Category: Education

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has announced that its online application portal for Direct Entry candidates seeking admission for the 2026/2027 academic session will close on Thursday, October 15, 2026, with no extension planned.

The university also advised candidates seeking to change their courses through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) to complete the process by the same deadline.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the university said any change of course made on JAMB CAPS after October 15 would not be considered in the admission selection exercise for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The statement was signed by the Registrar and Secretary to Council, Mrs V. Abosede Wickliffe, and titled “2026/2027 Admission: Closure of Direct Entry Online Application Portal.”

“The University of Lagos wishes to inform all prospective Direct Entry candidates that the 2026/2027 academic session Direct Entry application portal will close on Thursday, October 15, 2026,” the statement said.

The university urged affected candidates to complete their applications and any intended course changes before the deadline to avoid being excluded from the admission selection process.

-NPA

BENIN CITY, Nigeria (Agency Report) — Igbinedion University, Okada (IUO), has inducted 65 newly qualified medical doctors, charging them to put patients’ welfare above personal interests and uphold the ethical standards of the profession.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, gave the charge at the institution’s 21st Oath-Taking and Induction Ceremony, describing medicine as a calling to serve humanity rather than merely a profession.

Ezemonye urged the new doctors to uphold human life, professional integrity, confidentiality, compassion and ethical responsibility.

“Patients will trust you with their lives. Families will depend on your decisions. Communities will look up to you for hope and healing,” he said.

He also stressed the importance of humility, teamwork and lifelong learning, noting that modern healthcare requires collaboration among doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other professionals.

The vice-chancellor said Nigeria needs doctors who are competent, innovative, ethical and compassionate, and who can contribute to improved healthcare delivery, research and public health.

Delivering the induction lecture, titled “Take a Bow,” Prof. Titus Ibekwe, an otorhinolaryngologist and public health professional, urged the new doctors to approach medicine as a lifelong commitment to service, humility, gratitude and continuous learning.

Ibekwe used three types of bows to illustrate the responsibilities of the doctors.

He urged them to “bow back” in gratitude to their parents, teachers and mentors; “bow down” in service to patients and humanity; and “bow forward” towards the professionals they are still becoming.

“The white coat is not a crown. It is closer to a towel,” he said, stressing that leadership in medicine begins with service.

Ibekwe warned the doctors against allowing professional status to overshadow their responsibility to patients and society, urging them to acknowledge what they do not know and remain committed to continuous learning.

“Keep learning. Keep listening. Keep kneeling. Keep becoming. The day you stop bowing is the day you begin to decline,” he said.

NMA Calls for More Housemanship Slots

The Chairman of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Edo Branch, Dr Andrew Eigbedion, called on the Federal Government and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) to urgently increase housemanship slots for newly qualified doctors.

Eigbedion warned that increasing admission into Medicine and Surgery without a corresponding expansion in housemanship capacity could create another bottleneck for medical graduates.

He also urged the new doctors to contribute to addressing Nigeria’s healthcare challenges, including manpower shortages, inadequate infrastructure, rising healthcare costs, preventable diseases and health-worker migration.

The NMA chairman encouraged the doctors to embrace artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies while retaining the human element of medical practice.

“Nigeria is counting on you—not merely to inherit its healthcare system, but to help transform it,” he said.

The Provost, College of Health Sciences, IUO, Prof. Dominic Osaghae, urged the inductees to “heal with competence, serve with humility, lead with courage and uphold the honour of the medical profession.”

Osaghae described medicine as both a science and a calling, charging the doctors to protect patient confidentiality, seek help when necessary and pursue lifelong learning, research and professional development.

He also encouraged members of the graduating class to return to IUO as specialists, researchers, teachers and leaders to strengthen the institution and Nigeria’s healthcare system.

The Acting Dean, School of Clinical Medicine, Dr Imesidayo Eboreime-Oikeh, described the title “Doctor” as a public trust that requires sound judgment, accountability and humanity.

She urged the inductees to allow evidence, professional discipline and compassion to guide their practice, reminding them that the physician’s pledge should remain their moral anchor, particularly when no one is watching.

“Character is what remains when there is no audience,” she said.

The ceremony concluded with the administration of the Hippocratic Oath and the traditional taking of the bow, followed by the presentation of licences and certificates to the 65 inductees.

The Registrar of the MDCN, Dr Fatima Kyari, was represented at the ceremony by Dr Tijani Alimandaka, Assistant Registrar and Head of Medical Registration.

-NAN

LAGOS (NPA) — The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has appointed Mr Suleiman Danlami Kum as Head of the Nigeria National Office (HNO), succeeding Dr Amos Josiah Dangut.

