In a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, the government said the resolution followed sustained engagements involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Oyo State Government and the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) at the national, zonal and state levels.

According to the statement, the intervention paved the way for teachers to return to classrooms after weeks of industrial action that disrupted academic activities in public primary and secondary schools.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the suspension of the strike reflected the commitment of all stakeholders to prioritising the welfare and future of schoolchildren.

“I am glad to report today that the strike has been suspended. Teachers are now returning to school to educate their students. This is the result of our collaboration and coordination with the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Teachers and the Government of Oyo State,” he said.

Alausa commended Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, for demonstrating leadership in resolving the dispute through dialogue. He also praised the National President of the NUT, Comrade Audu Titus Amba, the union’s South-West Zonal Chairman, Comrade Hassan Ajibola Fatai, and the Oyo State leadership of the union for their contributions to resolving the crisis.

The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring uninterrupted access to quality education and pledged continued collaboration with stakeholders to keep children in school.

“Our children will remain in school, and we will continue to educate them. We will not succumb to terror,” he said.

“This administration remains resolute in confronting insecurity with every available resource and ensuring that our schools continue to serve as safe places for teaching and learning.”

Alausa also paid tribute to teachers across the country for their resilience and dedication to educating future generations.

The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated its commitment to working closely with state governments, teachers’ unions, security agencies and other stakeholders to strengthen school safety, promote dialogue and protect every child’s right to quality education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The strike was suspended after weeks of disruption to academic activities following the directive by the Nigeria Union of Teachers for its members to withdraw their services over security concerns arising from the abduction of teachers and pupils in Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State.

Bishop Nwokolo made the call while delivering remarks at the maiden edition of “The Dialogue,” an annual public lecture organised by the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

The lecture, themed “Bishop Ajayi Crowther: His Life, Missionary Work and Impact on National Development,” coincided with the 162nd anniversary of Bishop Crowther’s consecration as the first African Anglican bishop.

Before the event, Bishop Nwokolo paid a courtesy visit to the university management, where he was received on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Onyia.

Welcoming the Anglican bishop, Prof. Onyia described him as one of the institution’s distinguished alumni, noting that he obtained his bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies.

Responding, Bishop Nwokolo congratulated the Vice Chancellor on his appointment and commended the university’s ongoing developmental strides. He prayed for wisdom and strength for the management to sustain the institution’s progress.

Addressing participants at the lecture, Bishop Nwokolo highlighted Bishop Crowther’s enduring contributions to evangelism, education, language development and nation building, stressing that genuine missionary work extends beyond preaching to transforming society.

He said Crowther demonstrated that the Gospel and national development go hand in hand by investing in education, preserving indigenous languages and promoting human dignity.

The cleric challenged scholars, students and church leaders to remain grounded in Scripture while applying their knowledge to address Nigeria’s contemporary challenges. He urged the academic community to embrace integrity, critical thinking and selfless service as tools for national transformation.

He also prayed for the continued growth of the university, expressing hope that it would remain committed to its mission of restoring the dignity of humanity through education.

In recognition of his contributions to the Church, education and national development, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Prof. T.C. Nzeadibe, presented Bishop Nwokolo with an Award of Excellence during the ceremony.

The bishop also announced a donation of ₦5 million to the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies to support its academic development and future programmes.

Following the public lecture, Bishop Nwokolo and his entourage paid a courtesy visit to the Anglican Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Aloysius Eze Agbo, who congratulated him on the successful hosting of the maiden lecture, describing it as a significant achievement for the Anglican Communion.

This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin.

According to the statement, the original result slips include candidates’ photographs, national ranking, and other security features required for post-UTME screening and admission processes in tertiary institutions.

“The 2026 UTME Original Result Slip will be available for printing within the next two hours today, Wednesday, 17th June, 2026,” the statement said.

It added that the document is an official requirement for post-UTME processing and admission consideration by tertiary institutions.

“The Original Result Slip contains the candidate’s photograph, national ranking, and other security features. It is part of the official document required for post-UTME processing and consideration by tertiary institutions,” it stated.

