Mohammed Shosanya

The Edo State Government has postponed till further notice, the resumption of all public and private schools in the State, earlier fixed for Monday, 9th September 2024,

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This was conveyed in a statement signed by Ojo Akin—Longe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, For: Honourable Commissioner for Education.

The statement reads, “The Edo State Government hereby announces the postponement of the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, originally scheduled for Monday, 9th September 2024, until further notice.

“An official statement from the government has directed that schools remain closed due to the tension arising from the recent increase in fuel prices and the challenges faced by parents and guardians.

“The government urges parents, guardians, and caregivers to monitor the activities of their children and wards closely, given the current situation and the rising tension caused by the fuel price hike’.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government says there is no age restriction for sitting for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

The new twist is contrary to recent reports suggesting a minimum age of 18 years.

According to the government,it only restricted the age for sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and entry into the university to 18 years beginning from 2025.

Minister of State for Education, Dr. Tanko Sununu, made the clarification in Abuja on Friday while briefing journalists on activities to herald the 2024 World Literacy Day with the theme: “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”

He said: “As regards this matter, we have made ourselves clear in different fora. But the issue kept recurring here and there. Actually, nobody among the two of us, the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, nor the Minister of State, stated anything about the age limit for WAEC, NECO or NABTEB.

“People just pick up some remarks the Minister made, misinterpreted the statements to imply that age restriction has been placed for WAEC and NECO examinations.

“What we have been mentioning in the past was the entry age for University, candidates sitting for the UTME. We have made this clear several times, and this is in line with the National Policy on Education.

“The document stated that a child is expected to enter Primary School at six years, and he’s expected to spend six years in that school making it 12 years, three years each in junior and senior secondary schools, making it 18 years. That’s what is contained in the National Policy on Education document.

“This is directly or otherwise related to the theme of this year’s World Literacy Day. The Policy further stated that a child should learn in the language of the immediate environment or mother tongue up till primary three before English language could be introduced in subsequent years. That has facilitated learning at that level because you can easily communicate,” added.

Mohammed Shosanya

One of Nigeria’s ICT companies, Integral Communications Nigeria Limited,has launched Back-to-School promo to encourage its clients to actively engage with the Integral brand before and during the resumption of schools.

It considers this time as when School children are on the lookout for the latest trends in school bags, laptops and accessories, etc and parents and guardians are always looking for sales promotions to reduce their shopping costs.

The company’s General Manager, Mr. Ifeanyi Nihe, disclosed this in a press statement on Wednesday.

He stated that this time, companies like Integral Communications connect with students, parents and guardians by getting creative with their marketing campaigns which explains its launch of the promo.

He said,this is part of the Marketing strategies of the company to start planning early and optimize for national outreach pointing out that this time.

He disclosed that,the company udates its Google listings and run hyperlocal social ads as well as partner with students’ influencers and local schools for online community events which substantiates the import it attaches to social media marketing.

The company is also offering free delivery of the items for its buyers within Port Harcourt town,thus making sure the items get to the excited students, parents and guardians fast and fuss-free.

He said that the company’s offerings flows from its watchwords of service excellence, product leadership and customer intimacy which make the company standout amongst its competitors.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of the company, Engineer Onyeka Nkwocha,expressed the company’s sincere appreciation of its customers for their support and patronage thus far and charged them to continue in that regard.

He revealed that the company is ever evolving and re-strategizing to meet their demands at all times.

He said that the company would remain sensitive to change,adding that the only way for companies to achieve sustainable growth is to keep taking on challenges

Integral communications specializes on the sales, services and installation of mobile phones, computers (Laptops and Desktops), printers and copiers, special gadgets, CCTV systems, intercom systems (PABX), Network Switches, Procurement etc.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has faulted the Federal Government’s policy attempting to restrict the minimum age requirement for enrollment for Senior Secondary School Examination at 18 years, describing it as untenable.

The union described the policy as limiting, backward and capable of short-changing students and their parents.

Its President Mr. Mohammed Ibrahim, in a communique issued at the End of the 49th Regular National Executive Council Meeting of the Union on Sunday, implored the government to rescind its decision while it engages in further consultations to avoid a crisis in the education sector.

Faulting the policy SSANU’s President said, “NEC in session lend her voice to critical stakeholders in the education sector in condemning the decision of the Federal Government to peg the age at which students can write the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), and gaining admission into tertiary institutions at 18.

