Category: Education

Cadbury Nigeria Plc has announced the winners of Season four of its Bourn Factor School Talent Competition.

The winners of the annual competition emerged from different States with winning schools receiving monetary prizes and sponsorship of a social impact activity of their choice.

The announcement of the winners was made at a parley in Lagos with representatives from the winning schools present to receive their prizes.

Golden Treasure Model Nursery and Primary School, Abeokuta, Ogun State won the grand prize of N3m naira.

Evanna Vision Academy, Benin City, Edo State, which came second, won N2m while Treasure Gold Kiddies Academy, Akure, Ondo State, placed third and won N1m.

Speaking at the parley, Managing Director, Cadbury West Africa, Mrs Oyeyimika Adeboye, said: “At Cadbury Nigeria Plc, we are committed to the mental wellbeing of children. We realise that a lot of children have an affinity for extracurricular activities apart from the usual curriculum, and that is why the Bourn Factor School Talent Competition endeavours to recognise and encourage kids to showcase these talents. It was imperative for Bournvita to provide ample investment in the talent and education of children, our key consumers, by partnering with schools.”

Category Manager, Cocoa Beverages and Biscuits, Cadbury West Africa, Tolu Olaoye said: “We see ourselves as partners to parents and guardians, equipping their children with 16 essential vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, and calcium, for healthy growth and mental alertness.

“Bournvita is also keen on improving digital literacy. We have done this by providing well-equipped and conducive computer laboratories to past school winners of the Bourn Factor School Talent Competition. We also require winning schools to suggest a charity which we support financially and materially. We believe all these are an investment into the future and health of our country.”

Apart from and Bourn Factor Talent Hunt Competition, Bournvita is involved in other social impact initiatives including Bournvita School Programme and Cadbury Bournvita Tech Boot Camp.

Bournvita is the first food drink brand endorsed by the Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN).

The Bourn Factor School Talent Competition is open to primary schools across the country, who can qualify and earn points by submitting empty sachets and jars of Bournvita.

Schools that qualify are then required to send in a five-minute video display of their students’ talent.

The top five schools are rewarded with a sponsored end-of-year party, courtesy of Bournvita with children from an orphanage of their choice in attendance.

The Bourn Factor School Talent Competition is planned to be expanded in the coming years, thereby increasing its reach across schools and rewarding winners.

The Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, Edo State in the last few months, has been in the eye of the storm, with Governor Godwin Obaseki being accused of not doing the needful to ensure peace and progress in the higher institution, Bisi Olaniyi, Southsouth Bureau Chief, reports

The Ambrose Alli University (AAU) was established in 1981 as Bendel State University by the then Governor, Prof. Ambrose Alli, an indigene of Ekpoma.

Not long after the creation of Edo and Delta states from the then Bendel State on August 27, 1991, Bendel State University was changed to Edo State University. It was renamed in 1999 as AAU, in recognition of Alli’s contributions to education in the defunct Bendel State.

The issues at stake

In the last few months, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the AAU workers’ unions have been at loggerheads over the lack of infrastructural development and inadequate equipment in the university, as well as not showing concern about welfare of teaching and non-teaching staff.

In the morning of March 14, it was revealed that the authorities of AAU sacked 22 workers, as part of efforts to reposition the state university, with the figure to rise to 90.

One of the sack letters obtained by The Nation reads: “In repositioning the university, the management of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma writes to convey to you the decision of the Special Intervention Team of your disengagement from the services of the university, with effect from March 10, 2023.

“You will be paid all your entitlements, in line with the provision of the AAU, Ekpoma Staff Regulations and Scheme of Service.

“By a copy of this letter, the Bursary Department (of AAU) is directed to process your entitlements, subject to your clearance of any indebtedness to the university.

“You are kindly advised to submit all university’s property in your possession to your Head of Department, on receipt of this letter.

“The management of the university sincerely thank you for your past services and wish you success in your future endeavours.”

Chairman of AAU, Ekpoma chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr. Cyril Onogbosele, however, declared the sack as inhumane and senseless, saying it was part of attempts by the state government and the university’s management to suppress the employees from demanding benefits that were due to them.