JAMB also advised candidates that the slips can be printed using any internet enabled device, including personal computers, smartphones, or accredited business centres.

“Candidates can conveniently print their Original Result Slip from any internet enabled device, whether at home, in the office, or at accredited business centres,” the board added.

Candidates were urged to carefully verify their details after printing and retain copies for use during admission processes.

The 2026 UTME examinations were conducted in April, while a mop-up exercise was held on June 13 for candidates affected by technical glitches and biometric challenges.

JAMB released the mop-up results on June 16, 2026.

According to the board, printing of original result slips was temporarily delayed to allow completion of foreign-based examinations and mop-up exercises.

Earlier, on May 19, JAMB had appealed for patience while finalising the process.

With the release of the slips, candidates are now expected to proceed with post-UTME applications for the 2026/2027 academic session as tertiary institutions begin screening exercises.

The Federal Ministry of Education described the report, titled “Suspected Cyberattack Hits FG’s Education Data Platform,” as inaccurate and misleading.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the ministry clarified that at no point was the NEMIS platform breached or subjected to any cyberattack.

“The Ministry wishes to categorically state that the report is inaccurate and misleading. At no time was the NEMIS platform hacked, breached, or subjected to any cyberattack. The integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data on the platform remain fully intact,” the statement read.

The ministry explained that the temporary warning message observed by some users was due to an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate configuration issue at the hosting level, and not a security breach.

According to the statement, the technical issue affected the platform’s secure access certification but did not result in any unauthorised access, data loss, data alteration or exposure of sensitive information.

“The incident was purely technical in nature and did not involve any unauthorised access to the system, data loss, data alteration, or exposure of sensitive information,” it stated.

The ministry added that its technical team worked with the hosting service provider to quickly resolve the issue once it was identified, restoring normal services on the platform.

“Upon identification of the issue, the Ministry’s technical team, working in collaboration with the hosting service provider, promptly resolved the matter and restored normal service operations. The platform remains fully functional, secure, and accessible to all authorised users,” it said.

It further clarified that browser security warnings and SSL certificate alerts do not automatically indicate a cyberattack or data breach.

The ministry noted that such alerts may result from routine technical or configuration issues and should not be misinterpreted as evidence of malicious activity.

It also reaffirmed that NEMIS remains a critical digital platform for the collection, management and use of education data across Nigeria, supporting planning and policy decisions in the sector.

The ministry said it continues to implement strong security measures, including regular system monitoring, infrastructure safeguards and periodic security assessments to ensure data protection and system reliability.

It urged media organisations and members of the public to verify information from official sources before publication, warning against the spread of unverified claims that could cause unnecessary alarm or undermine confidence in government digital systems.

The meeting, which was chaired by the University’s Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Professor Peter Onwualu, approved the dismissal of the staff following the report of a disciplinary committee set up to look into the various cases of misconduct against the staff members, which was brought before the Council for consideration.

Those whose sack was approved by the university council include Professor Chike Osegbue, of the Department of Political Science, who was found to have abandoned his duties as an academic staff member of the university, without any excuse or justification, our source said. In the Faculty of Law, Professors C. C. Nwabachili and Ifeoma Kakulu were sacked over cases of gross misconduct. Meanwhile, Dr. I. H. Iheukwumere and Mr. Emeka Nwabunnia, of the Department of Microbiology, Uli Campus, were dismissed over cases of sexual harassment and intimidation.

With this action, the University Council has set a new mark of conduct and redirected focus to commitment to value for staff, especially academic staff members of the university, who the Council said are expected to uphold the highest level of professional and ethical conduct as role models.

During the meeting, which was attended by all members of the University Council who were inaugurated yesterday by the Governor of Anambra State, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo, and charged to deliver nothing but excellence, they jointly submitted that Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University must set the pace in learning, teaching, and training quality graduates with the requisite skill set that meets the challenges of the present time. The Council further committed to upholding the virtues of integrity, discipline, and honest commitment to academic values.

