ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has conducted a computer-based promotion examination for junior staff under the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, with 450 workers participating in the exercise in Abuja on Friday.
The examination, held at Ade-Ola International School in the Kubwa axis of the Federal Capital Territory, formed part of routine assessments to determine eligibility for career progression.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise, the JAMB Director for the Abuja Zonal Office, Hajia Zainab Hamzat, said the process was smooth and hitch-free. “We call it a third-party exam. It is a promotion exam conducted on behalf of the Head of Service. All officers present today sat for the purpose of career advancement,” she said.
Hamzat explained that 476 candidates were expected across two sessions, but 450 showed up. “In the morning session, 250 were expected but 232 attended. In the afternoon, 226 were expected and eight were absent. The exercise was seamless,” she added.
She noted that participants included immigration officers, firefighters, civil defence personnel, and other paramilitary staff under the Head of Service structure.
The Director of Ade-Ola International School, Mrs. Mercy Olaosegbe, commended JAMB for maintaining strict standards for examination accreditation. “We have all required facilities. JAMB will not approve any centre that lacks standard infrastructure,” she said, noting that the centre has hosted multiple JAMB third-party assessments.
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has approved admission for 85 underage candidates who successfully completed its special screening exercise for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), reaffirming its commitment to credible and transparent admissions.
In a statement signed on Monday by Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communication Adviser, the Board said the approved candidates, all below 16 years of age as of September 2025, were found qualified after a rigorous multi-stage screening and interview process.
“After meticulous evaluation, 85 candidates adjudged qualified have been duly notified to proceed to their respective institutions to complete admission and print their JAMB admission letters,” the statement said.
JAMB explained that 41,027 candidates applied for the special consideration category, with 599 scoring above the 80% threshold in the UTME. Following further scrutiny of their school certificates and Post-UTME results, 182 finalists were shortlisted for verification and interviews.
Out of these, 85 met the final criteria and have now been cleared for admission.
The Board added that any of the remaining finalists who missed the interview could submit formal requests through the JAMB Support Ticketing System under the “2025 Underage Complaint” category.
It also gave candidates who scored 320 and above but failed to upload their O-Level results until Wednesday, 29 October 2025, to regularise their status.
JAMB reaffirmed that the exceptional admission policy aligns with global best practices, where such cases are treated as rare exceptions while maintaining the integrity of Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
ABUJA, NIGERIA — The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its global footprint with the establishment of a new Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) Centre in London, in partnership with Barnfield Education Ltd (BEP Education).
Unveiling the centre, NECO Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, said the initiative strengthens access to quality education for Nigerians in the diaspora, in line with the Federal Government’s inclusivity policy.
“Our commitment to full migration to Computer-Based Examination is the single most critical strategic objective for NECO’s future,” Wushishi said in a statement on Sunday. “Eliminating educational barriers for Nigerians abroad is both achievable and urgent.”
Speaking at the Education Matters Conference UK 2025, he revealed that NECO SSCE is now administered in seven countries, including Saudi Arabia, with new centres awaiting accreditation in Egypt and Burkina Faso.
Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa hailed the move as “a major milestone in making Nigerian education a globally respected brand,” while BEP Education Director, Dr. John Ibanga, described the centre as “an alternative pathway for Nigerian students in the UK facing GCSE challenges.”
The Nigerian High Commission in London pledged support for NECO’s initiative, describing it as “a timely and commendable step toward educational inclusivity and diaspora engagement.”
NECO certificates are recognised by universities in the UK, USA, Canada, China, India, and Russia.
Lapai, Niger State – The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has commissioned two landmark infrastructure projects worth ₦4.089 billion at the Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University (IBBU), Lapai, under its 2023 Special High Impact Intervention and 2020/2021 merged interventions.
The projects — the Remodelled Senate Building and the Faculty of Law Complex — were constructed at ₦1.58 billion and ₦2.50 billion, respectively.
At the commissioning ceremony, TETFund Board Chairman, Aminu Bello Masari, said the Fund had allocated ₦15.25 billion to IBBU since 2011, with ₦13.04 billion already accessed.
