Education News Update for Monday 22nd January 2024

Here are the headlines as they were published in the dailies today.

The Punch

Foreign medical, school bills gulped $1.58bn in six months – CBN

Nigerians spent $1.58bn on health tourism, foreign education, and other personal matters in six months, data from the Central Bank of Nigeria have revealed.

The data from the apex bank’s Balance of Payment compilation spanning the first six months of 2023 showed that Nigerians spent $245.68m on overseas health-related issues, $896.09m on foreign education, and $434.63m on other personal foreign needs. Read more: https://punchng.com/foreign-medical-school-bills-gulped-1-58bn-in-six-months-cbn/

NSCDC foiled 48 bandit attacks on schools – Commandant-General

The Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Dr Ahmed Audi, says the agency has averted over 48 attack attempts on schools nationwide by bandits.

He said the newly implemented security strategies of the NSCDC would see a drastic reduction in the cases of school attacks by bandits. Read more: https://punchng.com/nscdc-foiled-48-bandit-attacks-on-schools-commandant-general/

Lagos plans business training for 10,000 youths

The Lagos State Ministry of Wealth Creation and Employment is partnering with the Enterprise Development Centre of Pan Atlantic University to train youths in employability and entrepreneurship skills.

The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Akinyemi Ajigbotafe, during a press briefing at the weekend, said the training scheduled to kick-off in the first quarter of this year, targets 10,000 participants to be trained in 24 months. Read more: https://punchng.com/lagos-plans-business-training-for-10000-youths/

The Guardian

Stakeholders task freshers on hardwork

It was an inspirational atmosphere at the Faculty of Law, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) as speakers’ and academics took turns to counsel new students on the need to focus on their studies and shun vices.

The event was an orientation programme by the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), UNILORIN chapter, aimed at fresh students with the required information, mindset, and admonition to achieve academic excellence, while in the university. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/stakeholders-task-freshers-on-hardwork/

Elizade varsity gets new VC

The Board of Trustees of Elizade University, Ilaramokin, has approved the appointment of Kayode Ijadunola, a Professor of Medicine, as the fourth substantive Vice Chancellor of the institution.

Ijadunola’s research birthed the first-ever Nigeria/West Africa’s taught course in population and reproductive health training. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/elizade-varsity-gets-new-vc-2/

TRCN cancels teachers’ results over malpractice during qualifying exam

The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) has cancelled results of some teachers, who engaged in malpractice during the professional qualifying examination (PQE) held recently.

Also, the council disclosed that of the 15,753 teachers that sat for the examination, which was held across the country, about 3,963 failed.

TRCN conducts PQE to test the competence of teachers. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/trcn-cancels-teachers-results-over-malpractice-during-qualifying-exam/

Isoko youths laud WAEC’s adoption of CBT model for exams

The Isoko National Youth Assembly (INYA) has hailed the decision of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to migrate its examination from the “paper pencil test” to computer-based test (CBT) mode.

The group, in a statement made available to The Guardian in Asaba by its president, Eniwake Orogun, said the decision aligns with global best practices.

Besides, it noted that it supports the need to adopt technology in engineering speed and efficiency, as well as driving transparency and credibility, especially in the education sector. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/isoko-youths-laud-waecs-adoption-of-cbt-model-for-exams/

ICAN honours IGP, LASU bursar, others with merit awards

The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Ojo, Badagry and Agbara (Oba) district society has honoured the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, Lagos State University (LASU) bursar, Said Olayinka, and the All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman in Lagos State, Cornelius Ojelabi.

The list also included the Alagbara of Agbara Kingdom, Oba Jayeola Agunbiade; the Oloja Eku of Igbesa land, Oba Abdulazeez Akinde and incumbent National Treasurer of ICAN, Mr Biola Tobi, among others. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/ican-honours-igp-lasu-bursar-others-with-merit-awards/

Taraba commissioner under fire over foreign degree certificate

Security agencies in Taraba State have been called upon to investigate the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Joseph Joshua, over allegations of obtaining a degree certificate from a university in Benin Republic.