According to a statement issued by WAEC’s Public Affairs Department and signed by Moyosola F. Adesina, Head of Public Affairs, WAEC, Yaba, Lagos, on Oct. 3, 2026, Kum was born on Oct. 16, 1970, in Minna, Niger State, and hails from Langtang North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

He attended Baptist High School, Jos, where he obtained his General Certificate of Education (GCE) in 1986/1987, before proceeding to the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, where he earned a Bachelor of Agriculture in Animal Production with Second Class Honours, Upper Division, in 1992.

Kum later obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) in 2025 and is currently completing a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Educational Administration and Planning at the institution.

His professional career began in 1993 during his mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme at the Division of Agricultural Colleges, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he served as Head of the Animal Production Unit.

He later returned to Baptist High School, Jos, where he served between 1995 and 1998 as Form Master, Labour Master, Classroom Teacher and Health Master. His tenure culminated in his receiving the Light and Life Staff Merit Award in 1998.

Kum joined WAEC on July 17, 1998, as Assistant Registrar II and rose through the ranks to become Senior Deputy Registrar in 2024.

Throughout his career at the council, he has served in several operational and administrative capacities, including:

• Assistant Registrar II/Head, Exams Security, Waka (November 1998–June 2002);
• Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Yola (June 2002–January 2006);
• Assistant Registrar I/Head, Exams Security, Makurdi (January 2006–November 2011);
• Senior Assistant Registrar I/Branch Controller, Gusau (November 2011–March 2013);
• Principal Assistant Registrar/Branch Controller, Kano (March 2013–July 2016);
• Deputy Registrar/Head, Security Printing Department (August 2016–February 2021);
• Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Port Harcourt (February 2021–December 2023);
• Deputy Registrar/Zonal Coordinator, Ikeja (September 2023–September 2024);
• Director of Administration (January 2024–August 2025);
• Senior Deputy Registrar/Test Administration (September 2025–August 2026).

WAEC described Kum as a seasoned test developer, administrator and executive with extensive experience in test development, test administration, examination security, and branch and zonal office management.

The council said he had driven several administrative and technological innovations during his career, including establishing the Gusau office as a custodial centre, pioneering Variable Data Printing (VDP) and enhanced code security features in security printing, replacing council-wide attendance systems with facial-recognition biometric devices, and leading the delivery of Achievement Tests using the Computer-Based Examination (CBE) mode.

WAEC said Kum had demonstrated integrity, diligence, innovation and commitment to service throughout his career, earning several institutional commendations, accolades and awards within the council and beyond.

He has also attended national and international training programmes, symposia and conferences, including programmes in the United Kingdom.

Kum has published works in national and international volumes and presented several academic and professional papers. He is a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM).

Before his appointment as Head of the Nigeria National Office, he served as Deputy Registrar in the Office of the Head of the Nigeria National Office.

Kum is married with children. His hobbies include travelling, swimming, reading and watching movies.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Ministry of Education (FME) has digitalised the selection process for the 2026 President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards (PTSEA), replacing the manual process with a technology-driven system aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability, documentation and confidence in the recognition of outstanding teachers and schools.

The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, disclosed this in Abuja during a press briefing ahead of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration scheduled for Monday, Oct. 5.

According to a statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, Ahmad said the digitalised selection process, implemented in collaboration with State Ministries of Education and in line with relevant African Union guidelines, would provide a more credible and properly documented framework for identifying and rewarding excellence in the teaching profession.

She said the digital system would strengthen the integrity of the process by ensuring reliable records for future reference while promoting greater transparency, accountability and fairness in the selection of awardees.

Speaking on the theme of the 2026 celebration, “Transforming the Teaching Profession for Africa’s Future,” Ahmad identified innovation, mobility, artificial intelligence, inclusion and professional excellence as five interconnected pillars that would shape discussions and activities during the celebration.

She said innovation would promote creative teaching approaches and locally relevant solutions to improve learning, while mobility would encourage professional collaboration and knowledge-sharing across borders.

On artificial intelligence, Ahmad said the technology could support personalised learning, data-informed decision-making and the reduction of administrative burdens, provided it was deployed responsibly, ethically and inclusively.

She emphasised that technology must complement rather than diminish the professional role of teachers, stressing the importance of preserving teachers’ professional judgement while equipping them with digital skills to navigate the rapidly changing education landscape.

On inclusion, the minister stressed the need to guarantee equitable access to quality education for learners irrespective of gender, ability, socioeconomic circumstances or geographical location.

She said professional excellence would require continuous professional development, improved welfare, supportive policies and greater recognition of teachers’ leadership role in national and continental development.

Ahmad said the Federal Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), coordinates the annual World Teachers’ Day celebration and associated awards.

She disclosed that the 2026 programme would include a symposium bringing together education stakeholders and heads of relevant agencies and institutions to examine the five thematic pillars and develop practical approaches to strengthening the teaching profession.

