Category: Education

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has said it may suspend its foreign scholarship programme because of the monetary policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The agency said it now finds it difficult to pay the stipends and tuition of its foreign scholars as a result of the floating of the naira by the CBN.

Sonny Echono, the Executive Secretary of TETFund, disclosed this at a one-day stakeholders’ engagement on emerging issues with TETFund interventions in Abuja on Wednesday.

Echono said since the agency’s allocation was barely enough to service programmes under its Tertiary Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS), TETFund was considering suspending foreign scholarships while also considering an upward review of local ones.

He said the challenge of scholars absconding has undermined and complicated the TSAS programme and brought it under intense scrutiny.

The executive secretary of TETFund said: ”The Fund at this material time is also discouraging beneficiary institutions from initiating new Benchwork programmes.

He stated: ”Additionally, there are issues related to scholars not returning to serve their bonds at their home institutions upon completion of their programmes.

”In fact, the challenge of scholars absconding has undermined and complicated the TSAS programme and brought it under intense scrutiny. It is for these and other reasons that this engagement was organised.

“We need to address these challenges and find solutions to ensure the effective and smooth implementation of our scholarship programmes.”

The executive secretary noted that TETFund had recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with some prestigious institutions overseas that included universities in Malaysia, India, Brazil, France and the United States with a view to boosting and enhancing the TSAS programme in the future.

He further noted: ”You will also recall that to enhance the effectiveness of the National Research Fund (NRF), a National Research Fund Screening and Monitoring Committee (NRFS&MC) was established to screen and select proposals from across institutions and researchers for funding.

”The committee comprises a senior academic staff of universities and other tertiary institutions across the country. Members are appointed for an initial period of two years that is renewable; however, no member is allowed to serve for more than four years, which is equivalent to two terms.

”Similarly, to ensure the successful implementation of the Higher Educational Book Development Project, the Board of Trustees of the Fund set up the standing Technical Advisory Group [TAG] committee in 2009.

”The mandate of this committee includes working collaboratively with the Fund to fine-tune the Book Development Blueprint into a Strategic working document that clearly spells out the administrative procedures, framework, and guidelines for effective access and utilisation of TETFund Higher Education Book Development Intervention Funds in Institutions within the nation.

”The TETFund Book Development Fund intervenes in three key areas: publication of academic books and the conversion of high-quality theses into books, support for professional Association Journals, and the establishment and sustainability of academic Publishing centres.

”It is pertinent to note that the standing Technical Advisory Group (TAG) requires reconstitution just as the NRF Screening and Monitoring Committee, as some members have served for four years.”

In his contributions, the acting Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki stated that there was a need to develop new strategies for funding while ensuring sensitivity to the evolving and challenging dynamics through qualitative funding.

Maiyaki advised TETFund to revamp its monitoring for quality assurance so as to have a better return on investments in its projects.

The chairman, House Committee on TETFund, Princess Miriam Onuoha, said in making essential infrastructure available in tertiary institutions, there was a need to ensure inclusivity, especially for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

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According to her, in our physical planning, we must make the building accessible, to be accommodating to the needs of PWDs.

The former Executive Secretary of NUC, Prof. Peter Okebukola, also called for a monitoring and implementation system to ensure that the academic calendars of universities were adhered to.

Okebukola, who spoke on TSAS, emerging issues and possible solutions, clamoured for reduced TETFund overseas scholarships while encouraging in-country training in TETFund-strengthened PG programmes.

He said: ”In offering solutions to these challenges, there is a need to offer TETFund support to top-rate lecturers from overseas universities to come to Nigeria to join local PG training by Nigerian professors.

”We must send professors (of at least 10 years standing) for capacity building to top-rate overseas universities in carefully selected programmes in return to bolster doctoral education and supervision.”

Okebukola added that rather than continuously spending a lot of funds on foreign training, local universities should be provided with state-of-the-art facilities while carrying out accreditation of post-graduate programmes.

Accra Institute of Technology (AIT) has announced the launch of its merit-based scholarships for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes across various disciplines for international students within the West African sub region to boost educational mobility.

President of AIT, Prof. Clement Dzidonu, said the scholarships, which include both half and full tuition fee waivers, aim to attract exceptional international students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate remarkable academic achievements and possess a strong commitment to personal growth and community development.

