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Category: Education

  • FG appoints the governing council for universities, others

    FG appoints the governing council for universities, others

    In a move seen as aimed at staving off another disruption of academic activities, the federal government has approved the constitution of governing councils for federal tertiary institutions, comprising universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

    Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to call its members out on strike over the failure of government to reconstitute the governing councils of public universities almost a year after most of them were prematurely disbanded.

    ASUU had on Tuesday given the government a two-week ultimatum to reconstitute the governing councils of federal universities.

    In a circular signed by permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack,
    as sighted by Nigerian Anchor, the Federal Government has now appointed chairmen and members of the governing council for Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.

    The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, 30th, and Friday, 31st May, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, Abuja.

  • ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    ASUU threatens nationwide strike

    In apparent display of crass incapacity, the failure of the federal government to reconstitute governing councils of universities may precipitate and needless strike by
    the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU.

    Upon assuming office, President Tinubu needlessly dissolved the governing councils of all universities owned by the federal government even when most of these councils were reconstituted barely a year earlier for a term of four years.

    The body, which recalled that the federal government dissolved governing councils of the universities in May, last year, has asked Nigerians to hold the government responsible for any decision it takes to protest the action of government.

    ASUU Chairman, Prof Emmanuel Osodeke Osodeke, spoke at a press conference at ASUU national secretariat, Abuja.

  • N12M School Fees: Nigeria’s Most Expensive Varsity Opens August

    N12M School Fees: Nigeria’s Most Expensive Varsity Opens August

    The alleged most expensive university in Nigeria, Wigwe University is set to open its doors to the first set of students sometime in August, 2024.

    The university, founded by the late former Access Holdings Chief Executive Officer, Herbert Wigwe, is keen on providing a world-class education that equips students with the knowledge and skills to be future-ready.

    Wigwe died in a helicopter crash alongside his wife Chizoba, and son Chizzy in California on February 9, 2024.

    The university, which is located in Isiokpo, Rivers State, will offer a diverse range of programmes across four major colleges, including the College of Management and Social Sciences, the College of Art, the College of Science and Computing, and the College of Engineering.

    It is said that the school when it opens officially, will be the most expensive university in the country.

    According to the information on the school’s website, the cheapest college is Arts with a total fee of N9.6m.

    Students taking courses in the College of Engineering, College of Management and Social Sciences, and College of Science and Computing will pay a total fee of ₦11,998,800 each.

    The fees cover tuition, books, laboratory supplies and consumables, personal protective equipment, project lab resources, e-learning resources, health insurance, student membership in professional associations, student activities, and facilities maintenance.

    There are also additional charges covering accommodation fees which include the luxury single bedroom apartment plan- ₦1,000,000 / per month; premium one en-suite bedroom plan – ₦3,845,000 per session; classic one plan – ₦3,707,000 / per session and classic two plan – ₦3,500,000 / per session.
    The fees can be paid in two installments per session.

    The management of the university, while defending its decision to charge in dollars, recently stated that home students would pay their fees in naira, while international students could select the dollar payment option.

    It said the decision was a strategic one that aligns with its vision to attract a diverse and international student body.

  • Graduate unemployment: NYSC Trust Fund to the rescue – Senate

    Graduate unemployment: NYSC Trust Fund to the rescue – Senate

    The chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth and Community Engagement, Yemi Adaramodu (APC, Ekiti South), said that the recently passed National Youths Service Corps Trust Fund Bill would provide jobs for graduates.

    Adaramodu disclosed this when he led a delegation of the committee on an official visit to the Oyo State NYSC Orientation Camp at Iseyin on Saturday.

    He said that the bill, having scaled first and second readings and other crucibles of legislation, will soon be sent to the President for assent.

    The lawmaker said that the provision of the bill was basically to ensure that corps members get established through the training acquired from the NYSC Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development, SAED, programme.

    He added that the provisions of the bill also cater to corps members who might wish to go into business after their service year.

    “The issue of unemployment and what next for corps members after the service year will be a thing of the past soon. The bill will ensure that the dreams of every Nigerian graduate become a reality,” he said.