The main celebration on Oct. 5 will bring together teachers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory for a march-past featuring state flags and cultural attire, symbolising Nigeria’s unity, diversity and teachers’ collective contribution to national development.

A major highlight will be the presentation of the 2026 World Teachers’ Day and President’s Teachers’ and Schools Excellence Awards, with 14 awardees to be recognised for outstanding contributions to education.

The first-, second- and third-best teachers will receive major prizes, while other award recipients will receive laptops. Outstanding school performance will also be recognised as part of the awards programme.

The minister acknowledged the support of state governments, government agencies, development partners, organisations and individuals contributing to the success of the celebration.

She also called on the media to provide accurate and comprehensive coverage to deepen public appreciation of the role of teachers.

In her welcome address, the Acting Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, described teachers as central to national development and commended their dedication to educating and moulding young Nigerians despite the challenges confronting the profession.

She said World Teachers’ Day provided an opportunity to recognise teachers’ contributions while renewing commitment to their welfare, professional development and dignity.

Olatunji-David also advocated greater involvement of teachers in education policy and decision-making, noting that their participation would strengthen ownership and implementation of reforms.

The Director, Educational Support Services, Mr Gabriel Amudipe Oluwole, highlighted the indispensable role of teachers in delivering quality education and supporting the holistic development of learners.

He said the planning process involved reviewing relevant instruments, coordinating assessment activities, and collecting and verifying applications, with attention to safeguarding, facilities and governance.

Oluwole reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to equipping teachers with modern tools and creating supportive working environments that promote effective teaching.

Speaking on behalf of the NUT National President, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, the Deputy National President, Elder Comrade Kizito Kalu, said the changing nature of education made it imperative to strengthen rather than diminish the professional role of teachers.

He called for sustained investment in teachers’ digital skills, continuous professional development and workplace support, stressing that artificial intelligence and other technologies should complement teachers’ expertise and professional judgement.

Kalu reaffirmed the NUT’s commitment to constructive engagement with government and other stakeholders to build a strong, respected and adequately supported teaching profession.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment under the Renewed Hope Agenda to placing teachers at the centre of Nigeria’s education transformation through stronger professional development, digital innovation, improved recognition and supportive working environments.

The ministry said it would continue to work with state governments, education agencies, development partners, teachers’ organisations and other stakeholders to build a resilient, inclusive and globally competitive education system that empowers teachers, improves learning outcomes and equips Nigerian children and young people with the knowledge, skills and values required for national development.

ABUJA (NPA) — NNPC Limited, through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) arm, NNPC Foundation Ltd/Gte., in partnership with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), will on Sunday hold a financial literacy training programme for Batch C, Stream 1 corps members.

According to a statement issued by the corporation, the training will take place in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and across all NYSC orientation camps in the 36 states of the federation.

NNPC said nearly 1.4 million corps members had been trained since the programme began in 2023, with more than 300,000 trained so far in 2026.

It said the Financial Literacy Programme was helping to bridge gaps in financial knowledge among Nigerian youths while creating pathways to entrepreneurship and job creation.

The corporation urged all corps members to participate in the session and acquire essential skills in money management and investment to support entrepreneurship and financial independence.

The training is scheduled to take place across the six geopolitical zones of the country, including the Federal Capital Territory, in all NYSC orientation camps.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has announced Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026, as the commencement date for the 2026 Batch ‘C’ Stream II Orientation Course.

According to a statement issued on Friday by Caroline Embu, NYSC Director of Information and Public Relations, the exercise will be conducted across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.

The statement said registration of corps members would take place from Wednesday, Nov. 4, to midnight of Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.

The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for Friday, Nov. 6, while the orientation course is expected to end with a closing ceremony on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2026.

The NYSC urged prospective corps members to take note of the dates and make the necessary preparations for the exercise.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Twenty-nine Nigerian universities have featured in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, giving Nigeria the highest representation of any country in Sub-Saharan Africa, according to the Federal Ministry of Education.

The ministry, in a statement signed by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Biriowo, said the increase from 24 universities in the 2026 rankings to 29 in 2027 reflected progress under ongoing tertiary education reforms led by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.

The ministry said the reforms were focused on research excellence, innovation, institutional performance and international competitiveness, adding that 32 additional Nigerian universities were listed in the THE Reporter category. This brings the number of Nigerian institutions engaged with the ranking exercise to 61.

Federal universities recorded strong representation, with five of the seven Nigerian universities placed within the global top 1,200 being federal institutions.

The University of Ibadan, University of Lagos and Covenant University were placed in the 801–1000 band. Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin and Bayero University were in the 1001–1200 band.

The ministry said federal universities occupied all six Nigerian positions in the 1401–1600 band, further contributing to Nigeria’s ranking profile.

