Category: Education

YOLA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that poor implementation of its 2025 agreement with the Federal Government could trigger fresh industrial action across public universities in Nigeria.

ASUU President, Mr Christopher Piwuna, issued the warning on Monday during a news conference held after the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Yola.

Piwuna expressed concern over what he described as the Federal Government’s failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee provided for in the agreement signed with ASUU in December 2025.

According to him, the delay is already affecting the smooth implementation of the agreement and creating inconsistencies in its execution.

“Government’s failure to inaugurate the Implementation Monitoring Committee is undermining the smooth execution of the 2025 agreement.

“The absence of the committee has created room for distorted and uncoordinated implementation of the agreement,” he said.

The ASUU president warned that the gains recorded during negotiations could be reversed if the Federal Government failed to fully implement all aspects of the agreement.

He alleged that some government agencies and university authorities were selectively implementing parts of the agreement, particularly in relation to the payment of lecturers’ allowances.

Piwuna also accused some vice-chancellors of failing to fully implement agreed welfare packages for academic staff.

He further stated that some state governments that participated in the negotiations had yet to implement the salary component of the agreement for lecturers in state-owned universities.

According to him, unresolved issues affecting lecturers include withheld salaries, promotion arrears, salary shortfalls and unremitted third-party deductions.

“The continued delay in addressing these issues is worsening frustration among lecturers in public universities,” he said.

Piwuna called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure all outstanding welfare issues were addressed in order to sustain industrial harmony in the university system.

The ASUU president also criticised the proposed National Research and Innovation Development Fund announced by the Federal Government, saying it fell short of the provisions contained in the agreement reached with the union.

He explained that the agreement recommended allocating at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to research funding.

Piwuna further rejected the Federal Government’s proposed establishment of a campus of Coventry University in Nigeria under the Transnational Education framework.

He described the proposal as “neo-colonial” and warned that it could undermine Nigeria’s tertiary education system and local universities.

The ASUU president also opposed plans to scrap some university courses considered irrelevant, insisting that every academic programme contributes to societal and economic development.

He disclosed that ASUU would convene an emergency NEC meeting in the coming weeks to review developments and determine its next line of action. (NAN).

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has warned tertiary institutions against offering admissions outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), describing the practice as illegal and contrary to federal regulations.

The warning was issued by the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions held on Monday in Abuja.

According to Oloyede, some institutions were still issuing admission letters to candidates without approval through CAPS, despite existing government directives.

He said the practice undermines transparency and fairness in the admission process.

The registrar also alleged that there were cases where candidates with higher examination scores were denied admission, while others with lower scores secured placements.

According to him, disciplinary measures have already been initiated against institutions involved in such practices, adding that sanctions would be enforced where necessary.

Oloyede further disclosed that a case involving 11 universities over alleged illegal admissions is currently before the court.

The JAMB registrar also addressed complaints regarding candidates allegedly being posted outside their selected examination towns.

He explained that candidates personally choose their preferred examination towns during registration and are only assigned to centres within those approved locations.

According to him, investigations conducted by the board confirmed that no candidate was posted outside his or her selected examination town.

He added that the matter was also reviewed by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC).

Oloyede reiterated that all admissions into tertiary institutions in Nigeria must be processed through CAPS and urged institutions to comply strictly with approved admission guidelines.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Board of Trustees of Baze University, led by Chairman and Founder Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, PhD, FSAN, has announced the appointment of new principal officers following a rigorous selection process. With effect from 6 May 2026, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi has been named Vice-Chancellor, while Ahmad Mahmoud Lawi assumes the role of Registrar.

Professor Adeniyi, a distinguished scholar of Communication and Media Epistemology, steps into the Vice-Chancellor’s office after serving as Registrar of the University. He is succeeded in that position by Alhaji Lawi, who previously served as Director of Human Resources. Both appointees bring over a decade of dedicated service to the institution, marked by professionalism, loyalty, and commitment to academic excellence.

