Category: Education

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Universities Commission (NUC) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening access to quality university education through Open and Distance Learning (ODL) as it explores collaboration with the Open Distance and e-Learning Association of Nigeria (ODELAN).

The commitment was made by the Executive Secretary of the NUC, Professor Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of ODELAN to the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.

The delegation was led by the President of the association, Professor Francis Egboghare.

According to ODELAN, the association was established to support efforts aimed at advancing Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria through research, capacity building, mentorship and strategic partnerships.

The delegation informed the NUC leadership of its desire to develop a collaborative framework with the Commission to enhance the delivery and practice of ODL across the country.

Speaking during the meeting, Ribadu commended ODELAN for its contributions to the growth of Open and Distance Learning in Nigeria, particularly in the areas of research, professional development and mentorship.

He noted that members of the association had consistently supported activities of the Commission and contributed to the development of its database of ODL practitioners.

The NUC boss reaffirmed the Commission’s readiness to partner with stakeholders committed to expanding educational opportunities and improving access to higher education through technology-driven learning platforms.

He stressed the importance of collaboration in strengthening the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of Open and Distance Learning programmes nationwide.

In his remarks, Egboghare reiterated the association’s commitment to working closely with the NUC to advance the ODL sector.

He said ODELAN was prepared to provide policy proposals and a framework for sustained collaboration aimed at enhancing the delivery of Open and Distance Learning programmes in Nigeria.

The proposed partnership is expected to support ongoing efforts to improve access to tertiary education, promote innovation in learning delivery and strengthen institutional capacity within the country’s higher education system.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) can now print their Original Result Slips.

The examination body disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Communication Advisor, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

According to JAMB, the Original Result Slip became available for printing from Wednesday, June 17, 2026, and can be accessed from any internet-enabled device.

The Board explained that the document contains important candidate information, including the candidate’s photograph, national ranking, and other security features required for admission processing.

JAMB noted that the Original Result Slip remains one of the key documents required by tertiary institutions for post-UTME screening and admission consideration.

“The 2026 UTME Original Result Slip is now available for printing,” the Board stated.

“The Original Result Slip contains the candidate’s photograph, national ranking, and other security features. It is part of the official document required for post-UTME processing and consideration by tertiary institutions.”

The Board added that candidates can conveniently print the document from their homes, offices, or accredited business centres using internet-enabled devices.

JAMB advised candidates to carefully verify all information contained on the slip immediately after printing to ensure accuracy.

The examination body further urged candidates to retain copies of the document for future admission-related processes.

The release of the Original Result Slip marks another critical stage in the 2026 admission cycle, as universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions prepare to commence post-UTME screening and admission exercises.

Candidates are expected to present the document, alongside other required credentials, during the admission process.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has dismissed reports alleging that the Nigeria Education Management Information System (NEMIS) was compromised by a cyberattack, insisting that the education data platform remains secure and fully operational.

The clarification follows a media report suggesting that the Federal Government’s education data infrastructure may have suffered a security breach.

In a statement issued on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Education described the report as inaccurate and misleading, stressing that there was no cyberattack, hacking incident, or unauthorised access to the NEMIS platform.

According to the Ministry, the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data on the platform were never compromised.

The Ministry explained that a temporary warning message encountered by some users was caused by a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) certificate configuration issue at the hosting level, which affected the platform’s secure access certification.

It noted that the incident was purely technical and did not result in data loss, data alteration, system compromise, or exposure of sensitive information.

“The platform was neither hacked nor breached. The issue was related to SSL certification and was promptly resolved by our technical team in collaboration with the hosting service provider,” the statement said.

The Ministry added that normal services have since been fully restored and that the platform remains accessible to authorised users.

It further explained that browser security warnings associated with SSL certificate issues should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of a cyberattack or data breach.

According to the Ministry, even cybersecurity experts referenced in the original publication acknowledged that such warnings can result from routine technical or configuration issues rather than malicious activity.

NEMIS serves as a key digital platform for the collection, management, and utilisation of education data across Nigeria’s education sector.

The Ministry said it continues to deploy robust cybersecurity measures, system monitoring tools, infrastructure safeguards, and periodic security assessments to ensure the platform’s reliability and security.

The statement also highlighted the role of the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), which serves as the Federal Government’s flagship framework for strengthening education data governance, integration, accessibility, and evidence-based planning.