“The Half Tuition Fees Scholarship will cover 50% of the tuition fees for selected undergraduate and postgraduate programmes offered by AIT, while the Full Tuition Fees Scholarship will provide full coverage of tuition fees for the most promising international students who exemplify not only academic excellence but also extraordinary leadership potential and a commitment to driving positive change in their societies.”

“To apply for these prestigious scholarships, prospective international students must have exceptional academic records with a strong performance in previous studies, demonstrated leadership qualities and extracurricular achievements,” he said.

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“In addition, applicants will be required to take the AIT Scholarship Aptitude Test (A-SAT), which is designed to assess their aptitude in specific subject areas or academic skills. The A-SAT is a competitive test, and only those who are meritorious will be considered for the scholarships.

AIT offers a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs across various disciplines, including Information Technology, Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Business Administration, and Occupational Safety and Health Risk Management. The scholarship application is open and applicants can apply online,” he said.

Registrar of Accra Institute of Technology, Mr Osei-Boakye, who led the launching of the scholarship urged applicants to apply on the institute’s online platform.

“Accra Institute of Technology is renowned for its academic excellence and innovative approach to education and has earned national and international recognition for its commitment to research, community engagement, and holistic development,” he added.

END.

The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) has elected the Vice-Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Prof. Kabiru Aderemi Adeyemo, a council member and one of its trustees.

ACU’s Governing Council brings university leaders from ACU member universities around the world together, with a shared responsibility to oversee its strategic direction.

It boasts of an impressive network of over 500 member universities across 50 countries within the Commonwealth. Notably, 66 of its members are located in low and middle-income countries and the organisation extends its influence to 55 of the Commonwealth’s small states.

The appointment approved to represent Constituency III encompassing East, Southern and West Africa is a testament to Prof. Adeyemo’s exceptional contributions to the field of academia.

 Prof. Adeyemo is to prioritise such objectives as  upholding the esteemed values upheld by the ACU, championing the cause of academic excellence, facilitating international partnerships and collaborations and confronting pressing global challenges.

Other appointees by ACU are Prof. Simone Buitendijk -The University of Leeds, UK; Prof. Hina Tayyaba Khalil – Pakistan Institute of Fashion and Design, Pakistan and Prof. Sibongile Muthwa – Nelson Mandela University, South Africa Prof. Sasmita Samanta of the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), India.

Prof. Wendy Thomson CBE, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, UK, was appointed Vice-Chair of the Council.

Prof. Adeyemo’s extensive academic background as a Professor of Management, Accounting & Finance at Lead City University Ibadan, has paved the way for this significant role. The opportunity to serve as a Council Member and Trustee of the ACU provides him with a platform to foster cross-border collaborations and contribute to the advancement of global education and research.

tions, NCE (Ilesa), B.Sc. Accounting (Ife), MBA Management & Accounting (Ife), LLB (Ife), LLM (Ife), B.L (Abuja), MA in Peace & Conflict (Ibadan), Masters in Project Development & Implementation (MPDI), PhD in Accounting, and PhD in Law (Nigeria). 

He is happily married and blessed with children.

The proliferation of universities in the country calls for serious concern. To Prof. Siyan Oyeweso of the Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, more universities are unnecessary, Damola Kola-Dare reports

Prof. Siyan Oyeweso of the Department of History and International Studies, Osun State University, has  queried the rationale behind creating more universities when established ones are struggling to be well funded.

The don noted that it was needless creating more universities when already established ones are seriously challenged.

He delivered a lecture entitled: Interrogating issues in the proliferation of universities in Nigeria.

Oyeweso said  the  administration of erstwhile President Muhammadu Buhari saw an unprecedented growth in the  number of universities in the country. He said in eight years, the administration established 11 federal universities, 19 state universities and 87 private universities, adding that a common feature of the federal universities under the Buhari administration is that they are all specialised institutions, focusing on health, technology, defence and security, and agriculture.

“The proliferation of universities in the Buhari years calls for serious concern, especially in an era where strike became the order of the day. Under Buhari’s administration, stakeholders in the education sector cried endlessly about underfunding of the university system, with adverse consequences on the quality of teaching and research output as well   as the standard of living of workers in the university sector. It is worrisome that that administration established 117 universities, a number that is unmatched by any administration in history,” he said.

