The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, on Monday, announced that it had ditched the paper and pencil test model and has adopted the Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for the conduct of the Senior School Certificate Examination.
This is contained in a statement signed by the acting head of the Public Affairs Unit of WAEC, Moyosola Adesina, and released on Monday.
According to the statement, the innovation would kick off with the conduct of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination for private candidates in February 2024.
“In line with global best practices, the Nigeria National Office of the West African Examinations Council wishes to inform the general public, and all its stakeholders, that it has concluded plans to migrate its WASSCE for Private Candidates Examination Diets from Paper and Pencil Test to Computer Based Examination,” the statement from the body partly read.
The Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Prof. Simeon Bamire, has appealed to students of the institution who were victims of the raid on some off-campus hostels along Ife/Ibadan Road by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to put the experience behind them and move on.
Giving an update on the matter on Thursday, the Vice Chancellor, in a statement signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olanrewaju, commended the EFCC for the quick profiling and release of the students, adding that colleagues of the affected students pressing for their release also exhibited discipline in their agitations.
The statement read partly, “After a spirited effort by the management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, which sent representatives to the Ibadan zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to intervene in the case of arrested students, the EFCC has released 59 of the students.
“While thanking the officials of the EFCC for the quick profiling and eventual release of the students in less than 24 hours, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof Simeon Bamire urged the EFCC to partner with the management of various Institutions of higher learning to organize workshops for students across faculties to sensitize the students about the danger of financial crimes and cyber criminalities.
“The Vice-Chancellor, therefore, appealed to students who were victims of the raid to put the experience behind them and move on with their lives. He lauded other students who rallied round their affected colleagues for being their brothers’ keepers without being violent nor exhibiting any act of vandalism.”
Recall that EFCC operatives stormed hostels in Oduduwa Estate, Ile-Ife in the early hours of Wednesday and arrested 69 students of the university.
The students were taken to the Ibadan Zonal Office of the commission, where they were detained. However the management of the institution, as well as the parents and guardians of the affected students, secured freedom for 59 of them on Wednesday.
Addressing the gaps between theory and contemporary entrepreneurship, the need for curriculum review and ways of becoming exceptional entrepreneurs in Nigeria took centre stage at a three-day entrepreneurship capacity strengthening in Ibadan.
The three-day workshop organized by the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Ibadan is currently ongoing at the Subomi Hall, University of Ibadan.
In his presentation entitled: “Contemporary Entrepreneurship: Bridging the Gap between Theory and Practical”, a lecturer at the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA, Ondo State, Dr Dayo Oladebeye said there is the need for captains of industries to consider the theoretical aspect of their field so as to meet the demands of the contemporary economy.
While identifying innovation and technology, socio-economic and digital knowledge and skill development as key elements in contemporary entrepreneurship, Dr Oladebeye said entrepreneurship in Nigeria has a number of challenges.
Some of the challenges according to him include limited access to finance, poor infrastructure, high cost of doing business, limited access to the market, lack of skilled labour, insecurity and lack of supportive policies.
Dr Oladebeye, who is also a former Rector of Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti suggested designing an education curriculum, industry partnerships, establishing an Entrepreneurship and incubator centre, and encouraging learning and professional development as ways of overcoming the challenges.
In her paper entitled: “Oiling the Wheel of Entrepreneurship for National Competitiveness through Knowledge-based and Digital-driven Economy”, the Director, Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor Oyedunni Arulogun said entrepreneurship education plays a multifaceted and transformative role as it contributes to economic growth.
Professor Arulogun who said Nigeria is currently knowledge and information overload, however, feared the menace of inaccurate data, and loss of social, and professionalism.
Professor Arulogun who suggested feedback from stakeholders in the education sector, policy advocacy and institutional support, emphasized the need for mentorship, building a network of partnerships with the alumni body, and self-development to remain relevant and holistic development of students for a better future.
At an interactive session, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Abdul Waheed Soliu said every individual can become an entrepreneur thanks to the growing technology.
He said the mindset of current students should change towards patriotism.
Professor Soliu noted that the state government had equipped the state university with requisite facilities aimed at enhancing entrepreneurship and skill development of students.
The workshop also provided an avenue for representatives of tertiary institutions that incorporate entrepreneurship and Innovation into their curriculum to narrate experiences and raise observations and questions on critical issues affecting entrepreneurship drive in their various schools.
Our correspondent reports apart from deliberations on poor policy implementation by the government, the growing unemployment occasioned by unskilled graduates, gender-based violence, travelling abroad syndrome and attitudinal change were some of the salient issues discussed at the workshop.
Students of Tai Solarin University Of Education, TASUED, Ijagun, Ijebu-Ode, have taken to the streets to protest the rising case of insecurity ravaging the student communities in the early hours of Thursday.
It was reported that some suspected burglars went to a hostel, carted away valuables, transferred money from the occupants’ bank accounts, and allegedly raped four students on Tuesday. This caused pandemonium in the students’ community, and the government promised to apprehend the culprits.
The Students’ Union led the ‘walk against insecurity and rape’ to lend their voices to the security situation, create awareness about the dangers of rape, and show solidarity with the victims of the unfortunate event.
During the peaceful walk, students bore placards with inscriptions such as ‘Ijagun needs security,’ ‘Students’ lives matter,’ ‘Don’t molest girls,’ ‘Say No To Rape,’ ‘Please save us from rapists,’ ‘Stop gender violence,’ among others.
The security situation had subjected the students to fear as they now have to sleep and walk in groups to forestall any attack.
The Students’ Union President, Akinjetan Emmanuel, said the stand of the leadership of the Union is to have a secured students’ community and that “We want security personnel deployed to the University community, and we also plead for the resuscitation of the deserted police station at Abapawa for the purpose of safety.”
