A total of 12 people have been killed in and around the airport in the Afghan capital Kabul, Taliban and NATO officials said, since the Taliban seized the city on Sunday triggering a rush of fearful people trying to leave.

The deaths were caused either by gunshots or in stampedes, the Taliban official said on Thursday, and he urged people still crowded at the gates of the facility to go home if they did not have the legal right to travel.

“We don’t want to hurt anyone at the airport,” said the Taliban official, who declined to be identified.

Hundreds of Afghans who lacked any documents or promises of flights continued to gather at Kabul airport on Wednesday night.

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The crowds, held at an outer perimeter, surged forward every time Taliban forces opened a gate, prompting the insurgents to rattle off warning shots to drive people back.

US President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that it was impossible to leave Afghanistan without chaos, as the US pleaded with the victorious Taliban to allow safe passage for people to flee.

The US is racing against the clock to evacuate tens of thousands of people following the insurgent’s lightening offensive across the country.

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The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday passed a vote of confidence in the National President Kolade David Alabi.

Arising from a two-hour meeting presided over by its Chairman, Odunayo Ategbero, the board said Alabi has done well for the association.

In a motion moved by the ALGON Chairman, Niger State, Ibrahim Bosso and seconded by Victor Ebonka from Delta State, members applauded the leadership of Alabi for the civility, unity and peace in the association.

The board hailed the synergy between the security agencies in reducing crimes in the country.

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“Success in winning the war on banditry, kidnapping, insurgents, herders/farmers’ crisis and Armed robbery among others should remain consistent until the country are is from such vices,” Ategbero said.

ALGON urged Nigerians to continue to cooperate with the security agencies in intelligence gathering to guarantee effective synergy for maximum results.

The board urged Nigerians not to be distracted by lies and falsehood of few fifth columnists that do not mean well for the association.

“On the issue of the National Anti-Multiple Taxation Scheme (NAMTAXS), and the National Transit Insurance Scheme (NATIS), the BOT and NEC agreed that the eradication of illegal roadblocks, illegal multiple taxes, levies, fees, assaults and molestations must come to an end through the enforcement of extant laws as contained in the 4th schedule to 1999 Constitution and in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s Economic Sustainability Programme (ESP),” the board stated.

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has recalled students to school to take their second semester examination between August 26 and September 26, 2021.

However, students say they feel unprepared following a period of online lectures that were irregular at best.

“The online lectures were not enough at all to proceed to writing examination.  I cannot say I am ready for the examination because I am yet to cover some of my courses,” she said.

The students were sent home six weeks ago following COVID-19 scare on campus.

The students have been having only online classes using the institution’s Learning Management System (LMS) since the July 12 closure.

A student, who simply identified himself as Oluwasetemi, said the online classes were not enough for him to prepare for the examination and could not be compared to physical classes. He said studying at home was not effective because of distractions.

“I am virtually not ready for the examination. Number one : The timetable is coming very late and it is actually choked. I only have two weeks for exams I am writing seven papers and five of them are actually back to back. The fact that we are not in school and we are at home, there are lot of distractions. You cannot really read intensively like when you are in school where nobody is disturbing you and you have enough time to read compared to our homes. Online classes is not enough. It was never enough and will never be enough. Physical classes can never be under estimated,” he said.

Mary Janet, a 100level student, complained of the irregularity of the online classes as well.  She lamented that the classes consumed time and much data.

For resumption, the university has made a staggered arrangement for students with registered bed spaces to return to the hostels from August 9, 2021.

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A statement from the university leadership reads: “Following the incidence of COVID-19 in the University of Lagos, University Senate at its meeting held on Monday, July, 12, 2021 directed the immediate closure of all halls of residence to checkmate further spread of the infection.

“Subsequently, in a bid to ensure a successful completion of the second semester of the 2019/2020 session, the University Senate approved the immediate commencement of online lectures via the University Learning Management System (LMS). The University has also approved the commencement of the second semester examinations to hold physically from Thursday, 26 August, 2021.

