The Federal Ministry of Education announced that all applications for credential verification will now be processed online.

In a statement on Thursday, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, said the move is part of efforts to align with the government’s digital transformation agenda.

She explained that the new system is designed to improve data management, enhance transparency, and strengthen the integrity of academic records.

“The Federal Ministry of Education has fully automated the process for the authentication and evaluation of academic credentials as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency, improve data management, and enhance public service delivery,” the statement read.

According to the ministry, applicants are now required to register and upload their documents through the official verification portal.

They are also expected to request their institutions to forward transcripts directly from official email addresses to the ministry.

The ministry noted that applicants will no longer need to visit its offices for physical verification.

Officials added that the automated process is expected to reduce processing time and improve the credibility of academic credential verification in Nigeria.

The Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, made the call during an interview on Good Morning Nigeria, a programme on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

In a video shared by NTA on Tuesday, Oloyede explained that some parents still attempt to influence admission processes through illegal means due to a lack of trust in the system, which he said has now become more transparent.

He noted that many individuals, having previously relied on unethical practices, believe there is no legitimate alternative.

“People are so daring, and the parents, because they have climbed the ladder to illegality, they believe there is no other way,” he said.

Oloyede added that JAMB has maintained a fair and transparent admission process, citing the Central Admission Processing System (CAPS) as a key tool that ensures accountability and eliminates interference.

“If you are sure of your UTME score and believe you deserve admission but have not been admitted, you should protest to us because CAPS has made everything easy,” he stated.

He further explained that since 2017, there have been no significant issues reported with the CAPS platform, describing it as a reliable system capable of handling admissions effectively.

On direct entry admissions, the registrar disclosed that JAMB has strengthened verification procedures to curb fraudulent practices and ensure authenticity of qualifications.

He said the board has recorded several arrests related to attempts to manipulate credentials, while emphasizing that preventive measures have also been put in place to reduce such cases.

According to him, verification processes now include close scrutiny of A-level results such as JUPEB and IJMB, making it difficult for candidates to forge documents.

Oloyede also noted that academic certificates submitted for admission are now being verified directly with the issuing institutions, including foreign universities, to prevent the use of fake credentials.

He cited instances where some foreign institutions confirmed that degrees presented by candidates were not issued by them.

He stressed that these measures are part of ongoing efforts to maintain integrity in the admission process while ensuring that only qualified candidates gain entry into tertiary institutions.

The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

In a post shared via X( Formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Monday, the government said the scheme avails opportunities for Nigerian postgraduate students to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.

“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post said.

According to the statement on the scholarship board website, the scheme targets MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector, offering benefits such as tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.

The PTDF statement said, “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
Requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of Second Class Lower (2.2) in a first degree (or 2.1), completion of the NYSC programme, computer literacy, and five O-Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants must also submit a research proposal of up to five pages outlining objectives, methodology, and data collection approaches.

For PhD applicants in the United Kingdom, scholarships will follow a split-site arrangement, allowing research to be conducted between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected UK partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and University of Portsmouth.
The agency emphasised that the scholarships are highly competitive. “Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said.

It added that applicants will be evaluated based on academic credentials, research proposals, membership in professional bodies, and the relevance of their studies to the oil and gas industry.

“All applicants must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application, and multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification,” the PTDF statement added. Interested candidates are advised to apply online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions.

The closing date for applications is 27th February. The Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund Overseas Scholarship Scheme.
In a post shared via X( Formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, on Monday, the government said the scheme avails opportunities for Nigerian postgraduate students to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.

“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post said.
According to the statement on the scholarship board website, the scheme targets MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector, offering benefits such as tuition, return flight tickets, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where applicable.

The PTDF statement said, “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
Requirements for MSc applicants include a minimum of Second Class Lower (2.2) in a first degree (or 2.1), completion of the NYSC programme, computer literacy, and five O-Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics. PhD applicants must also submit a research proposal of up to five pages outlining objectives, methodology, and data collection approaches.

For PhD applicants in the United Kingdom, scholarships will follow a split-site arrangement, allowing research to be conducted between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected UK partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and University of Portsmouth.
The agency emphasised that the scholarships are highly competitive. “Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said.

It added that applicants will be evaluated based on academic credentials, research proposals, membership in professional bodies, and the relevance of their studies to the oil and gas industry.
“All applicants must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application, and multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification,” the PTDF statement added.

Interested candidates are advised to apply online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions.
The closing date for applications is 27th February.

Source: Channels TV

Professor Baikie, widely acknowledged as one of Nigeria’s most distinguished educationists with influence across Africa and the global academic community, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 12, 2025 and was buried in his hometown of Wusasa, Zaria, on Tuesday, December 23, 2025.

The announcement was made in a statement issued by Senator Tunde Ogbeha, Chairman of the Project Implementation Committee at the proposed Walter Miller University. He sated that the event would formally launch initiatives aimed at preserving and celebrating Professor Baikie’s lasting contributions to education and national development.

