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Enugu To Spend 30 Percent of 2024 Budget On Education—Gov Mbah

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L: Vice Chancellor, ESUT, Prof. Alloysius-Michaels Okolie & Governor Peter Mbah

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, says his administration is to spend 30 per cent of the 2024 state budget on the education section sector, stressing that education remains the state’s greatest weapon against poverty.

Mbah stressed his administration’s determination to ensure that the poorest child in the remotest parts of Enugu State receives world class education using tools of the 21st century.

The governor made the declarations in his keynote address at the 19th convocation of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Agbani, on Saturday, where 9,017 graduants received various first and higher degrees.

Mbah, who is also the Visitor to the university, said the most radical changes in the education under his administration would take place in the area of basic education.

“In my view, education is probably our greatest weapon in our war against poverty in the medium to long run.

“It is for this reason that education is at the core of the strategy, which we envisage will see us boost our GDP from the current levels of about $4.4 billion to at least $30 billion by the end of 2031.

“This is why we have designed and are implementing a most revolutionary strategy to revamp the current educational system. This revamp will be extensive and exhaustive, ranging from the basic schools through secondary to tertiary institutions like ESUT.

“There will be changes not only in the curricula, but also in the models for delivering knowledge in our educational institutions. The most radical change will take place in our basic schools where our children spend the first nine years schooling.

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“Therefore, in 2024, we will be spending close to 30 per cent of our state budget on education, well above the recommended international benchmark”, the governor said.

The governor said his administration had completed the construction of one smart school, awarded contract for the construction of another nine, while 250 more would be constructed in less than 14 months to cover the entire 260 wards, adding that teachers for the pilot model school were already undergoing training by global experts.

“These smart schools will each be equipped with internet access, solar power, a centre for robotics and artificial intelligence, a modern ICT centre, two well-equipped laboratories for primary school and junior secondary school, a studio for creative production, 25 inclusive classrooms, with interactive digital whiteboards, android tablets for pupils’ use, among others”, he explained.

He commended the ESUT management for some steps already being taken to align with government’s vision for tertiary education in the state.

Speaking, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Alloysius-Michaels Okolie, commended Mbah for the laudable vision for education in the state and great support to ESUT since the governor’s assumption of office.

He said the ESUT management was repositioning the institution in line with the governor’s educational vision and policies.

The convocation also saw the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on some distinguished Nigerians, including the
Managing Director of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Osagie Okunbor, Group Managing Director of Afrivest West Africa Ltd, Ike Chioke, the foremost estate developer, Surv Ugochukwu Chime, and recognitions and cash awards to outstanding student led by the best graduating student, Miss Barbara Ijeoma Ikeonyia.

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JAMB Urges Candidates To Protest Unfair Admission Practices

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Ishaq Oloyede, registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), says parents and qualified candidates should protest against “admission bias” if they are confident in their Unified Tertiary Matriculation Admission (UTME) results.

In an interview with Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) published on Tuesday, Oloyede urged candidates and guardians who are qualified but not admitted to their desired institutions to speak up.

“If you find anybody… if you are sure of yourself, you have the score, or this is the UTME score of my child; you know that you ought to be admitted, and you were not admitted, protest to us because CAPS has made everything easy,” he said.

“People are so daring — and the parents — because they have climbed the ladder to illegality, they believe there is no other way.

“I’ve seen many people who sent their children’s scores to me and asked what they could do. I tell them I will do nothing, and the candidate is admitted—and they thank me. I did nothing.”

Oloyede said that the central admission processing system (CAPS) is key to ensuring transparency, noting that there has been no reported problem with it since 2017.

He added that the system could manage admission without interference and errors.

Speaking on issues related to direct entry, the registrar pointed out that JAMB has strengthened its verification processes across various programmes, making it difficult for candidates to forge results.

“Since 2023, annually, the rates have gone down. Many people are no longer applying for direct entry because they know we are supervising thoroughly. And this year, we have caught 77, but we have done more prevention,” he said.

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“JUPEB, IJMB, and all the rest… we check at the point of entry, and we’ve made it impossible for them to forge.”

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WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Timetable (FULL LIST)

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The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has released
the timetable for the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination,
WASSCE, for school candidates

The timetable was published on WAEC’s X page on Monday.

According to the timetable, the examination will commence
Tuesday, April 21, 2026, and end on Friday, June 19, 2026.

The examination will begin with Foods and Nutrition 3
(Practical) Planning Session and Home Management 3 (Practical) Planning
Session.

See timetable below:

 

 

 

 

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Sweden, UNN Deepen Academic, Research Partnership

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Professor Simon Ortuanya, Vice Chancellor, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, welcoming Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, during a courtesy visit to the university’s Enugu Campus.