He stated, “Hopefully, the deputy governor helps us achieve everything tabled to her on Tuesday at the meeting.”
A student, Tofunmi Oranaiye, appealed to the Ogun State Government to provide adequate security for the school community.
“The robbery and rape operation is not happening to students for the first time, and the similar incident that happened before this at Imaweje community died down; we haven’t heard any progress on the case.
“We are no longer safe; even in my hostel, we are always vigilant. The nearest police station is at Igbeba, which is far from the school. There can’t be an emergency; you expect the cops to arrest the situation in a few minutes.
“The Government really needs to look into this. I am paying house rent, and I can’t even read in peace” ” she said.
Another student, Olarenwaju Daniel, said the higher authorities should enhance security measures to strengthen security protocols on and off campus.
“They should work closely with local security men and this may include increased patrol presence, improved surveillance systems, and stricter access control measures.”
A student who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “Cultism leads to various menaces in our environment. The state government should deploy men of the Nigeria Police Force and other necessary security agencies to our institutions in Ogun State.”
The Ogun State Government says it is working with the police and other relevant agencies to ensure the safety and well-being of students in all tertiary institutions in the state.
The State Deputy Governor, Mrs Noimot Salako – Oyedele made the submission after an official visit to the Tai Solarin University of Education, TASUED, campus at Ijagun, in Odogbolu Local Government Area of the State following a reported armed robbery attack and rape of some female students of the institution.
The Deputy, who visited the University alongside State Commissioner of Police, Mr Abiodun Alamutu and other stakeholders, said the affected female students were taken to the Sexual Assault Referral Centre at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, OOUTH, Sagamu for medical care and support.
She emphasized that concrete steps had been taken to bolster security measures and foster safe environment across the campuses and the host communities to ensure the safety and make the institutions safe for learning process.
The Deputy Governor said the government had secured the promise of the State Commissioner of Police to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the perpetrators were brought to book while urging everyone to stand united against such heinous act and work collectively to uphold the dignity and safety of all citizens.
President Bola Tinubu says the implementation of the student loan initiative will commence in January 2024.
Tinubu, who was speaking at Abuja during the National Economic Summit 2023 on Monday, assured Nigerian students that the era of incessant strikes will be a thing of the past.
“By January 2024, the new student loan must commence. To the future of our children and students, we are saying no more strikes,” he said.
The bill, sponsored by the Speaker of the 9th House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, now Chief of Staff to the President, provides easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
The funds for the programme will be domiciled in the Ministry of Education and will only be accessed by indigent students of tertiary institutions.
Monday’s move comes days after Tinubu waived the ‘no-work, no pay policy’ imposed by the previous administration on members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
The varsity lecturers had embarked on an eight-month strike to press home their demands including poor funding of schools.
At Monday’s event, Tinubu also demanded improvements to the welfare of the legal system and civil service.
The president acknowledged the pain caused by the subsidy effect while pointing out that these reforms will eventually pay off.
“We have felt the pain of these reforms; soon we shall begin to reap the rewards,” he added.
“If you don’t change and plan the welfare of your judiciary and you ask them to be fair — render justice with passion with a hungry stomach. New and affordable homes will also be built at a record pace, I assure you.”
Human rights lawyer and activist, Femi Falana (SAN), has called on the National Assembly to address Nigeria’s worrisome out-of-school crisis to save the future of the country.
Falana made the call in a speech he read at a summit on Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, hosted by the UK charity IA Foundation in Lagos at the weekend.
The activist said that the refusal of state governments to make counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Fund in the country was hampering access to basic education in Nigeria.
A 2022 UNESCO report said that approximately 20 million children are out of school in Nigeria, which is Africa’s most populous nation.
Falana, in his speech, made available to the press in Abuja on Sunday, stressed the need for the National Assembly to act fast, lamenting that the number of out-of-school children in the country was alarming.
According to him, pursuant to Section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, it is important for the state governments to make counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Fund, which has continually been ignored.
The activist argued that the National Assembly should ensure an amendment of the constitution to empower the accountant-general of the federation to deduct the counterpart fund payable by every state government from its source.
“In June last year, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Mr Hamid Bobboyi, bemoaned the refusal of state governments to provide counterpart funding and access the annual matching grants given by the commission to develop their basic education system.
“The commission was particularly concerned that about N110 billion of the intervention funds accessed from UBEC were not utilised by the states in 2021, with the money left in the coffers of State Universal Basic Education Boards.
“Sometime in 2017, we learnt that the Federal Government had decided to refund state governments all monies so far deducted from their accounts to meet the London Paris Club obligations.
“We were able to convince the Federal Government to deduct the counterpart fund that the state governments had failed to contribute to the Universal Basic Education Fund.
“The suggestion was accepted by the Federal Government and that was how the sum of N71.3 billion was deducted from source and remitted to the account of UBEC.
“Thereafter, UBEC added the matching grant of N71.3 billion and the states received a total of N142.6bn for the provision of needed facilities in public primary and junior secondary schools in the country.
“What the National Assembly should do is to address the refusal of state governments to make counterpart contributions to the Universal Basic Education Fund pursuant to Section 2 of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act.’’
According to him, the National Assembly should, as a matter of urgency, ensure the amendment of the constitution to empower the accountant-general of the federation to deduct the counterpart fund payable by every state government from its source.
Falana explained further that since each of the 36 states of the federation had adopted the Child’s Rights Act and enacted a Child’s Rights Law, it had become the joint responsibility of the federal, state and local governments to ensure that every Nigerian child was given an opportunity to acquire free and compulsory education.
