News

UTME: FG Sponsors 37 Blind Candidates For Examination In Bauchi

Published

2 months ago

April 29, 2025

The Federal Government, through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has sponsored 37 blind candidates for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in Bauchi state.

Speaking to journalists at the examination centre in Bauchi on Tuesday, the Deputy Coordinator, UTME Bauchi Centre for the Blind, Prof. Hadiza Bazza from the University of Maiduguri, said that the move was part of the Federal Government’s effort to provide equal opportunities for persons with special needs to achieve their educational dreams.

According to her, the candidates were drawn from four states of the Northeast zone of Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe.

She explained that the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) introduced the special UTME Equal Opportunity Group program for the blind in 2017.

The initiative, she said, was championed by JAMB Registrar, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, who recognised the need to support candidates living with disabilities, especially the blind and physically challenged.

“He saw that there are many persons with disabilities, the blind, the crippled, and others who, if given the opportunity, can perform excellently instead of ending up on the streets begging,” she said.

Prof. Hadiza added that it is the prayer of the JAMB Registrar that every blind student who completed secondary education could register and sit for the UTME.

She explained that the examination is offered free of charge to all blind candidates, with the federal government covering transportation, accommodation, feeding, and other logistics.

“When they pass the exam, universities admit them. Some universities have special education faculties with trained teachers capable of handling the unique needs of these students,” she said.

She however, expressed concern that while the government at the highest level was doing well to support blind candidates, many stakeholders at the grassroots, particularly parents, were not doing enough in this regard.

She urged stakeholders to create more awareness among communities to encourage persons with disabilities to access available educational opportunities, stressing that greater awareness would lead to higher participation in future UTME examinations.

The deputy coordinator also advised candidates to remain calm and motivated during the exams, emphasizing the importance of discipline and adherence to the rules and regulations.

Also speaking, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Usman Shehu, lamented that despite the state government’s investment in building schools, enrollment figures remain low.

“Unfortunately, our people are yet to realise that without education, nothing can progress,” he said.

He assured that his ministry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), would design a comprehensive enlightenment programme to encourage school enrollment, particularly among persons with disabilities.

“Many people do not realise that being disabled does not mean you cannot be educated. You can still attend school.

“Although, as I said, there is a lack of willingness among our people to pursue education, but with proper enlightenment, many persons with disabilities will be encouraged to attend,” he assured.

On his part, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Lawal Mohammed, commended the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group for their efforts in uplifting the lives of persons with disabilities.

He urged parents to support their children, especially those living with disabilities, to develop their potential and secure a brighter future.

The Commissioner also assured that the Bauchi State Government would intensify awareness campaigns to ensure more parents and guardians take advantage of the special JAMB programmes available.

News

NYSC Commends Bauchi Govt On Infrastructural Development In Orientation Camp

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has commended Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state on his infrastructural development projects in NYSC permanent orientation camp in the state.

Mr Umoren Kufre, the NYSC Coordinator in the state made the commendation on Tuesday during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Batch ‘A’ stream II orientation course on Wailo, Ganjuwa Local Government Area of the state.

According to him, the renovation of corps members’ hostels and camp officials’ blocks as well as the construction of a brand new multipurpose hall in the camp by the state government portrayed the governor as a good father of the youth.

“This kind gesture will remain very fresh in our minds for a long time to come. Once more, thank you, your Excellency.

“I also wish to thank the Bauchi state Government for providing the conducive environment and security for both Corps members and camp officials which contributed in no small measure in making this exercise a huge success

“Similarly, I appreciate all of our collaborating agencies that sent their personnel to assist us in the running of the camp. My staff, as usual, were at their very best to ensure a seamless exercise. May God bless and reward you all

“I wish to register our appreciation to the Wailo Community for being our good host and neighbours over the years, their efforts in meeting our needed casual labour demands eased much stress on the Corps members and officials

“In the same spirit, I sincerely like to commend the patriotism, loyalty, patience, perseverance, understanding, and the good conduct of Corps members during the orientation course,” he said.

Kufre enjoined the corps members to continue to be obedient, loyal and diligent, urging them to endeavour to settle down quickly in their places of primary assignment and adapt to the ways of life there.

He further called on them to do their best in obeying the rules governing their host communities, learn to appreciate their customs and culture and ensure that they leave the places better than they meet them.

“The people of Bauchi state, as you have been told many times, are hospitable people and the glaring proof as you can see are the buses sent by Local Government Councils to convey you to your places of primary assignment.

“I implore you to reciprocate this good gesture by contributing your best to the upliftment of your host communities and Bauchi State in general,” said the Coordinator.

1,300 corps members completed the orientation course and were posted to different parts of Bauchi state for the one year compulsory service.