He commended the university’s transparent use of the funds and described the new facilities as vital to teaching, research, and innovation.
Masari noted that TETFund remains aligned with the Federal Government’s vision to modernise tertiary institutions, adding that the Fund has shifted focus to local capacity-building due to foreign exchange challenges.
“These facilities must be maintained. TETFund will continue to deliver impactful interventions to make Nigerian institutions globally competitive,” he said.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc Sonny Echono, represented by Arc Babatunde Olajide, said the projects reflect the Fund’s commitment to world-class academic infrastructure.
Governor Umar Bago, represented by Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba, hailed the Law Complex as one of West Africa’s largest, with over 100 offices, an e-library, and a 450-seat moot court.
IBBU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Mohammed Suleiman, expressed gratitude and pledged continued accountability in utilising TETFund support.
ABUJA, Nigeria — The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will, in November, roll out an electric campus shuttle scheme across selected higher institutions to ease student mobility and promote sustainable transport solutions.
TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, disclosed this on Tuesday in Abuja when he received a delegation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) led by National Secretary Comrade Shedrack Anzaku.
Echono said the initiative — which will begin with 12 pilot campuses — aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s directive to improve student welfare and learning environments through innovation and inclusion.
“Students face many risks moving around campuses, especially those living off-campus. From next month, we will launch electric shuttle services in selected institutions, to be managed by students for accountability and sustainability,” Echono stated.
He explained that each campus will have designated charging stations with affordable ride costs, adding that the scheme is part of TETFund’s broader interventions addressing student accommodation, power supply, and learning infrastructure.
Echono revealed that the Fund is also investing in research laboratories, digital learning systems, and sustainable energy projects across Nigerian universities to enhance research and competitiveness.
“We are building multi-purpose laboratories in Kano, Port Harcourt, Lagos, and Abuja so Nigerian researchers can conduct world-class research without sending samples abroad,” he said.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring access to quality education through the National Student Loan Scheme managed by NELFund, stressing that TETFund is being repositioned to serve students’ interests directly.
NANS National Secretary Anzaku commended TETFund’s impact, describing Echono as “a father and mentor” whose leadership has transformed tertiary education.
“Without TETFund, many of the structures on our campuses wouldn’t exist,” he said.
The students presented Echono with an award of excellence for his contributions to education and reaffirmed their vote of confidence in TETFund’s management.
Akwa Ibom State is one of the 36 states in the country, created by the former military Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), 38 years ago, precisely on September 23rd, 1987.
The state, which prides itself as “Land of Promise” has been lucky to have visionary leaders who have governed the state. These leaders, Elder statesman Obong Victor Attah, Senator Godswill Akpabio (now Senate President), Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel and, currently, Pastor Umo BasseyEno, have done their best in building on the legacies of their predecessors. No wonder Obong Victor Attah was the first governor in Nigeria who won the “Africa Today’s Face of Good Governance Award in 2002” because of his efforts in laying solid foundation for sustainable development of the state.
Today, Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State and its local government areas are being turned into a model city because its leaders have kept their promises with the people in delivering developmental programs that cut across diverse strata in the state.
The state gives premium to basic, secondary and tertiary education. This is the secret why it has recorded appreciable level of development. The founding fathers of the state believed that education is the priceless gift to bequeath to the younger generation so as to finish strong on the journey to the promise land.
Therefore, when College of Education, Afaha Nsit, suffered major setbacks it became a source of concern to the entire state especially those in positions of authority. The then Governor, Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel was challenged to look for an “administrative mechanic” to fix the College and he found Professor Daniel G. Udo worthy and appointed him the new Provost of the College in 2019 on acting capacity and, having been satisfied in his one year acting, the Governor confirmed him as substantive Provost in 2020. Professor Udo’s mission was to correct, stabilize and to leave the college better than he met it, a task by the grace of God he accomplished.
Professor Udo, who had a single tenure of five years as Provost, during the 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th and 13th combined convocation ceremony on 3rd October, 2025, held at the College Sports Ground, presented the score card of his administration.
