Category: Education

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.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening teacher education, advancing digital learning and expanding access to quality education through the distribution of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) equipment and instructional materials to 15 Colleges of Education across the country.

The initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Government of Japan, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (UNESCO-IICBA), and the African Union.

According to a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday, the intervention forms part of a regional project being implemented in six African countries to promote continuous, inclusive and safe access to quality education for girls.

Speaking at the event in Abuja, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and national priorities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), digital transformation and the reduction of out-of-school children.

She emphasised the critical role of teachers in driving education reforms and improving learning outcomes.

The minister disclosed that the equipment distributed to the beneficiary institutions includes laptops, tablets, desktop computers, smart boards, projectors, printers and storage systems designed to strengthen digital teaching and learning.

According to her, the intervention will also include capacity-building programmes to support ICT integration, inclusive teaching methods and school safety initiatives.

Representatives of UNESCO-IICBA, the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and the Embassy of Japan commended Nigeria’s efforts in advancing teacher development and girls’ education.

They also pledged continued support for initiatives aimed at improving learning environments and expanding access to quality education across the country.

The ministry urged the beneficiary institutions to ensure the effective utilisation and maintenance of the equipment to enhance teacher training and improve educational outcomes nationwide.

The Federal Government said the intervention reflects its broader commitment to leveraging technology to strengthen education delivery and prepare learners for the demands of a rapidly evolving digital economy.

ENUGU, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government College Enugu Old Students Association (FGCEOSA) has commenced the construction of a ₦2 billion Innovation Hub designed to equip students with digital skills and prepare them for opportunities in the technology-driven economy.

The association disclosed this during the groundbreaking ceremony of the FGCEOSA Innovation Hub held at Federal Government College (FGC), Enugu.

The event also featured the inauguration of a solar-powered borehole donated by the SON Eze Trust Foundation in partnership with the alumni association to improve water supply within the school.

Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the Innovation Hub Planning Committee, Mr Odera Udutchay, described the project as a major milestone in the history of the institution.

He said the hub would serve as a centre for innovation, entrepreneurship, research collaboration and technological advancement for current and future generations of students.

“The Innovation Hub represents our collective commitment as alumni to give back meaningfully to the institution that helped shape our lives,” Udutchay said.

According to him, the project will cost about ₦2 billion, covering the construction of the facility, digital infrastructure, equipment and personnel required to operate the centre.

He explained that the project would be implemented in phases over a two-year period, with the first phase comprising civil, mechanical and electrical works expected to be completed within one year.

Also speaking, the President of FGCEOSA, Mr Nnadozie Eze, said the initiative was conceived in 2023 as the flagship legacy project of the association’s 50th anniversary celebration.

Eze said the vision was to establish a world-class innovation centre that would prepare students for the future through technology, research, entrepreneurship, creativity and problem-solving.

He noted that the facility would offer programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), digital literacy, coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship and leadership development.

According to him, the hub is designed to transform students from consumers of technology into creators of solutions and opportunities.

He added that the project aligns with the economic development aspirations of Enugu State and Nigeria by nurturing future innovators, software developers, engineers, scientists, entrepreneurs and business leaders.

“The facility is conceived as a green building incorporating environmentally sustainable features that promote energy efficiency, resource conservation and environmental awareness,” he said.

In his remarks, the Principal of the college, Mr Ezekiel Ogbuanya, described the project as a dream come true for the institution.

Ogbuanya said the innovation hub would enhance the school’s capacity to participate effectively in Computer-Based Test (CBT) examinations conducted by bodies such as WAEC and NECO.

“I am confident that this project will be completed and will significantly improve the learning environment in the school, while the borehole will end water scarcity in the institution,” he said.

A representative of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Dan Enimali, commended the alumni association for the initiative and urged other old students’ groups across the country to emulate the gesture.

He assured the association of the ministry’s support for projects that contribute to educational development.

The Traditional Ruler of Obeagu Ugwuaji, Igwe Chris Nnia, also praised the alumni association for supporting both the school and its host community through medical outreach programmes.

He pledged the community’s support towards the successful completion of the project.

Highlights of the event included a free medical outreach during which about 500 students, teachers and residents of the Ugwuaji community received treatment for various ailments, as well as the inauguration of the Alumni Secretariat within the school premises.