next Decade’. He stressed the need for the 90s set to move beyond celebration into purposeful engagement, leveraging their experience, influence and networks to chart fresh initiatives for ICOBA and the college. In the health and wellness session, Dr Ekpo Ezechinyere educated participants on prostate enlargement and general wellness, urging alumni to be proactive about health matters rather than wait for illness to manifest. At the legal awareness segment, Barr. Abiola Ladipo spoke on ‘Benefits of Writing a Will: Protecting Your Loved Ones,’ highlighting how estate planning can protect family members and ensure one’s wishes are carried out in accordance with the law. In a chat with journalists, the first National Vice-President of ICOBA, Femi Soremkun, stated that the essence of the reunion was to bring old boys together, especially members of the 90s decade, to build stronger connections that would drive the college’s interconnection and development. Soremkun said that the gathering was aimed at helping ICOBA to set “a no course” for advancing the institution towards international standards. With music, medical education, legal guidance, sports, and networking all woven into the event, the 90s decade reunion underscored a clear message: that reconnection is not only about memories, but also about mobilising the collective strength of ICOBA alumni to support the next chapter of Igbobi College.
13 May 2026
LASU emerges most preferred university in Nigeria for 2026 UTME
Lagos State University, LASU, has emerged as the most preferred university in Nigeria in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, according to figures released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB. According to the statement by the Lagos state government, the development has drawn commendation from Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who described the achievement as another proof of the institution’s growing reputation for academic excellence and national relevance. JAMB data showed that the state-owned university recorded 84,426 applications, placing it ahead of other tertiary institutions across the country. The University of Lagos, UNILAG, came second with 78,240 applicants, while Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, ranked third with 60,370 applicants. The University of Ibadan and the University of Benin followed with 58,895 and 55,425 applications respectively. Reacting to the ranking, Governor Sanwo-Olu expressed excitement over LASU’s performance, noting that the university had continued to strengthen its position as a leading institution in Nigeria. He also reiterated his administration’s commitment to making LASU one of the top 10 universities globally. “LASU’s improved performance is a direct result of the Lagos State Government’s focus on fostering an academic environment that leads to prosperity,” the governor said. According to the governor, the institution’s rising profile reflects the Lagos State Government’s deliberate investment in education and the creation of an enabling academic environment. He said the university’s improved standing was a direct outcome of efforts aimed at promoting innovation, quality learning and prosperity within the education sector. The governor further described the achievement as a major milestone in LASU’s 41-year history, adding that the university had continued to distinguish itself in academic excellence, discipline and global competitiveness. Speaking on the performance, Sanwo-Olu applauded the institution for retaining its place as the most sought-after university in the country. He attributed LASU’s success to “visionary leadership, dedicated faculty, and students” backed by the THEMES Plus Agenda of his administration, which prioritises funding and technological advancement in the education sector. The governor also praised the Vice-Chancellor of LASU, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, for what he described as transformative leadership that has helped improve the institution’s ranking and reputation. According to him, her administration has introduced innovative learning methods and positioned the university for both national and international recognition. Sanwo-Olu further commended LASU for producing quality graduates and maintaining high-standard infrastructure, assuring that the institution would continue to play a major role in shaping the future of young Nigerians. He also encouraged members of staff and students of the university to remain committed to sustaining the institution’s position as Nigeria’s most preferred university. LASU emerges most preferred university in Nigeria for 2026 UTME
12 May 2026
Full list: UNILAG, UI, UNN, ABU, others cut-off marks for 2026 admission
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, on Monday, released the minimum Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, cut-off marks approved by universities across Nigeria for the 2026 admission exercise. The cut-off marks were announced following the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja. According to the approved list, Pan-Atlantic University fixed the highest minimum cut-off mark at 220. Several institutions, including the University of Benin, University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, University of Nigeria, Covenant University, Air Force Institute of Technology, and Obafemi Awolowo University, adopted 200 as their minimum benchmark. JAMB stated that the approved figures represent the minimum thresholds for admission consideration. The Board noted that institutions may still set higher requirements for competitive courses such as medicine, engineering, pharmacy, and law. Below is the full list of universities and their