The Kingdom of Sweden and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation in education, research and innovation, following a high-level diplomatic engagement at the university’s Enugu Campus.

Sweden’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Anna Westerholm, made the pledge during a courtesy visit to the Vice Chancellor, Professor Simon Ortuanya, describing the engagement as a continuation of over six decades of diplomatic and academic relations between Sweden and Nigeria.

Westerholm highlighted Sweden’s longstanding support for the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre and the Environment for Development initiative at UNN, noting that the collaboration reflects a shared commitment to research-driven policy and sustainable development.

She emphasised that Sweden’s national model of free and inclusive education through the tertiary level has been central to its human capital development strategy and economic transformation.
According to the ambassador, sustainable national growth is unattainable without consistent investment in education and youth empowerment.

She disclosed that her delegation included Swedish industry leaders ready to support institutional reforms, particularly in digital transformation, entrepreneurship development and technology-driven innovation.

Commending the Enugu State Government’s allocation of 30 percent of its annual budget to education, Westerholm described the state as an emerging innovation hub.

She noted that the momentum witnessed at the recent Enugu Tech Festival aligns closely with Sweden’s innovation-led development model.

In his response, Professor Ortuanya described UNN as Nigeria’s first indigenous university, established with a mandate to produce globally competitive and innovative graduates across disciplines.

He welcomed deeper collaboration with Sweden across multiple academic fields and called for expanded exchange programmes for students and faculty.

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While acknowledging environmental sustainability and climate research as priority areas, the vice chancellor stressed that accelerated development in the 21st century demands strategic investment in engineering, computing, robotics and artificial intelligence.

A key highlight of the visit was a technical presentation by Swedish industry representatives outlining proposals to fully digitalise university records and strengthen entrepreneurship education through structured digital skills training aimed at promoting self-employment and job creation.

The engagement builds on earlier discussions initiated in August 2025 by a Swedish delegation led by Fredrik Ahsberg, Head of Political and Trade Section at the Swedish Embassy.

Director of International Collaborations at UNN, Dr. Kelechi Nnamani, described the visit as evidence of growing international confidence in the university’s research capacity, governance stability and innovation relevance, noting that the next phase will focus on delivering measurable outcomes.

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WAEC Releases 2025 Second Series CB-WASSCE Results

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WAEC Releases Result For Private WASSCE Candidates

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2025 Second Series Computer-Based West African Senior School Certificate Examination (CB-WASSCE), for private candidates.

This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Public Affairs Unit of the WAEC National Office in Lagos by Moyosola Adesina, Acting Head of the Unit.

It stated that candidates may check their results by visiting www.waecdirect.org to confirm their status before proceeding to the Digital Certificate platform at www.waec.org to access released digital certificate copies.

“Candidates are required to apply online for printing of hard copy certificates through the WAEC Certificate Request Portal, e-Certman, accessible via https://certrequest.waec.ng/ for processing.

“All candidates who sat for the exams are advised to carefully review their results and take necessary steps promptly, including accessing certificates and completing required applications online,” it added.

The statement recalled that 69,604 candidates, representing 1.8 per cent increase, compared with the 2024 entry figure of 68,342, enrolled for the examination, while 65,752 candidates sat for the examination at 370 centres spread across the country.

It added that among the people that sat for the examination, 235 candidates, with varying degrees of special needs (visually impaired, impaired hearing and albinos) registered for the examination.

According to the statement, out of the total number of 65,752 candidates that sat the examination, 32,005 were males while 33,747 were females, representing 48.68 per cent and 51.32 per cent respectively.

“61,943 candidates, representing 94.21 per cent have their results fully processed and released while 3,809 candidates, representing 5.79 per cent have a few of their subjects still being processed due to some errors traceable to them,”.

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It however, assured that efforts were being made to speedily complete the processing to enable affected candidates to get their results fully processed and released, subsequently.

The analysis of the statistics of the candidates’ performance shows that out of the 65,752, candidates who sat for the examination, 33,989 candidates representing 51.69 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects (with or without English Language and/or Mathematics).

“27,727 candidates representing 42.17 per cent obtained credit and above in a minimum of five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

“Of this number, 13,416, representing 48.39 per cent were male candidates, while 14,311, representing 51.61 per cent were female candidates.

The statement stated that 1,899 candidates’ results, representing 2.89 per cent of the total number of candidates that sat for the examination, were withheld in connection with various reported cases of examination malpractice.

It added that investigations were ongoing and reports would be presented to the appropriate Committee of the Council for determination.

The statement said that the Committee’s decisions would be communicated directly to the affected candidates, thereafter.

