University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

The University of Ilesa, Osun State, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) for 97 academic programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, in what officials describe as a major milestone in the institution’s rapid transformation.

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Taiwo Olufemi Asaolu, disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing held on campus to mark the university’s progress since its upgrade from the former Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, in April 2023.

He said the institution has also recorded significant growth in student population, rising from fewer than 1,000 students at inception to over 15,000 within three years.

Professor Asaolu explained that the approved programmes cut across multiple faculties and disciplines, including Law, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Chinese Studies, and Special Education.

He added that the NUC has also approved the commencement of the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme, although final clearance is still being awaited from the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) before full admission into the programme begins.

According to him, “40 of our academic programmes currently enjoy full accreditation status from the NUC,” describing the achievement as remarkable for a young institution.

The Vice-Chancellor also announced that a new Faculty of Technology has been established, with programmes in Civil Engineering, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechatronics Engineering already underway.

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He said the institution’s expansion reflects growing public confidence in its academic standards and infrastructure development.

Professor Asaolu revealed that the university has successfully recovered 15 acres of land and 24 housing units previously encroached upon by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. He said the recovered land will be used for the development of a Faculty of Technology complex.

He also disclosed that Governor Ademola Adeleke has approved the upgrade of the State General Hospital, Ilesa, into the University of Ilesa Teaching Hospital to support clinical training and improve healthcare delivery in the region.

The Vice-Chancellor noted that the university inherited dilapidated infrastructure at take-off, including obsolete buildings, low student population, and poor environmental conditions, but said it has now recorded a “significant turnaround.”

He credited key stakeholders including TETFund, NELFUND, the Owa Obokun Adimula, Oba Clement Adesuyi Haastrup, the Ijesa community, Zenith Bank Plc, and other donors for supporting ongoing development projects across the campus.

Professor Asaolu highlighted several infrastructural achievements, including an 18-hole golf course that recently hosted the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) 15th Qualifying School Seminar.

On academic reforms, he said the university has made programmes in the Faculties of Education and Agriculture tuition-free, while staff wards enjoy a 50 per cent tuition discount to encourage professionalism in teaching.

He added that UNILESA has established an Integrated Teaching and Research Farm featuring a cattle ranch, fish ponds, poultry facilities, and agro-processing units, designed to provide practical training for students.

Students are also receiving hands-on vocational training in 13 skill areas, including solar energy installation, Adire textile production, digital content creation, and agribusiness.

On staff welfare, the Vice-Chancellor praised Governor Ademola Adeleke for resolving long-standing labour issues, including the conversion of over 300 temporary staff into permanent positions and the payment of more than ₦3 billion in outstanding allowances to staff, retirees, and families of deceased workers.

He also commended the governor for approving the reconstruction of access roads within the university, which had reportedly been in poor condition for nearly two decades.

Professor Asaolu said students of the institution have continued to excel in academics, sports, and professional examinations, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), where some students have already progressed significantly.

He further noted that the university has hosted international conferences, its first inaugural lecture in March 2026, and a Distinguished Personality Lecture delivered by Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the National Revenue Service.

Despite the progress, he identified challenges such as inadequate student accommodation, unstable electricity supply, and a shortage of lecture halls and laboratories.

“We are encouraged by the progress recorded thus far and are determined to sustain and surpass it,” he said, appreciating all stakeholders involved in the development of the institution.

University of Ilesa Gets NUC Approval for 97 Programmes, Including Medicine

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