The Nation Newspaper

Category: Education

  • 42 bag First Class as Mountain Top University holds 7th convocation

    42 bag First Class as Mountain Top University holds 7th convocation

    • …Gov. Eno of Akwa Ibom state to deliver lecture

    No fewer than 42 students will graduate with First Class degrees as Mountain Top University (MTU) prepares to hold its 7th Convocation Ceremony alongside its 10th Anniversary celebrations.

    The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Elijah Adebowale Ayolabi, disclosed this at a press conference held on Monday, noting that the ceremony is scheduled for December 18 at the institution’s Multi-Purpose Hall.

    According to him, the convocation lecture, titled “Dream Big, Start Small, and God Will Lift You to the Highest Point Possible,” will be delivered by the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Bassey Eno.

    A total of 346 students from the university’s undergraduate and postgraduate programmes will be graduating. Of this number, 42 students earned First Class honours, 124 obtained Second Class Upper degrees, 102 graduated with Second Class Lower, while 14 received Third Class degrees.

    Miss Akinyemi Omolola Faith of the Department of Mathematics, who recorded a CGPA of 4.94, will be honoured as the Best Graduating Student for the 2024/2025 academic session.

    At the postgraduate level, 64 students will graduate, comprising nine PhD holders, 28 Master’s degree recipients, two MBA graduates, and 25 Postgraduate Diploma holders. The ceremony will also feature the first-ever doctoral hooding in the history of the institution.

    Activities lined up for the convocation and anniversary include a thanksgiving service, football match, open day, exhibition and fiesta, convocation play, doctoral hooding ceremony, Vice-Chancellor’s cocktail, as well as the convocation lecture and award ceremony.

    In a statement, the university said it currently has 37 fully accredited academic programmes across three colleges, with plans underway to establish Colleges of Law and Engineering. MTU also boasts a student population of about 2,000 drawn from across Nigeria and beyond, supported by over 200 academic and non-academic staff.

    The statement added that the institution has modern student hostels, with additional hostels providing a 1,000-bed capacity under construction, while the Folashade Olukoya Centre for Fine and Applied Arts is nearing completion. Campus facilities are also being expanded to meet standards comparable to those of leading European and American universities.

    Prof. Ayolabi further revealed that all MTU programmes visited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) during the last accreditation exercise received full accreditation.

    He noted that the university has also strengthened its research ecosystem in the past year through the Centre for Research, Innovation and Collaborations (CRIC).

    “At Mountain Top University, we believe that university education must go beyond academic certification. We are committed to the total development of the child — academically, morally, professionally, spiritually, and socially.

    “Our graduates are trained not only to excel intellectually but also to demonstrate integrity, leadership, entrepreneurial capacity, and civic responsibility. This philosophy explains the growing number of applicants seeking admission into MTU every year,” the Vice-Chancellor said.

  • Be future-ready, LASUSTECH VC tells matriculating students

    Be future-ready, LASUSTECH VC tells matriculating students

    The Vice Chancellor of the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), Prof. Olumuyiwa Odusanya, has advised newly admitted students to be future-ready and deliberately shape the kind of future they desire.

    He gave the charge on Tuesday during the matriculation ceremony for first-year and direct entry students, as the university matriculated 3,272 undergraduates for the 2025/2026 academic session.

    Prof. Odusanya described the ceremony as the formal commencement of the students’ undergraduate training and a defining moment in their academic journey.

    Urging them to confront the uncertainties of the future, the Vice Chancellor encouraged the students to actively create opportunities for themselves, noting that progress is driven by individuals who dare to imagine and build what does not yet exist.

    “The way to take uncertainty out of the future is to create the future you genuinely want. I urge you, therefore, to be future-ready undergraduates. I urge you to think of many things and create in this digital age, because many others created the future we now live in,” he said.

    Drawing inspiration from history, Prof. Odusanya cited the moonshot ambition of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, as an example of visionary leadership. 

    He added that the digital age presents Nigerian students with unprecedented access to tools for innovation and problem-solving.

    He warned the new students against behaviours that could derail their academic pursuits, including cultism, indecent dressing, absenteeism, drug abuse and wrong associations, stressing that such vices do not contribute to building a positive future.

    Prof. Odusanya advised the students to take their studies seriously by attending lectures punctually, engaging fully in practical sessions, and maintaining discipline, while staying connected with their parents and ensuring they are traceable at all times.

