education

TETFUND: VC seeks inclusion of private varsities

Published

1 year ago

November 4, 2024

milcah

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Vice Chancellor of the Muhammed Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Professor Rasheed Jimoh, has called for a policy review that would include private universities on the list of the beneficiaries of intervention of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

The Vice Chancellor, who made the call on Monday in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, while fielding questions from journalists on the
financial constraints of private universities in the country and the need for government intervention,
said the inclusion of private universities as beneficiaries of TETFUND is a way of promoting universal education, noting that public universities alone cannot accommodate all varsity admission seekers.

Prof. Jimoh said, though TETFUND’s intervention in private universities may not be at par with that of public-owned universities, accommodating them as beneficiaries would create a sense of belonging.

“This is more of a policy issue. When you look at education, we are talking of universal access to education, either private or public university. It is Nigerians that are in these universities, and in order to create access to universal education and because public universities alone couldn’t deliver universal education, the government had to open up the establishment of private universities”, he explained.

The Vice Chancellor added that government can give a fraction of what is going to public institutions to private institutions, saying: “There is nothing stopping the government from doing a review of their policy to allow, even if not at par, certain developmental interventions should also go to private universities.

“If you are giving public institutions, like N100m, maybe you give N20m project intervention to private universities. It might not be at par, but something needs to be done because Nigerians are the ones these private universities are also grooming.

“The number of private institutions surpasses even the number of public institutions. So, definitely, I’m sure the government is thinking on what to do and the pressure groups are also talking to the government on this.

“I also think Vice Chancellors of private universities are discussing this. I’m sure it has reached an appreciable level and I want to believe that something will be done in no distant time about this.”

Commenting on the recent policy on age limit for admissions by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Jimoh said the country has a perennial culture of implementation problems in its policies.

He said: “I see an implementation problem. The implementation problem is that you did not stop the student from enrolling in the primary school before six years nor stop them from enrolling for secondary school before 12 years.

“So, you want to create a gap. Have we created a college of a year or two years where they can attend before going to the University or do you want this set of students to be roaming on the streets for one year or two years?

“For those that finish secondary school, where do you want to keep them? Has the government provided a vocational centre for them to be before they enrol into the university? Of course, we have seen a lot in terms of underage, what do you call it, disadvantages of underage in the university.

“But that is not enough to say that you want to create a vacuum or you want to create a lacuna in terms of the lifetime of Nigerians that finish at 15 years, six months, and you want that person to stay until like 17 or 16, what is he going to do, and have we created a meaningful engagement for them?

“Before you make a certain policy, you must definitely look at certain issues. I can see a clear implementation problem. So, now, if we want to start with that one, we should start at the primary school. We must ensure that no pupil enters primary one except you are six years old.

“We should start now from the grassroots, from the primary and probably we should allow this generation to pass, and you know, it will be difficult for those people coming to even cross to the university, except you are 18, and I think that will be more seamless than just starting in the middle of it.”

education

Benue Govt Moves to End Illegal School Levies, Enforces Strict Compliance Measures

Published

2 weeks ago

November 13, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Benue State Government has intensified its crackdown on illegal fees in public schools, declaring a zero-tolerance policy against unauthorized charges by school administrators.

The Executive Secretary of the Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examination Board (BEQAEB), Dr. Terna Francis, issued the warning during a meeting with principals of public and private schools in Makurdi.

He announced that the government has made the e-Dossier platform compulsory for all learners. The digital system, he explained, was introduced to serve as an automated performance tracker, providing credible records of students’ progress from Basic 1 to Basic 9 and SS1 to SS3.

According to Dr. Francis, the platform will also help the board rank schools by performance and track student transfers across the state.

He revealed that all payments for BEQAEB examinations have now been fully automated and must be completed online or through the banking system to eliminate corruption and other financial irregularities.

“Staff of the board are no longer authorized to collect payments, issue receipts, or act as agents for any school or candidate,” he stated, directing school heads to channel all complaints and inquiries strictly through official communication lines.

Dr. Francis emphasized that the restructured BEQAEB represents a “total rebirth” focused on efficiency, integrity, and accountability within the education system.

“Our examination system lost credibility. The defunct Benue State Examinations Board became synonymous with corruption, inefficiency, and loss of public confidence,” he said.

“We witnessed delays in the release of results, unissued certificates, exam irregularities, and a deep erosion of trust. These failures embarrassed our education system and robbed our students of the dignity of genuine assessment.”

The new reforms, he added, are aimed at restoring transparency, rebuilding confidence in public examinations, and ensuring every student in Benue State receives fair and credible assessment.

education

FG Abandons Mother Tongue Policy in Schools, Adopts English as Sole Medium of Instruction

Published

2 weeks ago

November 13, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Federal Government has officially abolished the national policy requiring the use of indigenous languages as the medium of instruction in schools, directing teachers nationwide to adopt English as the primary language for teaching and learning.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy shift during the Language in Education International Conference 2025, organised by the British Council in Abuja.