He expressed displeasure that many members of  staff, who were not due for retirement, were included in the list of sacked workers, wondering where such barbaric decision could be taken in a workplace.

Onogbosele hinted that the list of AAU, Ekpoma’s employees to be laid off would rise to 90, based on feelers from the management.

He said: “How on earth do you retire workers, who are not due for retirement? Fourteen professors have been shortlisted for retirement, which will be a great loss to AAU, Ekpoma.

“What the management of AAU, Ekpoma is doing, by this action, is to suppress workers from asking for their dues. Some are being owed for 21 months, while selective salary payment has become the order of the day in the university.”

Obaseki disclaims disengagement letters

In the evening of March 14, just four days to the crucial March 18 House of Assembly’s election (no governorship poll in the state on March 18, until September 2024, as the second term of the governor will expire on November 12, next year), Obaseki disclaimed the disengagement letters issued “in the last couple of weeks” to workers of AAU, while declaring them illegal, null and void.

Obaseki, in an online statement by his Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, ordered an investigation into the sack of AAU’s workers, saying that action would be taken swiftly on anyone found to be culpable.

He maintained that his administration’s commitment to AAU’s workers’ welfare remained sacrosanct, and had not sanctioned the sack.

The governor assured that he would always uphold the interest of AAU’s workers and continually position the state as a suitable place to live and work.

Protesting residents of Ekpoma shut AAU

Despite Obaseki disclaiming the disengagement letters the previous day, hundreds of protesting residents of Ekpoma, on March 15, however, shut AAU over the sack of 22 staff and poor administration of the higher institution.

The protesters, who were armed with placards bearing various inscriptions, called on Edo State government to sack a member of AAU’s Special Intervention Team (SIT), Austin Osakue, over alleged highhandedness and insensitivity.

Displeased residents of Ekpoma, who declined to give their names, for fear of victimisation, urged Obaseki to find quick solutions to the problems facing the university, which they said was capable of throwing the ancient town into chaos.

Acting Registrar explains salaries and pensions issue

The Acting Registrar of AAU, Ambrose Odiase, however, stated that the university’s 2,260 regular staff and pensioners had received their February 2023 gross salaries and pensions, but noted that the staff, who were on nationwide strike for eight months, were not paid for the period, in line with the no-work-no-pay policy of Obaseki’s administration.

Odiase disclosed that the management of AAU had been paying gross salaries to the workers since December 2021, and that the claim that it owed 27-month check-off dues to the staff unions was untrue.

Obaseki meets AAU community’s members

On March 16, at Ekpoma, the governor engaged AAU community’s members, promising to constitute a governing council for the crises-ridden university in 90 days, with an ultimatum given to all the members of the SIT, that he recently appointed, to wind up its activities in the next 90 days, thereby paving way for the constitution of the governing council.

Obaseki, during the interactive session with the university’s community, assured that his administration remained committed to repositioning AAU to meet global standards.

He said: “The SIT came into the institution (AAU), because things were not okay. Before they came, the university owed over half a billion naira. The SIT wants to leave with a structure that will propel the university to make progress.

“We brought people, who had nothing to do with the university, to formally look at the laws, review them and get a new governing council to move the university forward. Reforms are not easy.

“There were problems and challenges in this university, and as the governor, I never ran away from the problems or challenges. So, I faced them squarely. I am trying to solve these problems, to move AAU forward, and make it a great higher institution. I want to help you rebuild this university and make it great.”

He also noted that the SIT was brought into AAU to reorganise it, and reposition the higher institution well, making it reclaim its glory, and meet the dreams of its founding fathers, who set it up 42 years ago.

He said: “The team (SIT) was a temporary arrangement to reset, put things right in the proper way, and wind up within the next 90 days. It will hand over to a properly-inaugurated governing council of the institution. We have a law now in Edo House of Assembly, which is undergoing amendment, and it will guide the new governing council of AAU.