    The Vice Chancellor also emphasised the importance of acquiring relevant skills, competencies and innovative thinking that would make graduates market ready and nationally relevant.

    “A degree may just be a piece of paper, but the skills, the competencies, the knowledge that you should bring to it will define what you get out of that degree,” he said.

    He encouraged the students to look beyond the classroom and begin to conceive solutions to national and global challenges, suggesting areas such as technology, engineering and medical research.

    “If you can imagine it, you can create it,” he added.

  • Court restrains anti-corruption commission, others from interfering In MAAUN’s affairs

    Court restrains anti-corruption commission, others from interfering In MAAUN’s affairs

    A Kano High Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission (PCACC) and four other parties from interfering in the internal and external affairs of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (AAUN), Kano.

    Justice Sanusi Ado Ma’aji of the High court of Kano Judicial Division issued the order, while ruling on a motion of ex parte filed by the management of the university.

    The respondents in the suit are the Kano State Government, PCACC, Kano House of Assembly and the Attorney-General and concerned parents of the institution.

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    Justice Ma’aji in the court order dated December 11, 2025, restrained the respondents or any other person acting on their behalf from inviting officials of the institution or interfering in the administrative and academic activities of the intuition, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.

    The court also directed all the parties to maintain status quo in relation to the matter between the applicant and the first respondent, pending the determination of the originating summons.

    Speaking after the ruling, MAAUN’s counsel Zahraddeen M. Bello, said that the court’s decision reaffirmed the rule of law and the need for due process, saying the university will continue to operate within the confines of law, while the case is pending.

    However, the court granted leave to the applicant to serve court processes on the fifth respondent at its office located at No. 224 Sabo Bakin Zuwo, Kano.  

    The matter was adjourned to December 29, 2025 and the order was given under the hand and seal of the presiding judge and was duly endorsed by the Principal Regi stator of the court.

  • Yuguda, ASUU disagree over plan to convert ATBU to conventional varsity

    Yuguda, ASUU disagree over plan to convert ATBU to conventional varsity

    Former Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, on Friday led key state stakeholders in endorsing the Senate’s plan to convert Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, from a specialised university of technology into a conventional university.

    The endorsement came during a public hearing organised by the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, aimed at gathering stakeholder input on the proposed amendment to the university’s enabling Act.

    At the hearing, Yuguda described opposition to the conversion as unfair to the people of Bauchi State and surrounding communities, pointing to the limitations students face due to the absence of several academic programmes at ATBU.

    “Anyone who is against converting the university to a conventional one is not being fair. I know what I went through to ensure ATBU began running medicine. Today, we have produced over 100 medical doctors,” he said.

    Yuguda, an economics and accounting graduate, stressed that students should not be denied access to courses essential for their development simply because of the institution’s current classification.

    “If economics is not offered at ATBU, why shouldn’t I fight for it? There are many science, arts and social science courses that are needed but are not being run,” he added.

    However, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), ATBU branch, opposed the proposed amendment. 

    The branch chairman, Haruna Angulu, said the union’s position, as contained in its memorandum, was against converting the institution to a conventional university.

    “In an era where the world is moving rapidly towards technology, what is required is increased funding to strengthen the existing specialised university of technology, not to make it conventional,” Angulu said.

    He noted that ATBU is the only university of technology in the North-East and warned that the region could lose a critical technological institution if the amendment is passed.

    Earlier, in a keynote address delivered at the hearing, Senate President Godswill Akpabio said it was the responsibility of lawmakers to ensure that legislation affecting national institutions benefits from broad stakeholder engagement.

    “Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University has, over the decades, served as an important centre of excellence in science, technology, research and innovation,” Akpabio said.

    He added that the institution, like many public universities, had evolved beyond the framework envisaged in its original Act, making legislative review necessary.

    Akpabio urged academics, administrators, regulators, students, civil society groups and development partners to contribute constructively to the process.

    In his opening remarks, Chairman of the Committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South), said the public hearing was designed to draw from the collective wisdom of stakeholders.

    He explained that as ATBU has expanded in programmes, structure and responsibilities, some provisions of its existing Act had become inadequate.

    “The amendment bill seeks to update and strengthen the governance framework of the university and clearly define the roles of key officers,” Dandutse said.

