Education

[JUST IN] Unity Schools’ Admission: FG Bans Underage Age From Writing Common Entrance Exams

Published

1 year ago

June 3, 2023

Shocked at the high number of underage children that participated in the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination, held on Saturday across the country, the Federal Government has banned children below the age of 12 years from participating in the examination.

The government insisted that henceforth, children who are yet to attain the age of 12 years at the time the examination is being conducted, would not be allowed from participating in the exercise.

The government also said henceforth, the provision of birth certificates by candidates is a compulsory requirement for registration of the National Common Entrance Examination.

To this end, the government has accordingly directed the National Examination Council, NECO, the body conducting the examination, to put strict measures in place to prevent underage persons from registering.

Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mr David Andrew Adejo, gave the directive on Saturday in Abuja while monitoring the conduct of the 2023 Common Entrance Examination into the 110 federal government colleges across the federation.

A total of 72,821 candidates sat for the examination on Saturday nationwide.

Adejo noted that to get into secondary, a candidate should be at least 12 years, adding that one could be eleven plus during the examination and by September, such a person would have attained the age of 12 years.

The Permanent Secretary after monitoring the exercise at the Federal Government Girls College, Bwari, and Government Day Secondary School, Bwari, said he was unhappy to see many underage people taking the examination.

He insisted that less than eleven years was unacceptable, disclosing that Airforce Schools, among others, do not accept candidates less than twelve years for admission into their schools.

Adejo said: “This year, I have advice for parents and I beg you, take this advice to any single home you know. We are killing our children by allowing underage children to write the Common Entrance Examination.

“I saw children that I know that are not up to 10, and three of them accepted that they are nine years old. We are doing many things; one, we are teaching the children the wrong values. Education is not about passing exams. Education is teaching, learning and character formation

“I beg the parents, let these children do the exams when they should. We don’t get value by pushing our children too far. Most of the time if a child starts too early, he or she will have problems later in life.

“Education is designed in such a way that at any particular stage in life, there are messages your brain can take and understand and be able to use. We are moving from education that is reliant on reading textbooks and passing exams.

“We are getting to a stage where education is what can you use your knowledge to do for society. You put a small child to go through all the rigours, and by the time he finishes secondary, getting to University becomes a problem. I had that experience with a friend. To date that friend did not get into a University, simply because he was put into school earlier than the age that he was supposed to be put into school.

“Let our children get to the appropriate age before writing this exam and we are going to make sure NECO put in place appropriate checks. We didn’t want to get to where we will say bring birth certificate but that is the stage we are going to now. In registering also upload the child’s birth certificate, so that at our own end, we are able to cut some of these things,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary also noted that the efforts of the Federal Government and other stakeholders in encouraging girls’ education is yielding fruit, saying the number of girls that registered for the Common Entrance Examination this year is 38,000 far above the previous years.

Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, said the conduct of the examination was generally smooth and orderly, saying from the reports gotten from across the country, the examination went on hitch-free.

While confirming that 72,821 candidates registered for the 2023 National Common Entrance Examination, Wushishi disclosed that Lagos State had the highest number of enrollment followed by FCT, while the State with the lowest registration, Kebbi, has about 115 registered candidates.

He noted that the Council would put in place a mechanism to check some of the noticeable gaps caused by an upsurge in registration a day before the examination.

Education

Kuta Monarch Endorses 2024 NUJ OSBC Chapel’s Pen Week, Pledges To Attend Ancestors Day

Published

7 days ago

September 1, 2024

Editor

The Olowu of Kuta Kingdom, Oba Adekunle Oyelude has endorsed the 2024 Pen Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, OSBC, Chapel, holding later days in September.

Oba Oyelude made the endorsement in his palace today, Sunday, September 1, 2024, while receiving the NUJ, OSBC Chapel’s executives, who were on a courtesy visit.

The traditional ruler showered his royal blessings on the team and NUJ family at large; pledging to be physically present at the grand finale of the weeklong event, scheduled to hold at the OSBC Conglomerate’s headquarters, Ile Awiye, Oke Baale, Osogbo on the 26th of September.

Earlier, the chairman, NUJ OSBC Chapel, Comrade Lateef Agboola, told the Olowu that the visit was imperative because of the strategic role of the Oba as the Life Patron of the union, and the need to seek royal blessings.

