Education
FG Orders Polytechnics to Scrap Non-Technical Courses, Restricts BTech Degrees
FG Orders Polytechnics to Scrap Non-Technical Courses, Restricts BTech Degrees
The Federal Government has directed polytechnics across Nigeria to gradually phase out non-technical programmes that fall outside their statutory mandate, as part of a comprehensive reform of the country’s technical and vocational education sector. The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, issued the directive on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the Governing Board of the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), which had operated without a substantive board for more than five years. The minister also urged institutions under the NBTE’s regulatory oversight to strengthen their focus on applied sciences, engineering, technology and innovation.
Alausa criticised polytechnic leaders for straying from their original mandate, noting that more than 50 percent of courses currently offered fall under management and social sciences. According to the minister, programmes such as accounting, mass communication and other management-related courses now outweigh technical and engineering disciplines, thereby weakening the relevance of polytechnic graduates in the labour market. The minister stressed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is no longer an alternative pathway to university education but a strategic national priority. He noted that no nation can achieve meaningful industrialisation without a strong base of technicians, technologists, artisans, fabricators, automation specialists, machine operators and other skilled professionals. The government is deliberately shifting the nation’s education system from an overdependence on paper qualifications to producing competent, innovative and highly skilled graduates equipped to drive industrialisation, entrepreneurship and national productivity.
As part of the reform, ongoing amendments to the Polytechnic Act would enable polytechnics to award Bachelor of Technology (BTech) degrees in science, technology and engineering programmes, while non-science programmes will continue under the Higher National Diploma (HND) framework. The proposed reform is intended to end the long-standing dichotomy between HND and Bachelor’s degrees, a policy shift many education experts have described as a watershed moment for technical and vocational education in Nigeria. The minister assured stakeholders that strict quality assurance measures would be enforced to ensure that degrees awarded by polytechnics meet global standards. The reform follows years of advocacy and legislative efforts to address the systemic discrimination faced by HND holders in career progression and employment, a policy shift that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
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Alausa outlined four key priorities for the newly inaugurated Governing Board. The board is to provide strategic leadership, sound policy direction and effective oversight while maintaining a clear distinction between governance and management by allowing the Executive Secretary and Management Team to handle day-to-day administration. The board is to accelerate implementation of the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) framework in collaboration with the Industrial Training Fund to formally recognise and certify the competencies of skilled artisans under the National Skills Qualification Framework. The minister explained that the initiative would enhance employability, expand access to finance, create opportunities for government contracts and strengthen labour mobility within the ECOWAS region. Alausa called for comprehensive modernisation through Outcome-Based Education, with programmes reflecting the realities of Industry 4.0 by integrating digital technologies, automation, artificial intelligence, green technologies, advanced manufacturing systems and other emerging competencies. The minister also directed the board to ensure that public resources, capital projects, intervention funds, research initiatives and institutional investments translate into measurable improvements in skills acquisition, institutional performance, youth employment and national productivity.
Responding on behalf of the Governing Board, its Chairman, Professor Babatunde L. Salako, expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Education for the confidence reposed in the Board. He pledged the Board’s unwavering support for the Renewed Hope Agenda and the Minister’s reform initiatives, assuring that members would work diligently to expand opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire relevant technical skills, promote innovation and nurture a new generation of entrepreneurs and job creators. Professor Salako further identified changing the long-held perception of technical education as a second-choice option as one of the Board’s foremost responsibilities. He stressed the need for sustained public enlightenment to encourage parents, students and the wider society to embrace TVET as a respected pathway to employment, entrepreneurship and national development.
In a related policy shift, the Federal Government has scrapped the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) requirement for admission into Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes and National Diploma non-technology agriculture and agriculture-related courses. The decision followed data showing declining enrolment in Colleges of Education, Polytechnics and agriculture-related programmes across the country. The UTME waiver is aimed at reviving technical, agricultural and teacher education while expanding access to tertiary education for young Nigerians.
The minister charged governing councils, rectors and academic boards to urgently review and restructure their academic offerings to align with approved educational standards and national development priorities. Regulatory agencies have been directed to strengthen monitoring and enforcement, ensuring that polytechnics comply with approved mandates and stop operating outside their defined scope. Institutions that fail to comply with the new directives risk sanctions, the minister warned, adding that the future of Nigeria’s workforce depends largely on a strong, focused and skills-oriented polytechnic system.
