education

TETFUND: VC seeks inclusion of private varsities

Published

11 months 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

UNILORIN inducts 35 new veterinary doctors

Published

5 hours ago

October 8, 2025

Our Reporter

Stephen Olufemi Oni, Ilorin

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin has inducted 35 new veterinary doctors at its seventh induction/oath-taking ceremony.

Speaking as the Keynote Speaker at the event, a former Vice President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Bala Muhammed, told both the graduands and audience at the event that solutions to contemporary health challenges demand interdisciplinary cooperation.

“Solutions to today’s greatest health challenges cannot be designed in isolation—they demand cooperation across veterinary medicine, human medicine, environmental sciences, and public policy”, he added.

Muhammed, a veterinary surgeon, said: “The health of humans, animals, and the environment can no longer be treated as separate concerns.

“They are intricately linked, forming the foundation of the one health approach, a global strategy that requires collaboration across disciplines to achieve optimal health outcomes for all.”

He added that, “despite successes, veterinary services remain underfunded, under-recognized, and under-integrated into national health frameworks.

“Many countries, including ours, face surveillance blind spots, weak laboratory capacity, and governance silos.

“These gaps allow diseases to simmer unnoticed until they explode into public crises, with devastating health and economic consequences.

“To truly protect one world, we must invest in veterinary infrastructure and laboratories, foster collaboration among doctors, veterinarians, ecologists, and policymakers to strengthen education, funding, and data systems which empower community-centered prevention strategies. “Veterinarians must be recognized not only as responders but as guardians of planetary health.”

The President of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Prof. Mathew Adamu, urged the graduands to uphold the ethics of the profession.

Prof. Adamu, who was represented by the Vice President of VCN, Halimah Gambo, urged the graduands to let the integrity be their watch word and serve with compassion.

According to him, taking care of animals as a veterinary doctor, means they are indirectly taking care of people of the nation.

Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole (SAN) who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor Management Services, Prof. Adegboyega Fawole, charged the new vet doctors to be good ambassadors of the university.

Earlier, Dean of the Faculty Professor Saliu Ameen, said that the induction marked the formal licensing of these young doctors as veterinary professionals.

Professor Ameen added that, “this ceremony is not merely a ritual; it is a defining moment. It signifies the transition of our graduands from students of veterinary medicine to full members of a noble and globally relevant profession”.

Dr Kareemot Babalola, who spoke on behalf of the graduands commended their lecturers for the mentoring and tutorship for their six years rigorous of learning.

Babalola appreciated their parents for the spiritual, moral and financial support throughout the journey.

She, therefore, urged her colleagues to be good ambassadors of the institution and Nigeria.

End

education

Kaduna Assembly Approves Bill to Establish Tertiary Institutions Regulatory Agency

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

The Kaduna State House of Assembly (KSHA) has passed a bill to establish the Tertiary Institutions Regulatory Agency and Other Related Matters, 2025.

The bill, passed during plenary on Tuesday under the leadership of Speaker Yusuf Dahiru Liman, is aimed at strengthening oversight of public and private tertiary institutions in the state.

Chairman of the House Committee on Education and Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Muhammad Lawal Ismail, told journalists after the session that the agency would serve as a “data bank” for student enrolment, programmes, and institutional compliance with state regulations.

“Before now, there was no body monitoring the relationship between teachers and students or ensuring institutions adhered to state rules and labour regulations,” Ismail said. He added that, unlike the National Universities Commission (NUC) which enforces national academic standards, the new agency would focus on Kaduna-specific requirements.

According to him, the agency will regulate both public and private colleges of education, including their fees, environment, and overall operations. “We believe His Excellency will assent to this for the betterment of our people because Kaduna is leading in terms of education,” he said.

In a related development, the Assembly also adopted a motion to regulate the activities of metal waste vendors across the state. The motion, sponsored by Aminu Lawal, member representing Doka/Gabasawa Constituency, seeks to promote environmental sustainability, protect public health, and enforce compliance with existing waste management laws.

Lawmakers unanimously backed the motion, warning that unregulated scrap metal trading has contributed to theft of public infrastructure and private property, endangering communities and costing the government millions of naira in repairs.

Do you want me to keep this as a formal legislative report (as it reads now), or make it more punchy and headline-driven for general news readers?

education

No NERD, No NYSC: FG Makes Education Repository Compulsory From October 6

Published

1 week ago

October 1, 2025

Our Reporter

By: Fabian Apechihin

Starting October 6, Nigerian graduates will not be allowed to participate in or obtain exemption from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) without complying with the National Policy for the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).

The directive, confirmed in a circular issued by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, is backed by provisions of the NYSC Act.

The NERD databank, introduced by the Ministry of Education, aims to combat academic fraud and certificate racketeering by requiring students and institutions to upload verifiable academic outputs such as final-year projects, dissertations, and theses. Each submission must include the student’s full name, supervisors, head of department, and sponsoring institution.

“This serves as both a quality assurance measure and independent proof of genuine academic enrolment,” the circular stated.

The policy applies to all higher education institutions — federal, state, private, military, agricultural, and nursing colleges — as well as Nigerians who studied abroad and seek NYSC enrolment or exemption. Serving corps members and those mobilised before October 6 are exempt.

To support implementation, the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and other agencies have been directed to provide seamless data exchange. From March 30 every year, all institutions and relevant organisations must file compliance reports with NERD.

The initiative also features a reward system, enabling students and lecturers to earn lifetime revenues from their academic uploads.

According to the federal government, the policy is intended to restore credibility to Nigeria’s education system and ensure only graduates with verifiable credentials access the NYSC scheme.

Do you want me to make this more formal and policy-focused, or shorter and punchier like a breaking news report?