The Board expressed strong confidence in their capacity to provide effective leadership, strengthen the University’s academic standing, and enhance administrative excellence. In its statement, management emphasized that the appointments reflect Baze University’s commitment to continuity, merit-based leadership, and sustained institutional growth. The University community extended warm congratulations to Professor Adeniyi and Alhaji Lawi, urging staff and stakeholders to support them as they assume their new responsibilities.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, through the Lagos State Examinations Board, has announced the commencement of online registration for the 2026 Screening Test into Model Colleges and upgraded Junior Secondary Schools with boarding facilities for the 2026/2027 academic session.

According to the ministry, the registration exercise is currently ongoing and will close on May 15, 2026.

Parents, guardians, school owners, and head teachers were advised to complete the registration process online through the Lagos State Examinations Board portal. Lagos State Examinations Board Registration Portal

The government stated that only Primary Six pupils from both public and private schools are eligible to participate in the screening exercise.

The screening test, which will be conducted using the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format, is tentatively scheduled to hold between Thursday, June 4, and Saturday, June 6, 2026, at designated centres across the state.

The registration fee for the examination was fixed at ₦10,000.

The ministry also directed candidates of Lagos State origin to upload valid Lagos State Indigeneship Certificates during the registration process.

The board urged all stakeholders to strictly comply with the registration guidelines to ensure a smooth and successful exercise.

UMUNYA, Nigeria (NPA) — Presidential aspirant Mr. Peter Obi on Thursday, May 7, reaffirmed his commitment to education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation during a visit to the University of the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State, southeastern Nigeria.

Obi, who has made it a tradition to support the institution since its establishment five years ago, praised its progress and recalled his last visit to the university’s teaching hospital in Ogidi.

Addressing students, he urged them to remain dedicated to their studies, stressing that “the world today is driven by knowledge, and the future of Nigeria rests in the hands of young people like you.”

In continuation of his philanthropic efforts, Obi announced a donation of ₦25 million to support scholarships and educational development at the university.

Campaigning under the mantra “A New Nigeria is Possible,” Obi commended the Diocese on the Niger for its foresight and commitment to institutional growth. He also expressed appreciation to Vice Chancellor Prof. Chinedu Nebo, noting his dedication to strengthening schools and advancing education.

“I remain fully committed to the growth of education and the development of students in our country because no nation can rise beyond the strength of its education and human capital,” Obi stated.

The visit reinforces Obi’s focus on human capital development as a cornerstone of national renewal.

KADUNA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Olakunle Nafiu, has advised Corps Members to avoid flamboyant lifestyles, live within their means, and cultivate a strong savings culture.

Nafiu gave the advice while addressing Corps Members at the NYSC Kaduna State Temporary Orientation Camp in Kurmi-Mashi, Kaduna.

He urged the Corps Members to take advantage of the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme to acquire vocational and entrepreneurial skills that would enable them to become self-employed and, in turn, create job opportunities for others.

The Director-General noted that the Scheme has partnered with several stakeholders willing to support Corps Members with low-interest loans, business grants, and starter packs to facilitate entrepreneurship after service.

“Don’t waste your time because time is precious. Do something with your time. Be diligent during your post-camp SAED training,” Nafiu said.

He encouraged Corps Members to start small and gradually scale up their business ventures over time, stressing the importance of discipline and financial prudence.

Meanwhile, the NYSC Kaduna State Coordinator, Efeke Murna Dadaza, in her camp situation report, disclosed that 2,896 Corps Members were registered at the camp.

According to her, the figure comprises 2,198 deployed to Kaduna State and 698 dislodged from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

She added that the Corps Members have adjusted to the regimented camp environment and have been actively participating in all scheduled orientation activities.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building a future-ready and globally competitive education system with the inauguration of the Katsina State Smart Model Secondary School in Radda, Katsina State.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, inaugurated the facility on Tuesday alongside Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda.

