The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • New Era Girls’ alumni celebrates alma-mater at 75th

    New Era Girls’ alumni celebrates alma-mater at 75th

    New Era Girls’ Secondary School, Lagos Alumni Association (NEGSSLA-A), during a three-day programme, celebrated the school’s 75th years of existence.

    The anniversary was marked with the inauguration of a newly renovated hall, named after the founder of the school, Lady Kofoworola Aina Ademola, as well as work-out session, basketball novelty match for junior and senior schools, thanksgiving session and love feast.

     The event provided a platform for the old girls to reunite with friends and colleagues after years of leaving school.

     In her address, NEGSSLA-A National President, Mrs. Adenike Bankole, expressed gratitude for having alumni from different sets come together for same goal.

     “I am grateful to God to have in our midst two of the foundation students who enrolled in 1948 when the school was founded.

     “We are charging our students to keep the banner flying high. Be good ambassadors of the school and make us proud everywhere you go. Your dreams are valid. As alumni, we will partner with Lagos State to ensure that your learning experience is enriched always,” she said.

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    Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Education District IV, Mr. Olawale Osinaike, praised the alumni for giving back to the school.

    “Alumni of this school have done so well by giving back to the school. This is in tune with what the government of the day is clamouring for,” he said.

     Public Relations Officer of the association, Mrs. Ajibike Onibanjo, said: “We are also celebrating our Founders Day. This school was founded by seven notable women. So, we decided that in celebrating this anniversary, we should honour these women. They’re late, but we invited their descendants to honour them. The children can look up to us and emulate from the good prints we left behind.”

    Assistant Head Girl of New Era Girls Secondary School (NEGSS), Chioma Chukwu, said: “We are so grateful for what our old girls have done for us. They inspire us a lot. They brought lot of infrastructures to us, to make learning easy for us. This would boost the academic performance of the students.”

  • Foreign scholarship: NDDC interviews 1,050 candidates

    Foreign scholarship: NDDC interviews 1,050 candidates

    The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) said it has commenced oral interviews for 1,050 candidates seeking for its foreign post-graduate scholarship programme.

    Its Managing Director, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said this at the launch of the programme on Tuesday in Port Harcourt.

    Ogbuku said the interview would last for over 11 days.

     He said the interviewees passed the computer-based test written by no fewer than 5,000 applicants a fortnight ago.

    “The interview is going to be done based on merit, and this is the reason we came to monitor the process, to show our support for what is going on.

     “We believe that the best scholars will be selected among the 1,050 candidates, who will then be sent out to represent our country.

    “The interview panel was randomly selected to ensure fairness because the 200 scholars to be selected will be our ambassadors,” he said.

    Ogbuku said the commission had not increased the number of beneficiaries of the scholarship due to funding challenge.

    “We increased the allowance for the studies from 30,000 U.S. Dollars (N24.55 million) to 40,000 U.S. Dollars (N32.73 million), and this affected our finances, making it necessary for us to create a balance.

     “However, from 2024, we hope to reduce the number because of the high foreign exchange rate, while introducing scholarships for undergraduate students in Nigerian universities.

     “The introduction of scholarships in our universities will enable us to accommodate more persons in our scholarship programme,” he said.

    Also, the Director for Education, Health and Social Services, NDDC, Dr George Uzonwanne, said the interview process followed international best practices to produce the best scholars.

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    Uzonwanne said the interview panellists were assembled from different disciplines in universities across the Niger Delta.

    The NDDC Deputy Director, Education, Mrs. Idara Akpabio, said the scholarship covered disciplines in engineering, including biomedical, software, marine, mechanical, electrical/electronic, and robotic.

    “Others are information technology, artificial intelligence, mathematics and sciences, medical sciences, hospitality management, law, architecture and environmental science,” Akpabio said.

     One of interviewees, Andy Imabibo, described the selection process as transparent and commended the commission for giving them the opportunity to study abroad.

    Another participant, Miss Kio Iyala, said the examination preceding the interview was hitch-free.

      “The timing of the examination was accurate, while the entire process was smooth.

     “One week after the computer-based test, I got a message to come for this interview today.

        “I hope to be selected among the final 200 scholars,” Iyala said.

  •  Deepening industry, academia partnership imperative, says Olugbodi

     Deepening industry, academia partnership imperative, says Olugbodi

    Executive Vice Chairman of Verdant Zeal Group, Dr. Tunji Olugbodi, has said bridging the gap between industry and the academia is pivotal to tackling low productivity and poor economic growth.