He explained to the monarch that the pen week would be ushered in with Sunday Service on 22nd of this month, to be followed by the opening event alongside free medical check-up for the staff on Monday 23rd, while the grand finale, tagged Ancestors Day.

He added that the Ancestors Day which would feature awards presentation on Thursday, 26th, would be rounded off with Thanksgiving Jumat Service the following day.

Comrade Agboola was flanked by the Vice Chairman, Comrade Olawumi Olaniyi; the Financial Secretary, Comrade Sijuwade Adesina and the Assistant Secretary, Comrade Oladapo Oyetunji.

Education

Foreign Intelligence Germane To Nigeria’s Self-reliant Security Architecture, Economic Prosperity – Varsity Don

Published

3 months ago

June 14, 2024

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

A university don, Prof. Olufemi Olufunmilade, has said that deployment of Foreign Intelligence in Nigeria security architecture is germane to acquiring skills and technology needed for self-reliant security systems and enduring economic prosperity.

Olufunmilade, a Professor of International Relations and Strategic Studies, stated this while delivering the 25th Inaugural Lecture of Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State, Thursday, titled: Foreign Intelligence: The Means to Advancing Nigeria’s Security and Prosperity.

According to him, in order to make foreign intelligence functional means of advancing national security and economic prosperity, the Nigerian government and other stakeholders must take some concrete measures.

Olufunmilade noted that in making foreign intelligence functional and achieving the desired results, the Federal Government should ensure
“it puts round pegs in round holes in Nigerian embassies and diplomatic missions where it seeks to conduct intelligence activities in line with the focus of this lecture.”

L-R: Presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adebayo Adewole; Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, Prof. Olufemi Olufunmilade; Mrs. Olufunmilade and others at the Inaugural Lecture on Thursday.

He continued: “In this regard, to advance Nigeria’s security interest and needs, the defence attaches, who are normally drawn from the military and usually made to undergo a relevant course at the Defence Intelligence College before they are posted abroad, should be strictly drawn from the Intelligence Corps of the three arms of the military.Not from non-intelligence corps.”

On economic prosperity, the university don said “to advance economic prosperity, Nigeria will
need to put economic/commercial attaches with requisite
economic and commercial skills in-charge of the economic and commercial desks of its foreign missions.”

“It should consider seconding staff of Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) and allied agencies who possess skills at attracting critically needed investments, technology, and expertise to the Nigerian economy. The bottom-line for all personnel is intelligence skills required for optimal performance on their beats.”

He, therefore, recommended that Nigerians should “report activities inimical to the peace and security of Nigeria to the security agencies,” adding: “That will be human intelligence collection in practice and it is a patriotic act.”

Earlier, in his opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor, Igbinedion University Okada, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, described the Inaugural Lecture as an avenue to sharing discoveries, ideas and insights with the public and the larger academic community.

He added that it’s also an avenue for professors to showcase to members of the public what the research they have carried out on issues over the years and taught for years.

Education

How To Check 2023 WAEC Result On Your Phone Via SMS

Published

1 year ago

August 7, 2023

Editor

The West African Examinations Council, WAEC, has released the 2023 West African Senior School Certificate Examinations, WASSCE, results.

The Council stated that it was able to surmount challenges of insecurity, and cash policy among others, via technological innovation that saw over 91 percent of candidates’ results released 44 days after the examination ended.

WAEC’s Head of Nigeria Office, Mr. Patrick Areghan, said this at a briefing on Monday, at the body’s national office, Yaba, Lagos.

For the students who will be checking results, here are steps to follow.

Step 1: Type: WAECExaminationnumberPIN*Examyear through your phone (there should not be a space in between).

Step 2: Send to 32327.

Step 3: You will receive a message instantly containing your WAEC statement of result.

It should be noted that only MTN, Glo and Airtel subscribers can actually check their WAEC results using this SMS method.

Students can repeat the step if they do not receive your WAEC result via SMS, kindly repeat this step again.

SMS charges will be applied when checking your WASSCE result using text messages.

You will need to have purchased the WAEC Direct Scratch card in order to check your result via text message. The scratch card pin is what is needed in the PIN section of the SMS you will send to 32327.

Candidates who registered for the May/June examination can do also access their results through the portal of WAEC.