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He said politicians often approve  motions and bills for establishing federal and state universities under a new political dispensation to get political favour or attention from their constituencies for continuous support.

“Nigeria’s university space is witnessing another wave of federal and state-owned universities influenced by political considerations rather than national needs or demands.

Also, the period is witnessing an exponential increase in private and faith-based universities.

On the proliferation of federal and state-owned universities, Nigerian politicians often move motions and bills for establishing federal and state universities under a new political dispensation to get political favour or attention from their constituencies for continuous support in the electioneering process.

“A social commentator notes that “many of the universities established in the last 10 to 15 years were just `creations of our political action; they have turned  universities into mere constituency projects. We cannot expect the best from the schools because we have no plan for the academic staff and the infrastructure.

“However, in order to evade public criticism about the rationale for establishing more universities since there already existed many universities in the country, the government has continuously hidden under the question of access. It has erroneously maintained that establishing more universities is meant to provide admission seekers with access to higher education, in view of their high number every year. There is enough evidence to show that this position is weak,” he said.

Oyeweso also  decried the country’s inability to  attain food sufficiency and food security despite having 38 conventional federal universities,  61 state universities of agriculture, 35 colleges of federal agriculture and over 25 agricultural research institutes.

He said establishment of specialised institutions in Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, came in response to specific national needs in critical areas of development, therefore, their establishment should not represent only a leap in the development of education but also a progressive stride in attaining specific national objectives.

 “In all our conventional 38 Federal Universities and 61 State Universities of Agriculture, 35 Colleges of Federal Agriculture and over 25 Agricultural Research Institutes,Nigeria has not been able to attain food sufficiency and food security.

“We are  the 70th largest importer  of eggs in the world.

Between 2017 and 2022, the country imported at least N299.66 billion of palm oil.

In 2019, Nigeria spent about $1.3 billion on cereal importation.We spend N16 billion on beans importation from Cameroon and Burkina Faso. We spend N6.4 billion annually to import toothpicks,” he said.

He  said unlike the success story of  agricultural universities in India, the Netherlands, and the United States, Nigeria’s agricultural universities and agricultural research institutes have not been able to fill the national food gap or rise to the challenge of food security.

“The universities of agriculture were established to serve as citadels for the transformation of agriculture  and the agency through which the National Policy on Agriculture is formulated, expressed and attained. They were considered appropriate in realising such national goals far more than the Faculties of Agriculture domiciled in conventional universities. However, more than 30 years after establishing the last of these universities, they have not fared better than other Faculties of Agriculture in conventional universities regarding research output and contributions to national development.

 “This also applies to the Universities of Health Sciences, Technology, Education, and Petroleum. A careful cursory look at their programmes will reveal that, truly, they are only specialised in name; a large number of them run programmes outside the scope of their specialisation,” he said.

The don said in  most universities today, Professors of Agriculture are not on  farms but occupying drivers’ seats in universities.

He said it negates the sound advice of the late Professor of Agriculture, Prof. Francis Idachaba, who  had cautioned against wholesale adoption of general NUC standards in the appointment and promotion of teaching staff of specialised institutions as they have not been able to devise incentives and reward schemes that would ensure that promotions are based on ground-breaking research inventions and patents rather than the length of the Curriculum Vitae (CV).

 “The Buhari administration alone established eleven specialised institutions spread across health, security, technology and agriculture. Such endeavour has proved to be a pretext by successive administrations  to site universities for political exigencies. The existing specialised universities in Nigeria have not shown in concrete terms how and why they are different from the conventional universities,” he added.

Oyeweso said the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) unending dialogue is aimed at getting sustainable government support for university education through adequate funding, infrastructural provision, and sustainable welfare package for academics.

He said:”ASUU’s clamour for sustainable funding dates back to 1964, when university lecturers made repeated demands for the review of the conditions of service.

“Despite several years of agitation, not much has changed in the attitude of government toward funding of universities. Rather, successive governments have been preoccupied with founding of more universities, since that fetches them some popularity. Since the Fourth Republic, Nigerian universities have witnessed several strikes, a larger part of which were caused by government’s unyielding posture to ASUU’s demand for improved funding of universities.”

