Category: Education

IJEBU ODE, Nigeria (NPA) — The Students’ Union leadership of Tai Solarin Federal University of Education Students’ Union (TASUED) has condemned the recent wave of robbery attacks targeting students within and around the institution’s host community, issuing a 72-hour ultimatum to security agencies to address the growing insecurity.

In a statement dated April 30, 2026, the union described the attacks as unacceptable, warning that students pursuing academic activities were being subjected to fear, trauma and the loss of personal belongings due to the activities of criminal elements.

The letter, copied to the Federal Ministry of Education, the Inspector General of Police, the Ogun State Commissioner of Education, the Ogun State Commissioner of Police and the Police Area Command in Ijebu-Ode, was signed by union leaders including President Ogunfowora Oluwashinayomi B., General Secretary Salawudeen Toheeb O., Vice President Muh-Omolaja Zulfah, Senate Secretary Isreal Aduragbemi O., Public Relations Officer Olaleye Riowan A., Treasurer Adekoya Segun O., Financial Secretary Abimbola Oregunwa M., Welfare Director Hamzat Razaq O., and Sport Director Salmon Fawaz O.

The union said it would not remain passive in the face of the “disturbing developments,” noting that the persistence of the attacks had stretched the patience of students to its limit.

“We refuse to allow insecurity to become a norm within our community,” the statement read.

The students’ body subsequently issued a 72-hour ultimatum to the Nigeria Police Force, local vigilante groups and other security agencies to apprehend those responsible for the attacks and implement lasting measures to prevent further occurrences.

The union also demanded an immediate reinforcement of security presence through intensified patrols in student-populated areas and other vulnerable locations, urging security agencies to adopt intelligence-driven strategies aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating around the university community.

According to the statement, authorities must prioritize the protection of lives and property to ensure the university environment and surrounding communities no longer serve as safe havens for criminal elements.

The union advised students to remain calm but vigilant and to promptly report suspicious activities to security agencies or the Students’ Union leadership.

It added that discussions were ongoing with university management and relevant security stakeholders to ensure urgent and sustainable security measures were implemented across the institution.

Responding to the concerns raised by the students, the Ogun State Police Command assured the university community that the Commissioner of Police had ordered an immediate investigation into the incidents reported around Ijele and the university environment in recent weeks.

The police said strategic security deployments were already underway following discussions between the Divisional Police Officer of Igbeba and the Students’ Union president, urging the aggrieved students to remain calm and report suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police station as efforts continue to apprehend those behind the attacks.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — In continuation of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives on financial literacy, the NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte has conducted its second 2026 National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) skills empowerment training for Batch A, Stream 2 corps members at the FCT NYSC Orientation Camp, Kubwa, Abuja, over the weekend.

Delivered in partnership with the NYSC Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) scheme, the programme covers financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and business development. The training structure includes a financial literacy test, a “Kick Start My Business” course, and business proposal pitching.

Managing Director of NNPC Foundation, Emmanuella Arukwe, represented by Head of Programme Management, Rose Okonkwo, noted that over one million corps members have been trained nationwide through the initiative.

Acting Director of SAED, Usman Yahaya, commended the NNPC Foundation for its consistent support, urging corps members to acquire multiple skills during their service year to position themselves as job creators rather than job seekers.

It will be recalled that last year, 531 youths received starter packs and financial support to launch their businesses, with most beneficiaries recording measurable progress across their enterprises.

Through the financial literacy programme, the NNPC Foundation Ltd./Gte has sustained its commitment to preparing young Nigerians for sustainable careers and self‑reliance, contributing to national economic growth and development.

LAGOS, Nigeria (NPA) — The Lagos State Ministry of Establishments and Training has congratulated its Permanent Secretary, Olubusola Ajibola Abidakun, on earning a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with specialisation in Human Resource Management from Lagos State University (LASU).

In a statement, the Ministry described the achievement as both a personal milestone and a boost to the capacity of the Lagos State Public Service, noting that it strengthens leadership at a critical level of governance.

According to the Ministry, Abidakun—who serves as the Accounting Officer—brings extensive academic credentials to the role, including three master’s degrees in English Stylistics, Business Administration, and Personnel Management and Industrial Relations from the University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos. She is also pursuing a fourth master’s degree in Corporate Communications at Rome Business School, Lagos.

The statement emphasised that the new qualification would enhance the Ministry’s drive for innovative, strategic, and people-centred human resource management, aimed at improving service delivery across the state.

Highlighting the broader significance, the Ministry urged public servants to embrace continuous learning, stressing that career advancement should not mark the end of personal development.

“Leadership is most impactful when it is driven by a continuous quest for knowledge,” the statement noted, adding that the accomplishment serves as a reminder of the importance of lifelong learning.

The Ministry called on public officers to prioritise capacity building through structured training programmes, digital learning platforms, and research-driven innovation to address administrative and service delivery challenges.

It also reaffirmed its commitment to creating an environment that rewards merit, promotes professional growth, and supports continuous development across all levels of the public service.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Federal Ministry of Education has announced the introduction of a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools, aimed at strengthening quality assurance and standardisation in Nigeria’s education sector.

According to a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, the initiative seeks to address the proliferation of textbooks and ensure that only high‑quality, curriculum‑compliant materials are approved for classroom use.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, alongside Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, explained that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue its statutory role of approving textbooks. However, approved materials will now undergo a structured national ranking process to identify the most suitable options for each subject and level.

NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees comprising experts to conduct rigorous evaluations based on defined academic and pedagogical standards. Only a limited number of top‑ranked textbooks will be approved, ensuring improved quality control and consistency nationwide.

Under the new policy, any textbook not ranked will be prohibited from classroom use, regardless of prior licensing status.

Implementation of the ranking system is scheduled to begin in September 2026, following stakeholder engagement and completion of the evaluation framework.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring access to high‑quality educational resources, describing the initiative as a significant step toward raising standards across Nigeria’s schools.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — The Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, Olakunle Nafiu, has assured corps members that their welfare, safety, and security remain the top priority of the scheme and will not be compromised.

Nafiu gave the assurance while addressing members of the 2026 Batch “A” Stream II deployed to Niger State, as well as those posted to the Federal Capital Territory but undergoing orientation at the NYSC camp in Paiko.

The DG disclosed that he was in Makurdi when he received reports of damage caused by a late-night rainstorm at the Paiko orientation camp. He said he immediately mobilised his team to assess the situation and initiate urgent repairs to affected facilities.

While noting that orientation camps are not designed for luxury, Nafiu emphasised that minimum standards must be maintained. He added that discussions were ongoing between the NYSC and the Niger State Government to fast-track repairs and upgrade the camp, assuring corps members that they would not be left stranded.

He also commended the discipline of the corps members, observing that there were no social media posts or images circulating about the damaged structures.

Highlighting the objectives of the scheme, Nafiu said the NYSC was established to promote national unity and integration, urging corps members to build lasting friendships across ethnic and cultural lines.

He further sensitised them on the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED) programme, describing it as a critical component of the service year that equips participants with practical skills for job creation and additional income opportunities.

The DG revealed that the 2026 Batch “A” Stream II corps members would be the first set to participate as ad-hoc staff in the 2027 general elections. He noted that the Independent National Electoral Commission would provide the necessary training, while cautioning corps members against partisanship, thuggery, and other electoral malpractices.

Reiterating the non-partisan nature of the scheme, Nafiu stressed that corps members are prohibited from engaging in political activities during their service year.

He also urged them to remain vigilant and take proactive measures to ensure their safety, especially during the rainy season, which often brings storms and flooding.

In her remarks, the NYSC Coordinator in Niger State, Mrs. Martina Shuaibu Ibrahim, said a total of 2,484 corps members—comprising 1,241 males and 1,243 females—had been registered for the orientation course, including those redeployed from the FCT to the Niger camp.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has intensified efforts to strengthen partnerships with world‑class organisations to build more resilient education systems across the country.

On Tuesday, the Minister met with a delegation from the United Kingdom’s Department for Business and Trade, which included leaders from Bedford School, Harrow International School, King’s Canterbury, and Dragon International School, Oxford. The meeting continued discussions that began during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent state visit to the UK, where several agreements were signed covering port revitalisation, education, and other strategic sectors.

Dr Alausa explained that the focal point of the partnership discussions centred on strengthening school systems, improving teacher education, advancing curriculum and assessment reforms, and developing skills pathways aligned with labour‑market needs and national development priorities. Both sides also explored practical avenues for technical cooperation and capacity building to ensure young Nigerians are equipped with the skills and opportunities needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

Highlighting the long‑standing educational ties between Nigeria and the UK, the Minister said: “We look forward to deepening this collaboration for the benefit of our schools, teachers, and students.”

Earlier, Newpost Africa reported that Dr Alausa was named Most Innovative Cabinet Minister of the Year (2025) at the Silver Jubilee Awards organised by Independent Newspapers Limited in Lagos on Saturday. He highlighted several initiatives under his leadership, including strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), advancing STEMM education, supporting student innovators through the Student Venture Capital Grant, establishing the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI), expanding the Tertiary Institution Staff Support Fund (TISSF), and reaching a landmark agreement with ASUU to stabilise universities.

Dr Alausa credited these achievements to a “one‑government approach,” emphasising collaboration with other ministries, federal agencies, and subnational governments. He said the reforms form part of the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI) under President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

ABUJA, Nigeria (NPA) — Nigerian activist and advocate for good governance, Aisha Yesufu, has raised alarm over the state of public schools in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), warning that the system is on the brink of collapse unless urgent government action is taken.

Yesufu, a prominent campaigner for the release of the Chibok Girls, said teachers do not abandon classrooms willingly but are often forced to act when pushed to the wall. “When teachers are pushed to the wall, what suffers first is not government pride, it is the future of children,” she stated.

She cited troubling reports from the FCT Nigeria Union of Teachers, noting that a committee report concluded in August 2025 has yet to be released or implemented. Teachers also complain of unresolved entitlements and promotions stalled by bureaucracy. The union has threatened to withdraw its services from 20 April 2026 if these issues remain unaddressed.

Yesufu, in a statement today, stressed that the consequences of a shutdown would be borne by children, not officials. “When classrooms are shut, it is the child in Primary 1 trying to learn how to read, the girl who dreams of becoming a doctor, and the boy who sees education as his only ladder out of poverty,” she said.

She accused FCT Minister Nyesom Wike of silence in the face of the crisis, urging authorities to release the report, implement agreements, and resolve promotion bottlenecks. “Leadership is about stepping in before collapse becomes reality,” she added.

Yesufu described governance over empty classrooms as “useless” and warned that history would not be kind to leaders who remain silent when urgent action is required. “Act now, before classrooms go silent,” she concluded.