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Category: Education

  • University of Benin Bans Use of Hot Plates, Gas Cookers in Hostels

    University of Benin Bans Use of Hot Plates, Gas Cookers in Hostels

    The University of Benin (UNIBEN) has officially prohibited the use of hot plates, ring boilers, and gas cookers in its hostels.

    The directive, aimed at cutting down the university’s growing electricity costs, was announced in a circular signed by the institution’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola.

    The circular warns that any student found violating this prohibition will face rustication from the university.

    The decision comes in the wake of an ongoing electricity crisis that has significantly impacted the university. The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) recently increased the monthly electricity billing for UNIBEN from N88 million to a staggering N250 million.

    This sharp increase led to the disconnection of the university’s two campuses from the power grid, sparking widespread disruption.

    The disconnection resulted in weeks of power outages, forcing the university to rely on generating sets for electricity.

    The situation escalated on July 3, when frustrated students staged a protest against the prolonged power outages. In response, the university’s Senate decided to temporarily close the institution to prevent a further breakdown of law and order.

    As the university prepares to reopen on Monday, the management has made it clear that students must adhere to the new regulations regarding the supply, distribution, and utilization of electricity on campus. The registrar emphasized that compliance with these rules is mandatory for all students.

    Bobola also reminded students of the importance of settling any outstanding school charges. He stated that proof of payment would be required for eligibility to participate in upcoming examinations, and that compliance with this directive would be closely monitored.

    “Payment of outstanding school charges with evidence upon resumption will serve as eligibility for examination and will henceforth be strictly monitored to ensure compliance,” Bobola said.

    “Students would also be expected not to involve themselves in any unruly conduct that is against the rules and regulations of the University.

    “They are to be of good conduct and not to sponsor or participate in any unauthorized assembly or demonstration within the precincts of the university.”

  • WAEC Attributes Delay in Releasing Ogun Students’ Results to Technical Glitch

    WAEC Attributes Delay in Releasing Ogun Students’ Results to Technical Glitch

    The West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) has refuted claims that the results of some public school students in Ogun State were withheld due to the state government’s indebtedness. Instead, the examination body attributed the delay to a technical glitch.

    Ayobami Suberu, Branch Controller of WAEC in Ogun State, described the report of indebtedness as “mischievous and unbalanced.” He assured that the Ogun State Government is not owing WAEC any money.

    Suberu explained that the results of the affected students are still pending due to a technical hitch, which is being addressed for quick resolution. He promised that the results would be released before the close of work on Tuesday.

    The examination body had earlier released the results of 1,685,889 candidates, accounting for 93.9 percent, on Monday. The delay in releasing the remaining results has been attributed to the technical glitch, and WAEC is working to resolve the issue promptly.

  • Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto Appoints Bashir Garba as New Vice-Chancellor

    Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto Appoints Bashir Garba as New Vice-Chancellor

    The governing council of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) has approved the appointment of Professor Bashir Garba as the new Vice-Chancellor of the institution.

    The decision was made during the council’s 168th special meeting on Wednesday, chaired by Attahiru Jega.

    Professor Garba, currently serving as the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, will assume his new role at UDUS on September 1, for a single term of five years.

    This appointment marks a significant homecoming for Garba, who is an alumnus of UDUS.

    Born in Sokoto South Local Government Area, Garba’s academic journey began at UDUS where he earned a B.Sc in Applied Chemistry in 1988.

    He later obtained a Master’s degree in Applied Organic Chemistry from the University of Jos in 1994, and a Ph.D. in Applied Chemistry from UDUS in 1998.

    Garba commenced his academic career as a Graduate Assistant at UDUS in 1989. His dedication to academia saw him rise through the ranks, eventually becoming a Professor in 2002. Over the years, he has held various administrative positions within and outside the university, demonstrating his versatility and leadership capabilities.

    His career outside UDUS is equally distinguished. He has been the Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University since May 2022, on a leave of absence. Prior to this, Garba served in several high-profile roles, including as Commissioner in the Sokoto State Executive Council from June 2019 to January 2022, Secretary to the Sokoto State Government from September 2015 to May 2019, Rector of the Polytechnic of Sokoto State from August 2012 to September 2015, and Director of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) from April 2006 to March 2010. He also led the Sokoto Energy Research Centre (SERC) as its Director from August 1999 to 2005.