The don identified planning, proper funding,purpose of need,among others as vital prerequisites when establishing universities.

“The establishment of a university requires proper planning. This is because, for a university to be able to live up to its promises, it has to be properly planned in every aspect of its existence. This planning must include proper academic, physical, funding, and sustainability planning. The university must also have a strategic plan that clearly shows its targets, goals, operational principles, and objectives within a specific period of time.

Again, it would be great to take a cue from the first-generation universities and a few others thereafter. The establishment of most of the first-generation universities involved proper planning with due consideration for the funding capacity and human capital needs of the governments that established them.

“

The establishment of older universities followed meticulous planning, programming and properly mapped out funding strategy. Also, the commission emphasised the importance of proper funding for these universities, and provided a practical solution of exploring both local and foreign sources for their funding. Also important in the characteristics of these universities is that they were founded, managed and maintained in accordance with best practice. They were cosmopolitan in outlook, drawing students and staff from various parts  of the world. And in line with their mandates, they produced employable graduates who later took important positions in the civil service, governance and administration of the country,” he said.

The National President, Early Childhood Association of Nigeria (ECAN), Prof. Babajide Abidogun, has appealed to governments and education stakeholders to ensure that every child in Nigeria has access to high-quality early childhood education.

Abidogun, also a professor of Early Childhood Education, Lagos State University (LASU), made the plea at the hybrid 14th annual national conference of the association on Tuesday, Lagos.

The theme of the annual conference was: “Quality Assurance in Nigeria Early childhood education”.

He said: “With our collective efforts and unwavering commitment, we could transform early childhood education in Nigeria and empower our children to reach their full potential.

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“The theme of this conference resonates strongly with our vision for a brighter future for our children.

“We recognise that the early years of a child’s life are crucial in shaping their overall development and setting them on a path towards success.

“It is during these formative years that the foundation for lifelong learning, social skills, and emotional well-being is laid.

“Unfortunately, we still face numerous challenges in ensuring that early childhood education in Nigeria meets the highest standards of quality,” Abidogun said.

He added that some of the issues facing early childhood education in Nigeria include non-establishment of early childhood education Commission, inadequate infrastructure in our centers and schools.

“Others are inadequate trained pre- school teachers, non-employment of the ones that have been trained by our college of education and universities of Education and Universities.

“Limited access to educational resources continues to hinder the provision of quality early education for our children.

“However, let me assure you that, our regime  remains committed to addressing these challenges in making sure that the quality of early childhood education across the country becomes government’s priority,” Abidogun said.

He noted that “investing in the education of our youngest citizens is an investment in the future of Nigeria.“Therefore, we appeal to the government functionaries, politicians and technocrats that are here to help us preach this to the highest quarter where things are done.

“We are resolute to pursue our agenda on comprehensive strategy that can enhance the quality of early childhood education in Nigeria.

“Our strategy includes the following key initiatives – to prioritise the training and professional development of early childhood educators across the states through the ministry of Education, SUBEB and LGEA.

“We recognise the critical role that teachers play in shaping the learning experiences of young children,” Abidogun said.

He also said they were working towards extending our tentacles to the far Northern Nigeria using our members that are passionate about early childhood education.

The old students of the Unity Secondary School, Ikere-Ekiti, headquarter of Ikere Local Government Area has appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to save their alma mater from neglect.

Its National President, Akinjide Johnny Ogunwale, who made the appeal during the 2023 homecoming of the old students, lamented that the school was suffering from infrastructural decay.

Ogunwale said the school, founded in 1985, was primed as one of the elite secondary school in the old Ondo State, but has since become a shadow of itself due to total neglect by the state government.

He added that it is becoming difficult for the students of the school to experience convenient learning with the deplorable state of facilities, which has been left in ruins for many years.

“It’s saddening and disheartening to see the poor infrastructural status of the Unity Secondary School now Ekiti State Government School. Virtually all facilities, which we enjoyed during our time in the school, have rotten away without replacement.

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“Government’s presence here is zero. We encouraged the government to come to the rescue as long as the old students are also trying their best to restore the school’s old glory”.