“Generality of stakeholders believe that this policy would drag the education sector back. While reacting to the comment by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman Tahir, that from 2025 any candidate who is not up to 18 years would not be allowed to write SSCE and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Examination Board (JAMB), urged Government to consult widely as it has promised on this critical matter to avert crisis in the sector”.

He also decried a situation where the government deploys divide and rule tactics in dealing with issues in the university system, lamenting that it will hurt tertiary institutions if not checked.

He said:”NEC in session views with great concer the adoption of the divide and rule style by Government in the university system. A situation where government engages in negotiations with one particular union while neglecting others over similar issues most times sets up unions on a collision course, thereby heating up the educational system.

“This balkanization tactics of Government has severally increased the number of avoidable industrial crises in higher institutions. It should be on record that all unions are important and symbiotic in the system.

“NEC therefore, appeals to the advisers of Mr. President to take serious note of this. NEC calls on Government to engage all University-based unions holistically, especially on issues of staff welfare rather than isolating some as this suggests discrimination”.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has approved an upward review of statutory allocation of Universal Basic Education matching grants accessible by state governments for infrastructural projects to N3,554,642,584.46 .

The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi stated this on Thursday during a 5-day financial training for SUBEBs Chairmen and Board Secretaries in Ibadan.

Speaking,the increased matching grants to the States for the implementation of projects comes from 2% of the consolidated revenue fund allotted to support basic education in Nigeria.

He said the approval followed the passage of the 2024 Appropriation Bill and the assent to the bill into law.

He added:“The 2024 Federal Government Statutory Allocation of the UBE Matching Grant to each State is N3,554,642,584.46 (Three Billion Five Hundred and Fifty-Four Million Six Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty- Four Naira Forty-Six Kobo Only)”.

The grant is in compliance with Section 11 (2) of the UBE Act, 2004, while State governments are requested to provide an equivalent amount of N3,554,642,584.46 (Three Billion Five Hundred and Fifty-Four Million Six Hundred and Forty-Two Thousand Five Hundred and Eighty-Four Naira Forty-Six Kobo Only) as Counterpart Fund in order to execute the 1st to 4th Quarters, 2024 UBE intervention projects.

He said previously states were getting about N1.3 billion per year, as matching grants, saying the grant has been jacked up to 3.3 billion.

Besides,Dr. Bobboyi urged State governments, yet to access 2023 Matching Grant with the Commission amounting to N1,395,784,959.14 as at 1 July, 2024, to do so.

He said: “This is quite an impressive amount, isn’t it? You know the amount that we had before. Of course, we also have to take into account that inflation has affected the grants. But at the same time, I think it’s very encouraging to see that the amount that is available is decent enough for States, because when a state brings in another 3.3 billion, it goes home with about 6.6 billion. Isn’t it? In that regard, it’s quite a reasonable amount if it can be applied well”, he said.

He explained that about 46 million children are in schools across the country, adding that according to the Sustainable Development Goals, basic education ends in the secondary school level.

He acknowledged the enormous challenges before the commission and all State SUBEBs, urging them to work as a team for mopping up the remaining out of school children in individual states.

The Executive Secretary said quarterly meetings of SUBEB Chairmen and Secretaries allows them to look into challenges and proffer solutions in the basic education sub-sector.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has advocated the need for the integration of digital
technologies into Nigeria’s education system.

The group gave the recommendation at a pre-summit webinar in preparation for the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit, where it sought the integration of digital technologies into Nigeria’s education systems.

The webinar, which was held on Tuesday with the theme, “Closing Gaps and Adapting to New Economic Conditions,” brought together key stakeholders to explore strategies for addressing the decline in Nigeria’s education sector and adapting to current economic reforms.

The goal of the event was to develop actionable policies and measures that address both immediate and long-term challenges in the sector.

“Education is fundamental to a nation’s development, directly impacting its economic and social stability.

“However, Nigeria’s education sector is currently facing significant challenges, such as unequal access to quality education, a mismatch between the skills taught and those needed in the labour market, and a lack of digital technology integration.

“Closing these gaps is vital for creating a more inclusive and competitive education system,” NESG said.

Speaking,NESG’s Board Member, Ms. Wonu Adetayo, pointed out that Nigeria’s literacy rate stands at 62%, with significant disparities between urban and rural areas.

She noted that the nation’s education sector faces substantial gaps, particularly in eliminating barriers to completing primary education, which is at 35% in rural areas compared to 80% in urban areas.