approved minimum UTME scores for the 2026 admission exercise: Pan-Atlantic University – 220 Air Force Institute of Technology – 200 Covenant University – 220 Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta – 200 Obafemi Awolowo University – 200 University of Benin – 200 University of Ibadan – 200 University of Lagos – 200 University of Nigeria, Nsukka – 200 Lagos State University of Science and Technology – 195 Lagos State University – 195 Lagos State University of Education – 185 Afe Babalola University – 180 Ahmadu Bello University – 180 Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila Orangun – 180 Nigeria Police Academy – 180 Nigerian University of Technology and Management – 180 Shanahan University – 180 University of Abuja (Yakubu Gowon University) – 180 University of Ilorin – 180 University of Jos – 170 Augustine University – 170 Babcock University – 170 Federal University of Applied Sciences, Kachia – 170 Federal University, Lafia – 170 Ladoke Akintola University of Technology – 170 Nasarawa State University – 170 BITS University, Bwari – 170 Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University – 160 Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University – 160 Admiralty University of Nigeria – 160 African Aviation and Aerospace University – 160 Ajayi Crowther University – 160 Al-Hikmah University – 160 Bamidele Olumilua University – 160 Bayero University, Kano – 160 Bells University of Technology – 160 Caleb University – 160 Chrisland University – 160 Dominion University – 160 Emmanuel Alayande University of Education – 160 Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta – 160 Federal University of Education, Pankshin – 160 Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo – 160 Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti – 160 Federal University of Technology, Ikot-Abasi – 160 First Technical University – 160 Imo State University – 160 Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management – 160 Karl Kumm University – 160 Kwara State University – 160 Landmark University – 160 Lead City University – 160 Modibbo Adama University – 160 Nnamdi Azikiwe University – 160 Olabisi Onabanjo University – 160 Osun State University – 160 Plateau State University – 160 Redeemer’s University – 160 Summit University – 160 Tai Solarin University of Education – 160 Taraba State College of Nursing and Midwifery – 160 University of Ilesa – 160 AbdulRasaq Abubakar Toyin University – 150 Adamawa State University – 150 Adeleke University – 150 African School of Economics, Abuja – 150 Full list: UNILAG, UI, UNN, ABU, others cut-off marks for 2026 admission
11 May 2026
Admissions outside CAPS illegal ‐ JAMB
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has warned tertiary institutions against granting admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System, CAPS, describing such practices as illegal. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, gave the warning during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions organised by the board on Monday in Abuja. Oloyede said some institutions were still issuing admission letters to candidates who had not been approved through CAPS, contrary to Federal Government directives. He noted that the practice undermined transparency in the admission process, adding that there were cases where candidates with higher scores were denied admission while those with lower scores were admitted. According to him, disciplinary actions have already been initiated against affected institutions, and sanctions will be applied. The registrar added that a case involving 11 universities over alleged illegal admissions was currently before the court. Oloyede also refuted claims that candidates were posted outside their chosen examination towns, explaining that candidates selected their preferred examination towns during registration and were only assigned to centres within those locations. The JAMB registrar added that investigations into the complaints confirmed that no candidate was posted outside his or her selected examination town. According to him, the matter had also been reviewed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, FCCPC. He reiterated that all admissions into tertiary institutions must be processed through CAPS and urged institutions to strictly comply with approved admission procedures. Admissions outside CAPS illegal ‐ JAMB
11 May 2026
Commissioner urges zero malpractice in WAEC examination
The Taraba State Commissioner for Secondary, Technical and Vocational Education, Dr. Augustina Godwin, has charged principals, invigilators and supervisors across the state to ensure a malpractice-free conduct of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE). Dr. Godwin gave the charge on the weekend during the WAEC 2026 sensitization meeting organised for principals, invigilators and supervisors from Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils. The meeting was held on Saturday at the Government Technical and Training School, Jalingo. Speaking, the commissioner stressed the importance of professionalism, discipline and integrity in the administration of the examination. She noted that the Taraba State Government, under Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, remains committed to promoting quality education and restoring public confidence in the examination system. She warned examination officials and school administrators against all forms of examination malpractice and urged them to strictly comply with WAEC rules and guidelines. “Taraba State must continue to stand out in academic excellence through hard work and credibility. We must collectively ensure zero malpractice during the conduct of WAEC examinations,” she stated. On his part, the WAEC Branch Controller in the state commended Governor Agbu Kefas for his continued support for the education sector. According to him, Governor Kefas is the first governor in the state to clear all 2026 WAEC-related fees, a move he said had eased the burden on parents and boosted students’ participation in external examinations. The branch controller also praised the governor for donating a utility van to the WAEC office and for providing other forms of support aimed at improving the operations of the examination body in the state. The sensitization meeting was observed to have attracted principals, invigilators and supervisors from secondary schools across Lau, Karim Lamido, Jalingo and Ardo-Kola Local Government Councils. Commissioner urges zero malpractice in WAEC examination