FG Orders Polytechnics to Scrap Non-Technical Courses, Restricts BTech Degrees
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Education
BREAKING: 61.54% Pass Rate as WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Results – How to Check Results
BREAKING: 61.54% Pass Rate as WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Results – How to Check Results
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates. This announcement was made on Wednesday via a post on the council’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, directing candidates to begin checking their results online. According to the Head of WAEC Nigeria National Office, Dr. Amos Josiah Dangut, a total of 1,200,514 candidates — representing 61.54% of those who sat the exam — obtained credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. He noted that this figure represents a slight 1.42% decrease compared to the 2025 examination results. A total of 1,959,668 candidates registered for the examination from over 24,000 schools across Nigeria and other West African countries, with 1,950,726 eventually sitting for the test. The exams were conducted from April 24 to June 19, 2026. Of the 1.2 million candidates who met the university admission benchmark, 558,883 (28.65%) were male, while 641,631 (32.89%) were female. Overall, female participation edged out males, with 997,267 females (51.12%) compared to 953,459 males (48.88%).
WAEC also announced that the results of 167,486 candidates (8.59%) have been withheld over various allegations of examination malpractice. Dr. Dangut noted that the use of mobile phones in examination halls and organised cheating were among the infractions cited. This figure represents a decline from the 9.7% malpractice rate recorded in 2025. Some supervisors and invigilators suspected of assisting candidates in malpractice have been arrested and will be disciplined.
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The council confirmed that 1,834,695 candidates (94.05%) have had their results fully processed and released, while the results of 116,031 candidates are still being processed due to candidate-related errors. A total of 1,213 candidates with special needs participated in the examination, including 137 visually impaired candidates and 491 candidates with hearing impairment.
Here are the steps to check your 2026 WAEC result:
Step 1: Get Your Serial Number and PIN
Before you can check your result, you need a Serial Number and PIN. If you don’t have them, you can recover them on the WAEC website:
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Visit waec.org.
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Click the “Serial Number and PIN” menu at the top of the page.
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Select the 2026 examination year and the appropriate diet.
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Enter your examination number and the National Identification Number (NIN) you used during registration.
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Enter your email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
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Enter the OTP to recover your Serial Number and PIN.
Alternatively, you can purchase a new WAEC result checker e-PIN for ₦5,000 by visiting waeconline.org and following the payment instructions. Scratch cards from previous years remain valid and can be used up to five times.
Option 1: Check Online via the WAEC Website
Step 2: Visit the WAEC result portal
Go to waecdirect.org.
Step 3: Enter your examination number
Type your 10-digit examination number (7-digit centre number + 3-digit candidate number).
Step 4: Select the examination year
Choose 2026 from the dropdown menu.
Step 5: Select the examination type
Choose School Candidate Result.
Step 6: Enter your Serial Number and PIN
Input the Serial Number and PIN you recovered or purchased.
Step 7: Submit
Click the Submit button. Your result will appear on the screen and can be printed or saved.
Option 2: Check via the WAEC Mobile App
You can also check your result using the official WAEC Result Checker app:
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Download the WAEC Result Checker app from the Google Play Store.
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Open the app.
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Enter your examination number, select 2026 as the year, and enter your Serial Number and PIN.
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Submit to view and download your result.
Option 3: Check by SMS (No Internet Required)
If you do not have internet access, you can check your result via SMS on MTN, Glo, or Airtel networks:
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Type your message in this format:
WAEC[Examination Number][PIN]2026
Example:WAEC4123456789*123456789012*2026 -
Send the message to 32327.
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Standard SMS charges apply.
BREAKING: 61.54% Pass Rate as WAEC Releases 2026 WASSCE Results – How to Check Results
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Education
UNIOSUN ranks third among state universities in latest Webometrics ranking
UNIOSUN ranks third among state universities in latest Webometrics ranking
Osun State University, Osogbo, has emerged as the third-best state-owned university in Nigeria in the July 2026 edition of the Webometrics Ranking of World Universities.
The institution also secured the 19th position among all universities in Nigeria, according to the latest ranking released by Webometrics, an international university ranking platform that assesses higher institutions based on their web presence, research visibility and academic impact.
In a statement made available on Monday, the university said the achievement reflects its sustained investment in quality teaching, impactful research, innovation and digital visibility.
The university added that it was also ranked 17th in Nigeria in the 2026 uniRank National University Ranking, another international assessment of higher education institutions.
