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.

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.”

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Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The University of Ilorin has graduated 9,924 students from the inaugural cohort of its U-Inspire programme, an initiative designed to equip final-year students with practical skills to solve societal problems and become job creators rather than job seekers.

The graduation ceremony, which was held at the University Auditorium, was themed “Empowering Employability, Innovation, and Real-world Problem Solving.”

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Management Services), Prof. Adegboyega Adisa Fawole, congratulated the graduands for their dedication and commitment to the programme.

He charged them to pursue their dreams with determination and creativity, noting that innovation often starts with small ideas that can grow into major breakthroughs.
“A small idea can transform into something big. Have the mindset to make it bigger. Don’t drop your dream, nurture it. UNILORIN is here to help you compete globally”, Prof. Egbewole said.

He further encouraged the graduands to take calculated risks and become problem solvers who will contribute meaningfully to global development.
The Vice Chancellor also appreciated the nine partner organisations that collaborated with the University to deliver the U-Inspire training, commending their efforts in producing well-rounded graduates.

In his opening remarks, the Chairman of the U-Inspire Implementation Committee, Prof. Rasheed Gbenga Jimoh, commended Prof Egbewole and the university management for initiating the U-Inspire programme aimed at equipping final year students with 21st-century employability skills.
Prof. Jimoh, who also serves as the Director of the Directorate of Computer Services and Information Technology (COMSIT), described the U-Inspire programme as a transformative initiative that has come to stay, stressing the importance of students acquiring a “digital driver’s license” to remain competitive in the global job market.
He explained that the programme focused on three core skill areas, leadership, web design and graphic design, which participants were trained on during their two-month internship.

Prof. Jimoh also congratulated the project presenters for showcasing their talents and urged them to apply their acquired skills towards solving emerging and existing societal problems as he also commended the nine U-Inspire partner organisations for their commitment to the training’s success.

Delivering the keynote address, the Managing Director of Tascon Plastic Industries Limited, Dr Akeem Salawudeen, represented by Mr Ajadi Oladimeji, urged the graduands to focus on building portfolios of problem-solving achievements rather than relying solely on academic transcripts.
“As we empower employability, nurture innovation, and strengthen real-world problem solving, we are not just producing graduates, we are producing builders of our economy and our nation,” he said.

Dr Salawudeen called for stronger collaboration between academic institutions and industries to prepare young people who are not only ready to survive in the 21st century but to shape it.
Also speaking, the Chief Executive Officer of Zakmad, Mr Zakirdeen Oladotun, emphasised that degrees alone are no longer sufficient to secure employment as he encouraged students to embrace entrepreneurship and digital skills.
“You don’t have to know everything, but you must see what others can’t. Open your eyes to opportunities around you and your mind to innovation,” he advised.

Also speaking, the Director of the Centre for Research, Development and In-House Training (CREDIT), Prof. Abdulkarim Oloyede, lauded the U-Inspire initiative, noting that more partners would be engaged to expand the learning options available to students.

He emphasised that university certificates alone are no longer sufficient, adding that complementary programmes like U-Inspire provide practical exposure and innovation oriented skills necessary to solve societal problems.

Prof. Oloyede further revealed plans to extend the U-Inspire training to students from 100-level through to graduation, alongside the establishment of an innovation hub to enhance continuous learning.
At the project presentation segment of the event, MC George Consulting Limited Group emerged as the overall winner, receiving a cash prize of ₦550,000. HRsquare Concept took second place and was awarded ₦350,000, while Group 2lead secured third place with a prize of ₦250,000.

The U-Inspire initiative is part of the University of Ilorin’s commitment to producing graduates who are globally competitive, innovative, and capable of addressing real-world challenges.

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