 “There have been agitations and complaints, and as a responsible government, we have to be here (at Ekpoma) to listen, and see how to resolve the issues threatening the existence and progress of the university.

“The university has produced great minds and great Nigerians. We are working hard to ensure that the dreams of the founding fathers are not destroyed. The problems in AAU have been on for decades. One of my predecessors in office, instead of solving the problems of AAU, decided to establish another university in his village.

“I was advised to set up another university in Edo South Senatorial District (where he hails from), but I said no, that I would face the challenges of AAU and resolve the issues facing the university. I am a stakeholder in AAU, and it must be restored to the dreams of the founding fathers. It will become the pride of the Esan and Edo people.”

Obaseki also urged the major stakeholders not to politicise the ongoing reforms at AAU.

He said: “When you politicise a higher institution of this nature, those that are worst hit are the students that go through the university. Let us separate politics from the problems of AAU, and try to fix the challenges, moving forward.

“Reforms are not easy, but they help to reposition the system, and help move it forward. I am here (at AAU) to assure you that your governor wants to help you rebuild this university, trust me. I am a governor that retrains people, not retrench them or take the people out of work. Anything you give me is to be nurtured.

“As a governor, I am interested in ensuring that all the issues that are causing the problems in this higher institution are resolved. There must be a way for harmony. If not, the university will find it difficult to make progress.”

The Chairman of ASUU, AAU’s chapter, Dr. Cyril Onogbosele, thanked the governor and his entourage for the visit and commitment to resolving the issues threatening the existence and progress of the university, while hailing Obaseki for intervening in the sack of AAU’s workers.

The Onojie of Ekpoma, King Anthony Ehizojie, said: “I plead with you sir (Obaseki), to jack up the subvention of AAU to enable the management to address challenges facing the state university.”

The governor later moved to Ihumudumu Road, Ekpoma, for groundbreaking for the construction of a befitting administrative block/classrooms for AAU’s secondary school.

After 55 years of its establishment, PRECIOUS IGBONWELUNDU reports that the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA) has unveiled its new state-of-the-art facilities to make learning more conducive

For many years, the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration (NASFA), Apapa, Lagos has churned out graduates who have made remarkable contributions to the accounting and other finance/business-related professions.

  The school’s graduates have consistently sat for and passed the coveted Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) examination, which qualifies professionals in the field of accounting.

  Despite its sterling records, the school, which was established in 1968 and located within the Arakan Barracks in Apapa, Lagos, was old, its structure outdated and unbefitting.

Its physical appearance was nothing suggestive of an institution of higher learning whose performance echoes within and outside the shores of the country, a situation that worried both staff and students of the institution.

But the story changed with the approval granted by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Farouk Yahaya in 2021, for the reconstruction of classrooms, offices, students’ accommodation, refectory and other facilities necessary to improve learning condition.

Inaugurating the reconstructed and reequipped school last week, Yahaya, who happened to be the first COAS to have visited NASFA since its establishment 55 years ago, said his administration placed a premium on training.

“One of the four pillars of my command philosophy is Readiness. And readiness for a professional army can only be achieved by well trained and administered troops who are in a high state of morale to discharge assigned missions.

“One of the key components of training is conducive environment for learning which in turn requires competent instructors or tutors, requisite infrastructure and good administration.

“It is in that drive that we try to provide necessary infrastructure and other facilities for our schools and

training institutions across the Nigerian Army…

“I will, therefore, continue to ensure realistic and mission-oriented training towards building professional standards in the Nigerian Army by providing conducive environment for learning, improving skills and competences of instructors and students, sound administration of troops and their families and more facilities.

“I am glad that am here today, to commission the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration beautiful complex, ultra-modern classrooms and facilities. From the completion report I got and what we are seeing here on the ground, the works and facilities installed here are of very high quality that will meet any standard in the world.

“I, therefore, commend the immediate past and current leadership of the Nigerian Army Finance Corps, Major-General A.A. Adesope and Major General A.A. Fayemiwo for aligning with my vision in the conceptualisation and execution of these projects. You have indeed done well.