    Adaramodu disclosed that the Senate, in collaboration with relevant government departments, agencies and other stakeholders, would soon work on the upward review of corps members’ allowances.

  • Funding Universities: Prof Ochefu Says “Edupreneurs” to the Rescue

    Funding Universities: Prof Ochefu Says “Edupreneurs” to the Rescue

    As governments, unions and other stakeholders grapple with challenges of managing 21st century university system, a former Vice Chancelor and General Secretary of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Nigerian Universities (CVCNU), Prof Yakubu Ochefu has advised about the emergence of new ownership models that will take over proprietorship of universities in Nigeria.

    He said the new group shall comprise of “Public-Private Institutions, for-profit and publicly traded universities”.
    According to the professor of economic history, this group, which he called the “edupreneurs will grow and overtake existing institutions providing significantly increased personal choice for all, from pre-school to post-graduate studies.”

    Prof Ochefu, who spoke on “Rethinking the Philosophy of University Education in Nigeria in the Era of Education 4.0” was the guest lecturer at the 81st Interdisciplinary Research Discourse of University of Ibadan Postgraduate College.
    Delving into the economics of global education the former Vice Chancellor disclosed that tertiary education has a global market value of $763 billion. He stated further that when compounded, this grows by 14.59% every year.

    He also said that the World Bank estimates that there were 220 million students worldwide in 2020 and that number will rise to 380 million by 2030.The Big ASK is where will we in Nigeria be in all these developments. He then asked, “where will we in Nigeria be in all these developments?”

    The CVCNU helmsman disclosed that Nigeria currently has a total of 116 Public and 149 Private universities. He said 53 public universities are owned by the federal government while 63 are owned by State Governments. He went further to chronicle the challenges confronting public universities in Nigeria to include poor funding, governance issues, lack of qualified teaching and non-teaching staff, poor technology and infrastructure base, amongst others.
    He advised that all stakeholders must make deliberate efforts to address these challenges to enable university education in Nigeria to measure up to the disruptive feature of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
    Precisely, he admonished that an innovative design for the emerging tertiary educational system must be one that focuses on institutional pedagogical outcomes, which in turn influence curriculum, the flow of knowledge and the type of knowledge shared, as well as the behaviours of students, instructors, and governance team leaders.

    He illustrated his advocacy with the idea of a “Polymath University” that is based on an educational theory that suggests that original thought and creativity can be obtained by connecting seemingly unrelated ideas and concepts.
    Beyond the management structure, Prof Ochefu also dwelt extensively on the nature and pedagogy of university education in the fourth industrial revolution (Education 4.0). He said the disruptive impact of the new era entails ubiquity of learning, aided by the internet, as opposed to localised type as well as overall democratization of access.

    In concluding, Professor Ochefu X-rayed the pivotal role of the Vice Chancellor as the CEO of the university. Referencing the famous British higher education teacher, Geoffrey Boulton, Prof Ochefu asserts, “It could be said that changing a university is like moving a graveyard – you get no help from the people inside!”.

  • Breaking! JAMB releases 2024 UTME results

    Breaking! JAMB releases 2024 UTME results

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, has announced the release of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, results.

    Over 1.94 million candidates registered and sat the examination in 118 towns and over 700 centres across the country.

    The Registrar of JAMB, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, announced the release of the results at a press conference held at the board’s headquarters, Bwari, in Abuja on Monday.

    Details later..

  • WASSCE Announces Date To Commence Exams

    WASSCE Announces Date To Commence Exams

    The West African Examinations Council, Nigeria, has announced the commencement date for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

    The examination is scheduled to start on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, and will conclude on June 24, 2024.

    Dr Amos Dangut, the Head of the Nigeria Office at WAEC, made this declaration on Monday at the WAEC Lagos Office, affirming the council’s preparedness to administer the examination.

    He further specified that the examination period would span seven weeks and six days.

    Dangut said, “I am delighted to inform you that WASSCE for School Candidates, 2024 will take place between Tuesday, April 30 and Monday, June 24, 2024, in Nigeria, spanning seven weeks and six days.

    “The examination will be conducted in four WAEC member countries, namely: Nigeria, Gambia, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.”