    Professor Garba will be succeeding Professor Lawal Suleiman Bilbis, who has served as the Vice-Chancellor of UDUS since 2019.

  • Tertiary Institutions, Not Students, Responsible for Declaring Illegal Admissions – JAMB

    Tertiary Institutions, Not Students, Responsible for Declaring Illegal Admissions – JAMB

    The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has reiterated that the onus of declaring illegal admissions rests more with tertiary institutions than with students.

    This clarification follows the board’s recent directive giving institutions a one-month ultimatum, starting in early August, to declare all admissions processed outside of the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS).

    JAMB introduced CAPS in 2017 to centralise and regulate admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions, ensuring transparency in the process.

    However, it was discovered that over one million students were admitted outside this system between 2017 and 2020. A subsequent ministerial waiver led to the regularisation of these admissions due to their overwhelming numbers.

    Despite this, JAMB has expressed concern that some institutions continue to admit students outside of CAPS and attempt to bypass the system by backdating these admissions. The board has warned that any vice chancellor, provost, or rector who engages in such practices will face severe sanctions.

    In a statement issued by JAMB’s Public Relations Officer, Fabian Benjamin, the board underscored the importance of institutions complying with the directive to disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS before the August 31, 2024, deadline.

    The statement also noted that while many candidates have been coming forward to self-report issues related to non-disclosure of admissions outside CAPS, the focus should remain on the actions of the institutions.

    “While we appreciate the enthusiasm, we must correct the misconception that the focus is on candidates’ actions,” JAMB said.

    “The true emphasis lies with the institutions, which must disclose all candidates admitted outside CAPS before the August 31st, 2024 deadline. This directive requires immediate attention and compliance.”

    The board urged all tertiary institutions to review the initial directive and ensure full compliance to avoid any repercussions.

    JAMB also reminded candidates not to accept any admissions processed outside CAPS.

  • ASUU Gives FG 21-Day Ultimatum Over Unfulfilled Demands

    ASUU Gives FG 21-Day Ultimatum Over Unfulfilled Demands

    The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government over unmet demands, including the renegotiation of the 2009 agreement and funding for the revitalization of public universities.

    The decision was reached during the union’s national executive council meeting held at the University of Ibadan over the weekend. ASUU has been pressing for improved infrastructure, conducive teaching and learning environments, and the removal of its members from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) platform.

    Other outstanding issues include university autonomy, the proliferation of public universities, the backlog of earning academic allowances amounting to N50 billion, and the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries of its members across the country.

    The union has warned that if the Federal Government fails to address these demands within the 21-day timeframe, it will embark on a nationwide strike. This development comes after previous threats and meetings between ASUU and the Federal Government, with little progress made in resolving the issues.

  • NELFUND Clarifies Delay in Student Loan Disbursement to South-East Institutions

    NELFUND Clarifies Delay in Student Loan Disbursement to South-East Institutions

    The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has addressed the concerns surrounding the apparent exclusion of South-East institutions from the recent student loan disbursements.

    NELFUND clarified that the delay is due to these institutions’ failure to complete the necessary verification process required for funds to be released.

    In a statement issued via their official X (formerly Twitter) account, NELFUND emphasized that geopolitical considerations do not influence the disbursement process.

    “Geopolitical zones are not a factor in the disbursement process. NELFUND sent a verification list to every institution eligible for disbursement,” it noted.

    NELFUND further explained that payments are being made to institutions that have responded to this verification.

    However, “we have not yet received any response from the institutions in the South-East. We urge these institutions to complete the verification process so that their students can benefit from the scheme,” the statement added.

    This clarification comes in response to a social media user’s frustration over the perceived neglect of South-East universities, such as UNIZIK, FUTO, MOUAU, and the University of Nigeria (UNN), in the loan allocation.

    The user, identified as Santiago Leo, stated, “No funds were allocated to students in UNIZIK, FUTO, MOUAU, and even the University of Nigeria (UNN). I’m pretty sure a lot of students in those schools applied for the loan just like every other Nigerian student.”

    As of now, NELFUND has disbursed approximately N2.9 billion to 27,667 students across 19 institutions that completed the verification process.