Alausa explained that the decision was taken to enhance learning outcomes and promote uniformity in classroom instruction across Nigeria.

While acknowledging the importance of indigenous languages in preserving cultural identity, the minister stressed that English remains essential for comprehension, national cohesion, and global competitiveness.

“English language should be used as the medium of instruction at all levels of education. For years, the use of mother tongues has contributed significantly to mass failures in national examinations,” Alausa said.

“The national policy on language has been cancelled. English now stands as the sole medium of instruction across all tiers of education.”

He added that available data indicated that excessive reliance on local languages for teaching had negatively impacted students’ performance in key national exams such as WAEC, NECO, and JAMB.

The two-day conference, themed “Language, Education and Inclusion: Empowering Every Learner,” gathered educators, policymakers, and development partners from Africa, South Asia, and the United Kingdom to discuss effective language strategies for inclusive education.

education

UNILORIN 40th Convocation: 316 bag First Class

Published

1 month ago

October 20, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin will this week graduate over 14,000 students as part of its 40th Convocation and 50th Anniversary celebrations, marking another milestone in the institution’s steady rise as one of Nigeria’s most stable and innovative universities.

The Vice Chancellor, Professor Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN), who announced this on Monday during the convocation press briefing, said the university would award degrees and diplomas to 14,682 students across various programmes for the 2024/2025 academic session.

He said: “We are proud to be graduating 316 First-Class students, 4,120 in Second Class Upper Division, 5,939 in Second Class Lower, 1,078 in Third Class and 11 with Pass degrees. In the professional category, we have 175 MB;BS, 94 Nursing, 36 Veterinary Medicine, 64 Physiotherapy and 13 Diploma graduands.”

Egbewole further disclosed that 1,520 higher degrees would be awarded, including 182 postgraduate diplomas, 916 Masters, 188 professional Masters, and 234 PhDs across various faculties.

He also revealed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Visitor to the University, would commission several completed projects on Thursday, October 23, 2025, as part of the convocation events. These include the newly built Faculty of Social Sciences complex, the English Drama Studio, the remodelled Innovation Hub, and the Technical and Entrepreneurship Centre Road.

“The President’s presence underscores the federal government’s faith in our contribution to national development,” he said.

Highlighting recent achievements, the Vice Chancellor noted that the University received a N4 billion Special High Impact Project fund from TETFund for the upgrade of facilities at the College of Health Sciences, in addition to N750 million for hostel construction. He also confirmed the disbursement of N1.59 billion in student loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to 12,983 students.

“These interventions have ensured that no student drops out because of financial hardship. It shows government’s commitment to inclusive education,” Egbewole added.

On research and innovation, he announced that 81 academic staff received a total of N177 million in Senate Research Grants, while the University also secured N220.5 million from the National Research Fund for eight major projects.

“Our researchers are gaining international recognition. For instance, Dr. Ismail Odetokun from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine leads our Google Scholar citation list with over 11,800 citations, while several others have crossed 6,000. This visibility shows the impact of Unilorin on the global research community,” he said.

Egbewole listed other milestones, including the unveiling of 30 campus shuttle buses managed under a student-led cashless system, the establishment of a Science, Technology, and Innovation Park to link the University with industries, and the creation of the U-INSPIRE entrepreneurship programme, which has already trained 9,929 students, with 7,290 graduating this year.

The Vice Chancellor also celebrated the University’s 100% success rate in the last NUC accreditation exercise and multiple international collaborations with universities in Kenya, South Africa, Malaysia, and the United States.

UNILORIN students, the VC said, also recorded national and global achievements, including Miss Faith Aduragbemi Olabisi, who became a Chartered Accountant at 18; Sanusi Akanbi Kazeem, who broke the Guinness World Record for the longest mathematics lesson; and Hannah Bolawatife Oladele, who won the national campus journalism award.

In sports, he added, three UNILORIN athletes represented Nigeria at the World University Games in Germany, while the institution’s staff athletes won six medals at the Nigeria University Staff Sports Association Games in Kano.

Reflecting on the university’s progress, Professor Egbewole said: “The ‘Better by Far’ slogan has evolved from a motto into a live reality of excellence, stability, and innovation. We are not just producing graduates, but problem solvers and leaders for Nigeria and beyond.”

He, however, acknowledged challenges such as funding constraints and the need for more infrastructural expansion, adding that his administration remains focused on deepening digital transformation, staff welfare, and inclusive access to education.

The VC called for sustained support from all stakeholders, saying: “As we celebrate 50 years of academic distinction, we are reminded that transformation is a continuous journey. With vision, courage, and collaboration, the University of Ilorin will remain a model of excellence for generations to come.”

End