Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, gave the affirmation while addressing journalists after the Federal Executive Council (FEC), presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.

According to the Minister, that all is now set for the scheme to begin with the completion of the Student Loan Scheme’s website and conclusion on technical plans that would facilitate the kick off of the scheme.

He also stated that funds have been made available for the scheme in the 2024 Appropriation Act as well as the Supplementary Budget for 2023.

He noted: “January is a reality for the commencement of Student loan scheme in Nigeria, already the website is almost done. Application for beneficiaries will be online, criteria for students to get admission is that you must be a Nigerian and find yourself in a public school and application is also online which will be processed timely and you can access your loan within 30 days.

“Funds have been set aside in the 2024 appropriation act so as also the supplementary budget for 2023.”

Meanwhile, Sununu had earlier disclosed that the Ministry of Education presented a note to the council, prepared by the ministry and the National Universities Commission, on the guidelines for implementing transnational education in Nigeria.

He explained that the scheme would allow foreign degree-awarding institutions the room to set base in Nigeria, employ local talent, admit local students and lessen the pressure on existing higher institutions of learning.

Explaining the rationale for this, he cited Nigeria as a member of the World Trade Organisation since 1995 and a signatory to the General Agreement of Trade in Services, which was signed in 1995.

He argued that such trade services include documented education that is exportable across borders.

“We are all aware of the effort of Mr. President to increase access to education with greater number of graduates and secondary school leavers seeking to be graduates or undergraduates in our tertiary institutions.

“The Placement is becoming a serious issue and therefore, the ministry came up with a transnational education policy. What it means is that exchange of cross-fertilisation of ideas exchange that progressive education can be done across borders.

“The documents provide a guideline whereby foreign institutions can collaborate with local institutions within the country or establish a campus within the country.

“Economically, transnational education would decrease the pressure on the naira as it exchanges with the dollar. This is the justification presented to the council, and the council graciously noted the presentation of the document so that it can be implemented to increase access to tertiary education in Nigeria.”

He said the scheme comes with no monetary cost to the FG. Instead, it will “attract funds to government.”

“So if you have a campus in Nigeria, you will get the certificate of that same institution. And the quality in terms of education and service delivery will be as standardised as that obtained in the parent institution.

“So to curb the issue of fake certification that we have been battling with, that is why we have sat down and come up with a policy document for you to establish a campus within the country; you must agree and be able to satisfy 100 per cent the provision of the guidelines, as rightly noted by the FEC.”

The institution holds its 54th convocation ceremony this week with a total of 340 graduands to be awarded first-class degree certificates.

The Nation gathered that graduates were mandated to pay the sum of N15,000 for the collection of the gowns.

Many of the students, who were scheduled to collect their academic gowns, expressed frustration in the inability of the school to provide the gowns after a long wait.

The management of the university School of Post-Graduate Studies (SPGS) in a terse text message and mail sent to post-graduate students said: “Dear graduate, we regret to inform you that the distribution of SPGS academic gowns is now suspended.

“Sadly, the remaining gowns were stolen, and our bus vandalised this afternoon.”

Reacting, a lawyer, Malachy Odo, also said he received the same notice from the school via test messages after he had paid the levy meant for the collection of the gown.

“I paid 15k for convocation gown yesterday and this is what UNILAG just sent me. This country is not a real place,” he wrote on X.

The Joint Admission and Matriculations Board has announced that registration for the 2024/2025 Universal Tertiary Matriculation Examinations will commence today (Monday) and end on February 24, 2024.

JAMB has also launched the registration procedure for prospective candidates across the country.

During a meeting with media executives in Lagos State on Sunday, the JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, stated that measures had been implemented to ensure a seamless exercise.

Oloyede said, “Prior to the commencement of the registration exercise, the Board conducts an accreditation exercise to check the suitability of each CBT Centre for the conduct of its examination.”