He expressed the readiness of the old students to partner with the Ekiti State Government towards making the school conducive for learning by providing the necessary infrastructure, equipment, laboratories among others.

Ogunwale hailed the old students for their immense support and giving back to their former school despite the harsh economic situation in the country.

He appealed to the alumni to join hands towards restoring their alma mater’s old glory, saying no effort should be spared in ensuring the school takes its rightful place among other developed schools.

“My compatriots, 11 years down the line, we can say we are not doing badly. It’s not yet uhuru, but we can progressively improve our involvement as well as our commitment to this cause of our alma mater. Our college is our heritage and we must rescue it from the parlous state”.

The major highlight of the event was the raising of fund for the proposed ultra-modern Assembly Hall and presentation of awards and cash gifts to eight former teachers of the school for the positive impacts they made on their lives.

One of the awardees and pioneer staff of the school, Chief Bayo Adeniran, lauded the old students for their tireless efforts in improving the standard of education in the school.

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged the Federal Government to reverse the increment in school fees in its Unity Schools “in practical terms”  to assuage the cries of students and parents.

The Federal Government has insisted that tuition fee remained free and there are no increments in school fees in any of its institutions.

However, to the consternation of parents and Nigerians when Unity Schools closed on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, students returned with newsletter bearing an increment from N39,000 to N87,000, excluding PTA fee of N15,000.

Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, made the plea while speaking in Enugu on the dangers the increment would pose on the nation’s human capital and socio-economic growth.

According to Ezekwueme, the Federal Government should “out of love” for students and education reverse the decision to avert the danger of having more school dropouts as many parents cannot afford to pay such a huge amount.

This, he said, could truncate the academic careers of many indigent students due to the paucity of funds.

He said, “Government at all levels should subsidise education and make it the rights of every citizen to Senior Secondary (SS) Three and not a privilege.

“It is correct to say that only through education and skills acquisition we can fight ignorance, poverty, youth restiveness, terrorism and other vices in the society.

“It is noteworthy that education is the best and greatest pathway to greatness and an invaluable contributor to national growth and development.

“We earnestly urge President Bola Tinubu, Federal Ministry of Education and National Assembly to listen to the plight, predicament and sufferings of the citizens as increments of school fees will exacerbate the sufferings, pains, agony and hardships of the citizens.”

The CLO boss equally praised Chief Afam Ogene (Labour Party/Ogbaru Federal Constituency) for moving a motion for the reversal of school fees increment, a motion that other members of the House of Representatives unanimously endorsed.

Ezekwueme said, “Nigerians are really crying and suffering over fuel subsidy removal and hyperinflation on goods and services.

“Increments of school fees will be unbearable and pathetic and hence the need for the government to do the needful and ameliorate the excruciating sufferings of the citizens by rescinding the decision to increase school fees.”

The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) and Albany University, United States of America are on the verge of signing a comprehensive agreement on staff and student exchange.

The agreement will also cover joint conferences, Unilorin Bulletin has reported.

This development is following a virtual meeting between the UNILORIN Vice Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole (SAN) and the President (Vice Chancellor) of Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (ACPHS), New York, USA, Prof. Toyin Tofade.

At the meeting, Prof. Egbewole expressed commitment of the University of Ilorin towards the promotion of academic excellence, research and cultural understanding through mutual cooperation, noting that this strategic partnership is expected to facilitate the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and experiences between Faculty members, researchers and students of both universities.

The UNILORIN’s Vice Chancellor said the partnership, if successful, will enable both institutions to leverage on each other’s strengths and resources, leading to advancements in research, innovation, and professional development.

Similarly, Prof. Tofade expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating that the partnership will undoubtedly enrich the educational experiences of the students and Faculties of both institutions as it would foster a truly global perspective and enhance cross-cultural competencies. Both institutions agreed to prioritise the fields of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology, Communication and Information Sciences and Pharmacy.

The institutions envisioned expanding their cooperation to encompass other disciplines as time progresses.