The call followed a report published by an online medium, which exposed the ease with which a reporter acquired a degree from an African university within six weeks, subsequently participating in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/taraba-commissioner-under-fire-over-foreign-degree-certificate/\

Elizade varsity seeks collaboration with Ondo to develop education system

The newly-appointed Vice Chancellor (VC) of Elizade University, Prof. Kayode Ijadunola, has stressed the need for strong collaboration between the state government and the university to enhance educational development.

Ijadunola said that the initiative would address the challenges of nation-building.

The VC, who spoke during a courtesy visit to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, said that the university’s founder, Michael Ade Ojo, had made significant investments due to his deliberate commitment to the development of the state. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/elizade-varsity-seeks-collaboration-with-ondo-to-develop-education-system/

Adeleke, Oyetola trade words over out-of-school children

Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, and his predecessor, Gboyega Oyetola, have been trading words over the increasing rate of out-of-school children in the state.

Oyetola, who is now the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, anchored his argument on the sacking of 1,500 teachers his administration recruited to augment shortage of teachers by Adeleke, saying parents have refused to take their children to school because of lack of teachers. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/adeleke-oyetola-trade-words-over-out-of-school-children/

We’re working to make ABUAD among best varsities globally, says VC

Vice Chancellor (VC) of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, has said that the management and members of staff of the university are determined to work towards making the institution one of the best 100 in the world.

The VC, who stated this, yesterday, during the 15th matriculation ceremony of the institution at ABUAD campus, said the university was ranked No. 221 in the world out of over 7,000 qualified universities globally. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/were-working-to-make-abuad-among-best-varsities-globally-says-vc/

How to stop proliferation of varsities, by ASUU

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has expressed worry over the proliferation of tertiary institutions across the country amid meagre funding of existing ones.

The union accused the Federal and state governments of establishing new institutions when they could not fund existing ones.

It, therefore, proposed that rather than abdicate responsibilities to the Tertiary Education Tax Fund (TETFund), proprietors of such universities should be allowed to self-fund them for the first five years before seeking intervention of the agency. Read more: https://guardian.ng/features/how-to-stop-proliferation-of-varsities-by-asuu/

Excitement as lawmaker purchases admission forms, pledges sponsorship of 240 NTI students, others

There was excitement among the people of Oji River/Awgu/Aninri Federal Constituency, Enugu State, yesterday, as their lawmaker, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, settled the cost of application forms for 240 candidates seeking admission into the National Teachers Institute (NTI).

The Honourable Onwuegbu also pledged the payment of tuition fees for as many as would gain admission into the institute. Beyond that, he promised to enroll over 500 candidates for the May/June 2024 O Level, National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) examination. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/excitement-as-lawmaker-purchases-admission-forms-pledges-sponsorship-of-240-nti-students-others/

The Nation

Why illegal degree-awarding institutions multiply, by NUC

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has blamed the proliferation of illegal degree awarding institutions on some parents.

The commission said they place a premium on university certification over other considertions.

NUC’s Acting Executive Secretary Chris Maiyaki said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja. Read more: https://thenationonlineng.net/why-illegal-degree-awarding-institutions-multiply-by-nuc/

Abia University lecturers begin strike over 11 months unpaid salary arrears

The academic and non-academic staff unions of Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, have been absent from their workplaces due to the inability of the state government to pay their outstanding 11 months of salary arrears.

The workers, through their various union leaders, had given the school’s management a deadline of December 31 to pay off the owed salary arrears.

Our correspondent reports that due to the ongoing industrial action by the staff, the students of ABSU have not yet resumed studies after the Christmas and New Year holidays. Read more: https://thenationonlineng.net/abia-university-lecturers-begin-strike-over-11-months-unpaid-salary-arrears/

Business Day

Empowering English Language Studies (ESL) in Nigeria through technology

In the dynamic landscape of education, the fusion of technology with traditional teaching methods has emerged as a transformative force, especially in English language studies in Nigeria.