Oloyede noted that members of the accreditation team of the CBT centres for the 2024 UTME included the Chief External Examiners (VCs/Rectors/Provosts), Technical Advisors, JAMB state coordinators and JAMB Technical Officers.

As contained in the presentation by the exam body to the relevant stakeholders, part of the procedures for the registration is that candidates are expected to create a profile through the National Identity Number at various Computer-Based Test centres across the country.

To register, candidates are also expected to generate their profile with the use of either JAMB USS codes 55019 or 66019.

The registrar, however, warned that “Only one sort code is allowed to avoid multiple charges.”

This, Oloyede said, is compulsory for candidates, as a unique verification tool to thumbprint to end the registration exercise.

According to the procedure, the registration fee is N3,500 and the payment will be cashless to avoid any extortion.

A document made available to PUNCH Online on Sunday revealed that JAMB accredited 747 CBT centres for the 2024 UTME across the nation as against the 613 approved centres in 2023.

This means there is an increase of 134 CBT centres for the year’s matriculation examinations.

Lagos tops the list of states with the highest number of accredited centres with 80, followed by Ogun with 44 while Oyo takes the third position with 42 centres.

Zamfara has the lowest number of accredited centres – 6, while both Ebonyi and Kebbi States had 8 centres each.

Analysis by PUNCH Online revealed that there are 226 centres across the South-West geopolitical zone, which makes it the zone with the highest number of CBT centres while the North-East was the lowest with 67 centres.

A seven-member inter-ministerial committee will investigate the allegations within eight weeks.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, mandated it to review the role of any ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) or their officials in the facilitation of the recognition and procurement of fake certificates in question.

The committee includes members such as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, among others.

One of the committee’s key terms of reference is to examine private universities established in the last 15 years.

The focus is on assessing whether these institutions have the required facilities, appropriate management structures, adequate funding for programs, and the necessary staff (full-time, contract, adjunct, visiting, among other types).

The National Universities Commission (NUC) periodically conducts accreditation exercises, but this additional scrutiny aims to ensure compliance with specific criteria.

Nigeria currently has a total of 147 private universities, as indicated on the NUC website.

Checks by the Nation reveals that 107 of these private universities were established within the last 15 years.

Here is a full list of 107 private universities to be investigated by the federal government.

1. Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State

2. Baze University, FCT Abuja

3. Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State

4. Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State

5. McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State

6. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State

7. Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State

8. Evangel University, Ebonyi State

9. Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State

10. Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State

11. Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State

12. Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State

13. Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State

14. Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State

16. Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State

17. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwa Ibom State

18. Summit University, Offa, Kwara State

19. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State

20. Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State

21. Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State

22. Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State

23. Clifford University, Abia State

24. Coal City University, Enugu state

25. Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state

26. Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State

27. Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State

28. Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State

29. Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State

31. PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State

32. Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State

33. Eko University of Medical Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos

34. Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State

35. Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State

36. Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State

38. Westland University, Iwo, Osun State

39. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State

40. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State

41. Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State

42. Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State

43.AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State

45. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State

46. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State

47. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State

48. Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State

49. James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state

50. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State

51. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State

52. Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State

53. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State

54. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State

55. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State

56. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja

57. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State

58. ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State

59. Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State

60.Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno

61. Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State

62. Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State

63. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State

64. Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State

66. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State

67. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State

68. Newgate University, Minna, Niger State

69. European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT

70. Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State

71. Rayhaan University, Kebbi State

73. Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State

74. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State

75. Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State

76. Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State

77. Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State

78. Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State

80. Azman University, Kano, Kano State

81. Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State

82. Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna State

83. Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT

84. Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT

85. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun State

87. Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State

88.Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State

89. Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State

90. Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State

91. University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State

92. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State

94 Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State

95. Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State

96. Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State

97.Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT

98. Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State

99. West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State

101. Prime University, Abuja, FCT

102. El-Amin University, Niger State

103. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna State

104. Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State

105. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State

106. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT

107. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state

The management of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, has debunked a trending story on social media of a corps member being killed by bandits on his way from Kaduna to Katsina for the monthly biometric clearance.

