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

Crystal Edu News

Intra Quiz Competition at The Vine Int’l Academy Unleashes Spirited Rivalry and Encouragement

The Vine International Academy, Phase IV, Nyanya, witnessed a spirited display of academic prowess as students and teachers engaged in a riveting Intra Quiz Competition on Friday, 23rd February. Proprietress Mrs. Temitayo Folakolade, in her candid remarks, called upon both students and teachers to “seat up” and embrace the opportunities for growth and excellence.

The intra quiz competition, a routine event at The Vine Int’l Academy, serves as a comprehensive assessment of students’ proficiency in Mathematics and English. The engaging contest saw JSS 1 students challenging their counterparts in JSS 2, SS1 boys competing with their female peers, and a spirited clash between the SS2 categories. The primary section also witnessed an intense battle, with Primary 4 students locking horns with their Primary 5 counterparts.

Mrs. Temitayo Folakolade, addressing the participants, emphasized the importance of these competitions in gauging academic progress. “You need to seat up,” she urged, stressing the need for continuous improvement and dedication to academic pursuits. Her call resonated not only with the competitors but also with the entire school community. Read more: https://crystaledunews.com.ng/intra-quiz-competition-at-the-vine-intl-academy-unleashes-spirited-rivalry-and-encouragement/23/

The Punch

Zookeeper killed by lion earned N5,000 hazard allowance – NAAT chairman

Mr Matthew Oluwaniyi is the Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, branch. The late Olabode Olawuyi, a veterinary technologist, who was killed by a lion at the OAU Zoological Garden was a memeber of the association. In this interview with BOLA BAMIGBOLA, Oluwaniyi speaks on the work hazards of the union members. Read more: https://punchng.com/zookeeper-killed-by-lion-earned-n5000-hazard-allowance-naat-chairman/

IBEDC disconnects UCH over N500m debt

The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has disconnected the power supply to the University College Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State over N500m debt, The PUNCH has learnt.

The Chief Medical Director of UCH, Dr Jesse Otegbayo, confirmed on Thursday that the hospital was disconnected by IBEDC but declined to disclose the cause of the disconnection.

However, the IBEDC spokesperson, Busolami Tunwase, denied that the teaching hospital was disconnected, even as she confirmed that it owed the DisCo about N500m.

This was also captured in Business Day

NANS seeks police help to protect students on campuses

The National Association of Nigerian Students has sought partnership with the Nigeria Police Force to protect students’ rights on campuses across the nation.

The Edo State Joint Campus Council of NANS, led by its Chairman, Daniel Omuokhonlen, disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the state police command.

Suspected gunmen had in September 2023 killed a 400-level Computer Engineering student of the University of Benin, Destiny Osasenaga, in Benin https://punchng.com/gunmen-kill-400-level-uniben-student/. Read more: https://punchng.com/nans-seeks-police-help-to-protect-students-on-campuses/

Independent

48 Kwara Varsity Students Caught Engaging In Internet Fraud

Operatives of the Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, have arrested 48 students of the Kwara State University, KWASU, and two residents of Malete over offences bordering on Internet fraud popularly referred to as yahoo-yahoo.

The arrest was made possible by what the commission say is credible intelligence on the rising trend of yahoo-yahoo business in the state, especially on campuses.

This was also captured in The Cable and Daily Post

Air Peace Airlines Introduces Special Students Fares On London Route

As Air Peace commences direct flight services between its base at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos to Gatwick International Airport in London, the airline has introduced special airfares for students on the route.

Air Peace is scheduled to start services to London on March 31, 2024.

The start of the service would further deepen competition on the London route, while Air Peace becomes the only Nigerian airline to operate the route in the last five years.

This was also captured in The Nation

Wike Pledges Support For Nigerian Law School

During a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Law School, led by the Director General, Prof. Isa Hayatu Chiroma, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Barr. Nyesom Wike, pledged support for the institution.