“I am pleased to note that the Nigerian Army School of Finance and Administration is a foremost military training institution, which provides skilled workforce for the Nigerian Army, sister services and other security and paramilitary agencies in the country.

“I am confident that with additional buildings and infrastructure commissioned today and others coming on board, NASFA is being positioned for even better performance. NASFA must, therefore, justify the resources committed to the institution by ensuring that the quality of your graduates can also compete with their peers from any part of the world and excel. I charge you to also ensure that the facilities are well maintained,” said the COAS.

The Chief of Accounts and Budget (CAB), Maj.-Gen. Adetokunbo Fayemiwo, said the inaugurated projects included two main lecture halls, four staff offices, school auditorium, female hostel, Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ mess, a refectory and bakery.

Since its establishment in 1968, the CAB said the school had gone through many phases, evolution before arriving at its current status as one of the sought after degree awarding institutions in accounting and relevant fields.

“In 1985, the school secured accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education to train personnel and award both Diploma and Higher National Diploma in Accountancy and Secretarial Studies.

“The school has produced a total of 2,599 graduates of the National Diploma (ND) and 1,943 of Higher National Diploma (HND). These graduates include personnel from sister services.

“The school also trained the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, other security agencies like the Correctional Service (NCoS), Immigration Service (NISA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), among others.

“The admission into the school, which is conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is indicative of the school’s high standards as reflected in the performance of our graduates.

“It is also reflective of cooperation with sister services and other security agencies which is a cardinal pillar of the vision of the Chief of Army Staff. The graduates of the prestigious institution have always distinguished themselves as several have attained the peak of their career.

“The Nigerian Army leadership course will also be conducted, in conjunction with the Nigerian Institute of Management by May.

“These buildings were initiated by my immediate predecessor in office,  Maj.-Gen. A. A. Adesope, who was then the Chief of Account and Budget. The projects were earmarked to be completed in three phases.

“The first phase commenced in 2021 and consisted of the main buildings of blocks A and B, school auditorium as well as female student hostel. The Chief of Army Staff also graciously approved the construction of a befitting medical centre, sergeants’ mess and canteens.

“The second phase of the project was the furnishing and equipping of the school which commenced in February 2023. I am glad to inform the special guest of honour that this  ceremony marks the completion of the second phase.

“Phase three will be construction of the male hostels which will commence as soon as the Chief of Army Staff grants his blessings,” he said.

Commandant NASFA, Brig.-Gen. Ehioze Osifo, pledged that they would work harder to consistently turn out high quality graduates as a way of sustaining the confidence reposed in them.

“As a school, we will always remember this day as a relish and always have you in our memories as dignitaries that honoured us on our great day.

“Having been commandant of this school in just few weeks, I have seen from experience the hard work and labour that my predecessors in office must have gone through to keep the flag of this school flying.

“I thank you all for your efforts and I pledge that under my watch, this school will continue to excel. We have kept the national flag flying very high and I will give two examples. In the past four years, an average of five students have sat for and passed the exams to become chartered accountants yearly. 

“Also, the school has consistently emerged in the top two positions in the annual accountant quiz competition organised for accountancy students here in Lagos State.

We thank you all again for your years of mentorship and certainly we would continue to tap from your experience and wisdom as we pilot the affairs of this prestigious institution…,” he said.

The Nigerian British University, Port Harcourt, has appointed a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) of the University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, as its pioneer vice-chancellor.

The appointment of Fawehinmi, a nephew to the late human rights lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinmi,  will take effect from April 3, 2023.

The Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Board of Trustees and Governing Council of Nigerian British University, Dr. Chukwuemeka Umeoji, in a letter, welcomed the new vice-chancellor to the higher institution’s management.

The Nigerian British University is a world-class, private conventional university, poised to develop global competitiveness, by employing technological innovation to ensure practical and relevant academic experiences.

The university was inaugurated on February 17, this year by the Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu.

Fawehinmi, a professor of Clinical Anatomy and Biomedical Anthropology, Federal Government-owned UNIPORT, has wealth of experience in institutional administration, having been Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) between 2016 and 2020.