Alausa disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Ikharo Attah.

The minister described the project as a major milestone, noting that the Smart School represents more than physical infrastructure, but a symbol of innovation, opportunity, and strategic investment in human capital aimed at preparing Nigerian students for a technology-driven global economy.

He commended the governor’s leadership under the Build-Your-Future Blueprint, stating that Katsina’s progress in expanding access to education, improving infrastructure, and strengthening teacher development reflects a strong commitment to sustainable development.

According to him, the initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and forms part of broader reforms under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI).

Alausa said the reforms focus on expanding access to education, strengthening Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medical Sciences (STEMM), as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), while also improving infrastructure, promoting inclusive education, and advancing digital governance.

He disclosed that over N106 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grants had been accessed by states in the last 18 months, while more than N22 billion had been invested in teacher development. He added that N2.035 billion was disbursed to School-Based Management Committees nationwide.

The minister further stated that over 10,000 classrooms had been renovated, 978,000 teachers trained, and more than 7.8 million textbooks distributed across the country.

He announced that the revised Primary Education Curriculum is already being implemented nationwide, while a new Secondary Education Curriculum will take effect in the next academic session.

Alausa also revealed that funding had been secured for the HOPE Education Programme to deepen access, improve quality, and strengthen institutional capacity.

On skills development, he said more than 160,000 youths are currently undergoing training across over 1,200 TVET centres nationwide, with over one million applications recorded in the latest phase.

He highlighted ongoing digital reforms, including the rollout of a cloud-based Annual School Census and the introduction of the Learner Identification Number (LIN) to enhance data-driven planning, transparency, and accountability.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive education, noting intensified collaboration with states to address the challenge of out-of-school children. He added that the Katsina Smart Model Secondary School would serve as a national model for smart education and a catalyst for transformative change in the sector.

In his remarks, Governor Radda said his administration established the school based on the belief that education remains the foremost responsibility of government to its citizens.

He added that the state government would continue to ensure equitable access to quality education across all zones of Katsina State, noting that his administration has implemented far-reaching reforms since assuming office to reposition the sector.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has officially launched the second edition of the Eko Schools Arts and Crafts Competition 2026, themed “THIS IS LAGOS!”, reaffirming its commitment to youth empowerment and the growth of the creative economy.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, May 4, 2026, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs Bopo Oyekan‑Ismaila, said the competition serves as a strategic platform to discover, nurture, and showcase the immense creative potential of young people in Lagos. She stressed that the initiative aligns with Governor Babajide Sanwo‑Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda, particularly the Entertainment and Tourism pillar.

Reflecting on the maiden edition, Oyekan‑Ismaila revealed that 153 entries were received from students across secondary and tertiary institutions, with nine winners emerging across three categories. “That success affirmed one truth: Lagos is brimming with creative brilliance. Our young people are ready to lead the creative economy when given the right opportunities,” she stated.

Announcing the commencement of the 2026 edition, she disclosed that the Ministry is scaling up the competition with structured mentorship from industry professionals, broader industry engagement, internship opportunities, and increased visibility across digital and physical platforms. She noted that the initiative bridges the gap between classroom learning and real‑world creative enterprise, equipping participants with relevant skills while preserving Lagos’ cultural heritage.

Calling on schools, teachers, parents, and guardians to encourage participation, she said: “This is your platform. This is your moment. Let your creativity speak. Let your art tell the story of Lagos and open doors to limitless possibilities.”

The registration portal, www.ekoschoolsartsandcrafts.com, is now open and will run until Monday, May 25, 2026.

Reaffirming government’s commitment to the creative sector, Oyekan‑Ismaila added: “When creativity thrives, innovation flourishes. When innovation flourishes, economies grow. And when economies grow, the people are healthier and happier.” She expressed optimism that this year’s edition will be bigger, more inclusive, and more impactful, producing talents who will proudly represent Lagos on the global stage.