He added that the Discrimination Against Persons With Disabilities (Prohibition) Act of 2019 guaranteed free education up to senior secondary school level for every person with a disability.
“In the same vain, all public schools, whether primary, secondary or tertiary shall have at least one personnel trained to cater for the educational development of persons with disabilities or special facilities for the effective education of persons with disabilities.
“These laws have been observed in their breach because the members of the political class, drawn from all registered political parties have not demonstrated any commitment to the education of every child in Nigeria.
“The members of the legislative and executive organs of governments have failed to appreciate the danger of having 18.5 million out-of-school children, the highest in the world.
“Therefore, amending the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act to make it more stringent for parents will not work in a poverty-stricken environment,” Falana said.
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde says his government will continue to support Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association to lift the standard of education and equally restore the old glory of the school.
The governor said this while inaugurating several projects facilitated by the old students of different sets of the school.
Governor Makinde, speaking shortly after the inauguration of the projects, appreciated the Old Boys Association of the school for its efforts since the inception of his administration.
He called on well-meaning individuals, old students associations and others should team up with the government noting that government alone cannot solve all the challenges in the education sector and
According to him, about 60 to 70 billion Naira was required to overhaul the infrastructure in the state’s education sector.
Governor Makinde, therefore, enjoined other old students’ associations not to forget their alma maters by contributing to the growth of their institutions and education in the state through various projects to complement the efforts of the state government.
The projects commissioned by the governor and facilitated by the Government College Ibadan Old Boys Association were, a state of the art 3-in-1 court for basketball, volleyball and handball, refurbished and restored library and two separate technical education workshops for metal and wood donated by Central Bank of Nigeria in support of technical education.
A new building is to be provided for Accountancy Department of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, MAPOLY, Abeokuta, Ogun State by former students of the school as part of activities to mark the 35th graduation anniversary of the set.
The project, initiated by the Accounting Alumni Set 83/88 of the Ogun State Polytechnic, now MAPOLY, led by their President, Chief Shina Oluwoye, will include a theatre hall and laboratory for accounting training.
The Set parades an array of distinguished professionals in the field of Accounting, including the Accountant – General of the Federation, Dr Oluwatoyin Madein.
Speaking at the project’s foundation laying ceremony, the Alumni Set President, Chief Oluwoye said the move was aimed at giving back to the institution that offered members a platform for acquiring the solid foundation which enabled them to thrive in their chosen field.
Chief Oluwoye who acknowledged the great transformation at the school urged the Polytechnic community to find a lasting solution to the recurring issue of strike and advised the students to shun acts capable of putting their future in jeopardy.
In a remark, Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr Adeoye Odedeji while playing host to the Old Students, promised that the institution was committed to sustaining the tradition of academic excellence.
Dr Odedeji who affirmed the outstanding performances of the Polytechnic’s Accounting Students, said many Higher National Diploma, HND products of the institution had become certified Chartered Accountants before graduation.
Also, the Head, Accounting Department, Dr Kayode Ogunwende who applauded the 83/88 Alumni Set for the gesture, expressed joy that the proposed Accounting Building would greatly enhance teaching and learning in the school.
There would be no form of increment in tuition fees whatsoever in all tertiary institutions in the Kwara State.
Kwara State Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Dr Mary Arinde, who stated this at a meeting on Friday, emphasised that the AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq-led administration was doing everything possible to lessen the burden on all and sundry, as part of measures to cushion the effects of the present economic hardships.
Dr Arinde called on parents and guardians to disregard the rumours of tuition fee hikes across tertiary institutions in the state.
In his remarks, the acting Vice-Chancellor of Kwara State University, Malete, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described Governor AbdulRazaq’s determination to maintain the status quo on school fees payable by students of the institution as an act of visionary leadership.
Professor Jimoh added that the governor decided to ensure that the people of the state have access to qualitative education at the tertiary level.
He, however, urged the students to reciprocate by conducting themselves peacefully and making optimal use of the opportunity to complete their courses at the institution.
Also, the Provost, College of Education, Oro, Professor Mukaila Aremu, also confirmed that the previous tuition fees for students in the three Colleges of Education in the state remain the same, adding that, there is no plan whatsoever for any increment as purportedly being circulated among the general public.
Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) has called on the students of the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki to speak out whenever they see or experience any corrupt act or when sexually harassed by their lecturers.
The agency, which was established to investigate corruption acts by public officials, civil servants and contractors, has taken its sensitization campaign around government-owned agencies, Ministries as well as State-owned institutions of higher learning.
While speaking at the sensitization and advocacy campaign program at the Oke-Ogun Polytechnic, Saki, the OYACA Chairman, Hon. Justice Eni Esan, said corruption has affected the socio-economic growth of Nigeria and the time to wipe it out has come.
She called on the students and staff members of the institution to be wary of corruptive tendencies that could affect their images negatively while charging the management of the institution to encourage probity in the finances.
She called on female and male students to contact the agency by writing to the OYACA head office at Ibadan, the local office at Saki or mail their complaints to the agency’s website for prompt attention.
“If you experience sexual assault from your lecturers or management of the institution, do not hesitate to contact us, you can go to our website to lodge complaints, we will take immediate action.
“We have an office here in Saki, so you won’t have to come all the way to Ibadan, you can lodge your complaints at our Saki office.”
In his speech, the Rector of the Polytechnic, Dr. Surveyor Ajibola Sikiru, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Eniola Philip appreciated the government of Oyo State, under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde for deeming it fit to sensitize students and staff members about corruption and its adverse effects on the communities and the entire State.
He said the establishment of the agency was timely, as the nation is going through socioeconomic challenges that were caused by the greed of the people.