“The examinations will start with the General Studies (GST) Examinations scheduled to hold from Thursday, 26 August, 2021 to Saturday, 28 August, 2021.In order to ensure the safety of staff and students during this period, the University will adhere strictly to all COVID-19 protocols.

“Special arrangements have been made with the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) and Gbagada General Hospital for necessary isolation and treatment of any incidence of COVID-19 case during the examinations. The University Management has approved the schedule of accommodation of bonafide students with allocated bed spaces in the hostels for the second semester examinations as follows: 100 and 200 level students with allocated bed spaces should move into the hostels from Thursday, 26th August 2021 and depart on or before Saturday, 11th September 2021.500 level Faculty of Law Students with allocated bed spaces should move into their hostels on Saturday, 28th August 2021 and depart on Sunday, 5th September 2021. Three hundred level students with allocated bed spaces should move into their hostels on Saturday, 11th September 2021 and depart on Saturday, 18th September 2021.400 and 500 level students with allocated bed spaces should move into their hostels on Saturday, 18th September 2021 and depart on Sunday, 26th September 2021.

“Extant rules and regulations with associated penalties for hostel residency are still applicable and must be obeyed by all students. In addition to the above, eligible students are expected to abide strictly by the guidelines for admittance into the Halls of Residence and such students must: be registered for the second semester 2019/2020 session; present coloured Examination Docket for second semester 2019/2020 Exams; present a bottle of hand sanitizer. (minimum of 500ml); present at least 10 face masks; wear face mask into and out of the hostels at all times; use their allocated bed spaces. The University wishes all students a safe return and success in their examinations.”

Nigeria students have once again received outstanding results in their Cambridge International examinations, winning awards for top performance in the November 2020 exam series despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifty-three students have been granted the prestigious Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards in various subjects at Cambridge IGCSE, Cambridge O Level and Cambridge International AS & A Level.

Cambridge International’s Regional Director for sub-Saharan Africa, Juan Visser, praised the students for returning impressive results despite school closures last session.

He said: “Students around the world faced one of the most challenging years ever, with the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting teaching and learning. Despite this, we are delighted to see that students in Nigeria still excelled at their examinations and managed to produce these outstanding results. This points not only to the dedication of learners and their teachers, but also to the quality of the schools in Nigeria registered to offer Cambridge programmes. Well done to all the top achievers.”

The Outstanding Cambridge Learner Awards recognise exceptional learner achievement in Cambridge examinations around the world in over 40 countries. Their primary purpose is to celebrate and recognise the success of high-performing Cambridge learners.

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The award winners include three students who have excelled in Sociology, Agriculture and Law to receive the ‘Top in the World’ honour.  Cambridge International also granted 39 ‘Top in Nigeria’ awards to learners who achieved the highest standard mark in their country for a single subject, 19  ‘High Achievement’ awards and 3  ‘Best Across’ awards to students who attained the highest cumulative total standard marks over a set number of subjects.

Cambridge International operates in partnership with the British Council in Nigeria. Lucy Pearson, Country Director, British Council Nigeria said the assessments provides a platform for Nigerian students to prepare for opportunities in various fields of endeavour.

She said: ‘At the British Council, we create international opportunities through our work in arts, English Language, education, administering exams and building stronger societies. The exams we administer continue to help people all over the world gain educational and professional development, so they are better positioned for success in life and their careers. Education is a key enabler for these opportunities, and we believe in ensuring young learners have access to world-class education and assessments which we have achieved through our partners Cambridge Assessment International Education and the British Council Partner School.’

Marniee Nottingham, Director Examinations, British Council Nigeria added: ‘Through our partner schools, the British Council provides professional skills development and networking opportunities to schools and teachers that has improved teaching talent across our portfolio of about 395 schools across Nigeria.  We not only celebrate student achievement, we also congratulate the school leaders, teachers and parents that have supported in promoting excellence in the future of our young learners.  It is great to see the achievements of these students as they embark on their futures in country and around the world.’