Meanwhile, the Council also approved the promotion of at least 13 Readers to full professorship. Those promoted include Dr. Uju Susan Muogbo of the Department of Entrepreneurship, Dr. Nonso Mbah of the Department of Medicine and Surgery, Dr. Basil Agoha of the Department of Architecture, Dr. Ikechukwu Gbasouzor of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, Dr. Agary Nwokoye of the Department of Political Science, Dr. Ikechukwu Asika of the Department of English, Dr. Nkiru Chude, Dr. Kennedy Onwuama, Dr. Chinyerem Nwachukwu, Dr. Susan Oguejiofor, Dr. Anthonia Okoye, Dr. Choice Okaforcha, and Rev. Fr. Dr. Emmanuel Dim.

The Chairman of Council, Professor Peter Onwualu, while extending the Council’s congratulations to the new professors, also charged them to continue to hold the academic banner to the highest standards

By Ebuka Onyekwelu, Ph.D.

The development was confirmed on Thursday by the board’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, in a statement shared on X.

According to Benjamin, the released results are part of cases reviewed by the board following allegations of examination malpractice during the 2026 UTME.

He explained that while some results were cancelled after evidence of malpractice was established, others were released after investigations showed no case against the affected candidates.

“While some results have been outrightly cancelled where evidence of malpractice was established, others have been released where the Board found no prima facie case against the affected candidates,” he stated.

Benjamin added that results from centres flagged for suspicious activities during the examination remain under investigation.

According to him, centres where JAMB’s live monitoring team observed irregularities or where adverse reports were received would continue to be reviewed, and any candidate found culpable could have their results cancelled.

The board advised candidates who are yet to access their results to check their status by sending “UTMERESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same phone number used during registration.

The 2026 UTME was conducted between April 16 and April 25 at accredited computer-based test centres across the country.

Aina, who turns 40 in July, will succeed Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose second tenure as Registrar expires on July 31, 2026.

The appointment was announced in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, Aina is a respected academic and systems expert with experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure and public sector reforms.

He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, as well as a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University.

The statement added that he also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.

Professor Aina currently teaches Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

He reportedly began his relationship with JAMB during his National Youth Service, where he gained experience in national admissions processes and examination systems.

According to the Presidency, the experience contributed significantly to his involvement in examination reforms and systems optimisation over the years.

Aina is also a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

The Presidency stated that President Tinubu expects the new Registrar to deploy his expertise and experience toward improving the operations of the examination body and building on the achievements recorded under Oloyede’s leadership.

Daniella, an indigene of Ekiti State currently residing in Ogun State, scored 372 out of 400 in the examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

She was announced as the top scorer during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja on Monday.

The candidate, who is seeking admission to study Medicine and Surgery at the University of Lagos, recorded 98 in English, 98 in Chemistry, 94 in Physics and 82 in Biology.

Reacting to her achievement in posts shared on X, Daniella revealed that consistency, smart preparation and frequent practice with past questions played major roles in her success.

“A lot of you have been asking about my study routine, but here’s the truth: I didn’t study 24 hours a day. I didn’t just study hard, I was smart with it. I made past questions my best friend,” she wrote.

She also advised other candidates to identify their weak areas early and work deliberately on improving them.

“I gave every subject the attention it deserved after identifying my strengths and weaknesses. Know your weak points and attack them early,” she added.

Celebrating the feat in another social media post, Daniella said her success was a result of hard work and God’s grace.

“To God be all the glory! I’m excited to share that I emerged as Nigeria’s 2026 JAMB highest scorer with an aggregate score of 372/400,” she stated.

On Facebook, she described the preparation process as demanding but rewarding.

“This achievement did not come easily. The preparation process was quite demanding and challenging, but by the grace of God, my efforts eventually paid off,” she wrote.

The Ekiti State Government also congratulated the student, describing her achievement as evidence that determination and focus can produce excellence.

[PUNCH]

Speaking during the 2026 Policy Meeting on Admissions to Tertiary Institutions held in Abuja, JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, announced that Owoeye Jesudunsin scored 372 out of 400 to emerge as the best candidate in the examination.

Jesudunsin, who is from Ekiti State and sat for the examination in Ogun State, applied to study Medicine and Surgery at University of Lagos as her first-choice institution.