She underscored the importance of addressing education challenges such as unequal access, the mismatch between the school curriculum and industry needs, and integrating digital technologies into education systems.

She noted that over 50% of graduates are under-employed due to the disconnect between education and labour market needs.

She said: “With over 40% of Nigerians aged 15 to 35, it is crucial to provide access to quality education and skills development to reduce unemployment risks.

Adetayo emphasised that digital tools can enhance learning, but the digital divide must be addressed.

“Only 36% of schools have access to digital learning, and there are still challenges related to inadequate teacher training and infrastructural deficits.

“Closing these gaps is essential for building an inclusive and competitive education system, which could boost Nigeria’s GDP by 10%,” she explained.

The event focused on creating a holistic framework to leverage technology and foster inclusive growth, with an emphasis on actionable recommendations.

Professor Bolanle Ogunbamila, Head of the Secretariat at NESG’s Triple Helix Roundtable, shared insights on fostering effective collaboration between industry, academia, and government to address the skills gap and drive innovation.

He noted the importance of promoting continuous education and facilitating an exchange of ideas between academia and industry.

Ogunbamila also highlighted the need for an immersion programme to remove policy and regulatory barriers.

Dr. Hakeem Onasanya, Head of Startups at Lagos Innovates, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), harped on the importance of leveraging the start-up ecosystem and funding models.

He emphasised that the quality of education affects everyone, and when it fails, society as a whole suffers.

Onasanya pointed out that startups play a crucial role in attracting the right talent and that the curriculum should align with workforce needs.

He suggested establishing tech hubs in tertiary institutions and reducing internet costs for students.

He recommended incentivising students through alumni associations to encourage them to give back to their schools.

Dr. Modupe Adefeso Olateju, Founder of The Education Partnership (TEP), presented evidence-based policy recommendations for closing the skills gap.

She noted that about 18.3 million children are out of school from the primary to senior secondary levels.

A study by the TEP Centre in 2018 found that 55% of children in JSS3 can only read at the level of a child in Primary 2.

Dr. Olateju reiterated the mismatch between the curriculum and labour market needs and the necessity to invest in programmes that enhance skill competencies in schools, foster critical thinking, and utilise tools to scale -up learning.

She also highlighted the lack of sufficient capacity to absorb skilled and competent individuals within the country and stressed that skill development must be adequately funded.

Dr. Joy Isa, Chief Executive Officer of Isa School of Education, discussed best practices in delivering inclusive and quality education.

She emphasised the critical role of teachers in education quality, noting that teachers account for a 30% variance in student learning outcomes.

Isa highlighted the shortage of qualified educators in Nigerian communities and the need to address this issue to improve education quality.

Overall,the pre-summit webinar emphasised the need for a holistic and collaborative approach to addressing the challenges in Nigeria’s education sector.

By bridging gaps and adapting to new economic conditions, Nigeria can ensure sustainable economic growth and social stability.

The pre-summit event also designed to explore how collaborative efforts can promote inclusive development and drive innovation in education, thereby contributing to the broader objectives of NES #30.

By focusing on inclusive growth, innovation, and digital transformation, the event set the stage for developing strategies that address both immediate and long-term educational and economic needs.

This approach aims to bridge the gap between education and the labour market, equipping students with the necessary skills for meaningful employment in a dynamic economy.

The discussions from this pre-summit event would inform the 30th Nigerian Economic Summit, scheduled for October 14-16, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

The summit aims to foster diverse perspectives and collective expertise to address common challenges and create sustainable economic progress for Nigeria and the African continent.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Federal Government has identifird eight universities accredited to award degrees to Nigerians in Togo and Benin Republic respectively for Nigerian undergraduates.

The decision followed the embarrassment which Nigeria suffered when an undercover reporter procured a fake degree from Benin Republic and got mobilised to participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

The Minister of Education,Tahir Mamman, disclosed the accredited institutions on Sunday night while speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

The Minister had lamented that over 22,500 Nigerians obtained fake degree certificates from the two countries, hence such certificates would be cancelled.

The ugly cases of certificate racketeering also featured prominently at a recent Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu where a Committee was mandated to probe degrees emanating from Togo and Benin Republic especially.

Mammam said only three institutions is recognised in Togo and five in Benin Republic, labelling others outside those eight as illegal institutions.