This integration has not only enriched the learning experience but has also made education more accessible and engaging for students across the country. Read more: https://businessday.ng/opinion/article/empowering-english-language-studies-esl-in-nigeria-through-technology/

ThisDay

Group Accuses Edo Varsity VC of Overstaying His Tenure

A crisis is brewing in the Edo State University, Uzairue, Etsako West over the alleged continued stay in office of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor.

The second term tenure of vice chancellor was said to have terminated on November 28, 2023 , after he served eight years.

Since then, his continued stay in office has led to some disquiet within the academic circle as well as the stagnation of his possible successors. Read more: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/01/22/group-accuses-edo-varsity-vc-of-overstaying-his-tenure

Daily Post

Abia Panel recovers TETFund bus from college ex-rector, Nto

Abia State Judiciary Panel on Recovery of Government Properties and Funds has recovered a Toyota Hummer bus donated to the Abia State College of Education, Technical), ASCETA, Arochukwu, through Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, project, from a former provost of the school, Philip Nto.

The order for the recovery of the vehicle was issued by Justice Florence Duruoha-Igwe who declared that the former rector had no approval from the Abia State government or TETFund to use the bus as his personal property.

The panel ordered that the vehicle should be given to the new provost of ASCETA, Professor Vincent Eze. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2024/01/22/abia-panel-recovers-tetfund-bus-from-college-ex-rector-nto/

UNIBEN students lock out staff over water shortage, power outage within campus

Academic activities at the Ekehuan campus of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, were on Monday, grounded following a protest by students of the institution over an alleged shortage of water due to a power outage in the school.

It was reported that the Institution has been without electricity for the past two months, leading to the shortage of water supply to student’s hostels.

The students, following the hardship and difficulty encountered in sourcing water outside the campus, early Monday morning locked the school gates barring academic and non-academic staff from gaining access to the school. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2024/01/22/uniben-students-lock-out-staff-over-water-shortage-power-outage-within-campus/

CoinGeek

Nigeria will no longer recognize university degrees from Kenya, Uganda—blockchain is the solution

Nigeria has added Kenya and Uganda to the list of red-flagged foreign universities that it says have been handing fake degrees. The Nigerian government says that students from these countries will no longer be accredited.

Education minister Tahir Mamman announced that the federal government would add the two East African countries to a list that includes its neighbors Togo and Benin.

“We are not just going to stop at Togo and Benin; we are going to extend the dragnet to countries like Uganda and Kenya where such (fraudulent) institutions have been set up,” he said in an interview with a local media outlet. Read more: https://coingeek.com/nigeria-will-no-longer-recognize-university-degrees-from-kenya-uganda-blockchain-is-the-solution/

News Diary

Rev. Esther Ajayi’s Charitable Endeavor Empowers Over a Hundred Nigerian Youths

Renowned Christian leader Rev. Esther Ajayi is facilitating the educational aspirations of over one hundred Nigerian youths through her sponsorship of their university education.

As the founder of the Love of Christ Generation Church and the driving force behind The Esther Ajayi Foundation, Rev. Ajayi is extending fully funded scholarships to deserving individuals from less-privileged backgrounds within her church and across different States in Nigeria. The scholarships encompass tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. Read more: https://newsdiaryonline.com/rev-esther-ajayis-charitable-endeavor-empowers-over-a-hundred-nigerian-youths/

LASU VC urges students to abstain from indecent dressing, cultism

Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, Vice-Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has urged new and old students to support the management by abstaining from indecent dressing, cultism, drugs and all other forms of vices.

The students can also report any form of harassment to the appropriate offices in the university. Read more: https://newsdiaryonline.com/lasu-vc-urges-students-to-abstain-from-indecent-dressing-cultism/#google_vignette

Philanthropist distributes free JAMB forms in Katsina

A Katsina based philanthropist and stalwart of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Tukur Tingilin, has distributed 300 JAMB forms to indigent candidates in Malumfashi and Kafur Local Government Areas of the state.

Tingilin, who also sponsored 50 students for the National Examination Council (NECO), made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Katsina on Monday.

Tingilin, who is the Managing Director of the Katsina State Water Board Corporation, said the gesture was aimed at promoting scholarship by making the beneficiaries become productive members of the society.