News

Ghana Deports Convicted Nigerian For Smuggling Fake $100,000

Published

9 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

A Nigerian, Aremu Adegboyega, convicted by a Circuit Court in Accra, Ghana, for smuggling counterfeit CFA francs worth over $100,000 into the country through an unauthorised border route will be deported to Nigeria, according to The PUNCH.

Justice Christiana Cann, who presided over the case ordered his immediate deportation by the Ghana Immigration Service.

According to ASP Isaac Anquandah, as cited by a Ghanaian news outlet, The Chronicle, on Monday, Adegboyega was arrested in 2023 by customs officers stationed at the Aflao border while he was travelling on a motorcycle.

The 55-year-old was charged with two counts of possessing forged notes, in violation of Section 18(2) of Ghana’s Currency Act, 1964 (Act 242), as well as one count of illegal entry into the country.

For possession of counterfeit CFA francs, the court fined the convict 250 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢3,000.

In default of payment, according to the report, he will serve a two-year prison sentence with hard labour.

For illegal entry into Ghana, he was reportedly fined an additional 120 penalty units or GH¢1,440. If he fails to pay, The Chronicle reports, he will serve another two-year prison term.

The sentences are expected to run concurrently, meaning he will serve a maximum of two years if he defaults on both payments.

The report added that, in addition to the fines and prison sentence, the court ordered his immediate deportation to Nigeria.

Adegboyega was apprehended at Beat Zero, an unauthorised crossing point along the Ghana-Togo border.

Riding as a pillion passenger on a motorcycle and carrying a backpack, according to the police, he aroused suspicion, prompting the officers to search his belongings.

During the search, officers discovered bundles of suspected counterfeit currency: CFA francs totalling CFA 80,653,000 and Nigerian naira amounting to N101,500.

Further investigation revealed that he had smuggled the fake currency into Ghana from Togo.

According to the police, he admitted in a caution statement that he was aware the money was counterfeit.

He also confessed to receiving the forged notes from a man identified as Alhaji Saibu in Nigeria, under the instruction of an alleged mafia figure named Alhaji Dials, believed to be based in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Adegboyega joins another Nigerian, Abu Arome, who is currently standing trial alongside three Ghanaians for alleged fraud.

A statement issued on Friday by the Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, disclosed the suspects were accused of committing the crime using forged documents, falsified signatures, and fraudulent claims.

News

CAC Unveils AI-powered Portal For 30-minute Company Registrations

Published

13 hours ago

July 1, 2025

Editor

The Corporate Affairs Commission has launched a pilot Artificial Intelligence-powered registration portal to overhaul the current Company Registration Portal.

The Registrar-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, disclosed this at the 2025 Stakeholders’ Forum meeting.

A statement issued by the commission on Tuesday described the initiative as a game-changer aimed at significantly reducing registration timelines and enhancing the ease of doing business across the country.

According to Magaji, the new system allows for instant name reservation approvals, likening the process to opening an email account.

READ ALSO:

“It is intelligently designed to suggest available alternatives and grant real-time approvals, removing the traditional bottlenecks,” he said.

One of the portal’s standout features is its ability to facilitate business registration using only the National Identification Number of a director or proprietor.

Magaji said that once real-time NIN verification is successful, a certificate of incorporation would be generated and delivered to the applicant’s email within 30 minutes.

He stated, “The target time for business registration is under 30 minutes to generate a certificate and deliver to the customer’s email, subject to real-time NIN verification.”

While acknowledging that some delays may still arise due to external validations from the National Identity Management Commission, he revealed that a contingency plan has been built into the platform, using AI-powered photo ID matching to overcome such hitches.

In addition, the Commission plans to introduce a two-factor authentication system with OTP verification for all transactions.

This, according to him, will ensure no changes can be made to company records without the explicit knowledge and consent of the registered directors.

Magaji further announced that a CAC mobile application would be launched in the final quarter of 2025 to allow users to track and manage transactions on the go.

Speaking on new partnerships, he disclosed that the Commission is currently reviewing over 100 requests from local and international super agents, including the Nigerian Inter-Bank Settlement System, aimed at deepening access and streamlining services.

Meanwhile, the Registrar-General also revealed that the Commission would commence a review of its service fees effective August 1, 2025, citing the need to maintain service quality and implement ongoing reforms.

The statement added that goodwill messages at the forum were delivered by the Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association, Port Harcourt Branch, Cordelia U. Eke; Chairman, Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators, Sir Sebastian Essien; and Chairman, Nigerian Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, Elder Dogala Sakpege.

Also in attendance were Mechi Brown, Director of Industry at the Rivers State Ministry of Commerce and Industry, and Miema Akpa, who represented the Chairman of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Port Harcourt branch.

A CAC technical team was present during the event to attend to customer complaints and provide on-the-spot solutions to registration challenges.