He listed the public universities below as the federal government-approved institutions to offer degree programs in Togo for students from Nigeria. Universite De Lome, Universite De Kara and Catholic University of West Africa

For Benin Republic, students from Nigeria could attend Universite D’abomey-Calavi, Universite De Parakou, Universite Nationale Des Sciences, Technologis Ingenierie Et Mathematiques, Universite Nationale D’ Agriculture and Universite Africaine De Devlopment Cooperatif.

He insisted that there is no going back on the decision of the Federal Government to cancel about 22,700 certificates awarded to Nigerians by some “fake” universities in neighbouring Togo and Benin Republic.

He reiterated that the decision to invalidate the certificates was not harsh as Nigerians who obtained degree certificates from such “illegal” tertiary institutions dent the country’s image.

He said:“Most of those parading the fake certificates didn’t even leave the shores of Nigeria but got their certificates through racketeering in collaboration with government officials at home and abroad.

“The “fake universities” capitalised on the “gullibility” of Nigerians patronising such fake schools.

“The federal government, through the offices of the Head of Civil Service and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, would fish out those in the government’s employment with such fake certificates. I also urge the private sector to follow suit.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, has assured that the Commission will continue to play a strategic role in the development of education to ensure sustainable development in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku stated this in a keynote address during the 2024 Moot and Mock Trial Competition for law Faculties in the universities of the Niger Delta region, held at the Dr Nabo Graham Douglas Port Harcourt Campus of the Nigerian Law School, a statement from Seledi Thompson-Wakama,Director,Corporate Affairs said.

He said: “The NDDC has intervened in various areas of our educational development, such as its scholarship schemes, building hostels, providing electricity and many other infrastructure projects in educational institutions across the region.

“Since our assumption of duty at the NDDC, we have made educational development and human capacity building our key policy thrust. The previous negative narrative of the NDDC is changing due to the conscious and sustained efforts to chart a new course of development for the region.

“After our Rewind to Rebirth initiative, we resolved to Transit from Transaction to Transformation, which entails making a real difference in the lives of our people, as part of our contribution to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“We have reactivated and strengthened our foreign post-graduate scholarship scheme, making it more merit-based and funding it adequately to prevent the challenges of the past. We also reactivated and strengthened our free medical outreach programme, which provides top notch healthcare to our people in the grassroots.”

He noted that the region had enhanced development of jurisprudence in Nigeria and contributed immensely to the development of the legal profession.

“Indeed, the region boasts of producing some of the finest legal philosophers in Nigeria, from the Late Justice Udo Udoma, Late Justice Chukwudifo Oputa, Hon. Justice Ndoma-Egba, Justice Victor Ovie-Whiskey, Justice Niki Tobi, Justice Nabo Graham Douglas and Justice Walter Onoghen.

He announced that the NDDC would sponsor the oustanding faculty of law to undertake a one-month internship at the law firm of O.C.J Okocha in Port Harcourt.

Also speaking, the Chairman, NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, said that the Commission would institutionalise the Moot and Mock competition to ensure the it endures.

He said that the Commission would continue to play its statutory role in developing and supporting other efforts to advance education, as well as support the development of legal education through practical trainings to improve capacity.

Ebie maintained that the strengthening of law and order was critical to the development of the region because it would ensure that all stakeholders contributing to regional development operated within the limits and expectations of the law.

The NDDC Chairman promised that the Commission would underwrite the one-year subscription to the Nigerian Weekly Law Reports for all the participating law faculties in the Moot and Mock competition.

Speaking earlier, the Special Guest of Honour, Chief O.C.J Okocha, commended NDDC for sponsoring the Moot and Mock Trial competition for law students, stating that it was an essential component of legal training.

Okocha, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, stated that human capacity building was a very important factor in the development of any region, adding that it was central to the development of critical thinking in all professions.

He observed that the recent establishment of the South-East Development Commission and the North-West Development Commission raised some fundamental questions, given the political considerations that informed the move.

He said: “I hope the establishment of these commissions will not whittle down the importance attached to the NDDC as a vehicle for the rapid development of the Niger Delta region. These new commissions should not be used to undermine the effectiveness and usefulness of the NDDC.

“The Niger Delta is still a special region that needs special attention from the central government as the goose that lays the golden eggs for the country.”

In his welcome address, the NDDC Director of Legal Services, Dr Stephen Ighomuaye, said that the intellectual engagement of the youths of the region was a strategic mechanism to be consciously developed in finding creative solutions to the challenges facing the region.

He stated: “At the NDDC, we firmly believe that engaging the region’s youth intellectually is a vital strategy that should be actively nurtured and cultivated to address the unique challenges faced by the region, rather than turning to violence.”