In a statement signed by Eddy Megwa, its Director, Press and Public Relations, the scheme said that from all indications, the story was untrue, with the sole purpose of causing unnecessary unrest among members of the public.

The statement explained that the said corps member, Mamudo Sa’idu Obaje, KT/23B/1153, was serving at Government Girls’ College, Katsina.

It further explained that on the said date, the corps member was on transit from Kaduna to Katsina and was involved in a motor accident at Gayaza, in Kankia LGA of Katsina State, alongside other passengers.

“Unfortunately, two of the passengers, including the corps member, lost their lives in the autocrash,” the statement added.

The management commiserated with the family of the deceased corps member who died while in active service to his fatherland

The Ekiti State University, EKSU, Ado Ekiti, has disowned the list of 15 professors purportedly released by the National Universities Commission, NUC, and associated with the institution.

This was contained in a statement signed by the university’s Head of the Directorate of Information and Corporate Affairs, Bode Olofinmuagun.

The statement reads: “The attention of the management of Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, has been drawn to a list of 15 fake professors, purportedly emanating from the National Universities Commission (NUC) and associated with Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti.

“The EKSU Management wishes to make it abundantly clear that the list being circulated and credited to Ekiti State University did not emanate from the university.

“Moreover, none of the names that appeared there are known to the university, as none of them have ever worked in the university.

“In spite of the NUC’s clarification on the matter, it is equally important for Ekiti State University to outrightly condemn, denounce and dissociate itself from the evil publication, which could have negative impacts on the image of our esteemed university.

“Members of the general public are hereby advised and enjoined to disregard the fake list and avoid having anything to do with any of the names mentioned there.”

This is as he denied that the examination body increased the fees for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) for 2024.

He said JAMB only facilitated the process of collecting the payments so that candidates would not be exploited by the operators.

Prof Oloyede said these when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

The JAMB registrar also knocked some universities for overshooting the number of students approved to be admitted for a session.

This, he said, eventually causes problems for the students.

He promised to turn over the names of such institutions to the House Committee for further legislative action.

The Registrar also said the examination body was working to recover N4.2 billion owed by Zenith Bank over previous transactions.

He said the matter was being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said, “For the CBT centres, I also feel their pain because we also have about 45 of them owned by JAMB directly. We know what they are going through.

“The money is not paid by JAMB but the students themselves. You know N700 for registration and N700 for examination but given the cost of diesel this year, we only allowed them, not that we are paying them because we are collecting from the students and passing to the centres.

“This year we are about announcing. The advertisement is just coming out. We are going to allow them to charge as much as N1500 for UTME because of cost of diesel.

“But you can see the press in the past one week, that JAMB has increased the cost. What we have done is to allow to the CBT centres to charge more than they are charging. But because we are going to collect it for them, why are we collecting it is because if we leave them alone they will extort the students and they will be collecting N4000 or N5000. That is why we said pay to us and we would transfer it to you weekly.

“We have raised it from N700 to N1500 effective from 2024 so as to allow them to recoup. We have not increased JAMB fee. We only allowed this people to charge a better fee by adding to what they are charging but all the newspapers had reported it that we have increased the charges.

Also speaking on the approval given to higher institutions on the number of students to be admitted, he said most of them are admitting more than the approved number.

“We are ready to give you the names and you don’t need to go far. They are many of them around. It is general indiscipline. NUC gives the quota for universities, NBTE gives for polytechnics and NCC gives for Colleges of Education. But unfortunately some of these our people would go and, not only would they get more, they would not disclose the admission until candidates are ready to go on NYSC and they cannot go because without admission letter they can go.

“It is then they would talk about regularisation. How can you regularise what is not regular? So what we are saying is that you have admitted a candidate four years ago, we provided the data for Bureau of Statistics, now suddenly about one million emerged that were not registered at all and people would say it is JAMB who is holding them.