    According to the expert, there exists a very low and slow translation of research work into marketable products.

    He described the coming together of the two sectors as a fertile ground for innovation.

    Olugbodi, an alumnus of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, delivered the institution’s Faculty of Social Sciences Open Lecture last week on campus. It had as theme: “Collaborative innovation: bridging the knowledge and research gap between industry and academia”.

    He decried the questionable and slow pace of academia-industry collaboration, adding that deepening such partnership was imperative in addressing societal problems and shaping the nation’s future.

    The business mogul said it was vital to address challenges facing the academia to boost its relevance and growth.

    Olugbodi said the partnership between industry, academia and government is essential for innovation and development, sustainable progress and prosperity.

    He said industry-academia relations would effectively tackle real-world problems with fresh perspectives, rigorous research and cutting-edge technology.

    “The pharmaceutical industry frequently collaborates with universities to develop new drugs and treatments. Similarly, the renewable energy sector relies on academic research to advance sustainable technologies. These partnerships not only benefit industries by solving critical problems but also contribute to the wellbeing of society,” he said.

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     According to Olugbodi investment in partnerships is a win-win situation for the both academia and industry such that the former trains individuals with foundational knowledge, while the latter has the practical experience and real-world insights to absorb them. This, he said, can ensure alignment with labour market needs.

    He said industries are crucial to innovation and development through job creation, adding that they stimulate economic stability leading to an enabling environment for innovation and investment in research.

    The convener of the famous Innovation Series, a yearly thought leadership foray dedicated to front-lining new development routes for societal progress, urged the country to tap into the productive capacity of its youths for economic advancement.

    “The most important weapon for Nigeria’s growth remains its population-if mined positively. Nigeria has the highest population of youths in the world, with a median age of 18. About 70 per cent of the population is under 30 and 42 percent is under 15. Imagine the productive capacity that can be unleashed if well tapped,” he said.

    He said through entertainment the nation had earned better global recognition through the combined exploits of hip hop artistes including Davido, Burna Boy, Tiwa Savage, among others, than it had received from political leaders since 1999.

    Olugbodi stressed the need to nurture and promote academia-industry relationship to ensure a better and more prosperous future for the nation.

  • Foundation rewards 18 science students

    Foundation rewards 18 science students

    Dr. Ekunsami Scholarship Foundation has rewarded  18 science students of  the United Grammar School, (UGS), Ode Irele, in Ondo State for emerging the best in their various categories as part of efforts to spur them to academic excellence.

    According to the foundation, the recipients were the best students in Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Integrated Science at both junior and senior secondary school levels.

    Presenting  the cash awards over the weekend, founder of the foundation, and an alumnus of the school, Dr. Bamidele Ekunsanmi, in a message to the occasion, said the Dr Dele Ekunsanmi Scholarship Foundation was set up in 2003 to help indigent students through high school and college education.

    Represented by a retired CSO at the  Federal Airports Authority Nigeria, (FAAN), Mrs. Beatrice Obanla (nee Ekunsanmi), he said the foundation  “set up  in memory of my late parents Chief Olaniyi Ekunsanmi and Lady Elizabeth Ekunsanmi, has since then awarded over 50 scholarships and prizes to deserving students both in Nigeria and the United States.”

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    Dr Ekunsanmi, who graduated from the school in 1977,  is a practising Medical Consultant of Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology in the United States. He is a Prince from the Opetusin Royal family in Irele Kingdom. Chairman of the occasion, Chief Tokunbo Ilesanmi, who expressed excitements over the awards, celebrated the awardees and  urged other students to improve on their academic performance, not only to qualify for future awards, but become better citizens and professionals.  

    Principal of UGS, Mr. Akinmeji, praised the initiative, stating that it would go a long way to motivate the awardees to improve on their academic performance especially in the science subjects. He advised other ex-students of the school to sponsor similar awards in the art subjects.

  • BUA Group Chairman gets UNIMAID honour

    BUA Group Chairman gets UNIMAID honour

    University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) has honoured Chairman of BUA Group and ASR Africa, Abdul Samad Rabiu with a honorary degree.

    This took place at the university’s 24th combined convocation in recognition of his significant contributions to national development, education, and entrepreneurship in Nigeria. This was just as the N1 billion Abdul Samad Rabiu International Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship was inaugurated and handed over to the university.