11 May 2026
College denies JAMB exam malpractice, blames staff, police
The management of the College of Education, COE, Warri, Delta State, has refuted reports by the Nigeria Police Force alleging the college’s involvement in Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, examination malpractice. The college’s image maker, Mrs. Vusi Owarieta Enakarhire, stated while reacting in a statement that the institution was not involved in the criminal activities reportedly carried out by certain individuals connected to the incident. Reacting to the caption, “NPF, JAMB Bust Sophisticated Examination Malpractice Syndicate,” the institution reiterated its full cooperation with security agencies and examination authorities to ensure that every person found culpable is identified and prosecuted in accordance with the law. While she said staff members allegedly linked to the JAMB examination malpractice have been suspended, she added that their salaries have been withheld pending the outcome of ongoing investigations and disciplinary procedures. She said management stressed that criminal actions carried out by individuals should not be misconstrued as the position, policy, or culture of the institution. “No organization is immune from the misconduct of a few persons acting outside established regulations and ethical standards. The College remains unwavering in its commitment to discipline, transparency, professionalism, and academic integrity. “The College rejects in its entirety every act of examination malpractice, fraud, or unethical conduct capable of damaging the integrity of the nation’s educational system and the image of reputable academic institutions. “For years, the College has maintained an admirable record in the successful hosting of UTME examinations through its CBT Centre, providing only approved facilities and technical support in line with national educational objectives. “The institution’s role has consistently been limited to the provision of a conducive and accredited examination environment. At no time did the Management authorize, support, encourage, or participate in any illegal activity connected with the examination process. “The institution recognizes the seriousness of the allegations and, as a responsible academic establishment, has already taken decisive administrative measures. Staff members allegedly linked to the incident have been suspended immediately, while their salaries have been withheld pending the outcome of ongoing investigations and disciplinary procedures. “Parents, students, stakeholders, and members of the public are therefore urged to remain calm and disregard any attempt to tarnish the image of the College of Education, Warri, an institution that has continued to distinguish itself in teacher education, human capital development, and national service. “Management assures the public that the College will continue to strengthen internal monitoring mechanisms and sustain the values of excellence, credibility, and accountability for which it is known,” the statement said. College denies JAMB exam malpractice, blames staff, police
9 May 2026
NANS, others flay FG over ‘irrelevant’ course remarks
By Ndigwe Ifunanya The Federal Government’s plan to phase out university courses considered irrelevant to the national economy has brought about criticisms from student leaders and undergraduates who view the move as an attack on academic freedom. This follows recent comments by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who described several disciplines, particularly in the social sciences, as irrelevant. The Minister further caused a stir by suggesting that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, should not be granted to students pursuing such degrees. Reacting to the policy shift, Executive Director of Special Duties for the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, Comrade Salako Olawale Ayomipo, said dismissing entire disciplines as deficient ignores the structural problems of the Nigerian labour market. Ayomipo, a Master’s student at the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, noted that fields like Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology are globally relevant. He argued that many Nigerian graduates from these departments excel abroad, which shows that the issue is not the value of the courses but a curriculum that has failed to keep pace with industry trends. The Executive Director maintained that instead of discrediting these fields, the government should focus on modernising the educational framework by incorporating technology and practical learning. He also said that the conversation should be about reform and not the outright scrapping of departments. Lending his voice to the debate, Southwest Secretary General of NANS Zone D, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde Yussuf, insisted that no knowledge is a waste. Yussuf stated