Reacting to the development, the management described the rankings as a reflection of the commitment of its governing council, management, academic and non-academic staff, students and alumni to advancing the institution’s vision of becoming a globally competitive university.
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According to the university, the recognition will further strengthen its resolve to sustain excellence in teaching, research, community service and international collaborations.
Webometrics, published by the Cybermetrics Lab of the Spanish National Research Council, releases its rankings twice a year, evaluating universities based on indicators such as research excellence, openness, visibility and the impact of their online academic content.
Established by the Osun State Government in 2006, UNIOSUN has continued to expand its academic programmes, research output and international partnerships, earning recognition among Nigeria’s leading public universities.
UNIOSUN ranks third among state universities in latest Webometrics ranking
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Auto
Lanre Shittu Motors Leads Drive to Steer Lagos Students Away from Crime, Donates books to public Schools
Lanre Shittu Motors Leads Drive to Steer Lagos Students Away from Crime, Donates books to public Schools
Lanre Shittu Motors is expanding its investment in youth development beyond skills acquisition, launching a major education campaign aimed at steering thousands of Lagos secondary school students away from financial crime through value-based learning and character development.
In partnership with the author of Clean Hands, Bright Future: A Youth Guide to Avoiding Financial Crime in Africa, the foremost automotive company has begun distributing the book to 200 public secondary schools across Lagos State, with more than 150 schools already reached in the first phase of the initiative.
The campaign, which began at Kuramo Senior College and Victoria Island Senior Secondary School, seeks to equip students with a clear understanding of the dangers of fraud, cybercrime, identity theft, examination malpractice and other financial crimes, while promoting integrity, hard work, ethical leadership and responsible citizenship.
Author of the book, Mr. Adedayo Aluko, said the project was inspired by the alarming rise in financial crime among young people and the need to intervene early through education.
“The rate of financial crime among youths is becoming increasingly alarming. We believe education is one of the most effective tools to prevent crime. The message of the book is simple: crime does not pay, and with clean hands, every young person can build a brighter future,” Aluko said.
He explained that the initiative goes beyond book distribution, with plans to return to beneficiary schools for interactive enlightenment sessions and career talks to reinforce the message of integrity.
According to him, the book simplifies over 100 forms of financial crimes, helping students understand offences that many young people unknowingly become involved in. Rich illustrations and practical examples were deliberately included to engage students and make the lessons memorable.
Aluko commended Lanre Shittu Motors for supporting the project, describing the Managing Director of the company, Mr Taiwo Shittu, as a long-standing advocate of youth empowerment and education.
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“Mr. Taiwo Shittu believes there is no shortcut to success. During the flag-off, he personally handed copies of the book to students and encouraged them to embrace hard work, education and skill acquisition as the true pathways to success.
Speaking on the initiative, the LSM MD, Mr. Taiwo Shittu, said the company’s decision to sponsor the distribution reflects its belief that preventing crime begins with shaping values at an early age.
“Young people are the future of our nation. By investing in character development and educating students about the consequences of financial crime, we are helping to build responsible citizens who will contribute positively to society.
“At Lanre Shittu Motors, we believe integrity, education and hard work remain the surest foundations for lasting success,” he said.
Shittu noted that the company’s strong culture of corporate social responsibility was inherited from its founder and his father, the late Alhaji Rasak Olanrewaju Shittu.
He said the late automotive icon instilled in his children and employees the enduring values of compassion, community service and giving back to society, a legacy that continues to shape Lanre Shittu Motors’ investment in education, youth development and other impactful social initiatives.
Published in May 2026 and endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), Clean Hands, Bright Future, has been described as a practical guide for young people navigating increasing social and economic pressures.
The ongoing distribution programme underscores Lanre Shittu Motors’ commitment to corporate social responsibility and its determination to inspire a generation that chooses integrity over shortcuts and honest enterprise over criminality.
Lanre Shittu Motors has over the years maintained a strong record of investing in youth development through skills acquisition and capacity building initiatives.
The company has consistently provided opportunities for young Nigerians to acquire technical and vocational skills in automotive engineering, vehicle maintenance and related fields through internship, apprenticeship and industry training programmes.
It has also supported educational and youth empowerment initiatives aimed at preparing young people for productive careers, reinforcing its belief that equipping youths with employable skills remains one of the most effective ways to reduce unemployment, discourage crime and promote sustainable national development.
Lanre Shittu Motors Leads Drive to Steer Lagos Students Away from Crime, Donates books to public Schools
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