    The centre  is a modern, state-of-the-art facility with  administrative offices, dynamic workstations, creative conceptual hubs, a welcoming cafeteria, an extensive library, and an exhibition hall,among others.

    Rabiu said the centre sponsored by ASR Africa was an innovative hub of ideas, creativity, and practical entrepreneurship.   “In a world where economies are rapidly evolving and Nigeria strides towards renewed hope, centres  like this are vital for development. They are the platforms for nurturing our future leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs. We must not just learn; we must act,” he said.

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     MD/CEO of ASR Africa, Dr Ubon Udoh who lauded Rabiu for the project,noted that the centre would boost economic and social growth, offering a global platform for innovative expression and fostering partnerships with leading international educational  institutions.

    Eminent personalities at the event included,  Vice President Kashim Shettima,  Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, royal fathers, other distinguished guests, the student community, among others.

    Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa Initiative (ASR Africa) was established in 2021 to provide sustainable, impact-based, homegrown solutions to developmental issues affecting Health, Education and Social Development in Africa.

  • ‘We were deceived into applying for AAUA part-time programmes’

    ‘We were deceived into applying for AAUA part-time programmes’

    • University denies promise on service

    The graduating students of privately-owned College of Education, Ero in Ondo State, attached to the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba, have protested, demanding explanations on why they had not been mobilised for national service having completed their programme, Osagie Otabor writes

    LAST week, the management of a privately owned College of Education, Ero in Ondo State was forced to shut down the institution and asked its students to vacate campus. The shutting down of academic activities at the college was due to a two-day riot by part -time students of the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akunga. Proprietor of the institution, Prince Peter Fasua Oyeleye, was whisked away from the institution by heavily armed policemen after the protesting students held him hostage for over six hours.

    Regular students of the institution were chased from their lecture halls and their hostels, even as some buildings were vandalised.

    Prince Fasua, who announced closure of the institution, urged the protesting students to remain calm and told the regular students that the closure was a temporary measure to restore sanity to the institution as well as ensure their safety.

    Trouble started in the institution when the first set of part-time graduates of the institution were offered exemption letter from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). The protesters demanded explanations on why they had not been mobilised for national service, having completed their programme. They also demanded refund of their tuition fees, saying they were deceived into registering into the college for the degrees.

    In 2017, Prince Fasua entered into an affiliation with the management of AAUA to run degree programmes. During the matriculation ceremony, the students were assured that they would be mobilised to participate in the NYSC scheme.

    Vice Chancellor of AAUA, Prof. Olugbenga lge, whose speech was read by a former Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Francis Gbore, said: “This is a programme of Adekunle Ajasin University being supervised through the Institute of Education of the university. This will be done in order to protect the integrity of our certificates wherever you take it to. You can be rest assured all our courses are accredited by the National University Commission (NUC). Also successful graduates of this programme here in this college will be posted for the NYSC programme as appropriate.”

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    It was gathered that efforts to mobilise the first set of graduands for national service failed. The students said they paid N7,000 each to secure admission letters from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), but what they got was exemption letters.

    Officials of JAMB in Akure, who spoke on anonymity, said watertight proof has been put in place to bar universities from mobilisising part-time students to participate in the NYSC scheme.

    The affected part-time students vowed to reject any offer of exemption letter from the management of AAUA. They said they were lured to register for various programmes at the College of Education, Ero, because of the promise to be mobilised for national service.

    One of the graduates, Folayan Oluwatomehin, said the incumbent VC of AAUA was at their matriculation ceremony, where he told them they would go for NYSC.

    He said: “The Director at the main campus has always assured us that everything was under control. We went for JAMB regularisation to enable us print out admission letters from JAMB. What caused the protest was when the set they graduated before us got exemption letters. The JAMB portal did not open for us to register our details.

    “We are still young. We were promised NYSC mobilisation. Giving us exemption letters is a no. We will reject it. That is what all the students are saying.”

    Immediate past SUG president, Miss Awoyemi Folawemi, said she felt bad because she escaped being attacked by the protesting students because they accused her of lying.

    “I am about to write my final examination. I felt bad. I was part of the executive that used to go to the main campus to talk to our professors and directors. The students almost beat me up during the protest that I was their spokesperson when everything about the programme was fake. I want a solution to clear my name. What they told us at the main campus was that they will take our results to Abuja and from there, they will give us notification to enable us collect our call up letters for NYSC.

