OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport, Welfare and E-Portal Crisis

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has shut down academic activities for a three-week mid-semester break following escalating student protests over transport challenges, welfare concerns, and disruptions linked to the university’s e-portal system.

The decision was announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the institution’s Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, who confirmed that the closure was approved by the university Senate after days of unrest on campus. The Senate resolution directed all students to proceed on immediate break as a safety measure. The management explained that the action became necessary after protests over a newly introduced campus transportation system led to the blockage of major access roads within the university and reports of alleged harassment of road users. Authorities said the situation disrupted movement and raised serious safety concerns for students, staff, and the wider university community. According to the university, repeated attempts to engage student leaders and restore order did not fully de-escalate tensions, prompting the decision to suspend academic activities temporarily. Officials added that the break would allow the institution to restore normalcy and prevent further breakdown of law and order on campus.

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The shutdown follows a large-scale protest organised by the OAU Students’ Union, which mobilised students across campus to demand urgent action on transportation difficulties, accommodation shortages, and administrative delays affecting academic processes. The protest was backed by a resolution passed at a congress held at Awo Café, where students agreed on a peaceful demonstration aimed at compelling the university management to address long-standing welfare concerns.

One of the major triggers of the unrest was the introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses for intra-campus transportation. Students complained that the system led to long queues, delays, and difficulty accessing different parts of the campus, worsening daily movement and academic punctuality. The transport reform was introduced following the donation of buses by Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, as part of efforts to improve mobility within the university. However, students argued that the implementation was poorly managed, creating fresh operational challenges instead of solving existing ones.

Beyond transportation, students also raised concerns over disruptions caused by the ongoing e-portal upgrade, which affected course registration, result checking, and other key academic services. There were also complaints about planned evacuation procedures affecting students in Awolowo Hall, further heightening tensions and contributing to the protest movement across campus.

The management said the three-week break will be used to engage stakeholders, including student representatives, to address the grievances raised and develop lasting solutions to the transport and welfare challenges. Authorities assured that academic activities would resume after stability is restored and necessary adjustments are made to improve campus systems and prevent a repeat of the disruption.

OAU Shuts Campus for Three Weeks After Students’ Protest Over Transport

Education Reform: Nigeria Introduces Quality Ranking for School Books

The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools across Nigeria as part of ongoing education reforms aimed at improving quality assurance, curriculum standardisation, and learning outcomes.

The policy was announced by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, through a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, in Abuja.

According to the Ministry, the reform is designed to address the widespread issue of textbook proliferation in Nigerian schools, where multiple competing materials exist for the same subjects, often creating confusion for teachers, students, and parents while increasing education costs.

Alausa explained that while the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue its statutory role of approving textbooks, the new system introduces an additional layer of structured ranking and evaluation to determine the most suitable materials for classroom use.

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Under the framework, NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees made up of subject-matter experts who will conduct detailed reviews of textbooks submitted by publishers. These committees will assess books based on academic accuracy, curriculum alignment, pedagogical quality, and usability in classrooms before assigning rankings.

The Minister said only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks per subject and class level will be recommended for use in schools nationwide, marking a shift from the current system where multiple approved books are available without clear quality hierarchy.

He further stated that textbooks not ranked under the new system will no longer be permitted for use in Nigerian schools, even if they had previously received approval under earlier guidelines.

According to him, the reform is aimed at introducing transparency, order, and international best practices into Nigeria’s instructional material system, while also improving consistency in teaching and learning across public and private schools.

The Federal Government also said the policy will help reduce the financial burden on parents by limiting frequent textbook changes and discouraging unnecessary annual revisions by publishers.

Alausa noted that stakeholders, including teachers, school administrators, and education experts, will be engaged ahead of implementation to ensure smooth adoption and compliance.

He confirmed that implementation of the textbook ranking system will begin from the September 2026 academic session, following the completion of committee setup and finalisation of evaluation guidelines.

Education analysts say the policy could significantly reshape Nigeria’s basic education system by standardising learning materials and improving accountability in textbook publishing.

Education Reform: Nigeria Introduces Quality Ranking for School Books

JAMB Clarifies ‘No Result Yet’ Status, Sets 320 Cut-Off for Underage Candidates

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has clarified the growing confusion surrounding the “No Result Yet” message being displayed to some candidates who sat for the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), explaining that the development is intentional and part of its underage admission policy.

The clarification was issued by JAMB spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, who said the board is currently withholding the results of underage candidates in line with existing admission regulations and exceptional candidate screening procedures.

According to him, the “No Result Yet” notification does not indicate technical failure or missing results but reflects an ongoing verification and assessment process for candidates who fall below the approved age requirement for tertiary education.

JAMB reiterated that only candidates who will be at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026, are eligible for admission through the UTME, in accordance with national education guidelines.

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However, under the board’s exceptional admission policy, underage candidates who are allowed to sit for the examination must demonstrate outstanding academic performance. This includes a minimum UTME score of 320 out of 400 and at least 80 per cent performance in subsequent screening exercises before they can be considered for admission.

Benjamin explained that the policy was agreed upon with parents and stakeholders and is designed to ensure that only exceptionally qualified underage candidates progress to the next stage of evaluation.

He further disclosed that only candidates who meet the required benchmark will be shortlisted for further screening, while others will not proceed in the admission process.

The board stressed that results for underage candidates will remain temporarily withheld until all verification and screening procedures are concluded. Successful candidates will be contacted directly for further assessment once the process is completed.

Education authorities, including the Federal Ministry of Education, have consistently backed stricter age and performance standards, saying the reforms are aimed at improving academic readiness, reducing dropout rates, and strengthening Nigeria’s tertiary education system.

JAMB urged candidates and parents to remain calm and avoid misinformation circulating on social media, assuring that the system is functioning as designed and that no eligible candidate will be unfairly treated.

The board reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the integrity of the UTME examination process and ensuring that admission into Nigerian universities is based strictly on merit and compliance with established rules.

JAMB Clarifies ‘No Result Yet’ Status, Sets 320 Cut-Off for Underage Candidates