    He acknowledged that the Senate’s plan to broaden academic offerings to include arts, social sciences and humanities had generated intense debate among academics, students, policymakers and industry experts.

  • Foundation, group launch AI-powered exams preparatory platform

    Foundation, group launch AI-powered exams preparatory platform

    A Lagos based non-governmental organisation, Abosede Tomori Foundation (ATF) in partnership with Study AI has launched Nigeria’s first AI-powered examination preparatory platform designed to deliver syndicated digital learning and intelligent tutoring for final year Senior Secondary School students preparing for WAEC/NECO and JAMB.

    Two hundred SS3 students selected from secondary schools in Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs within Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II of Lagos State are pilot beneficiaries of the scheme.

    ATF founder and Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Segun Tomori, in a statement in Abuja noted that the initiative falls under the skills development and scholarship scheme, one of the foundation’s five core pillars.

    Tomori said: “We are excited to pioneer what we believe marks a paradigm shift in exam preparation—the deployment of technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence.

    “Study AI has developed something truly innovative and unprecedented, and we are glad to support the preparation of high school students in my constituency. Our goal is to ensure that they excel in their final exams and secure admission into tertiary institutions.”

    This landmark initiative, according to him, aligns with the foundation’s commitment to enhancing access to quality education and fostering skills development.

    “For millions of Nigerian students, preparing for national examinations, it remains challenging due to limited access to quality materials, outdated study methods, and the absence of personalized academic support. These barriers contribute to persistently high failure rates across major national exams.

    “Studying AI directly addresses these gaps by offering a dynamic, curriculum-aligned digital learning environment powered by artificial intelligence. Through real-time corrections, adaptive study paths, gamified motivation systems, group study features, and realistic mock exams, the platform equips students with a more effective and engaging way to prepare for high-stakes tests.

    “Designed for scale, Study AI aims to support hundreds of thousands of learners nationwide as it expands,” the statement stated.

    Tomori added that the foundation intends to track performance on the platform, reward top achievers, address students’ needs through Study AI’s online support team and conduct mock examinations to ensure students are fully primed for success.

    The CEO of Study AI, Yvonne Momah, affirmed that the platform ushers in a new era in examination readiness for Nigerian students, emphasizing its focus on intelligent, personalised learning.

    “Our mission is to make high-quality education accessible, affordable, and engaging for every learner. With AI-driven tutoring, real-time feedback, and gamified motivation, we’re building a platform that truly understands students. This launch underscores our commitment to transforming exam preparation and unlocking brighter futures across the country,” Momah stated.

    The AI-powered exam preparatory platform comes on the heels of ATF’s successful ‘Back to School’ programme, which provided learning materials to hundreds of pupils in October 2025.

  • Scholars hails Geography icon Ayeni on 80th birthday

    Scholars hails Geography icon Ayeni on 80th birthday

    Renowned Professors, sitting and former Vice-Chancellors, and national education figures were among dignitaries that converged on the University of Ibadan (UI) to honour a Professor of Geography at UI and pioneer Vice Chancellor of Covenant University, Otta, Ogun State, Prof. Bola Ayeni

    Prof. Ayeni was honoured at a public lecture organised to commemorate his 80th birthday. 

    The public lecture evolved into a powerful testament to Ayeni’s far-reaching influence on scholarship, academic leadership, and the moulding of human capacity across more than five decades.

    Former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, represented by Prof. Peter Olapegba (DVC Administration) and former UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Idowu Olayinka, were among the distinguished voices that eulogised Ayeni’s contributions. 

    They were joined by former LAUTECH Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Adeniyi Gbadegesin; Emeritus Prof. Kayode Oyesiku; Dean of the Faculty of the Social Sciences, Prof. Ben Ehigie; Head of the Department of Geography, Prof. Olutoyin Fashae; Prof. D. D. Ajayi; and Engineer Shola Ayeni, the celebrant’s sibling, among others. 

    Adeniran described Ayeni as a scholar whose legacy is defined not merely by academic accomplishments but by the enormous lives he has shaped and the intellectual values he has entrenched within the Nigerian academic community. 

    He urged social science scholars to ensure that their academic pursuits translate into meaningful contributions to society, emphasising the impact-driven ethos that Ayeni himself exemplifies.