He pledged the support of the entire staff members and students of the Polytechnic to OYACA, for the the growth of the State.
During the question and answer session, one a student of the institution, Peter Adekunle, urged the agency to establish an anti-corruption vanguard for the school, an idea that the Chairman of OYACA said was good, especially as such group has been founded in State higher institution like the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Ogbomoso (LAUTECH).
Among the members of the OYACA board that were at the event are Prince Oyebade Oyedepo fca, I.O Tijani, the Executive Secretary of the agency, Mrs Folasade Ajibade who is the Director of ICT and the Director of Administration, Mr. Lere Omotoso.
The National Youth Service Corps has charged Corps employers to provide additional welfare package for Corps members so as to optimize their productivity in the one year national service.
Director General of the NYSC Brigadier-General Dogara Ahmed gave the charge while addressing the 2023 Corps Employers’ Workshop held at the Multi purpose hall of the NYSC Secretariat,Agodi, Ibadan.
Brigadier-General Ahmed, who spoke through the Director NYSC southwest area office, Mr. Amusan Oluwole lamented the non commitment of corps employers at providing stipends and accommodation for Corps members serving in their establishments adding that provision of welfare module commensurate with their services especially in the current economic realities would spur them to higher productivity.
While admitting that the security challenges in the country was a threat to the National Youth programme, The NYSC DG cautioned against over utilisation of Corps members and aiding and abetting Corps members to perpetuate truancy and other social vices.
A life Coach, Mrs. Funke Adetuberu, in a paper presentation entitled improving the welfare and security of corps members for increased productivity recommended that corps employers to provide parental guidance to the corps members in other to discover their potentials and discouraged the ”japa” notion amongst youths.
Earlier in an address of welcome, the state coordinator, NYSC, Oyo State, Mr Abel Oche enjoined employers of corps members to provide enabling environment to give way for talents and skills development in the national programme.
The workshop afforded corps employers, NYSC officials and corps members to extensively discuss and iron out grey areas in their participation in the scheme as well as fashion out possible solutions to them.
The Director General, DG of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, Brigadier General Yushau Ahmed has expressed worry over the declining welfare provision for corps members by their employers.
The Director General while delivering a keynote address during the 2023 Corps Employer’s Workshop held at the NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, in Ede, Osun State, noted that the issue of poor welfare for corps members had continually impeded their optimal performance and compromises the philosophy of the NYSC scheme.
Brigadier General Ahmed explained that the majority of those who made requests for corps members to be posted to their establishments did not provide accommodation for them and where such was provided; it was usually in deplorable conditions unfit for human habitation.
He also berated poor security of areas where the accommodations were provided, noting that many did not provide transportation or any allowance in lieu of transport for the corps members.
The Director General alleged some employers of corpers of conniving with them to commit truancy which often put their lives at risk.
“Many employers connive with those posted to them, allowing them to travel at will. In fact, we have evidence that some of the employers shared part of the allowance the federal government pays these children to permit them to leave their place of primary assignment. Unfortunately, we have lost some of them to this truancy. Last week, one had an accident in Kogi State while travelling without authorization, while two others died in an accident during an illegal journey”.
The Director General’s address which was delivered by the Deputy Director, Corps Development, South West Area of the NYSC, Mr Williams Ella, emphasized that the workshop was to enable both parties to find better ways to address the issues of corps members’ welfare so as to get optimal performance from them.
The employers of corps members also tabled certain challenges that continually affect some of the areas of welfare mentioned.
Mr Ademola Agbeko who represented Redeemers’ University, Ede said the federal government should start the welfare by paying a living monthly wage to the corps members and improve the security of lives and property in the country.
Similarly, Pastor Olaleye Sadiq pointed out that the attitude of some of the corpers, like not staying in accommodation provided by employers or staying out till late hours before returning home, among others had continued to hamper the efforts of employers aimed at securing them.
In an opening remark, the Osun State coordinator of the NYSC, Mr Ndoma Agbor Obim said the workshop with the theme, “Optimizing The Productivity of Corps Members Through Enhanced Welfare and Security During The Service Year”, is a significant milestone in the ongoing commitment to connecting talented corps members with employers who share the NYSC vision of fostering personal and professional growth.
Earlier, the Osun State Commissioner for Youth, Mr. Moshood Olagunju urged participants to take advantage of the workshop to understand and clear issues on their obligations in the welfare of the corps members.
Papers were presented by guest lecturers including Dr Olutosin Olufisayo of Adeleke University who spoke on, “Improving the Welfare and Security of Corps Members for Increased Productivity”.
There is a saying that ’’there is time for everything, a time to work and time to rest’’.
For the Principal of Oba Akinbiyi Model High School 2, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayodele, the time to rest commenced on ….when she finally bid the four walls of the secondary school farewell after thirty five years of meritorious service.
The event held at the school premises, Mokola, Ibadan witnessed the presence of family members, friends, students of the school, NUT chairman Ibadan North, Mr Salau Taiwo, ANCOPPS Chairperson, Ibadan North, Mrs Fatima Okunlola who performed the pen down, the Assistant Director, News and Current Affairs, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Mrs Morenike Esan and other dignitaries.
Some of the officials of the school showered encomiums on Mrs Ayodele, describing her as a trustworthy and hardworking mentor, who in no small measure influenced them positively.
The Vice Principal Academics, Mr Mustapha described Mrs Ayodele as a virtuous woman worthy of emulation.
Some of the teachers viewed Mrs Ayodele as a mother who had impacted their lives and contributed immensely to the development of the school.
In her reaction, the retiring Principal, Mrs Oluwatoyin Ayodele while appreciating God for the journey so far, lauded all the staff for their support and cooperation, urging them to continue the good works.