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Enugu Rotary Clubs Advance Literacy, Hygiene, Others at New Haven School

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Students and facilitators of New Haven Secondary School pose for a group photo after the hygiene and handwashing demonstration organized by the Rotary Clubs of New Haven, Enugu City Centre, and Enugu Metropolis.

The Rotary Club of New Haven, in partnership with the Rotary Clubs of Enugu City Centre and Enugu Metropolis, alongside the Rotaract Club of New Haven and the Interact Club of New Haven, has launched a targeted initiative to promote literacy, hygiene, and career development among students of New Haven Secondary School, Enugu.

The programme, themed Our Youths, Our Future: Bringing Back the Reading Culture, engaged students, educators, and community stakeholders through structured learning sessions and practical workshops.

A highlight of the initiative was the reactivation of the school’s Interact Club, with 36 students formally inducted into Rotary’s youth arm. Additionally, 216 students received curated reading materials designed to strengthen literacy and critical thinking skills.

Students also participated in career-focused seminars and practical sessions covering hygiene protocols and digital research skills.

Dr. Chukwudi Madu led demonstrations on proper handwashing techniques, emphasized the role of water in maintaining health, and provided guidance on medical career pathways.

Other facilitators addressed opportunities in art and design, laboratory sciences, and strategic career planning tailored to students’ aptitudes.

Dr. Chukwudi Madu demonstrates proper handwashing techniques to students during the hygiene and health session organized by the Rotary Clubs at New Haven Secondary School.

Adaeze Nwokolo addressing students during the programme at New Haven Secondary School, Enugu.

Complementing the student-centered activities, the clubs conducted a Peace and Conflict Resolution Management session for teachers and staff.

Led by Past President Tony Eze and Past Assistant Governor Stella Eneh, the session equipped school personnel with practical strategies to manage conflicts and strengthen institutional relationships.

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Teachers, staff, and Rotary facilitators of New Haven Secondary School pose for a group photo following the Peace and Conflict Resolution Management session led by Past President Tony Eze and Past Assistant Governor Stella Eneh.

In addition, the clubs donated books to the school library and presented recognition gifts to the principal and vice principal overseeing the Interact Club.

In his response, the principal of New Haven Secondary School, Mr. Charles Obetta, expressed appreciation to the Rotary Clubs for their generosity and urged continued support for future school initiatives, a commitment the clubs have assured.

Organizers described the initiatives as part of a broader strategic framework aimed at advancing education, youth development, and community resilience in Enugu.

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Peter Mbah Foundation Sends First Cohort of Overseas Scholars to Ireland

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The Peter Mbah Foundation, in partnership with LinkPro Consult Integrated Limited, has formally sent off the first cohort of beneficiaries of its overseas scholarship programme to pursue studies in top-ranking universities in the Republic of Ireland.

The scholars were awarded full scholarships, covering tuition, stipends, and flight tickets. The initiative forms part of a broader human-capital development strategy aimed at expanding access to quality education and global opportunities for indigenes and residents of Enugu State.

Speaking while hosting the students and their parents during the weekend, the Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, described the scholarship as an opportunity anchored on responsibility. He urged the beneficiaries to distinguish themselves through discipline, academic excellence, and good conduct, noting that they would serve as ambassadors of Enugu State in their host country. The governor also advised the students to remain focused, humble, and law-abiding, and to allow their academic results and character to speak for them and their families.

The Peter Mbah Foundation stated that the overseas scholarship programme is designed to create practical pathways through education and skills acquisition, while opening global doors for young people from Enugu State. According to the Foundation, the initiative reflects a long-term commitment to investing in people as the most critical driver of sustainable development.

The departure of the first cohort marks a significant milestone in the Foundation’s education interventions and underscores the state government’s emphasis on human capital as a cornerstone of Enugu’s development agenda.

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Relief for Parents as Kwara Schools Reopen

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The Kwara State Government has directed the reopening of schools across the state following what authorities say is a significant improvement in the security situation.

The announcement was made in a statement released on Sunday by the Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Dr Lawal Olohungbebe, who said all public and private schools are to resume academic activities on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Dr Olohungbebe said school heads and relevant education stakeholders have already been officially informed of the decision, which was reached after a review of ongoing security efforts across the state.

Since November 2025, many primary and secondary schools in parts of Kwara South were shut as a precautionary measure, forcing learners to remain at home while schools in other parts of the state and country continued with their academic calendar.

The state government said the decision to reopen schools was taken in the interest of restoring normal learning while ensuring that adequate security measures remain in place to protect students and school personnel.

According to him, sustained operations by security agencies have helped to reduce threats posed by criminal elements, particularly around communities and educational facilities that were previously affected by insecurity.

“The situation has improved considerably compared to what we experienced in the past, although we are not lowering our guard,” the commissioner said.