    Olayinka, who chaired the ceremony, hailed Ayeni as a distinguished academic whose influence would continue to echo through generations. 

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    Reflecting on Ayeni’s mentorship footprint, he remarked on the enduring joy of witnessing students rise to become colleagues, an experience Ayeni has enjoyed repeatedly due to his long and impactful career.

    Adebowale, through Prof. Olapegba, described the celebrant as a “living legend” and commended his unwavering devotion to academic excellence, his compassion, and his enduring value within the university system. 

    He noted that Ayeni’s contributions to scholarship and institutional development have positioned him as a pillar of the University of Ibadan’s academic heritage.

    The commemorative lecture titled: “Professor Bola Ayeni: Quantity in Geography, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow,” was delivered by Emeritus Professor Kayode Oyesiku, who explored the evolution and future trajectory of quantitative geography. 

    He projected that the discipline would become even more dynamic due to advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, immersive visualisation technologies, and integrated modelling frameworks. 

    Oyesiku emphasised that the geographers of tomorrow must balance scientific precision with ethical responsibility and social relevance, values he linked to Ayeni’s academic philosophy.

    In a deeply personal reflection, Oyesiku lauded Ayeni’s humility, patience, and exceptional devotion to student development, recalling how Ayeni willingly repeated complex lessons until every student achieved full comprehension, describing him as a mentor whose discipline, generosity, integrity, and intellect have shaped countless academic careers. 

    He further highlighted Ayeni’s groundbreaking leadership as the founding Vice-Chancellor of Covenant University, where he spearheaded structural reforms and established the foundation for the institution’s subsequent growth and reputation.

    Responding to the torrent of accolades, Prof. Ayeni expressed heartfelt gratitude to God for granting him the privilege of witnessing the celebration in good health. 

    He thanked the organisers for the honour and paid emotional tribute to his mentors the late Professors Akin Mabogunje and Ojetunji Aboyade, as well as Professors Michael McNulty and Gerard Rushton of the University of Iowa, USA, whose influence, he said, shaped his journey in profound ways.

    Ayeni reflected on his long career with humility, stating, “I thank God for the grace given to have been a teacher and shaper of destinies at this university for over 45 years. I thank God that I never misused this privilege for once.”

  • Strong education systems can mitigate extremist ideologies – Alausa

    Strong education systems can mitigate extremist ideologies – Alausa

    The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, has said that strengthening Nigeria’s education system is key to addressing the root causes of extremist ideologies and building national resilience.

    He made the remark in Maiduguri, Borno State, during the 28th Quarterly Meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) with Executive Chairmen of State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs).

    Dr. Alausa reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding inclusive access to quality basic education across the country.

    “Empowering teachers with quality training is central to national renewal,” he said. “A strong education system addresses the root causes of conflict and builds resilience against extremist ideologies.”

    He also stressed the importance of creating learning platforms that enable children and adults to interact, learn, and foster mutual understanding, urging participants to adopt initiatives that directly benefit Nigerians.

    During his visit, the Minister commissioned an ultra-modern Skills Acquisition School in Maiduguri that integrates Tsangaya and Western education curricula.

    The school was funded by the Federal Government and the Islamic Development Bank through UBEC.

    UBEC Executive Secretary, Aisha Garba, described the meeting as a moment for reflection and alignment, saying every Nigerian child deserves inclusive and quality education.

    She commended Dr. Alausa and Governor Babagana Umara Zulum for their ongoing interventions in the state’s education sector.

    Governor Zulum restated his administration’s commitment to improving education, announcing plans to further motivate teachers and promote technical and vocational learning.

    He added that his government has fully implemented the minimum wage for teachers in both primary and secondary schools.

  • Yobe govt raises students’ bursary by 100%

    Yobe govt raises students’ bursary by 100%

    The Yobe Scholarship Board has raised the bursary of the 28,364 students it enrolled by 100 per cent, the Board’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Kagu Abubakar, said yesterday.

    Kagu dropped the hint at the inauguration of the 2025/2026 bursary disbursement in Damaturu, the state capital.

    According to him, the beneficiaries are indigent students of various universities across the country.

    He said: “Under the new structure, Postgraduate (PGDE, Masters, PhD) students will receive N110,000 (up from N55,000).