Institutions collaborating on the programme include Walter Miller Educational Resources Ltd./Walter Miller University, alongside Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria; the University of Benin, Benin City; the National University of Lesotho, Maseru (Southern Africa); and the Nigerian Academy of Education.

The organisers have invited members of the public to take part in the global tribute event, while also requesting the submission of tributes and scholarly orations on or before January 10, 2026. This, they noted, would allow time for compilation and publication ahead of the tribute night scheduled for January 15, 2026.

“The family, colleagues and friends are grateful to all who sent condolence messages, attended the funeral and burial, and offered prayers, support and encouragement in various ways,” the statement said.

The organisers stressed that Professor Baikie merits such recognition in view of his exceptional service to education and national development.

“He distinguished himself as an accomplished scholar and teacher; a Vice-Chancellor of exceptional repute; a gifted administrator and researcher; a respected boardroom diplomat; a community builder; and a global citizen whose impact spanned institutions and generations,” the statement noted.

During his illustrious career, Professor Baikie served as Vice-Chancellor of three universities.

He was also a former Chairman of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, Dean of the Faculty of Education, and Director of the Institute of Education at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he additionally served as Acting Vice-Chancellor on five occasions.

His record of public service extended beyond academia. He held positions as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, Chief Commissioner of the Federal Public Complaints Commission, and Chairman of the Board of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN).

Individuals interested in contributing tributes or orations have been asked to forward their submissions to the Secretariat via email at whitesoul001@yahoo.com.

The statement further revealed that His Royal Highness, Sanusi Mohammed III, will deliver the keynote address titled “Professor David Adamu Baikie: A Trailblazer in Education.”

Senator Ogbeha added that the organisers eagerly anticipate the participation of stakeholders, while conveying “the warm personal regards and highest compliments of General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd.), Chairman of the WMER/WMU Board of Trustees, who holds the memory and ideals of the late Professor Baikie in very high esteem.

This move, contained in a circular dated October 22, 2028, and signed by the Executive Secretary, Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, is aimed at enhancing quality assurance, academic relevance, and aligning the Nigerian University System (NUS) with emerging global trends.

The newly approved programmes, which were developed in March 2025 by experts drawn from the NUS, cover a diverse range of cutting-edge and essential fields.

The thirteen additional programmes approved as an addendum to the CCMAS are:

1.  B.Sc. Artificial Intelligence

2.  B.Ed. Classical Christian Education

3.  B.Ed. Human Kinetics (Sport Management)

4.  B.Eng. Geomatics Engineering

5.  B.CHS. Community Health Science

6.  B.Sc. Intelligence and Security Studies

7.  B.Sc. Islamic Economics and Finance

8.  B.Sc. Parasitology and Entomology

9.  B.Sc. Telecommunication Science

10. B.Sc. Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

11. B.Sc. Cooperative Economics and Management

12. B.Sc. Nuclear Science

13. B.Eng. Nuclear Engineering

The inclusion of fields like Artificial Intelligence, Geomatics Engineering, Telecommunication Science, and Nuclear Science/Engineering reflects the NUC’s commitment to equipping Nigerian graduates with skills for the 21st-century knowledge economy and addressing critical national development needs, such as in healthcare (Community Health Science, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) and security (Intelligence and Security Studies).

NUC instructed all Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian universities to immediately take three crucial steps for the implementation of the new programmes. Which will include, ensuring the approved CCMAS documents are distributed to all relevant Faculties, Departments, and Academic Planning units.

Ensure that they develop the 30% institutional-based component of these programmes, ensuring they align with the provisions of the 70% core curriculum set by the NUC.

Universities that wish to offer these programmes should commence implementation effective in the 2025/2026 academic session, but only after a successful Resource Assessment Visit by the NUC to verify the availability of adequate human and material resources.

ASUU’s National President, Prof. Chris Piwuna, announced the suspension at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday. 

However, he issued a stern warning, “the union will not hesitate to resume the strike if the government fails to meet its demands within the next four weeks.”

This ultimatum aligns with a recent threat from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).Following a meeting with ASUU and other tertiary institution-based unions, NLC President Joe Ajaero had given the federal government a four-week deadline to resolve all outstanding issues across the sector.

“We have decided to give the federal government four weeks to conclude all negotiations in this sector,” Ajaero stated, emphasizing that the issues go beyond ASUU alone. He threatened that if negotiations were not concluded within the stipulated time, the NLC would activate nationwide action involving all workers and unions in the country. “The era of signing agreements, negotiations and threatening the unions involved, that era has come to an end,” he added.

Prof. Piwuna had initially declared the two-week “total and comprehensive” strike on October 13, 2025, after a 14-day ultimatum to the government expired.

The strike was prompted by unresolved issues, including staff welfare, infrastructure, salary arrears, and the implementation of the 2009 ASUU-FGN agreement.

However, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, had criticized the strike action, arguing that talks were in their final phase. The Minister pointed out that the government had released N50 billion for earned academic allowances and allocated N150 billion in the 2025 budget for a needs assessment, to be disbursed in three installments. Following the strike declaration, Alausa directed the enforcement of the “No work, no pay policy.”