Mrs Ayodele, who could not hide her joy that she signed out of Oyo State Teaching Commission, recounted how the thirty five years journey started with her late mother who encouraged her to take the job offer when she was transferred to Imesi Ile Grammar School as a 21year old lady.
Highlights of the programme included presentation of gifts, songs and poem rendition by the students while special prayers were offered for Mrs Ayodele.
Periodic review of curricula in the education sector is vital, to meet the challenges of the new global realities.
A guest speaker, Professor Kehinde Kester of the Department of Adult Education, University of Ibadan stated this while delivering a Lecture entitled: “Nigerian Economy: Reimaging Education System for the Fifth Industrial Revolution”, as part of activities marking the 2023 Press Week of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council held at Dapo Aderogba Hall, Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Professor Kester said the current curriculum had been in use for a long time and needed to be reviewed to conform to global best practices of education.
In his message to the event, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris who was represented by the Director, Public Relations and Protocol, Mrs Omolara Esan called on Nigerians to support the present administration in the country, saying the current policies would be favourable to all in no distant time.
Declaring the event open, Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade commended the journalists in the state for their unflinching support to the government and bridging the gap between it and the public.
Earlier, the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Oyo State Council, Alhaji Demola Babalola called on the public and government to see media as friends who would always keep promoting the unity of the country, adding that journalists would not relent in educating, informing and enlightening the society as parts of its constitutional roles.
Present at the event were, renowned broadcaster, Dr Yemi Farounbi who was the chairman on the occasion, former chairmen of NUJ, Oyo State Council including the Deputy Director News and Current Affairs, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, Ibadan, Mr Adewumi Faniran and journalists across the state.
Inclusive education for girls and every child is imperative for national development.
This was the submission of stakeholders at a programme organised by a nongovernmental organisation, NGO, Mentoring Assistance for Youths and Entrepreneurs Initiative (MAYEIN) in commemorating the International Day of the Girl-child.
MAYEIN launched its Girls in Education Dialogues project in 2022 after a noticeable gap in access and inclusion in education policies in Oyo State.
Since then, the organization has trained over 150 girls on knowledge of their rights, as well as learning to become self-advocates and exercising their agency in education decision-making.
The Program, which was in 3 folds, had an approach of capacity building for schoolgirls, followed by a General Assembly where schoolgirls dialogue with policymakers and implementers.
Police makers in attendance included Ministry of Education officials, lawmakers, community leaders, parents, teachers and other key stakeholders in education to discuss the needs and challenges of schoolgirls in the state.
Representatives were drawn from Oba Akinbiyi High School II, Methodist Secondary School, Favos, IMG Grammar School, Oje, St Brigid’s Secondary School, Ikolaba Grammar School, Community High School, Agbowo Bodija, Orogun Grammar School, Samuel Adegbite Grammar School, Ojoo High School Ibadan School for the Deaf, Ijokodo and Bodija International College.
Resolutions drawn from the Assembly were then presented as a policy document to the Oyo State Government and other stakeholders to enable them to address the issues raised by the schoolgirls.
The event featured a panel session with a representative of the Commissioner for Women Affairs Mrs Igein, the APC South Senatorial district Women leader, Mrs Fatima Sanni Hassan, as well as a UNICEF representative, Mr Tari Akon and the Co-founder of PatchPay, Mr Sanmi Adebunmi.
The presiding panel of the day was chaired by Dr Yemi Farounbi, former Nigerian Ambassador to the Philippines, Oloye Lekan Alabi, the Maye Olubadan, Dr Mosuro, founder, The Booksellers, Mrs Funsho Adegbola, founder, The Vale College and Mrs Helen Ojehomon, the President of Niger Wives Association of Nigeria as well as the representative of the Commissioner for Education, Ministry of Education Science and Technology.
The keynote address was given by a representative of the Oyo State Head of Service, Mrs.Oyeyemi Ojo, Permanent Secretary/Inspector General of Education.
Overall, the Organization urged the State Government, community leaders, parents and other NGOs to adopt a joint stakeholder approach in lending their voices to girls education and development.
There is no evidence that the diploma Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu submitted to the country’s electoral commission was forged, the BBC’s Global Disinformation Team has found.
Allegations that President Tinubu’s certificates were faked went viral on social media following the release by Chicago State University (CSU) of his academic records last week.
We have looked at some of the most widely circulated claims.
The release of the president’s academic documents is the culmination of a judicial case filed in August by one of his main rivals in February’s presidential election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Mr Abubakar was hoping to have the victor disqualified after accusing him of falsifying the CSU diploma of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration awarded in 1979 that he submitted to the electoral authority (Inec).
To obtain evidence for his case in Nigeria, Mr Abubakar approached a US court in August, requesting it to compel CSU to release Mr Tinubu’s academic records through a process called discovery, where the parties exchange information including documents ahead of a trial.
Mr Tinubu’s lawyers opposed the discovery application, citing privacy concerns, but the US court decided it should proceed.
The documents requested by Mr Abubakar were:
A copy of any diploma issued by CSU in 1979
A copy of the diploma CSU gave to Mr Tinubu in 1979
Copies of diplomas with the same font, seal, signatures, and wording awarded to other students that are similar to what CSU awarded to Mr Tinubu in 1979
Documents from CSU that were certified by Jamar Orr, who was then a staff member of CSU, in the 12 months from 1 August 2022
In response to request one, CSU submitted seven diplomas covering different disciplines with the names of the students redacted. According to the university’s registrar, these diplomas had not been collected by the students.
In response to request two, CSU stated that it could not find the diploma they issued to Mr Tinubu in 1979, because they do not keep copies of diplomas already collected by students.
