Education

The Federal Government and the National Youth Service Corps are moving to deepen the digital integration of education records to tackle certificate fraud and improve the verification of academic qualifications. The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Tuesday during a meeting with the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, in Abuja. Alausa says the digital reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda are designed to close loopholes in the management of educational records and make it easier to authenticate qualifications across the country. He says the Nigerian Education Repository Data Bank is collecting and verifying university certificates, while the Nigerian Education Data Infrastructure is being developed to link records throughout a learner’s educational journey. The minister also says discussions are ongoing with the NYSC on an application programming interface that will allow faster verification and seamless exchange of relevant data between both institutions. He identifies discrepancies in names, issues involving graduates of part-time National Diploma programmes and the admission of NCE holders into HND programmes as some of the challenges requiring urgent attention. Alausa says the ministry will work with agencies including the National Board for Technical Education, JAMB and the National Identity Management Commission to develop lasting solutions. The proposed measures include introducing a national Learner Identification Number and a standard system for recording names across government education and identity databases. The government has also strengthened measures against examination malpractice, including the leakage of examination questions. The move comes amid renewed efforts to prevent fraudulent credentials from being used for employment and NYSC mobilisation. The NYSC Director-General, Nafiu, says the Corps is ready to deepen its partnership with the ministry, adding that digitalisation has strengthened its operations. He says the introduction of QR codes has virtually eliminated document cloning within the NYSC.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, had released the 2026 UTME results of underage candidates for viewing. However, JAMB clarified that the release of the results did not automatically make the candidates eligible for admission. It said only underage candidates who met the requirements for exceptional consideration would be admitted. Candidates below the age of 16 as of September 30, 2026, were classified as underage for the admission exercise. JAMB said eligible candidates needed a minimum UTME score of 320 and at least 80 per cent in relevant SSCE subjects, where applicable. They would also have to meet their chosen institutions’ Post-UTME requirements and undergo a final assessment. The Board said the assessment process was still ongoing and would await the release of NECO results before completing the final stage. It also warned parents and candidates against individuals claiming they could secure admission for underage candidates outside the official process.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Gombe State University chapter, suspended its planned total and indefinite strike action. The union reached the decision after a congress meeting on Friday, August 21, giving the Gombe State Government and university management until October 2026 to fulfil agreements reached with the union. The agreements included the implementation of a new salary scale for academic staff and payment of outstanding arrears owed to members. ASUU said the suspension was conditional and warned that the strike would resume if the agreements were not implemented by the deadline.

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has called for a stronger focus on vocational and technical education in Nigeria, saying the country’s emphasis on certificates and degrees without practical skills had contributed to unemployment and economic challenges. Fubara made the call on Wednesday while commissioning three projects at Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic in Rumuola, Rivers State. He said the education system needed to equip young people with practical skills that could help them become self-employed and create jobs. The governor recalled that Nigeria’s 6-3-3-4 education system was originally designed to expose students to vocational training and prepare them for either higher education or skilled employment. He, however, lamented that the country had gradually moved away from that vision. Fubara said polytechnics and entrepreneurship centres should be given greater importance because they could help students develop technical skills and become employers of labour rather than job seekers. He also said his administration was focused on projects that would directly improve people’s lives and address societal challenges, stressing that technological advancement had made practical and technical skills increasingly important. The governor urged students and residents to protect the newly completed facilities from vandalism and encouraged communities to take ownership of government projects.

President Bola Tinubu has approved a new funding arrangement for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, directing that liquid funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, as well as certain unclaimed dividends, be channelled into the student loan scheme. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja. He said the move was aimed at strengthening NELFUND’s finances as demand for student loans continued to increase. Alausa explained that only liquid EFCC-recovered funds that were free from legal disputes would be transferred to NELFUND. He clarified that the directive did not include forfeited properties or other assets recovered by the anti-graft agency. The minister also said FEC had approved the transfer of unclaimed dividends from the Capital Market Trust Fund and the Dormant Account Trust Fund to NELFUND. He said the decision was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to tertiary education and ensure that financial difficulties did not prevent qualified Nigerian students from pursuing higher education.