Seven hundred and fifty Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers, 20 Zonal Education Officers (ZEOs) and 80 Education Officers in Ogun State have been trained on the new method of teaching, to further promote efficiency and sustain an enviable education legacy that the state is known for.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of a three-week training organised by the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology in conjunction with Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP), the Special Adviser to the Governor in the ministry, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the training, which was the second phase of the exercise held in December 2022, was also to improve teaching and learning activities, develop teachers’ capacity and encourage world standards educational systems. Prof. Arigbabu noted that the training was part of the efforts of the present administration’s strides to sustain the legacies of the founding fathers of the education sector in the state, saying the huge investment of government in the sector is yielding faster results to the extent that other states and some institutes are making contacts with the ministry to learn from its success stories.

The special adviser stated that the new innovations introduced into science teaching have provoked the interest of learners in science subjects such as chemistry, physics, biology, and mathematics, thereby becoming the best, citing the example of a student, Gbolahan Azeem of African Church Grammar School, Abeokuta who was the best JAMB candidate in Ogun State and 4th best across the federation. He said: “We are working tirelessly to introduce more innovations that will bring desired changes into the education sector in Ogun State.”

Project Manager, OGSTEP, Mr. Fatai Osunsanya said there was a need to intimate class teachers and other education stakeholders in the state on new ways of imparting knowledge through technology, so as to make the learners relevant and compete favourably with their colleagues in other countries of the world.

Underscoring the importance of the programme, the training, the coordinator, Dr. Olushola Odusanya lauded the government for the initiative aimed at upgrading the skills and techniques of teachers to the newly acceptable learning standards, noting that Ogun State is the only place in the world, where science teachers are trained continuously and consistently on their specifications.

Appreciating the government for the capacity-building event, Mr. Oladipo Oladapo and Mrs. Adijat Tijani said since the introduction of the programme last December, their teaching skills, knowledge, and experience have improved, promising to cascade the training to others in their schools and zones.

One of Africa’s premier higher learning institutions, ProU Education Nigeria, has launched the ProU Online College to provide high quality job-ready diplomas and certificates for students with 30 per cent tuition rebate on offer.

The online college established in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with accreditation from  EduQua, a body recognised and supported by the Swiss Confederate Government, aims at  making smooth Nigerian students’  transition from education to professional life.

The parent company, ProU, is Africa’s first education institution bringing together the latest technological expertise from Europe, best global education partners and proven pedagogy that connects students with global opportunities.

A statement by the institution’s Co-President Dr. Piyush Jain noted that Nigerians don’t have to revolve their lives around finding the next opportunity to go abroad for better work. It said ProU helps students find the right route to get remote jobs from anywhere anytime.

“ProU Online College offers affordable and quality online diplomas with a team of top academics, professionals, and experts with extensive real-world experience. With over 95 percent student-career success rate, US$ 5 million in scholarships, 30 experts and 100 institutional partners, it empowers students from secondary school to top-tier higher education, and beyond.

“State-of-the-art and professional 50+ courses; and other competitive tests and career management services, ProU is carving a new path for Nigerian students. With an EduQua European accredited new-age digital learning platform, the college has courses from School of Technology and Business for students to pursue their higher education from anywhere across Africa. It also guarantees embedded internships designed to upskill students for future jobs,” he said.

The institution offers a wide range of job-oriented courses include Python Programming, Web Development, Data Science, R Programming, Machine Learning, Cyber Security, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Robotics, and Genetic Engineering.

The Business School includes sales and management, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, strategic management and leadership, business strategy, strategic marketing, and human resource management that can shape the country’s talented youth into skilled professionals to be employed by major multinational corporations in Africa and the world.

Jain said 30 per cent full scholarship is available for deserving students. It said  enrolling for ProU Online College does not require West African Senior School Certificate Examinations(WASSCE),  National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations, or Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

It added the application process, which is free, empowers students to take up a course with flexible tuition fee payment plans.

The institution said courses are tailor made to provide students with skills relevant for the 21st century, adding that students will study in a virtual classroom using either the “ProU App” on android store or web broswer designed to enable interaction between students and teachers.

It noted that with access to pre-recorded course materials, discussion forums, multimedia content, videos, audio, and card based) and efficient bite-sized (15 min) format and assessments delivered on mobiles, learning is 80 per cent  asynchronised anywhere,  anytime while the rest is focused group discussions with professors for questions and answers and feedbacks.