In response to request three, CSU stated that it produced for Mr Tinubu a replacement diploma dated 27 June 1979. It also released diplomas awarded to other students that bore similar font, seal, signatures and wordings as Mr Tinubu’s diplomas.
In response to request four, CSU submitted other academic documents initially attested to and released by Mr Orr.
In line with the judge’s ruling, Mr Abubakar’s lawyer Angela Liu last week questioned Caleb Westberg, CSU’s current registrar, in a deposition.
The BBC was given access to the deposition transcript by Mr Abubakar’s spokesperson, Phrank Shaibu.
Some social media users in Nigeria alleged that the deposition and the diplomas released by CSU confirm that the diploma submitted to INEC by Mr Tinubu was forged. This claim was also repeated by one of Mr Abubakar’s lawyers, Kalu Kalu, at a press conference last week.
We found there was no evidence to support this claim.
The CSU released several diplomas issued between 1979 and 2003. We analysed all of them.
There are three different diplomas for Mr Tinubu that we refer to throughout our analysis:
The original one, from 1979, which he has said in the past was lost when he went into exile in the 1990s
The second one, that he submitted to INEC – supposedly a replacement diploma from CSU (it is similar to diplomas issued by CSU in the 1990s)
Additionally, CSU holds another replacement diploma for Mr Tinubu that they say is probably from the early 2000s that he never collected
The allegations on social media are based on a comparison between the document Mr Tinubu submitted to INEC and the 1979 diplomas released by CSU.
During Mr Westberg’s deposition, Mr Atiku’s lawyer focused on the copy of the diploma President Tinubu handed to the electoral commission and suggested that it was unlike any of the diplomas released by CSU.
However, while Mr Westberg agreed with Ms Liu that the diploma in question does not look like the samples from 1979, he stated that the certificate actually looks like three of the diplomas CSU released to Mr Abubakar. Our analysis confirms this.
It turns out that the discrepancy in the appearance of the diploma is down to it having been re-issued in the 1990s.
Mr Westberg said the template of CSU’s diploma has changed several times over the years. He said any request for a new diploma would resemble the current template at that time, no matter when the student graduated.
As such, if Mr Tinubu had reordered his diploma in the late 1990s, what he would have been given would look like what was obtainable then.
Three of the diplomas dating from the 1990s that CSU submitted were similar to Mr Tinubu’s.
One of them, which bears the date 18 December 1998, is identical (aside from the names, class of degree, and dates) to the diploma Mr Tinubu handed over to INEC.
Mr Westberg also stated that CSU does not keep notes of when a graduate asks for the reissuing of a diploma and therefore Mr Tinubu’s request for a copy of the diploma was not recorded.
The copy he gave to the electoral commission had part of the university logo missing, which Mr Westberg said in his deposition was possibly “cut off” when it was photocopied.
We analysed the diploma. It appears in fact that its bottom part was not included during the photocopy process.
The BBC reached out to Mr Tinubu’s team to get a copy of the diploma in question. They sent what they said was the only existing copy of the diploma. It is a black and white photocopy identical to what was submitted to INEC.
Another claim, made by a fact-checking organisation in Nigeria, was that the diploma Mr Tinubu submitted was not from CSU as its diplomas do not include the phrase “with honors” under the degree name.
But the BBC found that while this was not reflected in the other diplomas released by CSU, it does appear in Mr Tinubu’s diploma issued in the early 2000s, which was authenticated by Mr Westberg during his deposition.
It has the words “with honors” – a match with the diploma with the same detail submitted by the president to INEC.
Mr Westberg said that the school could authenticate this particular diploma because it was still in its possession as it was never picked up.
Not every student graduates from university with honours. Mr Tinubu, as attested to by CSU in several court documents seen by the BBC, did graduate from CSU with honours.
The BBC contacted CSU with questions about its diplomas and it referred us to a statement that read in part: “We are confident and always have been in the veracity and integrity of our records regarding Tinubu’s attendance and completion of graduation requirements”.
Another allegation making the rounds on social media is that the person who attended CSU with the name Bola A Tinubu is female.
Mr Tinubu attended Southwest College (now known as Richard J. Daley College) before transferring to CSU in 1976. In Southwest’s transcript, there is an “F” (for “female”) in the column where gender is indicated, leading to claims that it was a woman who attended the school and Mr Tinubu “stole her identity”. Mr Atiku’s lawyer, Mr Kalu, alluded to this in a press conference last week.
However, in his deposition, Mr Westberg stressed that there was no confusion about the gender of the person who attended CSU as he was a male named Bola A Tinubu. He said the university used other factors other than the name to authenticate the student’s identity.
According to him, the Social Security Number (SSN) in the transcript from Southwest College matches what it has in other documents in which the student’s gender is clearly marked as male.
However, the released documents did raise questions about Mr Tinubu’s birth date and the secondary school he attended.
One of the documents stated that Mr Tinubu attended Government College Lagos in 1970. However, information available on the school website stated that it was only founded in 1974.
Aside from the gender discrepancy, the birth dates in some of the released documents differ from the official birth date of President Tinubu, which is 29 March 1952.
His transcript from CSU has his date of birth as 29 March 1954. His undergraduate admissions application form has his date of birth as 29 March, 1955.
Mr Atiku’s lawyer said during Mr Westberg’s deposition that on the forms submitted to INEC, Mr Tinubu had given his date of birth as 29 March 1952.
Mr Westberg, during cross-examination, responded that the discrepancies could have been due to human error.
We contacted Mr Tinubu’s team for comment about these discrepancies and a spokesperson directed us instead to his party – the All Progressives Congress. We then contacted Mr Tinubu’s presidential campaign spokesperson Festus Keyamo, who is also a minister in the government. He did not take our calls or respond to our text and WhatsApp messages.