Parents and other stakeholders of King’s College, Lagos, have mobilised for a mass protest against the Federal Government’s decision to concession the 116-year-old institution to the King’s College Old Boys’ Association, KCOBA. The Chairman of the Parent-Teacher Association, Peter Oluwaseye, said the protest was necessary because parents, some senior civil servants and members of the community were opposed to the concession. Oluwaseye argued that King’s College remained public property and should not be taken over by its old students. He maintained that KCOBA should support the school through donations rather than seek control of its management. The controversy followed an announcement by KCOBA President, Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, that the Federal Government had approved the concession of the college to the association. The old boys subsequently launched a N100 billion endowment fund aimed at improving infrastructure and repositioning the institution. Among the early contributors were First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, who donated N10 million, and Ibrahim-Imam, who pledged N1 billion. Former Board of Trustees Chairman, Philip Asiodu, and the association’s new Board Chairman, Femi Okunnu, each donated N100 million. According to KCOBA, the concession would support infrastructure development, teacher training, digital technology, scholarships, research, innovation and students’ welfare. Ibrahim-Imam said the arrangement was not a privatisation of the school, stressing that ownership would remain with the government. He described it instead as a new governance framework that would allow KCOBA to work with the government to modernise and sustain the institution. However, the parents maintained their opposition, insisting that the college should remain under public control and warning that they would resist any attempt to concession the institution.

Nineteen-year-old Mafolayomi Otujiya, a first-class Public Administration graduate of Babcock University, has shared how she turned the disappointment of scoring 238 in the UTME into motivation to excel at university. Otujiya, who graduated with a CGPA of 4.52 as the best graduating student in her department, said she had expected to score above 300 in the UTME and was devastated when she received her result. According to her, the disappointment strengthened her determination to perform better at university. She said, “I was expecting a 300+ score in UTME, and I really worked towards it. So, seeing 238 was far below my expectations. I even cried when the UTME result came out. “I told myself I would do better in the university. I turned the disappointment into a higher level of focus and intentionality in the university.” Otujiya gained admission to Babcock University in 2022 at the age of 15. Although she initially wanted to study Law, she was offered Public Administration and eventually developed an interest in the course after researching its relevance. She recalled that her first semester result gave her confidence that graduating with a first class was possible, after she recorded a 4.55 GPA in her 100 Level. “I always imagined myself as a first-class student, but the point when I realised I could graduate with one was when my first result came out,” she said. She maintained a first-class CGPA throughout her university education, with her highest GPA reaching 4.74. Despite her academic success, Otujiya said her journey was not without difficulties. French was particularly challenging, as she recorded Cs in the three-unit course for three consecutive semesters. She also had to balance academics with leadership responsibilities. She served as assistant social director in 200 Level and vice president of her department in 300 Level. These roles, she said, sparked her interest in project management and helped her develop skills in teamwork, organisation and leadership. Otujiya also revealed that she sacrificed sleep, leisure and afternoon naps to keep up with her academic responsibilities. At some points, she remained in the library until 8 p.m. while also managing classes and research projects. She credited her family, lecturers and project supervisor, Dr Sunday Audu, for supporting her throughout her university journey. She also acknowledged the contribution of a senior colleague, Olafare Oluwanifemi, who helped her understand difficult course materials. Reflecting on being a 19-year-old graduate, Otujiya said she never allowed her age to limit her expectations. “I didn’t let my age dictate my potential. I knew that if I saw myself as younger than everyone else, it would hold me back, so I just focused on my capabilities rather than my age,” she said. Beyond academics, she participated in extracurricular activities, interviewed her university’s vice chancellor as a member of her chapel’s media team and received an award for meritorious service. She said studying Public Administration also changed her perspective on governance, particularly by exposing her to policy implementation gaps, bureaucracy and public-sector structures. After graduation, Otujiya said she is currently training in agile project management and product management while preparing to resume content creation as a faith-based fashion creator. She hopes to build a career in project management and corporate administration, saying her strengths lie in building structures, organising teams and achieving organisational goals. For students aspiring to graduate with first-class honours, she stressed the importance of discipline, consistency, prayer and intentionality. “If you’re naturally intelligent but not disciplined, you really can’t achieve anything,” she said, adding that students should surround themselves with environments that support their goals. Otujiya also advised students to believe in their abilities and visualise their goals before pursuing them, noting that her own academic achievement began with believing that it was possible.

The Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chibueze Ofobuike, has offered educational and financial support to Richard Emmanuel Ekene Ike, a former debate star who reportedly dropped out of school after losing his parents. Richard’s situation gained public attention after his former teacher, Joy Oñuchukwu Anopuechi, described him as a brilliant student and outstanding speaker who represented Aguata Zone at the 2021 Governor’s Debate. Ofobuike said the council had offered to sponsor Richard’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination, provide accommodation and assist with his other financial needs. He also disclosed that the founder of Okwumereze Foundation, Evans Emesim, popularly known as MC Okwumereze, had pledged to sponsor Richard’s JAMB examination and provide him with a full scholarship throughout his university education. Following a meeting with Richard and Anopuechi, it was agreed that he would first return to secondary school, complete his senior secondary education and sit for the relevant examinations before proceeding to university. The council chairman said arrangements had been made for Richard to resume at a secondary school in September 2026, subject to passing the school’s entrance examination. He added that the council would provide educational materials, including a smartphone, computer, books and other items required for his studies. Ofobuike also appealed for further assistance towards Richard’s daily upkeep, stating that any financial support would be paid directly into his account and monitored to ensure proper use. The chairman expressed hope that the intervention would help Richard realise his potential and encourage similar efforts to identify and support other talented young people facing difficult circumstances. The intervention comes after Richard’s story of dropping out of school and surviving through odd jobs, including bricklaying, attracted widespread attention on social media.

At least 65 primary and secondary schools have been shut down or rendered non-functional across several northern states due to insecurity. The affected schools are in Sokoto, Benue, Plateau, Borno, Kaduna and Kebbi, while insecurity has also disrupted academic activities in Katsina, Adamawa and other parts of the North. The closures followed terrorist and bandit attacks, abductions, displacement and fears of further attacks on students and teachers. Sokoto has recorded one of the most widespread disruptions, with schools in 20 of its 23 local government areas shut indefinitely, following a Federal Government directive. However, schools in Sokoto North, Sokoto South and Wamakko were exempted. Benue has also been heavily affected, with 35 schools identified as shut across Kwande, Gwer West, Guma and Logo LGAs. Some pupils have relocated to safer communities, while others have dropped out following the displacement of their families. In Borno, two schools in Askira-Uba were recently closed following attacks and student abductions. In Plateau, seven schools across Riyom and Barkin Ladi have also experienced disruptions. Education experts have warned that prolonged school closures could worsen Nigeria’s out-of-school crisis, while exposing children to risks including child labour, early marriage and recruitment by criminal groups. The Federal Government says it is strengthening the Safe Schools Initiative through a dedicated department and a new national framework involving security agencies. The plan includes perimeter fencing, solar lighting, security personnel, technology and monitoring systems. Experts, however, say urgent action is needed to restore security and reopen affected schools, warning that continued disruption could have long-term consequences for Nigeria’s education system and the future of millions of children.

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dismissed a viral document circulating on social media claiming that the results of candidates from 50 secondary schools in the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were withheld over alleged examination malpractice. In a statement shared on its official X account on Wednesday, the examination body described the document as fake and urged the public to disregard it. According to WAEC, the letter did not originate from the council and should not be considered an official communication. The forged document, dated August 2, 2026, was purportedly addressed to principals of public and private secondary schools across Nigeria. It falsely claimed that the results of candidates from 50 schools had been withheld over examination malpractice and instructed the affected schools to submit reports within 14 days or face further sanctions. The fake notice also listed schools from different parts of the country, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, and carried the forged name and signature of the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Dr Amos Dangut, alongside counterfeit official letterheads and stamps. To counter the misinformation, WAEC released a copy of the forged document marked prominently with a red “FAKE” stamp. The clarification followed the release of the 2026 Computer-Based WASSCE results for school candidates. Earlier, the council announced that it had withheld the results of 167,486 candidates, representing 8.59 per cent of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat for the examination, over allegations of examination malpractice. WAEC explained that the withheld results were linked to various forms of examination misconduct, including the use of mobile phones in examination halls and organised cheating in some schools. The council also disclosed that supervisors and invigilators found to have aided examination malpractice had been apprehended and would face disciplinary action through the appropriate state ministries of education.