Yobe government says it has constructed and rehabilitated more than 627 schools in rural communities and employed 4,000 teaching and non-teaching staff to strengthen basic and secondary education.

Gov. Mai Mala Buni disclosed this on Wednesday when he received a high-powered delegation from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on a courtesy visit in Damaturu.

It was reported that the IsDB and the state have concluded arrangements to partner to enhance and upgrade educational infrastructure.

Buni, represented by his deputy, Alhaji Idi Gubana, said the interventions were part of his administration’s deliberate efforts to revive the education sector, particularly in rural and insurgency-affected communities.

He said the state had embarked on comprehensive reforms to address the destruction of schools and displacement of thousands of children caused by insurgency.

According to him, the government has also established new model and mega schools, as well as government girls’ day secondary schools, to expand access to quality education.

He added that the administration had equally constructed classrooms, laboratories, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres, hostels, among other facilities.

The governor said teaching and learning materials had also been provided to primary and tertiary institutions to improve the learning environment.

Buni described the SmartEdu Project as a timely intervention that would enhance education quality, improve digital infrastructure, construct new schools and address the challenge of out-of-school children.

He said the initiative would also help tackle illiteracy, reduce poverty and expand educational opportunities for vulnerable children.

Buni assured the delegation that the state government would ensure that the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) was adequately equipped to guarantee accountability, timely delivery and compliance with the project’s objectives and the bank’s requirements.

Earlier, the delegation leader, Mr Imtiaz Alam, commended the state government for taking proactive measures to ensure the smooth implementation of the proposed project.

He said the project would also be implemented in Jigawa and Niger under the coordination and supervision of the Federal Ministry of Finance.

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The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Cross River (UniCross) chapter, has resumed its strike over alleged government’s failure to implement agreements reached with the union.

The chapter Chairman, Dr Patrick Ushie, told our reporter in Calabar on Monday that the decision followed a meeting convened after government failed to honour commitments that led to the suspension of the strike on July 21.

“It is true that we have resumed the strike we initially called off on July 21 following a series of meetings with the government and its representatives,” he said.

He accused the government of breaching agreed implementation timelines and ignoring the union’s notices concerning outstanding issues.

“Certain agreements reached before the suspension have not been implemented as agreed by the government.

“They have not only breached the timelines for implementation but have also failed to respond to our notices,” Ushie said.

He said the union would sustain the industrial action until its grievances were addressed.

“This time around, we are not going to suspend or call off the strike until our grievances are addressed,” he said.

It was reported that the UniCross chapter embarked on an indefinite strike on May 19 over welfare concerns and alleged non-implementation of agreements with its national body.

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The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has urged heads of tertiary institutions to ensure that Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions are managed with integrity.

The ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Aliyu, SAN, gave the charge on Monday in Abuja at the opening of the Organisational Integrity Management Capacity-Building Programme for officials of TETFund beneficiary institutions.

The event was organised by the Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), a training and research arm of ICPC with the support of TETFund.

Aliyu urged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen internal controls, address corruption risks and ensure that TETFund interventions deliver value for money.

He said tertiary education remained fundamental to national development, noting that resources invested in universities, polytechnics and colleges of education were investments in Nigeria’s future.

“TETFund plays a strategic role by providing critical support for infrastructure, research and staff development.

“However, the success of these interventions depends not only on the availability of funds but also on the integrity and accountability of the institutions responsible for their utilisation,” he said.

He warned that weak procurement practices, inadequate project supervision, ineffective internal controls, conflicts of interest and financial mismanagement could undermine TETFund interventions, leading to wasted resources, delayed projects and eroded public confidence.

Aliyu stressed that organisational integrity went beyond personal morality and requires ethical leadership, effective systems and a culture that promotes accountability.

“Integrity must not exist merely in policy documents or institutional mission statements. It must be reflected in everyday decisions, administrative processes and the management of public resources,” Aliyu said.

The ICPC boss said while investigation and prosecution remained important, the commission was prioritising prevention through system study and review, corruption risk assessment and ethics compliance scorecards.

Aliyu also charged vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, bursars and directors of works to strengthen their institutions in five key areas.

He said that areas included institutionalising corruption risk assessment, strengthening internal controls, promoting transparency in TETFund projects, strengthening reporting mechanisms and translating knowledge from the training into practical reforms.

“The responsibility for preventing corruption does not rest exclusively with anti-corruption agencies.

