Osasere Okundaye, Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant, has recounted how she began her journey with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) at the age of 13 after finishing secondary school
early.

Okundaye spoke on Saturday during the Power Must Change Hands monthly programme at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries headquarters in Magboro, Ogun state.

On Monday, the 16-year-old student was announced as the country’s youngest chartered accountant.

In a statement announcing the achievement, Ayodele Olawande,
minister of youth development, congratulated Okundaye on the achievement.

“This remarkable milestone is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” the minister said.

Sharing her testimony before the congregation, Okundaye said her parents encouraged her to enrol for ICAN’s accounting technicians scheme
(ATS) examinations instead of waiting until she was old enough for university
admission.

“I am 16 years old. I started this ICAN journey three years ago after finishing my secondary school early,” she said.

“My parents encouraged me to start writing the ICAN examinations through ATS instead of just waiting around until I got to the right age for university.”

According to her, the journey was particularly challenging because she did not study accounting in secondary school.

“I wasn’t an accounting student in secondary school, so the exams, especially at the first level proved very difficult, more difficult than they probably were for other people at the same level,” she said.

“But I had to put in extra effort, and with the grace of God, I was able to pass that first level. Ever since then, it has been a
success.”

The prodigy said she experienced a setback after failing one of her final examination papers last year but refused to give up.

“Last year, I failed one of my final papers, unfortunately, which I had to rewrite earlier this year in May,” she recalled.

“To the glory of God, I passed that examination, and now I can say that I am a qualified accountant of the institute at 16 years old.”

Okundaye’s feat is coming a year after Temilola Blossom Arise, an 18-year-old student at the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), passed her professional stage examination of ICAN.

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The Federal Government has announced plans to end the policy separating Junior Secondary Schools (JSS) from Senior Secondary Schools (SSS), saying it has contributed to the rising number of children dropping out of school.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, made the announcement on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of the Universal Basic
Education Commission (UBEC) Ministerial Implementation and Monitoring Committee.

According to the minister, more than 20 million pupils leave school between primary education and junior secondary school, indicating that the current system is not working.

“We have 20 million dropouts from primary school to JSS. Where are those students? We also found we have 80,000 public primary schools and only about 15,000 junior secondary schools. That’s a one-to-eight ratio,” Alausa said.

He explained that the shortage of junior secondary schools has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, while many senior secondary schools remain underutilised, particularly in Kaduna and other northern states.

Alausa said the policy of operating JSS and SSS separately, with different principals and facilities, has failed.

“This disarticulation policy has failed. We will phase it out. We can’t be creating positions because we want to create a director level for people while we harm our education system. It’s about doing what is best for every Nigerian child,” he said.

The minister said the proposal to scrap the policy will be presented at the next meeting of the National Council on Education.

He added that the move is aimed at improving access to education and increasing the number of students who progress to senior secondary school.

“This government will not fail. We are fixing it,” Alaus said.

At the event, the minister also inaugurated a committee led by Prof. Rashid Aderinoye to monitor UBEC-funded smart schools, bilingual
schools and alternative schools across the country.

The committee will ensure that the schools are completed, handed over to state governments, and opened for learning.

Alausa noted that many of the schools built with public funds remain unfinished or have not admitted students, describing the situation
as a waste of government resources.

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Osasere Okundaye, the 16-year-old Nigerian student, has become the youngest chartered accountant in Nigeria.

Ayodele Olawande, minister for youth development, congratulated Okundaye on the newly achieved feat in a statement on Monday.

Olawande applauded the young student for her “hard work, discipline, resilience, and commitment to excellence”.

The minister said Okundaye’s academic excellence has projected her as a beacon of “limitless potential of Nigerian youths”.

“I heartily congratulate Miss Osasere Okundaye on her outstanding achievement of becoming Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant at
just 16 years of age,” the statement reads.

“This remarkable milestone is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

“Osasere has distinguished herself as a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youth. Her accomplishment reminds us that with determination, dedication, and the right support, young Nigerians can break barriers, set new records, and inspire a generation to dream bigger and strive for excellence.”

The minister also appreciated the student’s parents for their support and guidance.

“I also congratulate her parents, family, teachers, mentors, and everyone who has supported and guided her journey. Their encouragement, sacrifices, and belief in her abilities have undoubtedly contributed to this exceptional success,” he added.

“As the Federal Ministry of Youth Development continues to champion policies and programmes that empower young people to realise their full potential, Osasere’s achievement reinforces our confidence that the future
of Nigeria is bright in the hands of focused, determined, and talented young
citizens.”

Okundaye’s feat is coming a year after Temilola Blossom Arise, an 18-year-old student of the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), successfully passed her professional stage examination of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).