All the top-performing students will receive certificates from Cambridge International in recognition of their achievements.

The entire Bridge Nigeria community was agog with excitement during the 2021 Prize Giving Day and Graduation. Bridge graduating pupils in the company of their parents came to the occasion looking glammed up like celebrities, to celebrate the end of the academic year and the milestones achieved.        The colourful and fun event brought together pupils, teachers, parents and well-wishers in the communities in all Bridge community schools, to celebrate the graduating pupils as well as reward the efforts of their teachers during the academic year.

The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of gifts and awards to pupils in various categories such as: including academic awards and behaviour awards like most punctual, most improved, best prefect, best graduating pupils, and teacher of the year.

The Regional Director, Academics, at Bridge, Rhoda Odigboh said: “Our teachers must be commended for the success of their pupils. The learning gains evidenced at Bridge are as a result of the dedication, passion and hard work by our teachers who are at the heart of our mission of delivering a life-changing education for millions of children.”

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“The success our children have achieved in the national exam shows what Bridge has always believed that every Nigerian child can excel if given the right opportunities, supportive teachers and empowering schools. Odigboh added.

Best graduating Primary Six pupil at Bridge International Academy Anibaba in Ikorodu, Iretomiwa Adewusi, thanked the school for giving him the opportunity to become a better person, academically and otherwise. He attributed his success to the dedication and commitment to his academic works and other co-curricular activities.

A parent at Bridge International Academy Omobalufon in Ojo, Mrs Olayinka Amudipe, whose son was the best graduating Primary Six pupil in the school, said that she was glad she chose Bridge for her children.

“Looking back, I am happy I made the decision to enrol my children at Bridge because ensuring that our children have the best education foundation and are set for a successful future and a good quality of life was what my husband and I wanted for them,” she said.

Some of the activities featured during the event were sight words recitation, debate sessions, drama and cultural display, dance competition, poems presentation, news broadcast which summarised various activities of term and what parents should expect in the next academic year/

Five pupils drawn from secondary schools across the country have been selected to represent Nigeria at this year’s FIRST Global Robotics Olympics tagged “the virtual Challenge 2021”.

The pupils –Simon Adikwu, Olaiya Kayode, Vihaan Nagarkar, Amarachi Oji and Chiugo Nnoruka were selected from a try-out session with over 50 secondary schools in attendance.

They would be participating in the competition courtesy of the Managing Director of Doculand Group Nigeria and Aramex, Mr. Faisal Jarmakani, who has sponsored Team Nigeria for five years in a row.

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Speaking at this year’s preparatory event last weekend, Jarmakani, a lover of Robotics, advised the pupils to give their all, describing the contest as a huge opportunity to compete with the rest of the world and make Nigeria proud.

The FIRST Global Challenge was founded by Dean Kamen to inspire a passion for science and technology leadership and innovation among the world’s over two billion youths.

It provides the framework for an Olympics-style robotics event that drives home the importance of obtaining the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills needed by future leaders to overcome the biggest challenges facing the world. With a mission to inspire STEM, FIRST Global, a nonprofit organises the yearly robotic games for teams representing over 190 nations around the world.

The leadership of the Sokoto State University has warned the public to ignore recruitment advertisement being shared on the social media, describing it as fake.

A statement signed by the University’s Registrar, Amina Yusuf Garba, stated that there was no recruitment drive in progress.

The fake social media post had advertised 95 vacancies in the university.

The statement reads: “The Management wishes to notify the general public that the University is not recruiting for any position, either directly or through any proxy (I.e agents).

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“The general public is hereby warned to be cautious and vigilant to avoid falling victim to the plots of the unscrupulous elements that are circulating the false recruitment notices, to deceive unsuspecting applicants.

“It should be further noted that the University has a standard recruitment procedure that it is always strictly abiding by.