This was also captured in

People’s Gazette

Daily Nigerian

Nigerian parents encouraging illegal degree awarding institutions – NUC

The National Universities Commission, NUC, has blamed the proliferation of illegal degree awarding institutions on parents whom he said had placed a premium on university certification.

The Acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, said this on Sunday in Abuja during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.

He told NAN that unaccredited degree awarding institutions and satellite campuses remained banned in the country. Read more: https://dailynigerian.com/nigerian-parents-encouraging/

Daily Trust

Gov Idris Inaugurates Kebbi Varsity’s 4th Governing Council

Governor Nasir Idris has inaugurated the 4th governing council of Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero.

The Pro- Chancellor and Chairman of the newly inaugurated governing council of KSUSTA is Dr. Haliru Bala Jikan Daudu.

Other members include Professor Bello Umar Farouk Jega, Professor B. G. Dan Shehu, Alhaji Muhammad Arzika Bawa Jega (Sarkin Kabin Jega), ACG. Sambo Gwandu Rtd, Alhaji Hussaini Abdullahi Zuru, Kabiru Aliyu SAN, Alhaji Musa Mohammed Isiyaku Abdullahi Zuru, Musa Altine Aljannare and other internal members. Read more: https://dailytrust.com/gov-idris-inaugurates-kebbi-varsitys-4th-governing-council/

Allmedia24

Kano Varsity Student Breaks Guinness World Record in Face Painting with 791 Faces

In a remarkable achievement, Collins Whitworth, a 400-level Civil Engineering Student at Bayero University, Kano, has successfully broken Guinness World Record for the most faces painted by an individual in 24 hours.

Whitworth’s extraordinary talent and dedication were on full display as he painted an impressive 791 faces surpassing the previous record of 700. Read more: https://allmedia24.com/kano-varsity-student-breaks-guinness-world-record-in-face-painting-with-791-faces/

People’s Gazette

Don hails Tinubu over ASUU’s exclusion from IPPIS

An associate professor at the University of Lagos, Dr Tunde Adeoye, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for removing university lecturers from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information system.

Mr Adeoye, who is a senior lecturer at the Department of Economics of the institution, spoke during an interview on Monday in Sango–Ota, Ogun State.

This was also captured in

News Diary

Independent

2024 UTME: JAMB Registers 141,018 Candidates In One Week, Pays CBT Centres Over N98m, Warns Parents, Guardians To Stay Away From Registration Centres

As registration of candidates for the 2024 Unified Tertiary

Matriculation Examination (UTME) and Direct Entry (DE) entered the first week last Friday, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) said it has registered a total of 104,018 candidates.

To this end, the Board’s financial inflow for the first week as published in its weekly bulletin revealed that it recorded N3.030 billion. Read more: https://independent.ng/just-in-2024-utme-jamb-registers-141018-candidates-in-one-week-pays-cbt-centres-over-n98m/

WAEC Schedules Free Mock CBT-WASSCE For Private Students 2024 First Series

The ever dynamic, public-spirited West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has scheduled a free Mock Examination for all the prospective candidates for the first-ever Computer-Based WASSCE ( Private Candidates) 2024 – First Series.

The examination is scheduled kick off on Wednesday, 31st January, 2024.

According to a terse release signed by Moyosola Adesina, the spokesperson of WAEC Nigeria Office, the mock examination will hold on the 23rd and 24th of January, 2024. Read more: https://independent.ng/waec-schedules-free-mock-cbt-wassce-for-private-students-2024-first-series/

Tribune

Bauchi lawmaker distributes N6.55m educational grants to 655 students

Member of the House of Representatives, representing Darazo /Ganjuwa Federal Constituency of Bauchi, Mansur Manu Soro on Sunday, flagged off the disbursement of the sum of N6.55 million to 655 students of Gifted Secondary and Primary schools (aka MMS schools) located at Sade, Lanzai, Soro, Darazo and Kafin Madaki towns of the constituency.

Each of the beneficiaries got the sum of N10,000 to enable them concentrate on their studies and get the required materials for the study. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/bauchi-lawmaker-distributes-n6-55m-educational-grants-to-655-students/