Arise, a student of economics department, passed all five of
her papers to become a chartered accountant.

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The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially released the results of the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE)

A total of 126,291 candidates registered for the examination, which was conducted in 12 subjects from April 20 to April 30, 2026.

The Acting Director of Information and Public Relations, Azeez Sani, announced the release in a statement on Thursday. He noted that the Award Committee, chaired by Folake David (Director of Basic Education at the Federal Ministry of Education), who represented the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, approved the results following a meeting at NECO’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

The committee also set the 2026 BECE re-sit examination for July 22 and 23, 2026, specifically for Mathematics and English Studies. Candidates with conditional deficiencies in one or both subjects can use this opportunity to remedy their results. This allows them to obtain the necessary certification for admission into Senior Secondary School (SSS1) without repeating the full academic year.

The BECE serves as a crucial assessment for students completing the nine-year Basic Education programme in Nigeria and determines placement into senior secondary schools.Candidates can now check their results via the official NECO portal.

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The Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr Ibraheem Abdul, has assured students and stakeholders that the institution’s transition into a full-fledged university remains on course.

Abdul spoke on Thursday during the matriculation of 17,130 students admitted for the 2025/2026 academic session.

He said the Federal Government’s approval for the conversion of the 79-year-old institution into a university of technology and vocational education had reached an advanced stage, with legislative processes ongoing at the National Assembly.

President Bola Tinubu had approved the conversion of YABATECH into a university in February 2025.

According to the rector, the announcement was a reaffirmation of the President’s approval and commitment to the process.

“The announcement is not new. I am just reiterating it to the new students that the President has approved our conversion to a university. The minister himself made the announcement last year and I want to assure everyone that it is on course,” he said.

Abdul, however, clarified that the institution would continue operating as a polytechnic pending the completion of regulatory and accreditation processes by the National Universities Commission.

“These are not our last set of students as a college because there are still processes to follow. The NUC has to approve our courses before degree programmes can commence. We will continue our admissions as a polytechnic while the transition progresses,” he said.

The rector also unveiled infrastructure expansion plans aimed at preparing the institution for its proposed university status.

According to him, the President approved a N5bn take-off intervention fund for the construction of a 13-storey building within the institution and another N2bn for faculty development projects.

He added that the institution was expanding its Epe campus while also developing additional hostels and academic facilities in Yaba.

Abdul disclosed that the Federal Government recently approved a Presidential Initiative hostel project expected to provide 1,500 bed spaces for students.

The rector also announced plans to establish new faculties, including the Faculty of Health Technology and the Faculty of Computing and Information Technology.

He further disclosed that the institution admitted 17,130 students from 24,655 applications received for the 2025/2026 academic session.

Abdul urged the matriculating students to embrace discipline, academic excellence and entrepreneurship while avoiding cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse and other social vices.

“Cultism, examination malpractice, drug abuse, bullying and all forms of indiscipline have no place in Yabatech. Any student found involved in cult-related activities will face expulsion and possible prosecution,” he said.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced that candidates applying for Education programmes and non-engineering Agriculture courses will no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB made the announcement on Monday via its official X handle during its ongoing 2026 policy meeting on admissions.“Candidates seeking admissions into Education Programmes and Agriculture non-Engineering Courses are now exempted from UTME,” the board stated.

The decision aligns with the Federal Government’s recent policy scrapping the UTME requirement for admission into Colleges of Education.

Candidates seeking the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) will also no longer need to take the UTME.

This development is expected to ease the admission process for students interested in these critical fields.

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The Federal Government on Thursday unveiled a major reform in Nigeria’s examination system with the introduction of computer-based examinations, CBE, by the National Examinations Council, NECO, as the nation celebrated the examination body’s 25 years of existence amid glowing tributes to its rise from a troubled national initiative to an internationally recognised assessment institution.

The minister of education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who announced the reform at NECO’s Silver Jubilee celebration in Abuja, declared that the transition to technology-driven examinations would significantly curb examination malpractice and reposition Nigeria’s assessment system for global competitiveness.

Speaking at the event held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Conference Centre, Garki, Abuja, Alausa described NECO as a “standard-bearer for credible external examinations”, saying the council had become a critical pillar in safeguarding integrity, fairness and accountability in Nigeria’s education sector.

“We are at the threshold of a very important reform, which NECO is spearheading, and that is the Computer-Based Examination, which is to commence this year,” the minister said.

According to him, the new system would provide real-time monitoring of candidates, track suspicious activities and drastically reduce examination fraud that has continued to undermine confidence in public examinations.

The minister said NECO’s 25-year journey reflected Nigeria’s determination to build a credible national examination system capable of guaranteeing equal opportunities for learners across the country.