We also sent questions to Mr Abubakar’s team. They did not respond.
The National Examinations Council, on Tuesday, disclosed that 93 schools were found to be involved in whole-school (mass) cheating while 52 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting during the 2023 Internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while announcing the release of the results of the examination.
Wushishi said the erring schools would be invited to the council for discussion after which appropriate sanctions would be applied.
He said 1,196,985 candidates, representing 616,398 males and 580,587 females, sat the examinations, adding that 1,543 candidates with special needs also sat the examinations.
Wushishi said, “The number of candidates with Special Needs is 1,542, which includes 913 candidates with hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with albinism, 61 candidates with autism, 149 candidates with low vision, and 154 candidates with adermatoglyphic, which are candidates with no fingerprints.“737,308 candidates, representing 61.60 per cent, passed with five credits and above, 1,013,611, representing 84.68 per cent of candidates, had five credits, irrespective of English and Mathematics.”
Speaking further on the erring schools, the NECO boss said, “In line with our resolve to identify and sanction erring schools and supervisors, 93 schools were found to have been involved in whole-school (mass) cheating. They will be invited to the council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.
“Similarly, 52 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting during the examination. “At this juncture, ladies and gentlemen, I wish to formally declare that the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination Internal results are hereby released to the public. By this release, candidates can now access their results on NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng, using their examination registration numbers.”
Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke says his administration will revive the dying adult Literacy Centres across the State and facilitate skill acquisition for all, especially for women and young girls.
Senator Adeleke stated this while speaking at the International Conference of Nigerian National Council for Adult Education, NNCAE held at the University of Ilesa, Osun State.
Represented by the Commissioner for Education, Mr Dipo Eluwole, the Governor’ said adult education was now more relevant today than ever before in the history of the country.
He said due to new technological ideas and innovations to learn, there is a need for more skills to be acquired for sustainability and prosperity.
Senator Adeleke noted that due to the increase in teenage pregnancy, early marriage, child labour, irresponsible parenthood and societal violation of the Universal basic education ethics, adult education is essential. He appealed to NNCAE to expedite action with adequate collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education to ensure that Nigerians were given second chances to achieve basic literacy and numeracy.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) on Tuesday released the results of the 2023 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
Speaking at a press conference in Minna, the Niger state capital, NECO Registrar, Datani Wushishi, a professor, described this year’s result as the best in recent times.
Mr Wushishi said 737,308 candidates representing 61.60 per cent got at least a credit in five subjects including English Language and Mathematics.
The previous year, he said, 60 per cent of the candidates recorded a similar feat.
“It gladdens my heart to notify you that reports we have received so far indicate that the 2023 SSCE Internal has been certified the best in recent times,” he said.
“We are very thankful to God for this and to all those who made it possible.”
Mr Wushishi said this year’s results were released exactly 58 days after the last paper was written.
“The 2023 examination was conducted from Monday 10th July to Friday 11th August 2023. The marking exercise started on Wednesday 30th August and ended on Friday 15th September. This means that this year, we are releasing our results 58 days after the last written paper. This is as a result of our desire to ensure that we release the complete results, rather than in batches.”
The NECO Registrar noted that a total of 1.2 million (1,205,888) students registered for the 2023 examinations. He said 621,084 of the total figure are male while the remaining 585,804 are female.
He said 1,196,985 candidates eventually sat the examinations with 616,398 males and 580,587 females.
He added that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, is 1 million (1,013,611), representing 84.68 per cent.
The registrar gave the breakdown of the number of candidates with special needs as 1,542.
He said 913 candidates had hearing impairment, 162 candidates with visual impairment, 103 candidates with Albinism, 61 candidates with Autism, 149 candidates with low vision, 154 candidates with Adermatoglyphia,
On malpractice, the registrar said, a total of 12,030 candidates representing 0.07 per cent of the total number of candidates were involved in various forms of malpractice during the school-based examination. He said this is down from 13,595 (0.13 per cent) last year.
Meanwhile, the release of the result by NECO may have opened a new door of opportunity for admission seekers into tertiary institutions across the country.
SSCE result is one of the requirements for gaining admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions apart from the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
One Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Three 200 Level students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso will resume at the Iseyin Campus, by the end of October, 2023.
This is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Seyi Makinde during the commissioning of the Iseyin campus, last month.
In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday, the college of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources, will begin the second semester in Iseyin on October 23, 2023.
The Commissioner recalled that his counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Saliu Adelabu has held series of meetings with the Pro- Chancellor, Prof. Deji Omole and the Ag. Vice-chancellor to ensure the realisation of the students’ resumption.
According to him, the resumption is significant because since April, 2023 when Oyo State Government announced the movement of the Agriculture Faculty to Iseyin, commencement of lecture for the 200 level students will now formally begin.
Last week Thursday, the Ag. Vice-chancellor, Prof. Rasaq Olatunde Kalilu led the institution’s management team, to a meeting with stakeholders, where community leaders pledged their absolute support for the resumption and promised, to do all in their power to ensure comfortable stay of the coming students.
Prince Oyelade said agreement was reached on affordable accommodation, transportation and security measures in anticipation of their resumption.
Some of the lecturers, who may not secure immediate accomodation within Iseyin township, have made arrangements, to come from their Ogbomoso base on daily basis.
This is made feasible, because the newly constructed 76km Ogbomoso-Iseyin road, is 55 minutes drive.
The Commissioner recalled that the first semester officially ended on October 3, 2023.
The management of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State has announced the suspension of academic activities for one week.
The Registrar of the polytechnic, Mrs Olubunmi Elewodalu announce this in a statement sent to newsmen on Monday evening.