    “We want to inform candidates of the council’s readiness to conduct WASSCE.”

    He added, “We are set for the conduct of WASSCE for School candidates in 2024 in Nigeria. The Council also, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education, the State Ministries of Education, the Nigeria Police, other security agencies and other stakeholders, deliver, on its mandate to conduct credible examinations for the Nigerian Child and the general public.

    “We remain ever grateful to the Honourable Minister of Education, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, all the State Ministries of Education, the Inspector-General of Police, and indeed, all our stakeholders, for their usual support and cooperation, even as we count on them once again.

  • TETFund Denies Allegations of Misconduct Amidst ICPC Claims

    TETFund Denies Allegations of Misconduct Amidst ICPC Claims

    In a twist to recent developments, the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, has refuted assertions made by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) regarding his alleged custody. 

    Contrary to ICPC’s statements, Echono maintained that he remains in his office and was not detained.

    The ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare, previously stated that Echono was in their custody for questioning, indicating an ongoing investigation. 

    However, Echono clarified that while an official from TETFund was indeed invited by the ICPC for document submission, they have since been released.

    These developments follow earlier reports, revealing TETFund’s awarding of contracts totaling N7.6 billion to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing without the required approval from the federal executive council. 

    The contracts, aimed at enhancing capacity-building courses and learning management systems for 2 million students across higher institutions, raised concerns about due process.

    In response to the allegations, TETFund issued a rejoinder denying any wrongdoing and emphasizing adherence to due process in its procurement activities. 

  • JAMB Issues Stern Warning to Parents, Stay Clear of CBT Centers or risk arrest

    JAMB Issues Stern Warning to Parents, Stay Clear of CBT Centers or risk arrest

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has taken decisive action to clamp down on exam malpractice by issuing a stern warning to all Computer-Based Test (CBT) center owners.

    In a recent briefing held in Abuja, Professor Is-haq Oloyede, the Registrar of JAMB, underscored the gravity of the situation and the necessity of stringent measures.

    Professor Oloyede emphasized that parents found near any CBT facility during the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) would face immediate arrest. This move, he explained, was prompted by the discovery that many such parents have been involved in facilitating exam malpractices or disrupting exams in the past.

    In no uncertain terms, Professor Oloyede stated that any parent caught disobeying this directive would not only be apprehended but would also face disqualification for their ward from sitting the examination.

    Furthermore, the Registrar revealed that security operatives have been instructed to collaborate closely with CBT centers to apprehend any meddlesome parent attempting to interfere with the examination process.

    Warning candidates of the consequences, Professor Oloyede cautioned that those whose personal details are found on fraudulent websites would be treated as accomplices and subject to prosecution.

    In a call to action, the Registrar urged CBT center owners to uphold integrity and eschew any unethical behavior, emphasizing that failure to do so could result in missed opportunities.

    Expressing the Board’s unwavering commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination, Professor Oloyede revealed that state-of-the-art technologies have been deployed to detect and prevent various forms of infractions and collaborations that run counter to the Board’s code of operations.

  • President Tinubu Directs Inclusion Of NOUN Graduates In NYSC Scheme

    President Tinubu Directs Inclusion Of NOUN Graduates In NYSC Scheme

    President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to develop guidelines for including graduates of the National Open University (NOUN) in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

    This directive was given during the university’s 13th convocation ceremony, held at the University’s Convocation Arena in Jabi, Abuja.

    Represented by Biodun Saliu, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the President expressed his administration’s commitment to addressing educational inclusivity.

    “With the changing demographics of our great nation, the government has recognized the importance of allowing NOUN graduates to participate in the NYSC scheme,” President Tinubu stated, emphasizing the need to harness the potential of young Nigerians from all educational backgrounds.

    In a related development, President Tinubu also announced the resolution of the long-standing issue concerning the admittance of NOUN law graduates to the country’s law schools. “The doors of the Law School are now open to the graduates, ensuring equal opportunities for all,” he declared.

    This move is expected to remove any remaining barriers faced by NOUN graduates in legal education, further cementing the government’s stance on educational equality.