The NLC’s interactive session on Monday involved leaders from tertiary institution-based unions, including ASUU, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), and the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT).

In a statement released by the university spokesperson, Femi Atoyebi, the ceremony was described as a significant occasion that attracted numerous dignitaries, including religious leaders, academics, the University Visitor, the Most Reverend Dr. Joseph Akinfenwa, and the Chairman of the Governing Council, Dr. Olutoyin Okeowo.

During her inaugural address, Professor Oduwole presented her administration’s ambitious 10-point vision plan designed to spearhead the institution’s development. 

Her central objective is to elevate ACU into a global brand by emphasizing key values such as teamwork, dedication, integrity, accountability, resilience, professional conduct, due process, and adherence to international best practices.

Oduwole, has outlined a comprehensive agenda for acu that emphasizes academic renewal and expansion, including the launch of a faculty of clinical medicine and pharmacyand a distance learning programme. 

This is complemented by a focus on research and innovation, which will see the creation of a research management and innovation office. A cornerstone of her tenure will be stakeholder relations and governance, promising a cordial relationship with all parties and strong governance. 

Furthermore, she will prioritize welfare and discipline through a zero-tolerance policy for bullying and cultism, while strictly maintaining acu’s christian ethos by integrating faith-based values with academics.

 to ensure long-term stability, there’s a commitment to financial diversification by developing new revenue streams to lessen dependence on tuition fees. 

Finally, infrastructural development will be carried out across all four campuses (Oyo, Kieseni, Osoogun, and Ofa Metta), and community relations will be strengthened to better link the university with its host communities and the wider society.

Professor Oduwole concluded by assuring that through unity and dedication, ACU will successfully meet its immediate goals and emerge as a world-class, faith-based institution that seamlessly integrates integrity with excellence.

Ajayi Crowther University, founded in 2005 by the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), is named after the first African Anglican bishop, Samuel Ajayi Crowther, and is recognized as one of Nigeria’s leading faith-based universities. Professor Oduwole, an accomplished administrator and scholar, succeeds Professor Timothy Adebayo, whose five-year tenure concluded in 2025.

The announcement was made in honor of her 65th birthday, for which she had appealed to well-wishers to donate to the project instead of sending her traditional gifts.

The fund, officially titled the “Oluremi at 65 Education Fund,” was launched in coordination with the Ministry of Education. The First Lady has stated that the donations, which have surpassed N20 billion, will continue to be accepted until December 2025. 

She said as a young person growing up, library played a great role in shaping her person and she was not happy that the National Library which was initiated during the Shehu Shagari administration was still uncompleted up till today.

Speaking on the background of the criticism trailing her efforts, the First Lady said Nigerians should emulate the words of the former American President who said citizens should not think of what the country can do for them, but what they can do for your country.

She also clarified that the fundraising initiative is not politically motivated and is driven by her passion for education.

The National Library project has been stalled for years due to a lack of funding, and its completion has been a subject of public concern. 

The First Lady’s initiative is seen as a major step toward revitalizing the long-abandoned infrastructure project.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Olusegun Olayiwola.

The ban comes in direct response to a rise in reports of violence, public disturbances, and other forms of indiscipline associated with these end-of-year events.

“Schools must remain free of violence, bullying, and intimidation to protect adolescents during their formative years.

“The State Government is using this period to officially ban “sign out” celebrations by final-year students in both public and private secondary schools across the state. This directive comes in response to increasing reports of misconduct, violence, and public disturbances associated with such events.” the commissioner said.

Additionally, the government is reiterating and enforcing its existing ban on students’ use of mobile phones in schools. 

According to the Commissioner, these devices are a significant source of distraction and can be a vehicle for cyberbullying and access to inappropriate content.

These new measures are part of a broader effort by the government to maintain a conducive learning environment and ensure student safety. 

The state is also enforcing the use of only government-approved textbooks and cracking down on unauthorized fees to make education more accessible to all.

“In addition, principals are directed to recommend only government-approved textbooks, selected for their quality, reusability, and alignment with the curriculum. Compliance with these directives will be closely monitored by the ministry.”

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, announced the policy, which mandates that all teachers in both public and private secondary schools must be registered and licensed with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). 

“Accordingly, effective from March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO and June 2027 for SAISSCE, any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre,” he said.

The new rule will take full effect in 2027, with a preceding target of 75% compliance by 2026. This move is part of a broader effort to professionalize the teaching profession and remove unqualified educators from classrooms.

To help schools meet this new requirement, the government has provided an option for non-education graduates with at least 12 months of teaching experience to enroll in an abridged professional certification program. 

These short courses, offered through the National Teachers Institute, are designed to last between three and six months. The Minister has called on state governments and other stakeholders to ensure the directive is widely communicated to prevent any disruption to the accreditation process for examinations such as WASSCE, NABTEB, NECO, and NBIAS.

NAN