Her score is three points lower than the highest mark recorded in the 2025 UTME, when Anambra-born Chinedu Okeke scored 375.

Coming second in the 2026 ranking was Ikenna Enwere from Imo State, who scored 370 marks. He selected Nile University as his first-choice institution to study Computer Science.

Closely behind was Ayomide Bamisile from Ondo State, who scored 369 marks and applied to study Software Engineering at the Federal University of Technology Akure.

JAMB said the release of the top scorers forms part of activities surrounding its annual policy meeting on tertiary admissions in Nigeria.

2026 UTME Top Scorers 

Below is a list of the top scorers for the 2026 UTME as released by JAMB during the  2026 policy meeting:

CHANNELS

Prof. Abel Idowu Olayinka, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), has called on Nigerian universities to rethink their approach to research, shifting from the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake to a model that drives economic development, job creation, and societal transformation.

The charge came during the keynote address at the 4th Biennial International Conference of Natural Sciences, held at Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo, under the theme: “Frontiers in Science and Technology: Innovations for Sustainable Development in a Dynamic World.”

Delivering the keynote address at the event organised by the Faculty of Natural Sciences (FNS), Prof. Olayinka argued that 21st-century research must deliver tangible economic benefits and improved quality of life. According to him, “The real and legitimate goal of the sciences is the endowment of human life with new inventions and riches,” adding that universities must function as engines of growth, centres of innovation, and agents of wealth creation.

Prof. Olayinka, who was the 12th substantive Vice-Chancellor of UI, presented a triangular model linking science at the centre with innovation, sustainable development, and entrepreneurship at the edges. He stressed that sustainable development requires entrepreneurial initiatives capable of addressing environmental challenges, fostering social inclusivity, and promoting responsible economic practices.

He noted, however, that most Nigerian universities lack clear mechanisms for setting research agendas, leaving academics to conduct disconnected individual research in silos. Other challenges listed by Prof. Olayinka include excessive teaching loads, external consultancies, and poor linkages with social demands and national development priorities.

“Research at most universities competes with high teaching loads and external demands such as consultancies and teaching at private institutions. This leaves little time and energy to devote to doctoral students,” Olayinka warned. “The application of research results remains one of the major weaknesses because linkages with social demands and national development priorities are rare, if not non-existent.”

To reverse the trend, the former UI Vice-Chancellor recommended that universities establish intellectual property (IP) policies, technology transfer offices, and research integrity units. He also called for continual upgrades to research infrastructure and the creation of new governance models for university research.

“In our technological, knowledge-driven world, change is inevitable. Our strategic research must contribute to local, national, and global development,” he said, adding that university spin-off companies, which are now common in developed countries, can help commercialise research results and encourage entrepreneurship.

In a sharp takeaway, Prof. Olayinka posed a pointed question to the audience, asking, “Will Nigeria chart its own path to development across these game-changing spaces, or will it remain a dumping ground for finished products, wallowing in consumerism?”

Declaring the conference open, the Vice-Chancellor, Ajayi Crowther University, Prof. Ebunoluwa Oduwole, said the event was designed to bring together experts from diverse disciplines to exchange ideas and develop solutions to global challenges.

Represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Afolake Olanbiwonninu, the Vice-Chancellor noted that one of the purposes of the event is to exchange ideas that can shape the future of science and technology and also ignite solutions that will transform the world. She charged participants to engage fully and collaborate for a productive experience.

Earlier, the Dean, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Prof. Roland Isibor, expressed gratitude to the university management for its financial and moral support, describing the Vice-Chancellor as an energetic and visionary leader. He said the conference aims to promote intellectual research, generate innovative ideas, and foster partnerships for societal development.

The Conference Chairman, Prof. Ebenezer Olayinka, noted that the conference is focused on transformative advancements in human health, environmental sustainability, and technology. Dr. Ayokanmi Ore, the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, appreciated the university’s management and the Faculty of Natural Sciences for their commitment to research excellence, urging participants to actively network and collaborate for lasting impact.

The biennial conference continues to serve as a platform for Nigerian and international scientists to bridge the gap between academic research and national development priorities.