“It is a shared responsibility involving institutional leaders, administrators, procurement officers, auditors and other stakeholders,” he said.

The Executive Secretary, TETFund, Sonny Echono, in his remarks urged officials of beneficiary institutions of the fund to ensure that every naira disbursed was traceable to tangible, high-quality outcomes

Echono, represented by Dr Kolpao Okunlola , Director Human Resources and General Administration, said organisational integrity remains central to national development, warning that public trust depended on responsible stewardship.

He stressed that funding alone could not guarantee results without accountable leadership, effective implementation and strict adherence to standards.

He urged institutional leaders to comply with procurement laws, financial regulations and TETFund guidelines, take responsibility for project outcomes and protect those who report misconduct.

He warned beneficiary institutions against political interference and personal gain in the selection of beneficiaries and execution of projects, citing his repeated warnings that when appointments are influenced by factors other than merit, the entire institution suffers.

Prof. Tank Ishaya, Vice Chancellor University of Jos and Chairman, Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Federal Universities, urged beneficiary institutions to judiciously utilise funds allocated to them.

Ishaya identified honesty, transparency, accountability, data integrity, respect and fairness as core pillars of organisational integrity, stressing that integrity goes beyond money.

The Provost of ACAN, Prof.  Sheriff Ibrahim, in his address of welcome said integrity in education referred to the adherence to ethical principles and standards by educators and students alike.

He identified honesty, accountability and fairness as essential to building trust and maintaining ethical standards across educational institutions.

Ibrahim urged tertiary institutions to work with ICPC to strengthen integrity management and address administrative corruption, embezzlement, examination misconduct, the monetisation of marks, sexual harassment and ghost workers.

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Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, has promised to sponsor a bill to upgrade National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS) to a specialised university.

Jibrin ​‌‌‍​‍⁠⁠‍‌‌‌‍⁠‍⁠‍‌​made the pledge while representing Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the 10th post-graduate convocation of NILDS and University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Monday in Abuja.

Speaking in his capacity as deputy senate president, Jibrin said the proposed university would serve Nigeria and the West African sub-region.

He said the institute’s infrastructure, expertise and resources had provided a strong basis for its transformation into a full-fledged university that would specialise in legislative and democratic studies.

“I informed the director-general that I would sponsor a bill to facilitate the transformation of NILDS into a full-fledged university.

“As the First Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, I recognise Nigeria’s important role in the West African sub-region.

“I believe a specialised university for legislative and democratic studies would serve not only Nigeria but also the entire sub-region.

“The headquarters of the ECOWAS Parliament and the ECOWAS Commission are located here in Nigeria. Establishing such a university would further strengthen our contribution to regional cooperation and integration,” he said.

Jibrin expressed the confidence that, with the necessary legislative processes completed, the bill would receive the president’s assent and enable the institute to attain university status.

“When we consider the institute’s infrastructure, personnel and resources, it is clear that we must build on the achievements already recorded to develop it further,” he added.

The deputy senate president urged UNIBEN to sustain its partnership with NILDS, stressing that the proposed transformation would not end the existing academic collaboration between both institutions.

He commended the NILDS Director-General, Prof. Abubakar Sulaiman, for his leadership and achievements, while congratulating the institute and UNIBEN on the 10th convocation of their collaborative post-graduate programmes.

According to him, the collaboration has contributed to the development of specialised post-graduate education and training in legislative and democratic studies.

The senator urged the graduating students to apply the knowledge acquired through their academic programmes to national development and the promotion of effective governance.

He said the knowledge gained should be regarded not merely as an academic qualification but as a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to the society.

Jibrin also commended the convocation lecturer, Prof. Etannibi Alemika, for his presentation on state police, saying the lecture addressed concerns shared by Nigerians and members of the academic community.

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A bill seeking to repeal and re-enact the National Universities Commission (NUC) Act to strengthen regulation, enforce academic standards and improve university governance on Thursday scaled second reading in the Senate.

The bill, sponsored by Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele, was presented by Senate Chief Whip Mohammed Monguno during plenary for consideration by lawmakers.

Leading the debate, Monguno said the proposed legislation sought to modernise the legal framework governing university education, strengthen regulatory powers and improve accreditation and enforcement of academic standards.

He said the existing law had become outdated following significant changes in higher education, including the expansion of private universities, technological advancement, globalisation and evolving national development priorities.