that reforming courses is a far better alternative to scrapping them. He also tackled the government on the student loan issue, saying that NELFUND was created for all Nigerian students and should not be restricted to specific disciplines. The anxiety caused by the Minister’s directive is already being felt on campuses. A 400-level Psychology student at the University of Lagos, Alaran Halima, described the threat to withhold loans as a blow to students. Halima pointed out that it is unfair to penalise students who have already spent years in school for choosing paths the government now considers worthless. While admitting that some curricula are outdated, she argued that the solution lies in better internships and resources. Halima said, “I think my curriculum is outdated. I am studying Psychology and we do more theoretical learning than practical which should not be. The only saving grace is internships, which my school does not even offer.” Sharing this frustration, a 400-level English student, Agha Virginia, described the labelling of certain courses as unfair. She lamented that the English department’s reading lists are stuck in the past and fail to reflect modern African literature. On the loan restrictions, Virginia noted that many students lack the financial support to navigate university without help. She said, “I was never a big fan of NELFUND but regardless, it is not everyone that has the financial support to go through school comfortably. Restricting loans based on course choice will limit a lot of people’s opportunity.” Closing the argument, Ayomipo called for a participatory approach to the proposed curriculum reset. He insisted that student representatives and industry experts must be part of the decision-making process. He warned that education funding like NELFUND should be used to empower every Nigerian student, regardless of their field of study. The post NANS, others flay FG over ‘irrelevant’ course remarks appeared first on Vanguard News .
9 May 2026
NANS, others flay FG over ‘irrelevant’ course remarks
By Ndigwe Ifunanya The Federal Government’s plan to phase out university courses considered irrelevant to the national economy has brought about criticisms from student leaders and undergraduates who view the move as an attack on academic freedom. This follows recent comments by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who described several disciplines, particularly in the social sciences, as irrelevant. The Minister further caused a stir by suggesting that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, should not be granted to students pursuing such degrees. Reacting to the policy shift, Executive Director of Special Duties for the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, Comrade Salako Olawale Ayomipo, said dismissing entire disciplines as deficient ignores the structural problems of the Nigerian labour market. Ayomipo, a Master’s student at the Tai Solarin Federal University of Education, noted that fields like Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology are globally relevant. He argued that many Nigerian graduates from these departments excel abroad, which shows that the issue is not the value of the courses but a curriculum that has failed to keep pace with industry trends. The Executive Director maintained that instead of discrediting these fields, the government should focus on modernising the educational framework by incorporating technology and practical learning. He also said that the conversation should be about reform and not the outright scrapping of departments. Lending his voice to the debate, Southwest Secretary General of NANS Zone D, Comrade Ojetola Babatunde Yussuf, insisted that no knowledge is a waste. Yussuf stated that reforming courses is a far better alternative to scrapping them. He also tackled the government on the student loan issue, saying that NELFUND was created for all Nigerian students and should not be restricted to specific disciplines. The anxiety caused by the Minister’s directive is already being felt on campuses. A 400-level Psychology student at the University of Lagos, Alaran Halima, described the threat to withhold loans as a blow to students. Halima pointed out that it is unfair to penalise students who have already spent years in school for choosing paths the government now considers worthless. While admitting that some curricula are outdated, she argued that the solution lies in better internships and resources. Halima said, “I think my curriculum is outdated. I am studying Psychology and we do more theoretical learning than practical which should not be. The only saving grace is internships, which my school does not even offer.” Sharing this frustration, a 400-level English student, Agha Virginia, described the labelling of certain courses as unfair. She lamented that the English department’s reading lists are stuck in the past and fail to reflect modern African literature. On the loan restrictions, Virginia noted that many students lack the financial support to navigate university without help. She said, “I was never a big fan of NELFUND but regardless, it is not everyone that has the financial support to go through school comfortably. Restricting loans based on course choice will limit a lot of people’s opportunity.” Closing the argument, Ayomipo called for a participatory approach to the proposed curriculum reset. He insisted that student representatives and industry experts must be part of the decision-making process. He warned that education funding like NELFUND should be used to empower every Nigerian student, regardless of their field of study. The post NANS, others flay FG over ‘irrelevant’ course remarks appeared first on Vanguard News .