The Nigerian Law School requested construction of staff quarters and provision of vehicles to which Wike assured that the General Council of the FCT Administration would liaise with the school for necessary consideration.

This was also captured in The Nation and Tribune

The Nation

Why I got into varsity at 14 – Ayra Starr

Raving afrobeats star Ayra Starr has revealed how love for music got her into the university at 14.

According to the songstress, she bagged a degree early because her mother insisted that she must graduate before pursuing her music career and she wanted to be a teenage pop star.

She disclosed this in a recent interview with American media giant Billboard News. Read more: https://thenationonlineng.net/why-i-got-into-varsity-at-14-ayra-starr/

Business Day

Mental health advocacy takes center stage at University of Lagos

On January 31, 2024, Natural Oilfield Services Limited (NOSL) in collaboration with Mentally Aware Nigeria Initiative (MANI) spearheaded the ‘You Are Not Alone’ mental health awareness drive at the University of Lagos.

The event, aimed at spotlighting the significance of mental well-being, gathered professionals and students alike to foster dialogue and provide resources for mental health care.

“Maintaining optimal mental health is vital for thriving in society. To survive daily stress effectively, it is essential to cultivate positive coping mechanisms and embrace mindful living. Giving sufficient time to prioritise a healthy lifestyle becomes necessary in this quest,” emphasised a spokesperson from the organising team. Read more: https://businessday.ng/health/article/mental-health-advocacy-takes-center-stage-at-university-of-lagos-event/

ThisDay

FG Approves 2 New Private Varsities, Total Number Hits 149

The federal government has approved the establishment of two new universities, bringing the number of private universities to 149 and the total number of universities in the country to 274.

The new universities are Lighthouse University, Evbuobanosa, Edo state and the African School of Economics, Abuja.

Speaking at the presentation of provisional licences to the two universities in Abuja yesterday, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, said the new universities were approved by President Bola Tinubu at the December 13, 2023 Federal Executive Council (FEC).

This was also captured in The Guardian

Wike: Intelligence Report Behind Heavy Security at Nigerian Law School

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has identified intelligence gathered by security agencies at the Bwari Area Council where the Abuja Campus of the Nigerian Law School is domiciled, as the reason for the deployment of heavy security in the area.

He echoed this yesterday when the delegation of the Nigerian Law School, led by its Director General, Prof. Isa Chiroma, paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The minister noted that the security cordon was necessary as any breach at the school would constitute a setback for country and the FCT. Read more: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/02/23/wike-intelligence-report-behind-heavy-security-at-nigerian-law-school

Isoko Professionals Group Rejects Removal of Mgt Courses from Delta Varsity

The Isoko Professionals Association (IPA), a non-partisan group consisting of Isoko sons from Delta State, has rejected the removal of management courses from the Delta State University of Science and Technology (DSUST) in Ozoro, Isoko North Local Government Area Delta State.

Reports emanated last week that eight courses under the Faculty of Administration and Management have been signed out by the Governing Council of the University and moved to Orerokpe, to be known as Delta State University of Science and Technology, Orerokpe Campus.

The courses as contained in the report to be moved are Business Administration, Accountancy, Banking & Finance, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, Office Information & Management, Transport & Marine Technology and Public Administration. Read more: https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2024/02/23/isoko-professionals-group-rejects-removal-of-mgt-courses-from-delta-varsity

Tribune

Zarttalent Foundation collaborates with Nigerian universities to empower students with tech skills

Zarttalent, a foundation driving digital literacy in Nigeria, has announced a collaboration with Nigerian universities to empower students with in-demand technological skills through its academy programme.

The collaboration officially kicked off on February 12, with a successful event hosted at Afe Babalola University, Ekiti State. The event saw over 100 students in attendance who were introduced to various tech courses and workshops designed by the Zarttalent Academy to prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce. Read more: https://tribuneonlineng.com/zarttalent-foundation-collaborates-with-nigerian-universities-to-empower-students-with-tech-skills/

Daily Post

KWASU disowns missing student

The management of Kwara State University, Malete, has disowned the 24-year-old missing man said to be a student of the institution.