According to the Ministry, protecting the integrity of platforms supporting NEDI remains a critical priority.

The Federal Government therefore urged media organisations and members of the public to verify information through official channels before publishing or circulating claims relating to government digital platforms.

It warned that the dissemination of unverified reports could create unnecessary public concern and undermine confidence in critical government systems.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to information security, digital governance, transparency, and accountability in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It advised stakeholders, development partners, and members of the public to disregard reports suggesting that NEMIS was compromised, maintaining that the claims are unfounded and unsupported by the facts.

BENIN CITY, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has intensified efforts to combat examination malpractice through the deployment of technology-driven monitoring systems and stronger collaboration with anti-corruption agencies.

Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Aminu Mohammed, disclosed this while receiving the Edo State Resident Commissioner of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Ebenezer Shogunle, at the board’s national headquarters in Benin City.

Mohammed said the board has introduced advanced monitoring mechanisms, including GPS-enabled devices, to strengthen examination integrity and improve accountability among officials deployed for examination duties nationwide.

“We are strengthening our examination monitoring architecture. Through the deployment of GPS-enabled monitoring devices, we can verify the locations of our officers during examinations and improve the credibility of our monitoring processes,” he said.

According to the NABTEB boss, the board has also introduced malpractice reporting forms for monitoring officers and is leveraging technology-based tools to enhance supervision and oversight during examinations.

He revealed that NABTEB recently thwarted an attempt to compromise an examination at a technical college through intelligence gathering and the strategic deployment of senior officials.

Mohammed described examination malpractice as a serious breach of public trust and called for stricter sanctions against offenders.

“Examination malpractice is a gross misconduct and, where necessary, offenders should be handed over to law enforcement agencies for appropriate action,” he stated.

The registrar urged the ICPC to support the board through sustained sensitisation programmes targeted at staff, examination officials, and other stakeholders on the dangers and consequences of corrupt practices.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional capacity through continuous training and professional development programmes for staff.

According to him, NABTEB conducts post-examination reviews after every major examination exercise to identify operational gaps and improve efficiency.

Mohammed disclosed that more than 20 drivers were recently trained as part of the board’s broader human capacity development initiative.

The registrar further called for stronger support for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), stressing that Nigeria’s development depends largely on practical skills acquisition and competency-based education.

“One of the campaigns we would like the ICPC to join us in promoting is skills development. As a nation, we must begin to place greater emphasis on what individuals can do rather than merely the certificates they possess,” he said.

“Skills acquisition and competency-based education are critical to national development and economic self-reliance.”

Mohammed reiterated NABTEB’s mandate in the coordination, assessment, certification, and verification of technical and business education qualifications, noting that stronger inter-agency cooperation would further enhance the board’s effectiveness.

Earlier, ICPC Resident Commissioner Ebenezer Shogunle commended the leadership of NABTEB and reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to partnering with the board in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct.

“We are here to build institutional synergy and reaffirm our joint responsibility in promoting integrity and accountability. This visit is an opportunity to strengthen our partnership with NABTEB, particularly in areas relating to examination integrity and ethical conduct,” Shogunle said.

He noted that examination integrity remains a critical component of educational development and professional standards, adding that public institutions must continue to strengthen systems that promote transparency and public trust.

Shogunle assured NABTEB of the commission’s continued support in anti-corruption sensitisation, capacity building, and institutional strengthening.

The visit underscored growing collaboration between both agencies as part of efforts to safeguard the credibility of Nigeria’s educational assessment system and promote accountability in public institutions.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, has called on Nigerian universities to embrace academic entrepreneurship, innovation, and technology transfer as critical tools for producing graduates capable of driving the nation’s economic transformation.

Ribadu made the call on Tuesday at the International Conference on Academic Entrepreneurship, Knowledge and Technology Transfer held in Abuja.

The conference, organised by the NUC in collaboration with German universities and development partners, brought together academics, policymakers, researchers, development agencies, and international stakeholders to explore strategies for strengthening innovation and entrepreneurship within higher education institutions.

Represented by the NUC Director of Research, Innovation and Information Technology, Malam Lawal Faruk, Ribadu said universities across the world are increasingly expected to move beyond their traditional teaching and research roles to become centres of enterprise, creativity, innovation, and social transformation.

According to him, the future of higher education depends on its ability to equip students with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving global economy.

He noted that graduates must possess not only academic knowledge but also entrepreneurial, digital, and critical-thinking competencies that enable them to create value and solve societal challenges.