  • Candidates Under 18 Years Won’t Be Allowed to Write WAEC, NECO – FG

    Candidates Under 18 Years Won’t Be Allowed to Write WAEC, NECO – FG

    The Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman, has announced that candidates under the age of 18 will no longer be permitted to sit for secondary school leaving examinations in Nigeria.

    This decision, aimed at enforcing the 18-year age requirement, was communicated during his appearance on Channels TV’s Sunday Politics programme.

    According to Mamman, the Federal Government has instructed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to comply with the directive.

    Effective immediately, only candidates who are at least 18 years old will be eligible to take the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

    The minister also reaffirmed the age limit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), stating that candidates must be 18 years or older to be eligible.

    “It is 18 (years). What we did at the meeting that we had with JAMB (in July) was to allow this year and for it to serve as a kind of notice for parents that this year, JAMB will admit students who are below that age but from next year, JAMB is going to insist that anybody applying to go to university in Nigeria meets the required age which is 18,” Mamman explained.

    He emphasized that this is not a new policy but rather a reminder of existing regulations.

    “Even basically if you compute the number of years pupils, and learners are supposed to be in school, the number you will end up with is 17 and a half – from early child care to primary school to junior secondary school and then senior secondary school. You will end up with 17 and a half by the time they are ready for admission,” he said.

    “So, we are not coming up with new policy contrary to what some people are saying; we are just simply reminding people of what is existing.

    “In any case, NECO and WAEC, henceforth will not be allowing underage children to write their examinations. In other words, if somebody has not spent the requisite number of years in that particular level of study, WAEC and NECO will not allow them to write the examination.”

  • Kano Leads, FCT Trails: Breakdown of Student Loan Registrations Across Nigeria

    Kano Leads, FCT Trails: Breakdown of Student Loan Registrations Across Nigeria

    The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has released detailed statistics regarding student loan registrations by state of origin.

    This data provides insights into the number of students who have registered for loans across various states and those who applied after registering.

    This information is crucial for understanding the geographical distribution of student loan applicants in Nigeria.

    Key Highlights

    • Kano State has the highest number of registered students, with 20,814 registrations, out of which 17,122 students proceeded to apply after registration.
    • Borno State follows closely with 16,353 registered students and 13,798 applications.
    • The state with the least number of registered students is FCT-Abuja, with 894 registrations, and 676 of those students applied after registering.

    Table: Student Loan Registration by State of Origin

    State Number of Registered Students Number of Students Who Applied After Registering Percentage Applied (%)
    Kano 20,814 17,122 82.3%
    Borno 16,353 13,798 84.4%
    Benue 16,127 11,754 72.9%
    Oyo 14,086 8,990 63.8%
    Kaduna 13,873 10,380 74.8%
    Katsina 13,538 10,952 80.9%
    Osun 13,368 8,093 60.5%
    Kogi 12,675 8,400 66.3%
    Plateau 11,624 9,328 80.2%
    Adamawa 11,219 8,977 80.0%
    Kwara 11,126 7,645 68.7%
    Taraba 10,499 7,604 72.4%
    Yobe 10,398 8,966 86.2%
    Ogun 10,387 7,097 68.3%
    Akwa-Ibom 9,594 6,517 67.9%
    Bauchi 8,358 6,517 78.0%
    Kebbi 7,873 6,333 80.4%
    Gombe 7,594 6,121 80.6%
    Niger 7,487 5,804 77.5%
    Jigawa 6,937 5,535 79.8%
    Ondo 6,519 3,854 59.1%
    Nasarawa 6,192 4,789 77.3%
    Ekiti 6,065 3,497 57.6%
    Imo 5,458 2,802 51.3%
    Delta 4,943 2,771 56.1%
    Ebonyi 4,749 2,981 62.8%
    Cross-River 4,282 2,476 57.8%
    Enugu 4,133 2,247 54.4%
    Abia 4,068 2,170 53.4%
    Lagos 3,947 2,347 59.5%
    Anambra 3,747 1,840 49.1%
    Zamfara 3,721 2,986 80.2%
    Edo 3,612 2,149 59.5%
    Rivers 3,612 2,162 59.9%
    Sokoto 3,014 2,055 68.2%
    Bayelsa 1,977 1,267 64.1%
    FCT-Abuja 894 676 75.6%