She said the closing down of the school was due to the prevailing circumstances, apparently referring to the students’ protest which rocked the school on Monday morning.
Elewodalu said, “The temporary suspension of the academic activities is a result of the need to address the prevailing circumstances in the polytechnic.
“The suspension of the academic activities will be effective from Monday, October 9, to Friday, October 13, 2023. During this period all students are directed to stay away from the campus until otherwise directed.”
The students of the school had on Monday morning protested the hike in the acceptance fee paid by newly admitted students, among other issues.
The students, who trooped out to the campus gate as early as 7 am, were seen in their numbers holding placards with inscriptions such as “#No To Increment of Tuition Fee,” “#Rector Must Go,” “#Release our Results ASAP,” among others.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force were also present at the scene.
Speaking during the protest, the Students’ Union President of the institution, Babatunde Adelola, said, “We have many reasons to protest. Recently, the school said they were not getting funding from the state government and they needed to generate funds internally, which was why they increased the acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500.
“Aside from the hike in fee, the delay in the release of our result is affecting students. For instance, those who graduated in the last session have yet to be mobilised for service. I am in HND 2 second semester and I have yet to see the result of the exams I took in HND 1 second semester. This is affecting students because they do not know their academic standing and how well to prepare for the next exams.”
The proposed establishment of a Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies at Iselu in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State has continued to generate reactions as stakeholders applaud the Nigerian Senate for the move.
The Bill for the establishment of the College, sponsored by the member representing Ogun West Senatorial District and Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Senator Olamilekan Adeola had recently passed its first reading at the Senate.
Reacting to the development, the Pro-Democracy Group, Alimosho, Lagos State described the move to establish the specialized Institution to produce highly efficient Engineers for the nation’s geological and cement industries as a good step in the right direction.
In a letter by the Convener, Chief Sharafadeen Anifowoshe, the Pro – Democracy Group said the step would further help to strengthen the bid to diversify Nigeria’s economy from crude oil, by providing the trained and certified engineers required to meet the massive manpower needs of a thriving economy across the sectors.
It emphasized that the plans by the Federal Ministry of Solid Minerals to ensure full blown exploration of the vast mineral resources in the country as well as the proposed nationwide execution of concrete roads by the Federal Ministry of Works had underscored the need for such specialized institution.
The Pro-Democracy Group appealed to the national lawmakers to expedite action on the passage of the Bill to pave the way for its final approval by President Bola Tinubu and the subsequent take-off of the Federal College of Geological and Cement Studies, Iselu in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.
Some students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Monday, gathered at their school gate to protest the hike in the acceptance fee paid by newly admitted students among other issues.
The students, who trooped out to the campus gate as early as 7am were seen in their numbers holding placards with inscriptions such as #No To Increment of Tution Fee, #Rector Must Go, #Release our Result ASAP among others.
Men of the Nigeria Police Force were also present at the scene.
Among the issues affecting the students included delay in result, shortage of staff and increment in the acceptance fee for fresh students.
The Students Union President of the institution, Babatunde Adelola, noted that the management alleged that the institution is not getting adequate subsidy from the state government, which prompted the hike in acceptance fee paid by fresh students from N35,000 to N50,500.
Adelola lamented the delay in release of results, which often lasted one year for a semester result to be released.
This, he said, has affected the academic performances of students.
“We have many reasons to protest. Recently, the school said they are not getting funding from the state government and they need to generate funds internally which was why they increased the acceptance fee from N35,000 to N50,500.
“Aside from the hike in fee, the delay in the release of our result is affecting students. For instance, those who graduated last session are yet to be mobilised for service, I am in HND 2 second semester and I am yet to see the result of the exams I did in HND 1 second semester. This is affecting students because they do not know their academic standing and how well to prepare for next exams.”
Adelola noted that all efforts made by the student body to dialogue with the polytechnic’s Rector, Adeoye Odedeji, has proved abortive due to his unavailability.
He, however, demanded immediate reversal of the fee and urgent release of outstanding results.
“We requested to meet the Rector through the DSA but we were told that he is not available. They gave us another appointment again which they did not honour. Last Monday when the non-academic staff decided to protest was when they asked us to meet again but it also failed.
“We are demanding immediate reversal of the acceptance fee back to status-quo and urgent release of outstanding results,” he concluded.
Another student of the institution, Olamide Ojelade, expressed fear that the increase in acceptance fee can also lead to increase in school fee if tolerated.
Ojelade declared, “The acceptance used to be N25,500 before it was increased to N35,000 and now it has been increased to N50,500. Before they increase school fees again, that is why we are protesting.”
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, “Yemi Ajibola, said that the students did not inform the school of their grievances which makes it difficult for such grievances to be addressed.
“The management is not aware of their grievances because they did not inform us of any reason why they are protesting. The management needs to be informed of what their grievances are for the management to be able to sit and deliberate on it. If they channel their grievances appropriately, it will be attended to,” Ajibola concluded.
The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has initiated the 76th meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee to deliberate on cases of malpractice and irregularities arising from the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examination for school candidates.
The body made this known on Tuesday via its official X handle.
Earlier on Monday, WAEC appointed Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut as the Head of the Nigeria National Office.
In August, the examination body initially released the 2023 WASSCE results, but the outcomes of 262,803 candidates were put on hold due to instances of examination malpractice.
However, the body has assured candidates that information about their results will be communicated after the NEC meeting concludes its deliberations.
“The 76th Meeting of the Nigeria Examinations Committee (NEC) to consider & decide on the malpractice/irregularity cases arising from the conduct of WASSCE for School Candidates, 2023 begins today,” the post read.