He served in many statutory and ad hoc committees and boards at UNIPORT, which equipped him with the requisite skills and experiences to provide leadership to a well-informed, articulate and growing academic community.

Fawehinmi, who was cited in the 2021 Africa Scientist Rankings by the Alper–Doger Scientific Index, is an active member of national and international professional associations, and served as Secretary-General and member of the National Executive Council of the Nigerian Medical Association (Rivers State), from 1999 to 2000.

He was Editor–in–Chief of the Journal of Anatomical Sciences, and President of the Society of Experimental and Clinical Anatomists of Nigeria (2014-2016).

Fawehinmi has over 80 articles in reputable peer-reviewed, mostly-indexed journals, and he has received many academic and community-service awards and prizes, while he is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and the Academy of Medicine Specialties of Nigeria.

Fawehinmi, who has led visitation panels of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria to many medical schools, is married to Hadeezat Fawehinmi, and they have five children.

The entries for the 18th Mike Okonkwo National Essay Competition for Secondary School students in the country is open.

The entries, which opened on  March 20, will close on June 2.

The topic for this year’s contest is: ‘Nigerianisation of Nigerians: A look inward’.

In a statement, the organisers gave guidelines on requirements.

“The entry requirements include an essay of maximum of 2,000 words, a passport photograph of the participant,  full name, address, contact telephone number, class, school, name and telephone contact of principal.

“All essays should be submitted in word format through email to essay@trem.org,” they said.

For this year, the star winner goes home with N500,000,  a trophy, and a plaque while the school gets a desktop computer. The first runner-up gets a cash prize of N250,000 with a plaque, while the school gets a desktop computer.

The second runner-up gets  N100,000  and a plaque, while the school gets a desktop computer.

The competition is one of Bishop Mike Okonkwo’s corporate social responsibility activities aimed at raising the standard of education in the country.

It is also done to develop students’ analytical and critical thinking ability.

Also, it is part of the activities lined up this year to mark the 78th birthday of Okonkwo, who is the Presiding Bishop of The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM).

Prizes would be presented to winners at the 22nd Mike Okonkwo Annual Lecture, scheduled for Thursday, September 7, 2023.

 Over the years, the competition has been very successful in reshaping the thought pattern of the students to develop problem-solving skills.

The Ogun State Government has commenced the distribution of school bags to pupils to assist them in learning. 

Speaking at Remo Secondary School, Sagamu during a symbolic presentation of the bags, the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising education, restoring standards, and improving the quality of life of children in the State.

Abiodun, who made a similar presentation to learners in Abeokuta and Yewa at Lisabi Grammar School and those at Remo and Ijebu schools axis at Remo Secondary School, said beneficiaries were picked based on performances in their respective schools.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, stated ‘’the bags will help to protect learners’ books and other learning materials from getting destroyed and also bring succour to their parents. I want to assure all our learners that this is a continuous gesture, as we continue to prioritise education and your well-being’’.

The Commissioner, according to his Press Officer, Mrs. Damilola Omoniyi, noted that the present administration had done a lot to transform the sector through the ‘’Yellow roof’’ school revolution, distribution of furniture, rewarding academic excellence, and employment of OGUN TEACH interns, among others.

Read Also: Amosun going into political oblivion, says Ogun APC

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Mrs. Olaseni Ogunleye and the Board Secretary, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Mr. Olalekan Kuye said ‘’the Governor is a lover of education’’, who has continued to encourage learners at all levels in their academics.

Appreciating the State government on behalf of other Principals, the immediate past president of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Dr. (Mrs.) Olubunmi Womiloju and the Principal, Abeokuta Grammar School, Mr. Dare Sorinola commended the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration for its giant strides in improving education standard, through the provision of free and qualitative education for the learners and the numerous initiatives to better the lot of the sector in the State.

 Some benefitting students, including Adediran Samuel of Baptist Boys High School, Saje, Akinola Aminat from Nawar-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Isabo, Abbah Queen of Ijagba Community High School and Odusanya Israel from Ositelu Memorial College lauded the gesture, promising to face their education and make the State proud.