Monguno said the bill would modernise accreditation processes, promote research and innovation, strengthen institutional autonomy and improve the commission’s operational efficiency.

He added that the proposed law would update the composition and functions of the NUC governing board, introduce digital tools to promote transparency and provide frameworks for international partnerships and diversified funding.

Contributing, Sen. Victor Umeh (NDC-Anambra) called for stronger regulatory powers for the NUC to address alleged violations of governance standards by some private universities.

Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, alleged that some private universities had adopted corporate management structures, including managing directors and executive directors, contrary to governance arrangements prescribed under existing regulations.

He said such practices had created administrative confusion and weakened the commission’s ability to ensure compliance with established university governance standards and statutory requirements.

The lawmaker urged the Senate to include provisions empowering the NUC to issue binding directives to universities and enforce compliance with laws governing their establishment and administration.

He also called for effective enforcement mechanisms, arguing that institutions should not be allowed to disregard regulatory directives through prolonged litigation that could undermine the commission’s authority.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio said the proposed legislation would strengthen university regulation and align Nigeria’s higher education system with global best practices and internationally recognised standards.

During the debate, Umeh cited a university in Anambra as an example of governance concerns requiring regulatory attention and further investigation.

He alleged that the institution’s managing director exercised powers over the appointment and removal of vice-chancellors without following procedures prescribed under the applicable legal framework.

Akpabio said the allegations required further investigation, warning that weaknesses in university governance could undermine public confidence in Nigerian academic qualifications and the credibility of university certificates.

He urged the Senate Committee on Basic and Tertiary Education to investigate the institution’s management structure and determine whether its administrative practices complied with relevant legal provisions.

The Senate President also called for measures to address reported cases of non-compliance before the proposed legislation came into force, emphasising the need to protect the integrity of university qualifications.

He said the committee should submit recommendations to the Senate for appropriate action against institutions found to be operating outside the law, following investigations and a review of relevant evidence.

The bill, titled National Universities Commission Act, 2026 (SB. 1056), was subsequently referred to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund for further legislative work.

The committee was given four weeks to consider the proposed legislation and report its findings to the Senate for further deliberation and legislative action.

The bill seeks to establish the NUC as the regulatory authority responsible for the establishment, control, regulation, monitoring and management of universities and other degree-awarding institutions across Nigeria.

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The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing gender disparities in education and creating safer and more inclusive learning environments nationwide.

The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr Folake Olatunji-David, gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja at an event to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child.

The theme of the event is ”The Girl I Am, The Change I Lead”.

Olatunji-David, said the government was strengthening policies and programmes to improve girls’ access to education, retention, transition and completion.

”The International Day of the Girl Child is not just a symbolic event. It is a reminder that girls’ rights are human rights.

”As Ministry of Education, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening girl-friendly policies at all levels of the education system.

”We also reaffirm our commitment to expanding access to secondary and tertiary education for girls, especially in STEM fields,” she said.

She added that the government was implementing the National Policy on Gender Education and collaborating with development partners and non-governmental organisations to expand safe learning spaces.

She said the initiatives also included menstrual hygiene support and scholarships to encourage school attendance.

According to her, the government is adopting an integrated approach that combines education with health; protection and empowerment to enable girls fulfil their potential.

She cited the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) and the Lumina Project for Girls as part of efforts to improve educational opportunities and equip girls with relevant skills.

Olatunji-David said the ministry would also expand girls’ access to secondary and tertiary education, particularly in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

She added that the government would promote digital literacy, leadership development, vocational training and life skills, while strengthening protection against gender-based violence.

The permanent secretary stressed the need to ensure that girls’ voices were represented in decisions affecting their education and future.

She called on parents, communities, faith-based organisations, educators, donors and the private sector to take collective responsibility in ensuring that girls were safe, educated, respected and empowered.

She identified poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence and limited access to education and safe learning spaces as some of the challenges confronting girls across the country.

“Across Nigeria, millions of girls are proving every day that they have the courage, the intelligence, and creativity to lead; yet many continue to face obstacles such as poverty, child marriage, gender-based violence, limited access to education, and sometimes lack of safe places.

”And this restricts their dreams and hinders their potential,” she said.

Olatunji-David also said that the ministry was implementing policies and programmes to eliminate gender disparities in school enrolment, retention, transition and completion.

