Education

The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, has restated the Federal Government’s commitment to providing inclusive and quality education for every Nigerian child as part of activities marking the 2026 Children’s Day celebration. Alausa made the pledge on Wednesday while hosting children from different schools and backgrounds at the Federal Ministry of Education headquarters in Abuja, alongside disability advocate and actress Dera Osadebe. According to a statement issued by the minister’s media aide, Ikharo Attah, the event was organised to amplify the voices of Nigerian children and strengthen national efforts toward inclusive education and child development. Speaking during the event, Alausa described Children’s Day as a reminder of the nation’s responsibility to invest in children through education, well-being, and equal opportunities. Read Also: Associate Professor Amina Ganduje’s Quiet March into Nigeria’s Intellectual Elite “Today is about celebrating the strength, creativity, and limitless potential of our children. Every Nigerian child deserves to feel seen, heard, encouraged, and supported to achieve their dreams regardless of background or circumstance,” the minister said. He commended Dera Osadebe for her advocacy for children living with disabilities and autism, noting that her efforts continue to inspire conversations around empathy and equal opportunities. “Dera’s courage and passion reflect the resilience and brilliance that exist in millions of Nigerian children. Her voice continues to inspire important conversations around inclusion, empathy, and equal opportunity for every child,” he added. Alausa said the celebration aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises child development, inclusive education, youth empowerment, and expanded access to quality learning opportunities nationwide. He urged children across the country to remain confident, develop their talents, and contribute positively to society, assuring them of continued government support in creating an enabling environment for learning and growth. The ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to protecting children’s rights and well-being through policies and programmes aimed at promoting inclusive education, safe learning spaces, and equal opportunities across Nigeria.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose two-term tenure is expected to expire on July 31, 2026. The appointment was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga. Professor Aina, a renowned academic and systems expert, is expected to bring his experience in examination systems, digital infrastructure, and institutional reform to the administration of the nation’s admission body. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, as well as a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University, United Kingdom. Read Also: KSP Partners JOSTUM to Offer PGD Courses in Management, Social Sciences Why PCACC is Investigating Kano’s Former Head of Service Why Tinubu Created New Homeland Security Office Amid Rising Security Concerns Aina also completed the Senior Management Programme at the Lagos Business School. Currently a Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Aina reportedly began his relationship with JAMB during his National Youth Service, where he gained experience in admissions and examination processes. With over 15 years of professional experience, he has advised federal and state governments on digital transition, system design, and operational reforms. He has also served as a consultant to examination bodies including the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and several state ministries of education on issues relating to ICT systems and examination integrity. At 39, Aina became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors of Computer Engineering and is now set to become the youngest Registrar in the history of JAMB. He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). President Tinubu expressed confidence that the new registrar would build on the achievements recorded by his predecessor and further strengthen the operations of the examination body.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has announced new minimum admissible scores for candidates seeking admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria. The decision was reached during the annual admission policy meeting held in Abuja on Monday, involving heads of tertiary institutions nationwide. According to JAMB, university vice-chancellors, rectors and other institutional heads unanimously agreed that the minimum admissible score for admission into universities and colleges of nursing sciences would be 150, while polytechnics would admit candidates with a minimum score of 100. Read Also: KSP Partners JOSTUM to Offer PGD Courses in Management, Social Sciences “The Heads of Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria had unanimously agreed that the Minimum Admissible Scores for admissions into Universities should be 150, Colleges of Nursing, 150, and Polytechnics, 100,” the examination body stated after the meeting. The development forms part of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission system aimed at streamlining admission processes and broadening access to higher education. Meanwhile, the Federal Government had earlier announced that candidates seeking admission into colleges of education would no longer be required to sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

The Federal Government has approved a new policy prohibiting recipients of honorary degrees from using the title “Doctor,” in a move aimed at restoring integrity within Nigeria’s academic system. The decision, endorsed by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), introduces a regulatory framework to guide the award and usage of honorary degrees by tertiary institutions, with sanctions outlined for defaulters. Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja, the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, said the policy became necessary following growing concerns over the misuse and politicisation of honorary doctorates. He explained that the reform is designed to safeguard academic standards, restore public confidence in university awards, and curb the increasing commercialisation of honorary degrees. Read Also: KSP Partners JOSTUM to Offer PGD Courses in Management, Social Sciences According to him, the government observed a “troubling trend” where some universities confer honorary doctorates indiscriminately, including on serving public officials, with recipients subsequently adopting the “Dr” title in official and public engagements. “Recipients are expected to acknowledge the degree as an award or recognition and not as a formal academic qualification,” he said. Alausa warned that misrepresenting honorary degrees as academic credentials would henceforth be treated as academic fraud, attracting both legal and reputational consequences. The minister further stated that only universities with established doctoral (PhD) programmes would be permitted to confer honorary degrees, describing the practice by institutions without such capacity as a “misnomer.” He noted that the policy reinforces the Keffi Declaration, developed by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors of Nigerian Universities, to address abuses associated with honorary awards. On enforcement, Alausa disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Education, through the National Universities Commission (NUC), would issue detailed guidelines, monitor convocation ceremonies, and publish an annual list of legitimate honorary degree recipients. “We will collaborate with the media to discourage the improper attribution of academic titles to people who were awarded honorary degrees,” he added. Responding to concerns over university autonomy, the minister emphasized that institutional independence must operate within the confines of the law. “Autonomy does not equate to the right to break the law in this country,” he reiterated. Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the Keffi Declaration, though previously developed by vice-chancellors, lacked legal backing. She noted that the new federal approval now provides the declaration with “authoritative backing” for proper implementation. Meanwhile, FEC also approved the establishment of a national research and innovation development fund aimed at strengthening coordination across Nigeria’s research ecosystem and aligning investments with national development priorities. The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to resuscitate credibility in the nation’s education sector through strict enforcement of standards and accountability measures.