He noted that security personnel remain deployed in strategic locations to consolidate recent successes recorded in tackling banditry and other criminal activities that had earlier disrupted academic activities in some parts of the state.

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The commissioner added that alongside security operations, the state government is intensifying efforts to strengthen community participation, promote early warning mechanisms, and encourage collaboration between residents and security agencies to maintain lasting peace.

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UNESCO, EU Roll Out Major Teacher-Development Programme To Strengthen Nigeria’s Education System

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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has launched a wide-ranging capacity-building initiative targeting teachers, head teachers and School-Based Management Committees (SBMCs) as part of a renewed push to strengthen teacher development and improve learning outcomes across Nigeria.

The programme, funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with the Enugu State Ministry of Education and the Enugu State Universal Basic Education Board (ENSUBEB), is designed to enhance the quality of instruction in classrooms and support long-term reforms in Nigeria’s basic education sector.

Speaking at the training held in Enugu, UNESCO Programme Assistant for the Expand, Integrate and Strengthen Systems (EISS) Project, Maureen Chiedozie, said the intervention is central to efforts to build a more resilient teaching workforce capable of driving sustainable human development.

Chiedozie explained that the EISS project is anchored on globally recognised frameworks, including the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Agenda 2030, both of which emphasise inclusive, equitable and quality education.

The initiative is currently being implemented in six states, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Enugu, Katsina, Plateau and Oyo representing all six geopolitical zones of the country.

She highlighted that the training in Enugu forms a key component of Outcome 3 of the EISS programme, which focuses on establishing Teacher Learning Teams (TLTs) across groups of schools. These teams are expected to promote collaboration, strengthen peer-learning structures, and ultimately improve professional practice within the classroom.

“Through TLTs, teachers will be better connected to their students, colleagues and the wider community, creating an ecosystem that supports improved learning outcomes,” Chiedozie said. “This engagement represents a major milestone in our broader objective of strengthening systems, improving governance and elevating the overall quality of teaching and learning across Nigeria.”

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She noted that the project will also reinforce teacher preparation for emerging job demands, support both pre-service and in-service training, and guide the development of policies on teacher recruitment, management and retention.

The overarching goal, she added, is to boost student attainment by expanding the number of well-trained and professionally supported teachers nationwide.

In his remarks, Chairman of ENSUBEB, Assoc. Prof. Hyginus Okibe, expressed strong optimism about the initiative’s potential impact on the basic education sector.

He said the combination of reliable school data, advanced teacher training and active stakeholder participation would significantly improve the state’s capacity to support teachers and transform learning experiences.

According to him, the EISS intervention marks “a major step forward in strengthening education governance and accelerating teacher-development reforms” in Enugu and across the participating states.

Participants at the training also received a technical briefing on GPS-enabled school-mapping methodology, a tool designed to improve data accuracy and support evidence-based decision-making within the education system.

The session concluded with a pilot demonstration exercise conducted within the state capital.

The UNESCO–EU initiative is expected to scale across more schools in the coming months, with education stakeholders describing it as a timely support programme capable of reshaping Nigeria’s basic education landscape.

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Obi Backs Dominican College Abatete, Inspects Ongoing Boys’ Hostel Project

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Former Governor of Anambra State and Presidential candidate of the Labour Party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, on Friday reaffirmed his long-standing commitment to educational development with a further donation of N10 million to Dominican College, Abatete.

The contribution accompanied his inspection of the boys’ hostel currently under construction a project he is personally funding.

Obi, who toured the site with school authorities, assured them of his continued involvement, noting that he would make regular visits to ensure the project’s timely completion and adherence to quality standards.

A light moment occurred on his arrival when students, eager to honour him, began a customary musical welcome often reserved for visiting dignitaries. Obi gently requested that they discontinue the performance before he alighted from his vehicle.

He later explained that while such gestures are culturally familiar, they can distract students from academic priorities. “I want the children to focus on their studies and personal growth rather than rituals meant to impress politicians,” he said.

Friday’s visit adds to Obi’s extensive history of support for the institution. In July 2025, he laid the foundation for the boys’ hostel and donated N25 million as seed funding. He also recalled earlier interventions, including the construction of a female hostel.

Dominican College has over the years benefited from Obi’s philanthropy beyond physical infrastructure. The school has received buses, computers, power generators, internet facilities and a borehole initiatives aimed at strengthening its academic environment and operational capacity.

Obi reiterated to staff his conviction that investment in education remains central to community development and national progress.

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He encouraged students to remain diligent and committed to their studies, stressing that quality education equips young people for leadership and success.

His sustained engagement with Dominican College exemplifies a model of civic responsibility in which public figures invest in educational institutions in tangible and accountable ways.

The hostel project, now well underway, is expected to provide modern accommodation that supports a more conducive learning atmosphere.

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