He noted that the council had over the years strengthened examination security, improved reliability in scoring, widened access to examinations in underserved areas and embraced technological innovations that restored public confidence in national certification.

Alausa said the Ministry of Education would continue to provide policy direction and oversight to ensure NECO examinations aligned with national curricula, learning outcomes and broader development goals.

He stressed that the future of educational assessment must go beyond rote learning to embrace 21st-century competencies such as critical thinking, problem-solving and digital literacy.

“As we celebrate this Silver Jubilee, may NECO and the Ministry of Education continue to work in unison, fostering trust, driving reform, and ensuring that certification remains a passport to brighter futures for all students,” he said.

In his address, NECO Registrar and Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, revealed that the council had grown beyond Nigeria’s borders and was currently conducting examinations in eight countries, a development he described as evidence of growing international confidence in NECO certificates.

He said the examination body, which began amid widespread scepticism, infrastructure deficits and credibility concerns, had transformed into a globally respected institution through transparent processes, prompt release of results and adherence to international best practices.

“Today, NECO stands as a benchmark for credible examinations in the region and among international peers,” Wushishi declared.

He added that NECO’s credentials were now widely accepted internationally, enhancing educational and professional mobility for Nigerian students.

The registrar disclosed that the council had embarked on massive reforms and infrastructure expansion, including the construction of offices in 10 states, development of digital verification systems, deployment of e-certificates and establishment of data analytics and e-library platforms.

He said the council recently procured dozens of operational vehicles to strengthen nationwide examination logistics and had created additional zonal directorates to improve service delivery and staff development.

Wushishi also announced plans to intensify anti-cheating measures, strengthen examination security protocols and expand digital services as part of NECO’s future development agenda.

He paid glowing tributes to former Heads of State and Presidents, including Generals Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo, for their roles in the evolution and institutionalisation of NECO.

The registrar equally acknowledged the contributions of past registrars, education ministers, governing boards and the Niger State government for sustaining the council through its formative and transformative years.

According to him, the unveiling of a commemorative historical publication titled “Twenty-Five Years of NECO: Evolution, Challenges and Contributions to Nigeria’s Educational Assessment System” formed part of activities marking the anniversary.

The event attracted top government officials, lawmakers, education stakeholders and international assessment experts, including the President of the International Association for Educational Assessment, Dr Mafu S. Rakometsi of South Africa, and the President of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa, Dr Eshetu Kebede of Ethiopia.

Stakeholders at the event hailed NECO’s journey as a major national success story, expressing optimism that the shift to computer-based examinations would herald a new era of transparency, efficiency and global relevance in Nigeria’s educational assessment system.

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The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) have commenced an indefinite strike starting Friday, May 1, 2026.

The joint decision follows the expiration of the April 30, 2026 deadline given to the Federal Government to conclude the ongoing renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/University Non-Teaching Staff Agreement.

The unions rejected the Federal Government’s proposed 30 percent salary increase, insisting on proper parity with academic staff and full implementation of previously reached agreements.

In separate and joint communications, leaders of both unions warned that failure to satisfactorily conclude the renegotiation and sign the agreements would leave them with no choice but to shut down public universities and inter-university centres across the country.

Despite last-minute meetings held by the Federal Government with the unions earlier this week, the talks failed to produce a resolution acceptable to NASU and SSANU.

The strike is expected to paralyse administrative, technical, and non-teaching activities in all federal and state universities, as the unions have directed their members to withdraw services completely until their demands are met.

This development adds to the recurring industrial actions in Nigeria’s university system and is likely to disrupt academic calendars if not quickly resolved.

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By Ejike Agbata 

All is set for the 16th convocation ceremony of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), Anambra State, with a total of 3,355 students expected to receive first degrees.

Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kate Omenugha, disclosed this during a press conference held at the Vice Chancellor’s conference room, outlining activities lined up for the ceremony scheduled to commence on April 22.

She revealed that the convocation will feature a Founder’s Day Lecture titled “Sustainable and Climate Resilient Future: Beyond Rhetorics,” to be delivered by the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Gautier Mignot, at the ETF Auditorium.

According to her, the convocation lecture, themed “Building Innovative Minds and Bridges for Shared Prosperity,” will be delivered by the Polish Ambassador to Nigeria.

Other activities include an interdenominational service and interactive sessions with students aimed at engaging them and assessing their welfare.

Prof. Omenugha described this year’s convocation as a “diplomatic edition,” noting that the university is strengthening partnerships with institutions within and outside Nigeria to boost its global relevance and visibility.

She commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for his support to the institution, particularly in infrastructure development and the renovation of the university’s substation.

The Vice Chancellor expressed optimism about the future of the institution, stating her goal to position COOU among the top 10 universities in Nigeria by 2027.