News

Bauchi One Of Most Educationally Disadvantaged States In Nigeria – Expert

Published

9 months ago

August 22, 2025

Hyeladzira James Mshelia, Assistant Director, Programmes and Community Engagement, Connected Development (CODE) says Bauchi state is one of the most educationally disadvantaged states in Nigeria.

She stated this during a one-day meeting on Roadmap to Equality Tools for Transforming Girls’ Education in Bauchi, organised by CODE and funded by MALALA Funds.

According to her, while the state government has placed education at the top of its budget priorities allocating over N40 billion across sectors, significant challenges still remained visible.

Mshelia, who is also the Girl-Child Education Project Manager of CODE, said some of those challenges included infrastructure gaps where many classrooms are held under trees.

“It also includes high dropout rates for girls driven by poverty, early marriage, cultural norms, and poor learning environments.

“There is also low enrollment and completion: Of over 538,000 school-age children, 12–14 years, nearly half are girls, yet many never enroll or complete school.

“Teacher quality concerns: 25% of teachers are unqualified, and only 31% are women, limiting female role models for girls in schools.

“There are also these gender-blind policies that fail to address the specific barriers faced by girls and other marginalized learners,” she said.

The expert further emphasized that for education to truly deliver on its promise as a pathway to a gender-just world, both girls and boys must benefit equally.

This, she said, was the reason Connected Development with support from Malala Fund, conducted a comprehensive Desk Review of Bauchi State’s education policies and legal documents
to assess their level of Gender-Responsive Education Sector Planning (GRESP).

She explained that their analysis revealed gender blind and critical gaps that hinder the achievement of gender equality in education across Bauchi State.

“While most policies reference gender, they lack clear, actionable strategies to address systemic inequalities affecting girls’ access to quality education.

“Insufficient Budgetary Commitment – Education budgets do not explicitly earmark funds for gender-responsive interventions, making implementation inconsistent.

“Teacher Recruitment and Training Gaps – Policies lack robust provisions for recruiting more female teachers, particularly in rural areas, and for integrating gender-sensitive pedagogy
into teacher training.

“Weak Monitoring and Accountability Systems – Existing frameworks do not collect or disaggregate education data by gender, disability, or vulnerability status, among others.”

She called on all stakeholders like the government agencies, civil society organizations, community leaders, development partners, and the private sector to adopt, adapt, and champion this plan, saying “together, we can ensure
equity, quality, and justice in education for every child in Bauchi State.

“With deliberate, gender-responsive policies and inclusive planning, we can create a system where every child,
especially every girl, has the opportunity to learn, complete school, and thrive”.

Responding, Dr Muhammed Lawal, the state’s Commissioner for Education, faulted an allegation that education projects are poorly executed in the state, insisting that the allegation was baseless and unfounded.

According to him, the State Government, through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), was ensuring effective monitoring and supervision of every project across the State.

He added that the state government is doing everything possible to take the education sector to greater heights in the state.

News

Edo NLC Crisis: Caretaker Committee Drags Rival Exco, Govt To Court

Published

3 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The division in the Edo State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), took a new dimension on Wednesday as Prof. Monday Monday Lewis Igbafen-led caretaker committee approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Benin Judicial Division, seeking to affirm its authority and restrain a rival executive from parading itself as the council’s leadership.

Joined in the suit are the Edo State Government, the Commissioner for Labour and Productivity, and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

In a suit marked: NICN/BEN/12/2026, and filed before the court in Benin, the claimant, Igbafen, acting for himself and on behalf of the NLC Caretaker Committee in Edo State, is challenging the continued occupation of the union’s secretariat and control of its assets by members of the Bernard Egwakhide-led factional State Executive Council.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that the caretaker committee (Igbafen-led faction), constituted on August 11, 2025, by the NLC national leadership, remains the only lawful authority to administer the affairs of the Edo State Council pending fresh elections.

They further seek a declaration that the continued occupation of the NLC secretariat located at No. 1 Teboga Road, Benin City, as well as the retention of union assets, financial records, and official instruments by the defendants, is illegal and void.

The suit also prays for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from parading themselves as officials of the NLC Edo Council or interfering with the functions of the caretaker committee.

In addition, the claimants are seeking a mandatory order compelling the defendants to immediately hand over the secretariat, vehicles, financial documents, cheque books, and all other properties belonging to the union.

The caretaker committee further urged the court to restrain the state government and its officials from interfering in the internal affairs of the union, alleging undue support for the dissolved executive.

The claimants further demand N50 million as general and exemplary damages against the defendants for alleged unlawful usurpation of office and acts prejudicial to the administration of the council.

According to court documents made available to our correspondent, the crisis followed the dissolution of the Edo State Council by the NLC National Executive Council on February 27, 2025, over allegations of misconduct, anti-union activities, and constitutional violations.

However, the matter has yet to be assigned a hearing date.

News

Transfer: Premier League Clubs Scramble For Dele-Bashiru

Published

8 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

Lazio midfielder, Fisayo Dele-Bashiru is a subject of interest from three Premier League clubs, according to Sky Sports.

Lazio reportedly rejected offers from Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth for the Nigeria international in January.

La Biancolesti are bracing for more interest in Dele-Bashiru ahead of the summer transfer window, according to Sky Sports.

The 24-year-old has two years left on his contract with the Serie A club.

The attacking midfielder joined the Rome-based club from Turkish Super Lig outfit Hatayspor in 2024.

He has been a regular feature for Lazio this season.

News

Xenophobic Attacks: Nigerian Students To Picket MTN, MultiChoice, Other Businesses

Published

9 hours ago

May 6, 2026

Editor

The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS South-West Zone D, has announced plans to picket South African companies in Nigeria following the ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

DAILY POST reports that some Nigerians were recently killed in South Africa over the violent attacks.

A statement issued to newsmen by Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, Coordinator, NANS South-West, Zone D, said that the association is mobilizing to take decisive and lawful action by organizing peaceful picketing and mass advocacy against South African business interests operating in Nigeria.

“We categorically state that the continued targeting of Nigerians under any guise is unacceptable and must come to an immediate end.

“This will include major corporations such as MTN Group and MultiChoice Group. It is morally indefensible for businesses to thrive in an environment where the lives of Nigerians are protected, while Nigerians are subjected to fear and violence elsewhere.

“This contradiction will no longer be tolerated,” the statement said.