“The future of higher education depends on its ability to prepare graduates for a rapidly changing world through the acquisition of entrepreneurial, digital and critical-thinking skills,” he said.

Ribadu explained that this philosophy informed the development and implementation of the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS), which places greater emphasis on learner-centred and competency-based education.

According to him, the framework is designed to equip students with practical skills that enhance employability, adaptability, and innovation.

“The framework seeks to equip students not only with disciplinary knowledge but also with entrepreneurial skills, digital competencies, critical thinking and adaptability required in today’s workplace,” he added.

The NUC boss stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between universities and industry, noting that the relevance of modern universities would increasingly be measured by their ability to convert ideas into innovations and research findings into tangible societal benefits.

He said achieving such outcomes would require robust partnerships among academia, government, industry players, innovators, and development institutions.

Ribadu also called for institutional cultures that encourage creativity, reward innovation, and support the commercialisation of research outcomes.

He noted that the commission’s collaboration with German institutions demonstrates the value of international partnerships in building innovation ecosystems capable of addressing local challenges while enhancing global competitiveness.

Also speaking at the conference, the Programme Officer of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Regional Office in Ghana, Mr Chris Vilas-Mote, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting educational, research, and innovation partnerships between Nigeria and Germany.

He described DAAD as one of the world’s largest scholarship and academic exchange organisations, providing support for university collaborations, research initiatives, and entrepreneurship programmes.

Vilas-Mote highlighted the Falling Walls Lab competition as one of the platforms through which innovative ideas from students and researchers are identified, nurtured, and supported.

According to him, many Nigerian students already possess strong entrepreneurial instincts but require greater institutional backing to transform their ideas into sustainable enterprises.

In his keynote presentation, Prof. Harald Von Korflesch of the University of Koblenz, Germany, advocated a more structured approach to building entrepreneurial universities.

He argued that institutions must move beyond offering entrepreneurship courses and instead integrate entrepreneurial thinking into their entire operational ecosystem.

According to him, this requires professional mentorship programmes, stronger industry partnerships, innovation support systems, and effective technology commercialisation structures.

Von Korflesch noted that while many universities have made progress in entrepreneurship education, more needs to be done to transform research outputs into viable businesses, startups, and commercially successful innovations.

He emphasised the importance of strengthening knowledge and technology transfer mechanisms to ensure that university-based research contributes directly to industrial development, job creation, and national economic growth.

Participants at the conference agreed that fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and stronger university-industry partnerships remains critical to unlocking the full potential of Nigeria’s higher education sector and positioning the country for sustainable economic development.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — Lagos State University (LASU) has emerged winner of the 2026 Inter-Tertiary Institutions Environmental Summit Debate Competition organised by the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), securing a trophy and a N2 million cash prize.

The grand finale, held on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja, brought together students from tertiary institutions across Lagos State to debate solutions to environmental challenges, particularly the growing threat of transboundary pollution.

Miss Mary Falana, a 300-level Mass Communication student of LASU, clinched the top position after presenting arguments in support of city-level interventions as a strategy for addressing transboundary pollution in Lagos State.

For her performance, LASU received the overall winner’s trophy and the N2 million prize.

Mr Yaqub Abdullahi, a 400-level Chemical Engineering student of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), finished second and received N1 million, while Mr Daniel Akinkuowo, a 200-level Law student of UNILAG, placed third and won N500,000.

The finalists emerged from an initial pool of contestants shortlisted for the concluding stage of the competition.

Speaking at the summit, the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr Babatunde Ajayi, said the debate initiative was designed to deepen environmental awareness among young people and encourage active participation in environmental sustainability efforts.

According to him, environmental protection is fundamentally linked to public health and quality of life.

“The crux of environmental protection is public health,” Ajayi said.

He noted that environmental regulations and management practices are ultimately aimed at safeguarding people and creating healthier communities.

Ajayi described debates as powerful advocacy tools capable of shaping public opinion and influencing policy decisions.

“We have realised as a team at LASEPA that debates help us strengthen advocacy and public discourse,” he said.

The LASEPA boss stressed that young people remain central to advancing sustainable environmental practices and driving long-term behavioural change.

“Anything you want to thrive, anything you want to sell in the world, you must pass it through young people,” he added.

He commended participating institutions, lecturers, and university administrators for supporting the initiative and promoting environmental consciousness among students.