A statement by the institution’s Acting Director, University Relations, Dr Saeedat Aliyu, on Thursday, declared that AbdulMueez Olamilekan Jimoh “is not a student of Kwara State University, Malete.”

The statement read in part, “the attention of the management of Kwara State University, Malete, has been drawn to several social media, blogs, and newspaper posts about a missing 24-year-old student of the institution, AbdulMueez Olamilekan Jimoh, who was said to have left Malete for Ilorin on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/23/kwasu-disowns-missing-student/

KWASU students attack Malete police station

Some aggrieved students of the Kwara State University, Malete, on Thursday, attacked the divisional police station in the town after a raid on suspected black spots by operatives of the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency around the school premises.

Reacting to the development on Friday, the state police command, through the spokesperson, DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, said “reports indicated that the gatherings, which began at about 1600hrs, centered around grievances related to the recent raids on black-spots around the school’s premises by operatives of NDLEA.

“Students living off campus expressed their dissent, marched from various parts of the town to Okoru Junction close to Malete Police Division, carrying placards with various inscriptions such as “Say No to NDLEA.”

This was also captured in

Naija News

Wike pledges maximum security in Law School, Bwari

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has assured the management of the Nigerian Law School, NLS, Abuja campus in Bwari, of maximum security.

Wike gave the assurance when a delegation of the NLS, led by its Director-General, Prof. Isa Chiroma, visited him on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the FCT Administration has ensured the presence of heavy security in Bwari Area Council, where the Abuja campus of the law school is located. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/23/wike-pledges-maximum-security-in-law-school-bwari/

Bauchi Police apprehends two ATBU students, one other for alleged cultism, homicide

Bauchi State Police Command has apprehended two students and one other on charges of criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, and association with an unlawful cultist society.

A statement by the command’s spokesman, Ahmed Wakili, made available on Friday, identified the suspects as Hoomvez Martins Nyelong, 27, also known as “Slim”, Daniel Audu Adamu 26, and Maigari Inuwa 29, also known as “Mega Fashion World”

The statement revealed that two of the suspects were students of the Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa University, Bauchi, ATBU while one of them claimed to have graduated from University of Jos.

This was also captured in

The Guardian

Funding structure of education sector grossly abysmal – ASUU Chieftain, Prof Doncir

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, has urged governments at all levels to deploy more funds to the education sector.

The Bauchi Zonal Acting Coordinator of the union, Prof. Nanmwa Doncir, made the call in a news conference on Friday in Jos.

DAILY POST reports that the Bauchi zone of the union consists of universities in Plateau, Bauchi and Gombe States. Read more: https://dailypost.ng/2024/02/23/funding-structure-of-education-sector-grossly-abysmal-asuu-chieftain-prof-doncir/

The Guardian

Govt’s intervention needed for brilliant public school students

Sir: Whatever needs to be done, Nigeria’s State Governments should begin a programme aimed at discovering and assisting the highly brilliant students of public secondary schools especially in the area of scholarships as done in the distant past.

There are many instances where highly brilliant students in public secondary schools continually drop by the wayside owing to parental incapabilities. Read more: https://guardian.ng/opinion/govts-intervention-needed-for-brilliant-public-school-students/

Kwara senatorial districts lock horns over varsity site

Crisis looms in Kwara State over the siting of the state government’s proposed University of Education, unless prompt drastic steps are taken.

While Kwara Central, through the Ilorin Emirate Development Progressive Union (IEDPU), last December, demanded to host the institution, Kwara South did the same, claiming the state government’s projects were not evenly distributed. Read more: https://guardian.ng/news/kwara-senatorial-districts-lock-horns-over-varsity-site/