“In view of the above, the University is hereby advising the general public to always seek accurate and credible information by visiting its website @ www.ssu.edu.ng, its verified social media handles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linked In and YouTube or by visiting the Institution.”

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has accredited all the seven programmes run by the Dominican University Ibadan.

The announcement came in a letter from the Director of Accreditation, NUC, dated August 2, 2021 and addressed to the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Anthony Akinwale.

Currently running undergraduate programmes in Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, Mass Communication, Computer Science, Philosophy and Christian Religious Studies, the Dominican University Ibadan is the first university to be founded by the Order of Preachers on the African continent. The University is also the first to be founded by a religious order in Nigeria.

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Reacting to the outcome of the November/December 2020 accreditation exercise, Akinwale, also a Reverend Father, expressed gratitude to God, to benefactors and staff of the Dominican University for making this feat possible.

He said the university would soon seek approval to run new programmes in Cybersecurity, Computer and Business Analytics, Broadcasting, Film and Multimedia and Christian Theology.

Licenced in November 2016, the Dominican University began academic activities in October 2017. The first convocation of the young University is scheduled for November 3, 2021.

Four students have been awarded scholarships by the African Children Talent Discovery Foundation (ACTDF). While three would study in American and British institutions, one of the beneficiaries is studying in Nigeria.

The scholarships which are fully funded are for both undergraduate and graduate schools.

Speaking with beneficiaries in Abuja, ACTDF founder, Noah Dallaji, said the gesture was in fulfillment of the foundation’s vision and mission to groom Nigerian youths for excellence.

He noted that the students were chosen after a competitive selection process approved by the board.

Dallaji said though the students were set to travel to their respective destinations to begin studies, a new batch was underway as the process for additional awards was being processed.

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The beneficiaries include Olatokunbo Kila, who is to study for a Master’s programme in Energy Systems Management at the University of Fransisco (USA); Afolabi Damilola Oluwaseyi (Master’s in Public Health. Leeds Becket University, UK); Deborah Amara Okafor (B.A. in English and  Philosophy, University of Georgia); and Onah Ifunanya Rita, Microbiology at Dorben Polytechnic, Bwari, Abuja.

“I congratulate all the beneficiaries onbeing chosen in such a competitive process. Your success is an affirmation of your academic excellence and the potentials it holds for your future if you continue to be steadfast and dedicated to your dreams.

“Let me implore you all to remain patriotic by being good ambassadors of ACTDF and our nation,” Dallaji said.

The Senate of the Students’ Union Government (SUG), University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) has impeached its president, Nnamani Ifeanyi.

Nnamani, a student of the Faculty of Law, was removed on Tuesday for alleged financial impropriety amounting to the tune of N3,238, 500.00

He was impeached just as the union’s tenure was coming to an end.

A vote of no confidence was passed on Nnamani by the members of the upper legislative chambers of the SUG parliament.

In his place, Ogbuh Chinazam Ameh, was appointed as acting president of the Senate.

In a memo issued to the entire university community on Tuesday, the acting Senate president, Ogbuh said, Nnamani “shall vacate office with immediate effect and refund the sum of N3,238, 500 back to the Students Union Government”.

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Ogbuh further listed the other allegations against the former Senate president to include, “Misappropriation of public funds which amounts to damaging the image of the union and that of the prestigious university community, contrary to Section 10(4) of the Constitution of the SUG 2016.

“Abuse of Constitutional powers by illegally removing a Senator from the Senate and reviewing the judgement of the judiciary, contrary to Section 10 (1) of the SUG Constitution 2014

“Total disregard for the institutions of the government of Students Union Government as he calls senators comedians, contrary to Section 10(1) of the SUG 2016

“Total disobedience and disregard to the provisions of the SUG Constitution 2016.”

“This Senate considers the above activities as illegal, inappropriate and amounts to the complete meaning of gross misconduct as provided under Section 18c(4) of the SUG Constitution 2016”.