It was quite challenging when the college came under Prof. Udo’s watch as Provost because of COVID 19 lockdown. There was drastic shortfall in internally generated revenue (IGR). Casual and part time staff of the College had their salary arrears of seven months not paid. The Management, led by Professor Udo, promptly took decisive steps that brought about increase in Internally Generated Revenue of the College, settled the arrears owed the casual and part time staff, restored College portal for all payments, computation of results, preparation of transcripts and other related matters were now done through the College portal, despite the resistance from persons who were gaining from that old system.
The College of Education, Afaha Nsit is now fully digitalized with the best CBT centre in the state. The CBT has been upgraded to 250-candiate capacity with 32 CCTV cameras and ICT complex with additional 608 capacity complex completed. Such digital age of transacting business has brought positive impact in the College.
Beyond its service to the College, the centre is successfully serving the public in the following areas: JAMB Registration, Mock and Main Examination, 2021 to 2025, State Secondary Education Board (SSEB) Recruitment Examinations, 2021, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Recruitment Examination, 2022, AkwaIbom State College of Education Recruitment Examination 2023, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria(TRCN) Mock Examination with the CBT software developed by the ICT Technical Team, 2021-2025, Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) Professional Examination, 2021-2025, The Nigerian Police Recruitment Examination, 2024, Ministry of Education Community Health Workers qualifying examination 2024-2025, The Pharmacy Council of Nigeria, National Pre-Certification Examination, 2025.
Professor Udo’s five years tenure recorded tremendous landmark achievements in the College. More academic programmes under the National Universities Commission (NUC) and those regulated by National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) received 100% accreditation as the College offers both Nigeria Certificate in Education and Degree Programmes and amnesty programme were introduced which received wide commendation. The re-connection of the College to national grid was under Prof. Udo. Under him the College witnessed stabilized academic calendar, improved academic standard, electronic identity card for (both staff and students), and obtained authority to operate a demonstration school degree. Programs of the College are affiliated to the University of Uyo, staff and students’ welfare had its tremendous improvement under Prof. Udo’s watch. Payments of casual and part time staff were up to date at the time he left office as Provost.
Described by the immediate past Governor, Udom Gabriel Emmanuel as “a very good Provost” Professor Udo made two special appeals to Governor UmoBasseyEno.A look at the convocation statistics for graduates of the National Certificate in Education (NCE) and those for Degree programmes reveals that our highly cherished College of Education, Afaha Nsit had begun the process of transforming itself into a university. Given the ration of NCE to degree graduates, it would mean that that the survival of the institution is already dependent more on the degree than on the NCE programs: “That reality informed my stout defense of the proposal to upgrade the College to a University of Education.
“His Excellency, in the college we read you like a manual for excellence in governance. My humble achievements in the College as Provost would not have been possible without the support and collaboration of other Principal Officers of the College. Out of the five officers appointed by His Excellency in 2020, (the Provost, Registrar, Librarian, Bursar and Chief Security Officer); only the Provost was assigned an official vehicle. Your Excellency, our College is located away from Uyo where these officers live with their families. Prior to their appointments, some of them had old, rickety cars, which have long gone completely out of maintenance in the course of their daily official responsibilities. For some months now, it is the College bus that has been conveying them to and from work. As they end their tenure this October, may it please you, our dear father, to let them return home with new vehicles. Your Excellency, that will enable them to resume their divine positions as Daddies and Mummies in the family and regain respect after sacrificing their old cars for the college. Thank you in advance, Your Excellency. We are now all familiar with your kind-hearted disposition to your children and their needs”.
Professor Udo’s five year term has not accomplished all that the college needs but has set a focal point, a debt-free and clear clean slate for a profitable tertiary institution that Akwa Ibom State deserves.
As Professor Daniel Udo delivered his last official speech both for convocation and valedictory, he appreciated all who made his tenure a huge success, especially Akwa Ibom stakeholders and further declared “I wish to make it clear that I bear no one any grudge as I exit office”.
Plateau News Online 