SUCCOUR has finally come the way of a Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) applicant with a disability, Esther Abiona.

The admission board has offered her an admission to study Medical Laboratory Science at the Federal University, Oye Ekiti.

Ms. Abiona has had a running battle with the board over registration for the United Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Abiona had claimed that she was denied registration for UTME because of her disability.

The 18-year-old Abiona, a Magboro, Ogun State resident, had gone to the centre to purchase a JAMB Electronic Personal Identification Number (E-PIN) for registration, but was rejected for not having 10 fingers required for biometrics.

She said: “It was on the last day of JAMB registration, which was on February 14, that I went to buy my e-PIN for N5,800. The reason I went on the last day was that I was expecting an admission from the Federal University of Oye Ekiti, but unfortunately, I wasn’t given one.

“The procedure is that you pay for the E-PIN and, then, go for the registration. On that day after buying my PIN, I queued for five hours and when it was my turn, a JAMB official, a woman who was attending to us said she coudn’t register me. I was confused, I said  why? They saw me when I paid for the E-PIN and queued for that long and said nothing. When I asked why? She said because looking at me she could see that I have only five fingers and that the biometrics requires 10 fingerprints.

“The woman said I would have to go to the JAMB office in Abeokuta because that is where they can tell me what to do.”

According to Abiona, this year’s JAMB registration was not her first; she wrote JAMB last year and such an issue with having 10 fingers didn’t occur.

“I told them this was not my first time of writing JAMB exams and that I wrote last year and there was nothing like this. She took me to their boss who also said I should go to Abeokuta the next day for help.”

In the bid to make sure she succeeded, Abiona left for Abeokuta early in the morning but was told it was late as it was only in Abuja that her case could be handled.

“Early on February 15, I went to the Abeokuta JAMB office, when I got there, the officials also told me that they couldn’t do anything. They said I would have to go to their head office in Abuja because there is a law that said any case like mine should be brought to the federal level.

“The official further told me that February 15, was even the last day they wanted people with my case to come to Abuja and that it was late, asserting that I would have to wait till next year. I went home very sad. Just because of my disability, I was rejected for JAMB registration. I cried my eyes out knowing also that many other students were facing these challenges and crying underneath too.”

But in a statement made available to The Nation on March 7, the Board’s Head of Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, explained that Abiona’s allegation, which was published in The Punch of Saturday, March 4, 2023, that she was denied the right to register for the 2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (wUTME) on account of her disability, was false.

He said that Abiona registered for UTME at Mountain Top University CBT Centre, Ogun State, at 4.46pm on May 12, 2021 and given her obvious condition and in line with the guidelines, she was registered with five fingers and five toes.

The statement read: “She applied for MBBS at OAU. Unfortunately, she did not meet the requirement for admission into any course. It would be recalled that the Board, since 2020, when the biometric verification was grossly abused by some candidates, had established that anyone whose disability is not obvious would have to come to Abuja for his/her registration and the Board had always borne their travel expenses.

“It is, however, instructive that Ms. Abiona had never been among those invited to Abuja as she had all along been registered without necessarily having to undertake the trip. Thus, she was registered in Ogun State and not required to come to Abuja because her disability was obvious and not in doubt. Those whose disability to thumbprint was doubtful or not physically obvious had to register in Abuja (with their transport expenses paid by the Board), just as the Board provides transportation, hotel accommodation and feeding for every blind candidate as well as his/her guide for the UTME.”

He added that the board is an equal opportunity organisation and, as such, has put in place adequate operational processes to cater for  candidates, including those with special needs right from registration to admission.

On 2022 UTME registration, Benjamin said Abiona was registered with five fingers on March 8, 2022, as was done for her the previous year.

He said the UTME registration on time recorded at 3:24 pm was carried out in Oye-Ekiti.

He said: “She applied to Federal University, Oye -Ekiti, to study Medical Laboratory Science. While this was being processed, she suddenly changed to Microbiology last month (February 2023).The Board felt the change to Microbiology was unnecessary because she could still make her first choice and was investigating the reason for the change. That was where we were when she went to the media.

