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

NEWS DAIRY

Okuama: Tinubu offers scholarships, housing to families of slain soldiers

President Bola Tinubu says the federal government will provide scholarships up to the university level for all the children, including the unborn, of the Nigerian Army personnel killed in action at Okuama community in Delta State.

juri Ngelale, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) made this known in a press release which was made available to NEWSDIARYONLINE on Wednesday.

Ngelale disclosed that the President, who announced this scholarships at the funeral of the personnel at the National Military Cemetery, Abuja, on Wednesday, directed the military authorities to ensure that the benefits of the departed are paid to their families within 90 days.

NASU: Reps move to halt planned strike, summon minister

The House of Representatives has resolved to halt the planned strike by the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU), with move to intervene in the dispute between the Federal Government and staff of Nigerian Universities.

Rep. Abubakar Fulata, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on University Education made the move at a meeting with the officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), NASU in Abuja on Thursday.

Others at the meeting include the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) as well as other relevant stakehold

THE NATIONS

Fed Govt spends N23b on research, says TETFUND

The Federal Government through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) said it had spent N23 billion to fund research across the country.

Assistant Director, Research and Development (R&D) at TETFUND, Dr  Hadiza Ismail, made this known at a validation workshop on “Strengthening Research and Innovation Funding Agencies in West Africa”  at TETFUND headquarters in Abuja.

She said the agency was fully committed to the establishment of a Science Granting Council in Nigeria.

Benue SUBEB marks 100days, promises more reforms

The Benue State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) with the support of the State Governor Dr Hyacinth Iormem Alia  has celebrated 100 days under the  leadership of its  Executive Chairman Dr Grace Adagba.

 A statement by the board’s  Information  Officer, Emmanuella Akese hailed Adagba for revitalising the education sector with a blend of visionary strategies and hands-on initiatives.

It noted  Adagba’s leadership was  already being felt across the state, with improvement in learning outcomes, increased enrollment rates, and a renewed sense of optimism among educators and students alike.

Commissioner urges youths on contribution to science and tech

Lagos State Commissioner for Innovation, Science and Technology, Mr. Olatunbosun Alake has emphasised the significance of youth contributions to science and technology.

The Commissioner, who was represented by the Deputy Director in the Ministry, Mrs. Remi George–Ashiru, stressed the importance of the expression, ‘catch-them-young’ at the grand finale of 2024 edition of a Science Fair, hosted by Mind Builders School, Omole Phase 2 Lagos.

TFN seeks newgroup of teachers

Teach For Nigeria (TFN), a non-profit organisation, has opened applications for its eighth cohort of fellows.

The group is dedicated  to addressing education inequities by building a movement of leaders from diverse academic fields to teach in underserved communities on full-time basis.

The organisation noted that applicants must be Nigerian nationals aged between 18 and 35, and must have completed the National Youth Service Corps programme on or before July 2024, and hold a university degree with at least second-class honours.

‘UNILAG, LASU to host best ever FASU Games’

Vice Chancellor, Lagos State University (LASU), Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, has said the 11th All-Africa University Games (FASU) to be co-hosted with the University of Lagos (UNILAG) would be the best ever.

The last time the game was hosted in the country was  20 years ago, in 2004 in Bauchi State.

Olatunji-Bello spoke at the Pre-FASU Games seminar held in LASU  preparatory to the event scheduled for Sept. 20 to Sept. 29.

Varsity promotes don

Apioneer faculty member of McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo in Ogun State, Dr Isaac Oladepo Onigbinde, has been promoted to  professorial position.

The promotion was ratified by the Appointments and Promotions Committee (Academic), at its statutory meeting which held last month.

The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Igbasan, congratulated the don on his  academic attainment and described it as “well deserved”.

Ex-governor Duke to pupils: develop skills

Aformer  Cross River State Governor Mr. Donald Duke has urged pupils  of Deeper Life High School (DLHS) to hone their skills, saying the world searches for skillful and educated youths.

He spoke  at the DLHS Campus, Mowe, Ogun State, during the school’s annual programme, popularly known as Activate 7.0.

The programme, which usually holds at the end of second term, is a platform for  pupils to showcase their skills, foster togetherness and inspire one another positively.

149 private varsities undersubscribed, says NUC

The National Universities Commission(NUC) has said less than 10 percent of the two million students in Nigerian universities are enrolled in private universities.

According to the commission, there are 149 private varsities in the country.

The Acting Executive Secretary, NUC, Chris Maiyaki, made this known at the British Council Workshop on Enhancing Curriculum and Pedagogical Approaches in Nigerian Universities in Abuja.

Varsities not revenue-generating outfits, says VC

Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) Prof. Wahab Egbewole  has said  public  universities  are not revenue generating outfits, adding that they only charge for services rendered.

Speaking to newsmen in Ilorin, he  denied the institution is owing the Federal Government  N1.2 billion Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

“I have not seen any report from the account-general or auditor-general of the federation asking UNILORIN to pay N1.2 billion it is allegedly owing Federal Government, but I have read it in the social media.

Succour at last with student loan take-off

The Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act 2023 sponsored by former Speaker of the House of Representatives and now Chief of Staff to the President was signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  on 12 June, 2023.