9 May 2026
Over 35 million candidates have written NECO exams in 25 years – Registrar
Over 35 million candidates have written examinations conducted by the National Examinations Council, NECO, in the last 25 years, according to the Registrar and Chief Executive, Professor Dantani Wushishi. Wushishi disclosed this at the Council’s 25th anniversary gala and awards night in Minna, where he said NECO, established on July 10, 1999, was created to provide a national alternative examination body following long-standing demands for a credible and locally responsive assessment institution. He said the figure of about 35 million candidates reflects cumulative participation in NECO examinations over the years, including the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and other assessments conducted by the Council. The Registrar also referenced the institutional background of NECO, noting that its creation followed recommendations from government panels between 1977 and 1997, which repeatedly highlighted the need for a national examination body. The event also featured the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award to Emeritus Professor Dibu Ojerinde, former NECO Registrar from 1999 to 2007 and ex-JAMB Registrar, in recognition of his role in the early development of the council. NECO also recognised schools and states based on performance indicators in its SSCE Internal examinations since inception. Dority International Early Learning School was named the overall best-performing secondary school, followed by Federal Government Academy and Air Force Comprehensive School. In the state category, Bayelsa State was recognised for recording the highest percentage of candidates with five credits and above, while Lagos State was acknowledged for registering the highest number of candidates for NECO examinations. Ogun, Edo, Kaduna and Oyo states were also recognised for various performance outcomes in the SSCE Internal results. Wushishi said the Council would continue to review its processes and adopt technology-driven approaches to improve examination administration and maintain standards. Over 35 million candidates have written NECO exams in 25 years – Registrar
8 May 2026
LASG fixes May 12–19 for 2026 public service exams, releases CBT guidelines
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education and the Lagos State Examinations Board, has released the timetable and guidelines for the 2026 Public Service Examinations. In a statement by the Lagos State Government, the announcement, which aligns with a prior circular from the Head of Service with Ref No: CIR/HOS/’26/005 dated January 21, 2026, sets out key instructions for candidates preparing for the exercise. The examinations will hold between Tuesday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Lagos State Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC), Magodo, Lagos. They include the Compulsory Examination for all cadres in the State Public Service, the Combined Confirmation/Promotion Examination for Clerical Officers II (CO II) and Clerical Assistants (CA), as well as the External Secretarial Examination. According to the board, candidates are expected to begin printing their examination slips from Tuesday, May 5, 2026, through the official portal using their registration login details. The slip will contain key information such as each candidate’s exam date and time. “All candidates are required to present valid identification at the examination centre. Acceptable forms of identification include Staff Identity Cards, National Identification Number (NIN) slips, and Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) cards,” the statement said. Candidates are also required to bring printed copies of their examination slips to the venue and must strictly follow the date and time allocated to them. The board further advised candidates to acquaint themselves with basic computer skills ahead of the exercise, as the examinations will be conducted using a Computer-Based Test, CBT, format. It also warned that dressing must be formal, adding that inappropriate dressing will not be allowed at the examination centre. Candidates were urged to comply fully with all instructions to ensure a smooth and orderly process. “The Lagos State Examinations Board urges all candidates to comply fully with these guidelines to ensure a smooth and orderly examination process,” the statement added. LASG fixes May 12–19 for 2026 public service exams, releases CBT guidelines
7 May 2026
IBWU, Kemi Irinoye Foundation Launch ‘Cleanest School in Ibadan 2026’ Initiative