Five of the seven Nigerian universities reported by the ministry to have recorded clear upward movement were federal institutions: Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Benin.

Other institutions featuring in the 2027 rankings included Landmark University, Babcock University, Osun State University, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Federal University of Technology, Minna, University of Jos, University of Maiduguri, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Lagos State University, Olabisi Onabanjo University, University of Calabar, Delta State University, Abraka, Ekiti State University, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Kwara State University, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, and University of Port Harcourt.

The ministry described the increased participation of Nigerian universities in the THE rankings as evidence, in its assessment, of the impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Education and the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

It said the reform agenda was also focused on strengthening evidence-based institutional performance, research capacity and healthy competition across the tertiary education system.

The ministry said Alausa had directed the Nigeria Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NITERAC), led by Prof. Peter Okebukola, to commence the 2026 national ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

According to the ministry, the national ranking framework, being developed in consultation with stakeholders, will assess institutions using 22 indicators aimed at identifying institutional strengths and areas requiring improvement.

The ministry said the 2027 THE rankings showed research quality as the strongest performance pillar for Nigerian universities, while research environment and teaching remained areas requiring further attention.

It identified academic reputation, research output and productivity, doctoral output, international collaboration and institutional data reporting as areas that would be important to sustaining the progress.

The Federal Ministry of Education said it would continue to support reforms aimed at improving research excellence, teaching quality, innovation, international engagement and institutional competitiveness.

It said the growing participation of Nigerian universities in global rankings should serve not only as recognition but also as a mechanism for benchmarking performance, identifying gaps and driving continuous improvement across the tertiary education sector.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Vice-Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ayodeji Olawunmi, has expressed appreciation to the university community for the overwhelming support she received following her assumption of office as the institution’s 10th substantive Vice-Chancellor.

Olawunmi, in a statement on Sunday, pledged not to take the confidence reposed in her for granted, promising to serve with humility, integrity and dedication while working with members of the university community to advance the institution’s shared aspirations.

She said she looked forward to the continued support, cooperation and constructive engagement of the LASU community as her administration begins its tenure.

“The progress of our University will be a collective endeavour, building on our achievements, addressing our challenges and creating new opportunities for growth and excellence,” she said.

Olawunmi said she was deeply humbled by the goodwill and support that greeted her assumption of office.

She said that since assuming duty on Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, she had received congratulatory messages, courtesy visits, gifts, prayers and words of encouragement from the university management, members of Senate, staff and students, as well as alumni, partners, friends and other stakeholders.

“Your warm reception has reminded me that LASU is more than an institution; it is a community united by a shared history, a common purpose and a commitment to excellence,” she said.

The vice-chancellor said the support had also reinforced her appreciation of the responsibility entrusted to her at an important moment in the university’s history.

“I do not take this confidence for granted. I am committed to serving with humility, integrity and dedication, while working with every member of the LASU community to advance our shared aspirations,” she said.

Olawunmi urged members of the university community to contribute to the progress of the institution, saying its future would depend on collective efforts to build on achievements, address challenges and create new opportunities.

She thanked everyone who had reached out to her since her assumption of office, saying their kindness and encouragement had made the beginning of her tenure meaningful.

“The responsibility before us is significant, but so is the strength of the LASU family. With faith, purpose and a shared commitment to excellence, we shall write another remarkable chapter in the story of Lagos State University,” she said.

Olawunmi added: “The journey has begun. The responsibility is ours. And the future is ours to build together,” she said.

OWERRI, Nigeria (NPA) — The Imo State Government has recruited 6,030 teaching staff for public primary and secondary schools across the state as part of efforts to strengthen the education system and improve the quality of teaching.

Governor Hope Uzodimma, in a statement issued personally on Friday, said the recruitment was not only aimed at creating jobs and strengthening public schools but also at investing in the future of children in the state.

“It is not just about the creation of jobs or the strengthening of our public schools; it is about investing in the future of our children. It is in this spirit that I approved the recruitment of 6,030 teaching staff for our Primary and Secondary Schools across the State,” he said.

Uzodimma said the successful recruits underwent training at the Ben Uwajimogu College of Education to prepare them for their responsibilities before their appointment letters were formally issued.

The governor said he charged the new teachers during an interaction at the Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu International Convention Center (EIICC) to imbibe a sense of ownership and recognise that their responsibilities extend beyond academic instruction to the moral development and character formation of pupils and students.

“ As they proceed to their various schools, they carry the responsibility of shaping and modelling our future leaders. I, therefore, call on communities to support, encourage, and assist them in this important work,” he said.

Uzodimma urged the new teachers to approach their responsibilities with a strong sense of duty, stressing their role in shaping the future of the state.

The recruitment is expected to increase manpower in Imo’s public school system and support the delivery of education across the state.