    “I  now heard that the 2021 sets were given exemption letters, whereas some of them were within the age bracket to go for NYSC. When we protested, the spokesman for AAUA said our argument was a fallacy that what was in the MOU was that we would be given exemption letters, but Prof. Gbore told us we would be mobilised for NYSC. They should give us that.

    “What the AAUA management is saying is contradicting. What they told us is different from what is happening now.”

    Another student, Olusola Bideni Gbenga, said his parents were already waiting for him to embark on NYSC.

    “I feel so sad because they are digressing from what they promised us. Our parents sent us to the institution because of the advert they heard that we will be mobilised for NYSC. This has been our joy and our parents to serve our fathers land. I study Biology Education. They sent a representative to our matriculation. We won’t be happy if we are given exemption letters.”

    Spokesman for AAUA, Victor Akinpelumi, told our reporter that the school never promised that it would mobilise its part-time students under affiliate institutions for the NYSC scheme.

    Akinpelumi said students of affiliate institution were part time students and that only regular students that passed through the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) were allowed into the NYSC scheme.

    “We are not saying they are not our students. They are part-time students. The best we can do for them is to help them secure exemption letters from the NYSC. There was nothing in the MOU that said the students will be mobilised for NYSC.”

    Prince Fasua absolved himself of any plan to deceive the public, saying it was AAUA management that promised the students the NYSC scheme.

    Fasua said he never ran foul of the terms and agreement in the MOU signed with management of AAUA even as he assured the affected students that the issue would be resolved amicably.

    “The university should come out and apologise to the students on why they cannot mobilise them for NYSC. They should explain to the students. We were given letters to go to JAMB office for results. We went there and the portal did not open.  You have seen the video where the VC was represented and he said the students would be mobilised for NYSC.

    “I was held for six hours by the students yesterday. I did not deceive them.”

  • Revealed:  Eagles  ‘senior players’ want  Peseiro axed

    Revealed:  Eagles  ‘senior players’ want  Peseiro axed

    • Egbe carpets Portuguese coach over Uzoho

    Amid poor run of results in their two opening matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup  African qualifiers against  Lesotho and Zimbabwe,  some senior Super Eagles  fear the national team has become rudderless under Portuguese coach Jose Peseiro.

    The Super Eagles recorded an identical 1-1 draw against Lesotho and Zimbabwe and now sit in third position behind Rwanda and South Africa in their Group C section, much to the chagrin of Nigerians.

    But words are now rife within the rank and file of the national team that some players are no longer comfortable playing under  Peseiro even as many now query his suitability for both the 2026 World Cup campaign and the forthcoming delayed 2023 Africa Cup of Nations(AFCON) next year in Cote d’Ivoire.

     “Take this from me, most of the Super Eagles stars especially the senior ones, are no longer happy playing  under Peseiro,“ a confidante of one of the players told NationSport yesterday on condition of anonymity.

    He continued: “It would be  difficult for any of the players to openly call for the sack of Peseiro, but the truth is that  they are not happy playing under him. Some of them  can’t even believe why he would be shouting at them.

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     “Besides, some are also not at home with his tactics and deployment of the players in matches because he is not even exploring the strengths of the team.”

    But a Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) chieftain  told our correspondent  the Super Eagles would  weather the current   storm  despite the misgivings of  many stakeholders.

    While the NFF are groaning  over the financial implication of firing the under-performing Peseiro, former international and national U-23 goalkeeper coach, Etta Egbe, said yesterday that the Super  Eagles would continue to suffer with the Portuguese coach keeping goalkeeper Francis Uzoho as the team’s number one goalkeeper.

     “I’m still surprised that since our last match where the guy (Uzoho) embarrassed us and they still kept him there, you (Peseiro) still can’t raise a better goalkeeper,” Egbe lamented on Brila FM. “But he’s still saying he (Uzoho) remains the best; imagine a goalkeeper being beaten from 35 yards and even at my age, you can’t beat me  straight away from 35 yards.”

  • Napoli sweat on Osimhen’s  return

    Napoli sweat on Osimhen’s  return

    Napoli are a step closer to recovering Victor Osimhen, Alex Meret and Piotr Zielinski following yesterday’s training session.

    Osimhen has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring muscle injury whilst playing for Nigeria in a friendly against Saudi Arabia on October 13, missing the Partenopei’s last six consecutive matches.

    Meret picked up a calf injury after the 1-1 draw with Union Berlin in the Champions League on November 8, missing the loss to Empoli, whilst Zielinski returned from the Poland squad this international break after coming down with tonsillitis.