“In the newspaper, she claimed that the ‘university admission officer told her to register for a supplementary admission in another department in the faculty of sciences’, which she did. A claim that the university’s Admission Officer has refuted. She later informed the Board that an unidentified person in town, who claimed to be a staff of the university advised her to do the change.”

An elated Ms Abiona yesterday said: ‘’The varsity portal read ‘admission in progress’ around 8am but later changed to admitted at 9am.”

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has new policies as prerequisites for registering for its examination. VICTORIA AMADI reports the challenges that applicants faced during the just-concluded registration.

In recent years, candidates applying for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) are faced with a lot of challenges before registration.

The board initially made its portal open for registration, from January 14 to February 14. Candidates were expected to have a valid email address; preferably a Gmail account, create new JAMB profile, purchase JAMB e-PIN for N3,500, and provide their National Identification Number (NIN).

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, in April 2021, announced the creation of a USSD code to simplify the registration for UTME, and to help candidates, who were yet to send their NIN number get their codes by dialling *55019*1*NIN.

However, this year, the board brought E-naira mode of payment, NIN short code and compulsory email address as some of its core processes for registration, which also, just like the previous years, posed some challenges to applicants.

Oloyede after visiting some Computer- Based Test (CBT) centres, on February 11, announced that over 1.1 million applicants registered for this year’s UTME.

The JAMB chief warned against extortion  while ensuring adequate steps to forge ahead with a smooth exercise.

“We will take adequate steps to make sure that we stop that (extortion). One of the reasons is that we will tell every CBT centre to stop doing bulk purchase of pin and bulk registration. So, if a centre sells more than one pin from a source, then we will sanction such a centre.”

1,527,068 candidates for UTME

The board’s Head, Public Affairs and Protocol, Dr.  Fabian Benjamin, in statement, noted that the body had extended its registration to February 22, while the sale of e-PINs ended two days earlier.

At the close of the sale of e-PINs on February 14, the board recorded that 1,527,068 candidates successfully registered, inclusive of the 168,748, who indicated interest to take the Mock-UTME.

The statement read: “It should also be noted that the board, based on its projections, had expanded its capacity to register up to 100,000 candidates per day. With this, it was possible to register all desiring candidates within the space of a few days.

“However, less than 50,000 candidates were turning up for registration, which is less than the installed registration capacity. Surprisingly, in the last two days before the closing date, the pace picked up remarkably with over 100,000 candidates registering on a daily basis.

“Furthermore, the board, as a responsive and proactive agency, took cognisance of reports from across the country indicating some difficulties being faced by many Nigerians in using their electronic channels to purchase the e-PINs or obtain cash readily within the stipulated period.

“It has, as a consequence, granted this extension to ensure that all candidates who desire to register for the 2023 UTME are given the opportunity to do so, especially when the challenges are not of their own making.”

Our experiences, by applicants

Just before JAMB brought its registration to an end, The Nation visited some CBT centres in Lagos. They included Lagooz School, Orile Agege, New Ocean Comprehensive High School Alaja Road, Ayobo, JKK CBT Centre at Anthony, Lagos, and Mayrays School, Housing Estate, Onitsha. A worrisome queue at some of these centres was observed with many applicants locked outside the premises. Some were left with no option than to climb the fence.  Some applicants said they had their PINs, but could not thumbprint nor register completely; while some lamented they could not register entirely, owing to the inability to acquire the NIN short code, and comply fully with the e-PIN registration payment policy as a result of network issues and the drama surrounding the new naira crisis. They also complained of limited number of computers to register large number of candidates and extortion.

An applicant at Lagooz Schools CBT Centre, Orile-Agege, Lagos, Ibrahim Adeniyi, complained of his inability to register for the UTME, owing to a delay in getting the NIN code.

“I was asked to provide my NIN code. I went to NIN office and I was told my code would be ready on February 14, which was also the JAMB registration deadline. With the way things went, I wasn’t able to register. By the time my NIN was made available, registration had ended,” he said.