It Begins With U Foundation (IBWU), a Canada-based registered charity and not for profit also operating as a Nigerian based non-governmental organization registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, has partnered with the Kemi Irinoye Foundation (KIF) to launch the ‘Cleanest School in Ibadan Program 2026’, a transformative initiative aimed at promoting hygiene, sanitation, innovation, and civic responsibility among secondary school students across Ibadan. IBWU Foundation, known for executing similar impactful projects across Nigeria, continues to expand its footprint with plans to reach even more states nationwide. In selecting Ibadan for this phase, the organisation chose to partner with KIF in recognition of its strong track record in designing and implementing high-impact programmes that drive meaningful change. The programme, formalized through a signed Memorandum of Understanding in March 2026, will engage schools in a structured competition designed to encourage clean, sustainable, and innovative learning environments. Participating schools will be evaluated on key criteria including cleanliness, creativity, teamwork, sustainability and effective use of resources. To incentivize excellence and participation, IBWU Foundation is offering a grand prize of ₦1 million to the cleanest school, alongside cash rewards for schools placing second, third, and fourth, as well as scholarships and other awards. These prizes are intended not only as recognition but also as support for continued improvements in school environments. Implemented in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Education and supported by relevant government agencies, the initiative will span multiple phases, from stakeholder engagement and school registration to inspections, media engagement, and a grand award ceremony recognizing top-performing schools. Speaking on the partnership, Executive Director of KIF, Kemi Irinoye, thanked IBWU Foundation for its commitment to youth development and environmental sustainability. “We are deeply grateful to IBWU Foundation for their willingness to work with us on this impactful project. This initiative goes beyond cleanliness, it is about shaping a generation of responsible, innovative young people who understand the value of their environment and their role in sustaining it.” The programme will culminate in a high-profile awards event featuring government representatives, educators, students, and corporate stakeholders, where outstanding schools will be recognized and rewarded. Beyond the competition, the initiative aims to establish long-term behavioral change and position participating schools as champions of hygiene and environmental responsibility, a record that IBWU has displayed in other states across the country. Both organizations share a long-term vision to make environmental impact across Oyo State and beyond.
6 May 2026
Student Extortion: FUOYE Threatens to Dismiss Erring Lecturers
Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti The Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has warned its academic staff against all forms of extortion of students, saying that any lecturer found culpable would be dismissed. The institution also warned that heads of department and deans of faculties who fail to exercise adequate oversight to prevent such practices would be removed from their positions, as part of efforts to sanitise its system and strengthen public confidence. The decision was reached at a senate meeting presided over by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole on April 29, where the university adopted a zero-tolerance stance on student extortion, including the collection of unauthorised fees such as the so-called Final Year Batch (FYB) levy. Addressing members of the senate, Ogunwole stressed that only the university’s Bursary is authorised to collect fees from students, warning that any lecturer found violating this directive would face immediate dismissal, subject to ratification by the governing council. He further emphasised that university authorities would no longer condone acts of indiscipline, adding that departmental and faculty heads would be held accountable for any failure to prevent extortion within their domains. According to him, the measures are aimed at repositioning the university as a centre of academic excellence grounded in integrity and discipline, where students can pursue their studies without undue financial pressure. The VC disclosed that the decision followed several complaints received from students detailing various forms of extortion. The Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Temitope Babalola, had presented the petitions before the senate, prompting deliberations that culminated in the directive. FUOYE reiterated its commitment to upholding ethical standards and ensuring a conducive academic environment for students.