The law was to make available to  students interest-free loan to finance their education. Shortly after the signing of the law, several anomalies that needed to be addressed before the commencement of the scheme were identified by stakeholders in the education sector. Criticism of the bill led to the constitution of a technical committee made up of officials of the Federal Ministry of Education, the Central Bank of Nigeria and other stakeholders

Rescued pupils reunite with parents

The  Kuriga school children rescued from their abductors in Zamfara State after 16 days in captivity will be handed over  to their parents today.

The Nation gathered yesterday  that their parents met with them at Kaduna Women and Children Shelter where they are receiving psycho-social treatment.

It was, however, not clear if  six of the children admitted into   the Dallet Barrack Hospital of the 1 Division Nigerian Army were among those  that met with their parents. 

LAGOS STATE GOV

LASG TASKS PARENTS, STUDENTS ON CULTISM, HARASSMENT OF TEACHERS

Lagos State Government has enjoined parents and students to stem cultism and harassment of teachers and other school personnel in public schools.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun stated this on Tuesday while admonishing students on how to navigate challenges as teenagers in a decadent society. He spoke during the annual Ramadan Lecture organised by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education at the Lagos State Secretariat Mosque, Alausa, Ikeja.

The Commissioner informed parents on the need to pay attention to children’s upbringing and reset back to communal living when every adult helps to correct children who cross the line of acceptable behaviour.

LASG VOWS TO STEM TIDE OF ILLITERACY WITH MASS EDUCATION, VOCATIONAL TRAINING 

The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hon. Tolani Sule has reiterated the commitment of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stem the tide of illiteracy in Lagos with mass quality education and vocational training for residents of the state.

This assertion was made on Tuesday when he spoke to journalists in his office at the Secretariat, Alausa, on the government’s efforts to ensure residents of the state acquire quality education and vocational skills.

LASG  KICK-STARTS ONLINE PAYMENT, REGISTRATION FOR BECE, PLACEMENT TEST BY CAS

Lagos State Government has kick-started the Year 2024 Online Payment and Registration for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and Placement Test by Continuous Assessment Scores (CAS). A statement signed by the Director of the Lagos State Examinations Board, Mr. Adebayo Orunsolu, notified the general public, especially Private Schools and Schools with Special Permissions, that the Online Payment and Registration had commenced.

Orunsolu stated that the process is in line with the State Government’s policy of ensuring seamless and stress-free payment and access to service in the State. adding that it would allow every school to create a Login Account to generate their Unique Identity Numbers

BUSINESSDAY

Bridging gap in tech: NGO graduates over 100 women from digital skills program

Tears of joy and screams of excitement filled the atmosphere as a non-profit organisation, Webfala Digital Skills for all Initiative (WDSFAI), hosted a graduation ceremony for more than 100 female fellows from the inaugural cohort of its SafeHer STEM Skills programme, marking the conclusion of their rigorous 4-month digital skills training.

In her remarks at the ceremony held yesterday in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, the Executive Director of WDSFaI, Nafisat Bakare said the SafeHer programme sought to empower women and girls with relevant digital skills that will guarantee them self-reliance and protect them against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

Osun University server hacked over teachers’ recruitment test

The management of Osun State University has disclosed that the school’s server was hacked overnight by unknown criminals trying to disrupt the teachers’ recruitment test slated for today.

A statement by Ademola Adesoji, the university’s spokesperson, reads “Unexpectedly, our server was attacked at midnight today. We responded technically and frustrated attempts to hack into our core software and questions bank.

“The damage done to the server took time to be resolved. This is the reason that the start of exams was unduly delayed and had to be rescheduled for two centres out of thirteen centers.

LEADERSHIP

100 Undergraduates Benefit From N60m Scholarship From WACT, Onne

The West Africa Container Terminal, Onne Port, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Wednesday, said no fewer than 100 students from Onne and Ogu communities benefited over N60 million from the Annual Scholarship Scheme to undergraduate students drawn from its host communities.

Speaking recently during the scholarship award and presentation ceremony at Onne Port, Rivers State, the managing director of WACT, Jeethu Jose, said the Annual Scholarship Scheme awards to undergraduate students is a tool to identify, nurture, and attract talents from the host communities.

Advans Nigeria Partners Starfield College To Invests in Education

As part of its ongoing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Advans Nigeria has partnered and supported Starfield College’s biennial inter-house sports event held last week.The event, a highlight on the school’s calendar, saw students compete in various sporting activities, fostering teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy competition

Recognising the importance of educational resources, Advans Nigeria provided a financial donation and distributed essential school supplies to outstanding students.

INDEPENDENT

Innovative Education, Path To Africa’s Socio- Economic Development— Experts

 With innovation in higher education in discourse, over 300 experts from across Africa expressed the conviction that Nigeria has the potential to spearhead an educational trans­formation that would position the continent to become the glob­al economy’s future manpower resource base.

Such submissions were made at the inaugural African Lead­ership University’s Reimagine Education Conference in Lagos on Friday, March 22, 2024, which deliberated on innovation cap­ital in higher education on the continent. The theme of the one-day conference was, “What a Transformative Education can do for Nigeria”.