A student at JKK CBT Centre, Anthony, Lagos, Divine Udoka, who missed the examination last year because his name was wrongly spelt, said:  “There was a mistake in my JAMB registration last year concerning the spelling of my name. It was conflicting with the name on my NIN. I was sent to NIMC office to fix it. But I was not given the opportunity to register again this year because the crowd was too much.”

A student, who missed registration for two years, Deborah Bolanle, said: “I registered my NIN with one man’s number and the man is already dead. My PIN was on the man’s number that I registered with last two years; coupled with the fact that my phone was stolen and I was not able to register in the last two years. I have been trying to retrieve my number, but it is taking lot of time. I have been going to Alausa, Ikeja, to retrieve the number to no avail. I went to NIN office and was told I couldn’t have two NINs.”

At a CBT Centre in Ayobo, Lagos,  applicants were seen standing under the sun, as the shelter provided to accommodate them was not enough. Some students lamented the short period given for registration by JAMB, limited computers, and favouritism displayed by registration officials.

Yvonne Williams, an applicant, said:  “The time given for this year’s registration was quite short. During the time I registered, the network sometimes malfunctioned. At times, the fingerprint machine was problematic. Worse still, the officials were partial.”

At Mayrays School, Housing Estate, Onitsha, Anambra State, an applicant, Praise Obinwanna, said they had to climb the fence to get inside the CBT centre premises because officials locked the gate.

He said: “In the whole of Onitsha, it was only one centre that conducted thumb-printing. I had to climb the fence to have access to the compound. It took me five days before I could register. I normally come early in the morning and leave late at night when it’s already dark.”

Asked if officials extorted students, he responded in the affirmative.

Registration officials respond

A supervising official at JKK, Anthony, Lagos, who craved anonymity, blamed the applicants for waiting till rush hours to register.

Her words: “These children like late hours. As of the second week of February, we didn’t record a huge number of students. The day JAMB registrar came here, there was no crowd.

“We have over 30 computers at this centre.  We couldn’t do beyond our power as our operation is being controlled from the top. Some people were coming in late hours. There was a particular day that we couldn’t register up to 100 candidates.

“Usually, there is a limit to the number of computer systems one can connect to the router to JAMB. The systems were programmed to JAMB.”

A Registration Officer at Lagooz Schools, Agege Lagos, who simply identified himself as Mr. Obinna, highlighted cash, network issues, and the problem with profile code as some of the challenges at the centre.

“One of the challenges we recorded during this year’s registration was cash. Some of them were looking for where to get cash to purchase the form. Point of Sale (PoS) operators charged them much because of the new naira issue.

“Another challenge was profile code. Some students were to generate profile codes. Some sent their code, but received no response, while some received ‘no record found’ as the response. Some of them went back to re-check their data.

“Sometimes the fault emanated from the network provider. Most times, we have network issue and this interrupts registration. You might be registering a student and before you know it, the network disappears and you will have to re-log in. Concerning the crowd, it was because of the deadline that the crowd was much.”

JAMB steps in

Dr. Benjamin dispelled allegations made by some applicants, promising that the board would ensure that officials, who extorted students during registration were brought to book.

His words: “I don’t know about candidates being locked out of their centres. We went to Lagos, Kano and Abuja, and at these centres, we didn’t see any crowd.

“We have asked candidates not to pay. Once you see anyone collecting money, don’t hesitate to reveal his identity to us. We will go after him. We are against extortion. Students that gave money were as guilty as the collectors. We were at JKK some weeks ago before the deadline, and no candidate was there. Why should they wait till the late hours and be giving someone money to hasten their registration?”

Responding to the claim that it was only one centre that conducted thumb-printing in Onitsha, he said: “That cannot be possible. We have nine centres in Onitsha. There’s no how only one centre conducted thumb-printing in the whole of Onitsha. A complete centre is a centre that registers candidates. There’s no how you will register at a particular centre and do thumb-printing at another centre. Before a centre can be accredited to register students, it must have the capacity to register candidates and the capacity to sit 250 candidates.”