6 May 2026
WARDC, Co-Impact to Drive Inclusivity in Law Faculties
Oluchi Chibuzor Women Advocates Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC), a non-profit civil rights organization, has conducted a research that will deepen inclusive future for females in law faculties across the country. The research supported by Co-Impact, would see 12 faculties of law across the six geopolitical zones participate to produce a framework that would help women to ascend leadership positions in Nigeria’s legal academic system. Speaking at a preliminary session for the research in Lagos recently, the Board Chair, WARDC and former DG, Nigeria Law Reform, Prof. Jumai Audi, said “the research will help produce a report that breaks barriers for an inclusive future for women in law faculties in Nigeria.” The Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Abiola Sanni, noted that institutional barriers do not dissolve by aspiration alone, but they require intentional design, disciplined execution and sustained commitment. He maintained that if they get the design right, implementation will follow with greater clarity and impact. “I therefore urge all participants to approach today’s deliberations with focus and purpose. Let us concentrate on building systems, not statements; structures, not slogans. “This is not merely a ceremonial gathering. It is a working session. While the broader research spans several years, our immediate task is clear, to design frameworks that will endure. “The University of Lagos is honoured to serve as host and secretariat. We are encouraged by the strides made within our institution, including female leadership at the highest level and increasing representation within the faculty. However, we must acknowledge that these gains remain modest and uneven across the system. “That reality underscores the importance of this initiative. Today’s meeting should therefore focus on one central question: What must we design now to ensure lasting, measurable and scalable impact? “The design phase requires us to move beyond diagnosis to deliberate architecture. As we engage with the national diagnostic study and the co-creation process, I urge us to prioritise sustainability, solutions that can endure beyond project timelines and institutional ownership and frameworks that faculties can internalise and drive independently. “Models that can be replicated across jurisdictions; accountability: clear governance structures and measurable outcomes; and alignment with ESG principles: ensuring that gender inclusion is embedded within broader institutional governance and social responsibility frameworks.” He urged participants to resist the temptation to design for immediate visibility, saying, “instead, we must design for long-term transformation.” “Each participating faculty is not merely a beneficiary but a co-designer. Your insights, institutional experiences, and candour will shape the quality and relevance of what emerges from this phase.” The Executive Director, Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said there is an urgent need to empower female academicians in the country. “The research titled ‘Advancing Women’s Rights and Breaking Barriers for an Inclusive Future for Women in Law Faculties in Nigeria’, aims to streamline barriers hindering women in embracing academics across participating institutions across the geopolitical zones in the country.” The Director General, Nigerian Institute of Advance Legal Studies (NIALS), Prof. Abdulqadir Abikan, said it has been discovered over the years that women in academics, particularly in the law academics, have a lot of challenges that form a stumbling block for their progression in their career, like their male counterparts. “It has now become a serious challenge that ladies are now finding it very difficult to progress, those who have chosen to be in academia, and it is like others are getting scared of even coming in. So to avoid a situation where you will not have women in academics again, there is a need for us to create a more enabling environment for them to be able to also progress.” On his part, President, National Association of Law Teachers (NALT), Prof. John Akintayo, said that removing the barriers in the way of female law lecturers is commendable. “The reality right now is that even when you look at our law faculties, you seem to have more female students. These female students are competent, they come out with fantastic grades. Now the question would be that if they decide to join academia, we must put in place measures to ensure, first, that they are recruited, and also that they rise alongside their male counterparts,” he said. Compose
6 May 2026
Father, Son Bag Postgraduate Degrees at DELSU Convocation
Sylvester Idowu in Warri Delta State University has recorded a rare academic milestone, with a father and his son graduating with postgraduate degrees at its 18th convocation ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic session. A Niger Delta activist and founder of the Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice, Sheriff Mulade, was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations, while his 24-year-old son, David Sheriff-Mulade, earned a Master of Science degree in Mass Communication. The ceremony held last Saturday at the university’s campus in Abraka. Speaking with journalists after the event, David, a practising journalist with Gbaramatu Voice, thanked his father, who is also the newly elected National Treasurer of the Ijaw National Congress, for his support. “This achievement is a continuation of the foundation he has laid, and it will further strengthen my career in journalism and media practice,” he said. The achievement has been described by observers as a significant moment reflecting commitment to education and personal development. An Ijaw chieftain, Anthony Okrika, said, “the achievement is unprecedented in the history of Gbaramatu Kingdom, serving as a testament to dedication, excellence, and a shared passion for learning.” Okrika also commended Mulade for his contributions to environmental justice and peace advocacy in the Niger Delta, saying that his latest academic accomplishment further underscored his commitment to intellectual growth and public service. “The combined success of father and son reflects discipline, excellence and the enduring value of education in shaping future generations,” he added.
6 May 2026