She added that the partnerships with development agencies and non-governmental organisations had helped expand safe learning spaces, provided menstrual hygiene support and offered scholarships to encourage school attendance.

Earlier, the Director of Secondary Education in the ministry, Adeniji Ibrahim, said the celebration provided an opportunity to reflect on progress made in promoting girls’ rights and welfare, as well as the challenges that continued to limit their development and participation in society.

He urged schools to provide safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments, while encouraging girls to pursue education, develop confidence and aspire to leadership positions.

”The girl child is not merely a beneficiary of education; she is a future leader, a potential scientist, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a policymaker and a catalyst for national development.

”When we educate, protect and empower a girl, we invest not only in her future but also in the future of her family, community and nation,” he said.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Education Officer in Abuja, Blessing Afuwai, said one in every four girls in Nigeria was out of school, while nearly three-quarter lacked foundational literacy and numeracy skills.

Afuwai attributed the situation to poverty, insecurity, unsafe learning environments and harmful cultural practices, which exposed girls to child marriage, adolescent pregnancy and gender-based violence.

She noted that poverty forced some families to keep their daughters out of school, while insecurity and learning environments further compounded the problem.

”When girls are denied opportunities to learn and develop skills, their prospects for employment, economic empowerment and meaningful participation in society are significantly diminished,” she said.

She urged the government, communities and development partners to bridge the gap between their aspirations and the realities confronting them.

She reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to supporting the federal government to ensure that every girl enrolled in school, acquired relevant skills and completed her education.

A student of Federal Government College, Kwali, Abuja, Victory Hope-Omenma, called on the government to provide scholarships, improve hostel safety and make sanitary pads more accessible to girls.

Hope-Omenma said child marriage, low self-esteem and others were among the challenges affecting girls.

She also urged schools to provide more education on menstrual hygiene and encourage girls to recognise and develop their talents.

Similarly, Angel Daniel, a student of Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, Abuja, commended the ministry for celebrating the girl child.

Daniel said the celebration would encourage girls to pursue education and recognise their value in society.

She called for an end to child marriage, noting that it deprived many girls of the opportunity to pursue their dreams.

The International Day of the Girl Child is observed annually to promote girls’ rights and highlight the challenges they face worldwide.

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The University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has secured eight awards worth N260,291,695 under the 2026 National Research Fund (NRF).

The institution also emerged as the fourth best-performing university in the country in the latest Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) ranking cycle.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Wahab Egbewole, SAN, disclosed this on Monday in Ilorin at a news conference heralding the 41st convocation ceremony of the university.

Egbewole said in the 2026 SCImago Institutions Rankings, Unilorin was ranked Nigeria’s number one university in Aquatic Science.

He added that the university placed fifth among the seven Nigerian universities featured in the 2026-2027 U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings and joint fourth in the World University Rankings 2027.

According to him, the results are encouraging indicators of the university’s growing research strength and institutional standing, driven by sustained investment and continuous improvement.

The vice-chancellor listed other notable accomplishments in the SCImago ranking to include Animal Science and Zoology, where the university ranked second in Nigeria and 50th in Africa, and Surgery, where it ranked second in Nigeria and 10th in Africa.

He said others were Veterinary Science, third in Nigeria and 36th in Africa; Mathematics, third in Nigeria and 43rd in Africa; Library and Information Science, third in Nigeria and 10th in Africa; and Computer Science, fourth in Nigeria and 73rd in Africa.

He added that the ranking also placed the university sixth in Nigeria and 69th in Africa in Physics and Astronomy, and sixth in Nigeria and 47th in Africa in Arts and Humanities.

Egbewole said the university remained focused on its goals and committed to its aspirations, noting that the results would be leveraged to reposition the institution to achieve its vision.

He said the 41st convocation would provide an opportunity to celebrate graduating students who have successfully completed their programmes across faculties, institutes, and centres.

”These graduands, numbering in the thousands, are products of the distinctive ‘Unilorin way’, a tradition founded on discipline, diligence, intellectual excellence, resilience, and service.

”As they proceed into the wider world, we are confident that they will continue to uphold the values for which the University of Ilorin is renowned and contribute meaningfully to the development of Nigeria and the global community,” Egbewole said.

It was reported that the university would award degrees, diplomas and other academic qualifications to 16,152 graduands, including 365 First Class, 4,367 Second Class Upper Division, 5,102 Second Class Lower Division, 1,006 Third Class and 30 Pass.

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