    Analysis

    • This data is indicative of regional differences in both registration and application rates for student loans across Nigeria.
    • Northern states like Kano, Borno, and Benue have shown higher registration numbers, which could be attributed to the larger youth population and the demand for educational support in these regions.
    • Meanwhile, states like Bayelsa and FCT-Abuja have comparatively lower figures, reflecting either a smaller student population or less awareness and access to loan facilities.
    • The percentages reveal that a majority of students who registered for the loan eventually applied, with states like Borno (84.4%) and Yobe (86.2%) showing particularly high conversion rates.
    • In contrast, states like Anambra (49.1%) and Imo (51.3%) had lower application rates after registration.

    Pie Chart: Student Loan Registration by State of Origin

    Below is the pie chart representing the Student Loan Registration by State of Origin in Nigeria based on the data provided. Each state is labeled with the percentage of the total number of registered students, visually showing the distribution of registrations across the states.

  • FG’s Meeting with ASUU Postponed Amidst Threat of Nationwide Strike

    FG’s Meeting with ASUU Postponed Amidst Threat of Nationwide Strike

    The planned meeting between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has been postponed from today to Wednesday, August 28. ASUU President Emmanuel Osodeke confirmed the postponement, although no reason was given.

    The meeting was intended to prevent another nationwide strike by ASUU, which had issued a 21-day strike notice to the Federal Government last week. The union is demanding the implementation of the 2009 renegotiated agreement, improved welfare for lecturers, increased funding for universities, and an end to the proliferation of universities.

    The strike notice was issued after ASUU’s national executive council meeting at the University of Ibadan, where the union’s demands were reiterated. The Federal Government’s postponement of the meeting may escalate tensions and bring the sector closer to another round of industrial action.

  • EKEDC Cuts Off Electricity Supply to UNILAG Over N1bn Unpaid Bills

    EKEDC Cuts Off Electricity Supply to UNILAG Over N1bn Unpaid Bills

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has disconnected the University of Lagos (UNILAG) from the power grid due to unpaid electricity bills amounting to over ₦1 billion, according to a statement released by the university on Thursday.

    The power cut occurred on August 27, following what the university claims was a payment of ₦180 million to EKEDC earlier in the month.

    UNILAG management expressed surprise at the disconnection, stating that it was done without prior notice despite ongoing negotiations with EKEDC.

    The statement highlighted that the university had been moved from tariff Band B to Band A by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), resulting in a steep increase in its monthly electricity bill from an average of ₦150-₦180 million to nearly ₦300 million as of June 2024.

    The university’s administration disclosed that it had communicated its inability to pay the higher Band A rates to EKEDC, insisting on remaining in Band B due to budgetary constraints.

    Despite these discussions, the university received a bill of ₦472 million for July, exacerbating its financial burden.

    “Despite paying ₦180 million on August 20, the university’s electricity was disconnected just a week later,” the statement read. “We assure our community that we are working diligently to resolve this issue with EKEDC and are taking measures to ration power supply across the campus until further notice.”

    In response, Babatunde Lakasi, EKEDC’s General Manager of Corporate Communications and Strategy, issued a statement explaining that the disconnection was a result of recurring unpaid bills, which have now exceeded ₦1 billion. He noted that the ₦180 million recently paid by UNILAG only covered a small portion of the outstanding debt.

    “To set the record straight, UNILAG’s migration from Band B to Band A tariff followed due process, with adequate engagements and communication regarding the implications. The tariff increase reflects the institution’s average 23 hours of supply availability, aligning with Band A criteria,” Lakasi said.

    Lakasi added that EKEDC had issued multiple disconnection notices to UNILAG before taking action, and that the company had engaged with key university officials, including Vice-Chancellor Prof. Folasade Ogunsola and other senior members of the administration, in efforts to resolve the debt issue.

    While acknowledging the inconvenience caused by the disconnection, Lakasi emphasized that EKEDC is committed to delivering reliable electricity services, which are contingent upon timely bill payments and adherence to agreed terms. He reiterated the company’s dedication to resolving the matter amicably and mentioned that further discussions are ongoing to explore feasible solutions, including a phased repayment plan that would align with UNILAG’s financial capabilities.