In a goodwill message delivered on behalf of the Lagos State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Adeniran Kasali, described the summit as an important platform for generating practical solutions to environmental challenges.

He said the debate theme highlighted the need for collective action in addressing pollution that transcends geographical boundaries.

“Environmental pollution does not recognise geographical boundaries. Its effects transcend cities, states and nations,” Kasali said.

He stressed that no single institution or level of government could effectively tackle transboundary pollution alone, calling for collaboration among governments, regulatory agencies, private sector organisations, and citizens.

Also speaking, the Managing Director of CreditPro, Mr Shola Adeyigba, praised the initiative for encouraging environmental awareness among youths.

According to him, businesses should be measured not only by profitability but also by their impact on people and the environment.

He disclosed that CreditPro partnered with LASEPA and the Sustainable Development Goals Office on the “M-Passive Pollution” programme, which promotes proper waste management and recycling.

Adeyigba said the initiative involved the donation of waste collection bins to residential estates in Ikeja GRA to encourage the collection and recycling of plastic waste.

“You now see estates making small money from plastics that would have been thrown into drainages,” he said.

The Managing Director of Nisum Nigeria Limited, producers of Ariane Water, Mrs Sumbo Olaitan, described plastic pollution as one of the most pressing environmental challenges and called for greater stakeholder collaboration.

She emphasised the importance of involving young people in climate and environmental discussions, noting that future sustainability efforts depend on the next generation of leaders.

“Lagos cannot be sustainable without young people who can think, argue and act,” Olaitan said.

Also addressing participants, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services and Water Resources, Mr Mahmood Adegbite, represented by a director in the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Adeola Adeshola, described the summit theme as timely and strategic.

He noted that environmental challenges require coordinated responses and urged stakeholders to move beyond discussions to implementing data-driven solutions that improve drainage management, flood control, and environmental quality.

The summit attracted students, academics, environmental experts, government officials, and other stakeholders committed to advancing environmental sustainability in Lagos State.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr Bosun Tijani, has called for stronger digital safeguards to protect children online, stressing the need for stakeholders to work together in creating a safer and more responsible digital environment.

Tijani made the call during a Roundtable on the Protection of Children Online organised by the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy in collaboration with the Nigeria Data Protection Commission (NDPC).

The event brought together representatives from government, industry, civil society organisations, academia and the broader technology ecosystem to examine the growing risks facing children in the digital space and explore collective solutions.

According to the minister, as Nigeria continues to build an inclusive digital economy, it is essential to ensure that children can participate safely in the digital world.

“As we build an inclusive digital economy that expands opportunity for every Nigerian, we must also ensure that our children can safely participate in the digital world,” Tijani said.

He noted that discussions at the roundtable reinforced the understanding that online safety is a shared responsibility requiring the active involvement of parents, schools, regulators, technology companies and civil society organisations.

The minister emphasised the need to design digital systems and policies that prioritise the safety and welfare of children while promoting responsible innovation.

“As technology becomes further embedded in everyday life, we must design systems and safeguards that prioritise children’s safety and best interests, while deepening digital literacy and reinforcing accountability across platforms,” he said.

Tijani added that strengthening online protection measures would help ensure that Nigeria’s digital future remains both innovative and responsible, while safeguarding the rights and well-being of young users.

The roundtable forms part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government and key stakeholders to promote digital trust, enhance data protection and create a safer online environment for children across the country.

ABAKALIKI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has awarded a university scholarship to Obasi Victor Nnanna, the highest-scoring candidate from Ebonyi State in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

According to a statement issued on Thursday by Francis Nwaze, Senior Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, the scholarship was announced shortly after Umahi received news of the student’s exceptional performance from King David Gifted Academy, Abakaliki.

Nnanna, a pioneer student of the institution, scored 356 in the 2026 UTME, emerging as the highest scorer in Ebonyi State and ranking among the country’s top-performing candidates.

Reacting to the achievement, Umahi expressed gratitude to God and immediately pledged to support the student’s university education.

“I give God the glory. I offer scholarship to this child,” the minister said.

King David Gifted Academy was established in 2016 by Umahi during his tenure as Governor of Ebonyi State. The institution was founded to promote academic excellence and nurture future leaders through quality education.

Over the years, the school has gained recognition for its strong academic record and outstanding performance in national examinations.

The scholarship award is expected to further encourage academic excellence among students in Ebonyi State and beyond.