    “Undergraduate students will receive N46,000 (up from N23,000), and HND, NCE & National Diploma students will receive N34,000 (up from N17,000).

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    “Students in other Diploma and Certificate programmes will receive N26,000 (up from N13,000)”, he said.

    Kagu said the increment was in recognition of the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of education across the country.

    Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education Prof Abba Adam said the increment was part of Governor  Mai Mala Buni’s efforts toward revamping education.

    He charged the beneficiaries to reciprocate the gesture by studying hard to complete their programmes with flying colours

  • MAAUN congratulates Prof Bayero on appointment as first female VC of Northwest Varsity

    MAAUN congratulates Prof Bayero on appointment as first female VC of Northwest Varsity

    MAAUN Group of Universities has congratulated Prof. Amina Salihi Bayero on her appointment as the substantive Vice Chancellor of Northwest University, Kano, Nigeria.

    The appointment was approved by Kano Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf,  following a recommendation by the University Governing Council after a rigorous selection process. 

    The congratulatory message was contained in a statement by the Founder of the universities, Prof. Gwarzo and released to newsmen on Thursday in Kano, Nigeria.

    Prof. Gwarzo, who doubles as the President of the Association of Africa Private Universities (AAPU), described the appointment of Prof. Salihi Bayero as “well- deserved” in view of her academic pedigree and wealth of experience. 

    “As a distinguished scholar of Analytical Chemistry and the first female PhD holder in Chemistry from Bayero University Kano, I have no doubt that Prof. Salihi Bayero will deliver on her mandate,” Prof. Gwarzo said.

    He also expressed confidence that the new VC who served in various academic and administrative capacities, would bring about the needed transformation and development in the university.

    Prof. Gwarzo commended the university Governing Council for recognising her accomplishments by giving her the appointment and Governor Yusuf for approving the appointment.

    The MAAUN Founder prayed to almighty Allah to guide and give the new VC the wisdom to steer the university to greater heights.

  • UNIPASS to bridge foreign study gap for Nigerian students

    UNIPASS to bridge foreign study gap for Nigerian students

    Renowned international education consultancy, UNIPASS, has said it would bridge the study gap for Nigerian students who aspire to study abroad by expanding access to quality higher education.

    Speaking at the official launch of UNIPASS Nigeria in Abuja on Thursday, its Chief Executive Officer, Alvin Atsegwasi, said the organisation is committed to creating transparent, accountable pathways for students seeking education abroad while also supporting vulnerable groups through scholarship programmes.

    He stated, “We also support scholarship programmes targeted at critical communities. Scholarship for people with disabilities.”

    Atsegwasi urged Nigerian youths abroad to contribute to national development.

    “At UNIPASS, we don’t only support Nigerians going abroad. We also promote opportunities for foreigners to come and study here in Nigeria,” he added.

    He noted that partnerships with Nigerian education institutions like the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management are central to its mission.

    “We are proud to be part of that. We are encouraging foreigners to come back to Nigeria,” he said.

    Atsegwasi explained that the UNIPASS model helps eliminate risks linked to unregulated study programmes and migration challenges, stressing that the organisation would work closely with the government and stakeholders to improve educational outcomes for Nigerian youths.

    “UNIPASS is here to change that story. We will work hand-in-hand with the Nigerian government and all stakeholders to create the same structured and transparent pathway for our youth.

    “Our promise to parents, communities, and our dear Nigeria is very simple: we will get you there.”

    Co-founder of UNIPASS Limited, Sanpreet Sehmi, said the organisation’s mission is built on ensuring equal access to quality education for all students, regardless of academic performance.

    “Potential lives everywhere, and opportunity should live everywhere too,” Sehmi said.

    She added, “It proves that a world-class international standard is not something students must travel across oceans to find. It is something we can build, nurture, and proudly offer right here.

    On her part, Executive Director of UNIPASS, Maureen Mutsiya, described the new Abuja office as “a passport to global education” for Nigerian students.

    “This office is more than a physical space. It is a commitment to work with you, step by step, as you pursue education beyond borders,” she said.

    Mutsiya added that more than 1,200 students have benefitted from UNIPASS guidance in the past two years across destinations including Canada, Australia, the UK, the US, New Zealand, Ireland, and Germany.

    “We know that trying to study abroad can feel overwhelming. That’s where UNIPASS comes in, and we turn confusion into confidence,” she said.