Mohammed Shosanya

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has uncovered a number of fraudulent practices through which tertiary institutions in the country are admitting students.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday in Abuja, JAMB’s Public Affairs Advisor, Benjamin Fabian reiterated that the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions for 2024/2025 session is 16 years as agreed by stakeholders in the recent policy meeting.

“For the 2024 admission cycle, candidates who will be at least sixteen years old at the time of admission will be considered eligible.

“This decision follows the directive from the Chairman of the 2024 tertiary admission policy meeting, who is also the Honourable Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, that the extant policy of 6-3-3-4 be enforced only from 2025 session,” he noted at the briefing session.

He disclosed that there was an alarming avalanche of obviously false affidavits and upsurge of doctored upward age-adjustments on NIN slips being submitted to JAMB to upgrade recorded age.

According to him,this trend is dangerous, inimical and unnecessary, stressing that only those below 16 would not and should not be admitted in accordance with the decision of the 2024 policy meeting.

He also warned that JAMB will no longer entertain absorption of illegal admissions through the window of “Condonement of Illegal Admissions without Registration number”.

He alleged that some institutions use this window to absorb, for the candidates’ sake, illegal admissions that were conducted prior to 2017.

He added:”It would be recalled that CAPS was introduced in 2017 to ensure accuracy, records, transparency. accountability, fairness, and equity in admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The window (for mop-up of pre 2017 unofficial/unregistered admission) has been on now for 7 years and it is now being abused.

“The Board’s position is informed by the discovery of widespread and unwholesome practice whereby some institutions were colluding with candidates to falsify vital details, such as, backdated year of entry and subsequent age-adjustments, to utilise certificates of genuine candidates
with similar names to facilitate illegal admissions to enable participation of fake candidates in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme.

“Recent worse discoveries made it imperative for the Board to speak out to save the integrity of the education system.

“In the same vein, the attention of the Board has also been drawn to the predilection of some institutions to admit candidates outside the approved
Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) platform and process such through the condonement of illegal admissions window to accord legitimacy”.

JAMB,however,insists that in order to close this abused window, the Board has decided that all institutions should now (or never) disclose all candidates illegally-admitted prior to 2017 whose records are in their system within the next one month beginning from 1st August, 2024.

Fabian maintained that any admission purportedly given prior to 2017 will no longer be recognised or condoned unless disclosed within this one-month window.

Mohammed Shosanya

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has celebrated eleven beneficiaries of its 2023/2024 Post Graduate Scholarship Programme, who graduated with distinction from the Coventry University in United Kingdom.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, who spoke during the graduation ceremony, observed that it was a demonstration of the Commission’s commitment to the scholarship scheme and a celebration of academic excellence.

Ogbuku led a delegation, which included the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong; the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye; the Director, Education Health and Social Services, Dr George, Uzonwanne; the Director of Legal Services, Dr Steve Ighomuaye and the Director Education, Mrs. Idara Akpabio.

The NDDC Chief Executive Officer stated that the Commission was very serious with its human capital development programmes, noting that education was the most powerful weapon for changing the fortunes of the Niger Delta region.

He said: “I am very happy to be in Coventry to celebrate our scholars. Their outstanding performance confirms the transparent process through which the beneficiaries were selected. It is remarkable that 11 of the students graduated with distinction in Coventry University.”

Speaking,the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Alabo Boma Iyaye, said that the scholars had justified their inclusion in the programme, noting that the Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme, which was started in 2010, was meant to equip Niger Delta youths with advanced training and skills.

Iyaye stated that the NDDC was pursuing improved investments in the educational sector as part of plans to ensure that the youths were gainfully employed.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Senate Committee Chairman on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, remarked: “This ceremony is especially unique, as all 200 of the scholars from the 2023 programme performed exceedingly well with 11 students from the batch earning a distinction and coming top of their various programmes.

“This is a testament to the recent review of the selection process of beneficiaries of the programme which is transparent and merit based. I commended the NDDC Board and Management for sustaining the scholarship scheme.”

He said further: “Last week, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu launched the Education Loan Fund and at that occasion he remarked that education is the greatest weapon to be used to fight poverty. I couldn’t agree more. Today, the NDDC sponsors 200 graduates annually to foreign universities for post graduate studies. This gives them the opportunity to study with the best minds across the globe and the experiences they gather will help us to develop the Niger Delta region.”