“We are holding them because they were not properly admitted. We would provide you a list of such people and you call them. Many of them would write letters of apology this year and they would still do it next year and they would write another letter of apology. You cannot kill them,” he said.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Oboku Ofoji, urged the Board to reconcile its financial records with the office of the Accountant General of the Federation.

He said the interface with the examination body was not a witch-hunt.

He said it was an effort to improve the educational sector in the country.

“I want to also clear one wrong impression that it is a witch-hunt. This job is about our country and educational sector. so for us to intergface with you and you see all the national television here, to me I was thinking that jamb would appreciate this conversation openly. It goes a long way to inform Nigerians how prepared JAMB is. We all owe Nigerians explanations about our stewardship,” he said

The 300-level medical student disclosed that they were given an undertaking to sign while they were sitting for their Part 1 MBBS exams.

Sharing the undertaking on His X account on Wednesday, the student wrote, “Forcing students to sign an undertaking like this on the day of their exam is madness. Even cults don’t operate like this. You’re asking people who have already spent five years in the school to sign away their future, and every opportunity to get justice?

“These are children with dreams. How can a school be so shameless? They paid their fees, paid all the money you asked for, the government paid your salaries, and this is how you’re going to treat your students? Is it because your children are not here? Are we not someone’s child?”

According to the undertaking, the students are required to wait for available space to continue their course, enroll in an 18-month BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology to stay occupied, and commit to regular fee payments during the waiting period.

The undertaking also prohibits students from engaging in protests or acts that could harm the college and university’s image. The directive was issued on the day of their examination.

According to the undertaking, the students were required to agree to three conditions.

It reads: “I hereby undertake as follows:

“1. After my Part 1 MBBS (Professional) Examination, I will undertake an 18-month intercalated BSc programme in Anatomy or Physiology in the College of Medicine.

“2. I will wait until anytime there is space for me to proceed to Clinical (400 Level) before I will do so.

“3. I will continue to pay school fees as a medical student.”

The woman, identified as @ella_ada_ on Instagram, took to the platform to declare her love for Isreal in a video, where she candidly revealed her willingness to enter into matrimony with him despite any perceived shortcomings.

Expressing her affections, @ella_ada_ pleaded with Isreal DMW to consider marrying her, emphasizing that he wouldn’t need to worry about the bride price. In a heartfelt message, she attributed their connection to destiny and claimed that it was part of God’s plan for them to be together.

Watch the video below;

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by King Tunde Ednut (@mazitundeednut)

Acknowledging Isreal’s past marriage, the woman conveyed her unwavering love and assured him that his happiness would be her top priority.

Following the viral publication of the video by writer Tunde Ednut, it garnered significant attention and a plethora of comments from Instagram users.

Among the commenters was Isreal DMW, who promptly addressed the woman’s proposal. Dispelling any hopes, he left a comment stating, “I DON HEAR DIS LAMBA BEFORE. ME AND OGA, NO FALL DIS MUGU AGAIN OOH. GOD FORBID .” This firm response from Isreal DMW made it clear that he had no intentions of entertaining the proposal and emphatically rejected the idea.

See the comment below;

The professor of medicine was exonerated and vindicated by the Administrative Panel of Investigation set up to look into the activities of the Nursing Science Department at the University.

The AAU Panel, after a thorough investigation into the case of alleged extortion and examination malpractice, absolved Professor lyalomhe of any act of impropriety, misconduct, complicity in examination malpractice and extortion of money in the Department.

An official communication letter signed by Comrade Ambrose Odiase, the University Acting Registrar, said findings of the panel indicated that the investigation into the allegation of abuse of office leveled against Professor Iyalomhe was concluded in July 2022 and found the Professor innocent and subsequently absolved him of the allegations.

The University Panel consequently declared the purported suspension and the query issued to Professor Iyalomhe null and void, having no effect.

Professor Godfrey has since been reinstated as the Provost, College of Medicine, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State.

The institution has also commended Professor lyalomhe for his high integrity and commitment to upholding the values and standards of the University.