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    As noted by the club today, Osimhen, Meret and Zielinski all worked with their Napoli teammates for the initial part of yesterday’s squad training session before the trio departed to work in the gym. All three are now working to be fit for the upcoming clash against Atalanta on November 25.

    Lorenzo Insigne also visited the club’s headquarters, greeting the team and wishing them well for the rest of the season.

  • WTT Feeder: Omotayo, Mati  face Portugal, Sweden opponents

    WTT Feeder: Omotayo, Mati  face Portugal, Sweden opponents

    Olajide Omotayo and Taiwo Mati were handed a tough task in the first round of the men’s singles of the WTT Feeder Vila Nova de Gaia taking place in Portugal.

    Omotayo and Mati are both returning to WTT Feeder Series after their outing at the African Championships held last September  in Tunis and they will commence their campaigns from the main draw.

    Omotayo, 2019 African Games champion and semi-finalist at the 2023 African Championships, will face Swedish southpaw Kristian Karlsson, an integral member of the Swedish team. Mati will face a huge task against Portuguese star Tiago Apolonia, a strong member of the Portuguese team regarded as one of the most intelligent players in Europe.

    A determined Mati told NationSport that he would try his best against the homeboy.

     “It is not going to be easy but I will try my best because he is one of the best players in the world in the past and he is still playing well at his age,” he said.

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    Pavilhao Desportivo Municipal de Vila Nova de Gaia  hosts  the 13th  stop on this year’s WTT Feeder Series, with WTT Feeder Vila Nova de Gaia 2023  with all eyes on Portuguese star Marcos Freitas, who returns home on a mission.

    The 35-year-old  is the standout name at the top of the Men’s Singles draw, and will take some beating as he goes in search of his second WTT title of the year, three and a half months on  after doing the business at WTT Contender Lima.

    In the Women’s Singles draw, former African champion Dina Meshref of Egypt topped the entry list in Vila Nova de Gaia.

    The World No.28’s best performance of the year at a WTT event was a quarterfinal finish at WTT Contender Durban in January, a result she will be keen to better in Portugal.

  • Elegbeleye rules out  exclusivity for NPFL Broadcast Rights

    Elegbeleye rules out  exclusivity for NPFL Broadcast Rights

    Companies seeking to acquire Broadcast rights of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) have been invited to approach the league body with offers for negotiation.

    Chairman of the NPFL, Hon Gbenga Elegbeleye clarified that the adopted marketing approach of the board is for non-exclusivity which have not foreclosed the signing up of more rights holders.

    Elegbeleye described as shocking, claims by an individual alleging that there was an offer for $11m dollars to the NPFL for the rights before the StarTimes deal was executed.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and for public records, the NPFL and StarTimes deal took months to conclude and all through the duration of our negotiations, nobody approached us with any offer,” explained the NPFL Chairman.

    He further narrated efforts of the defunct Interim Management Committee (IMC) to attract a Broadcast partner including getting the Nigeria Communications Commission (NCC) to broker a meeting with Supersport which at the end didn’t express interest to take up the offer.

    “The NPFL has an office in Abuja and the facilitator of the said $11m offer knows this place and has contacts of the NFF President. We are still very much open to negotiate as our deal with StarTimes provides for a third party investor.

    “Let the person please come to our office or to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) because we are still open for more partnerships in the Broadcast space”.

    The NPFL boss explained that the unbundling of the broadcast bouquet has made it possible to accommodate multiple partners

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    “It is obvious that we have unbundled the broadcast products and segmented the number of matches any rights owner can show every matchday. So there is still a window to accommodate genuine interests in our league broadcast partnership”, declared Elegbeleye, who also is the NFF Second Vice President.

    Faulting claims that the League fail foul of the Public Procurement Act which governs sales of government assets in the country, the former member of the Federal House of Representatives, said: “the NPFL is incorporated as a private company limited by guarantee at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and is not captured in government funding.

    “We do not receive funding from Government but run our programme from money generated through sponsorships and we operate a transparent system that accounts for sponsors/investors funds to maintain the integrity of the league.

    “In any case, we have made sufficient noise right from the inception of the IMC and we were able to have the very successful Super 6 on television, so there’s no person in the industry who is not aware that the League hasn’t been on television for the past six years. Where were they?” he retorted.

    So far, the NPFL has secured two Broadcast Partners in Propel Sports Africa (PSA) for the Over The Top (OTT) platform and StarTimes for the Direct To Home (DTH) cable platform.