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Implementation of new varsity curriculum begins September — NUC

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Implementation of new varsity curriculum begins September — NUC

National Universities Commission (NUC) has revealed that the implementation of the new Core Curriculum Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) will commence by September 2023 in line with the Federal government’s efforts to reposition and revitalize Nigerian universities.

In the same light, the Federal government has tasked tertiary institutions in the country to strengthen their quality mechanism in producing graduates who are highly skilled and employable to contribute to national development efforts.

Acting Executive Secretary of NUC, Mr Chris Maiyaki, speaking at the Stakeholders’ Colloquium on CCMAS on Wednesday in Abuja said the document would reposition Nigerian universities to be among the best rated in Africa.

He added that CCMAS was designed to guide institutions on development of curricula for their programmes while bringing necessary innovation into the content and delivery of their programmes towards achieving the overall goals of education and training in the country.

Maiyaki said that CCMAS would make up 70 per cent of the curriculum while the university decides what to include in the remaining 30 per cent.

He noted the reviewed curriculum is endowed with unique features tailored to meet the evolving demands of the rapidly changing world, adding that it emphasises interdisciplinary learning, soft and critical skills development, entrepreneurship and value creation.

“Thus, the CCMAS reflects a global perspective that would equip our graduates with the 21st Century knowledge and wherewithal that transcend traditional boundaries,” he said.
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The NUC boss added, ”The role and development of the CCMAS is to ensure commitment in advancing our education and great nation.

”NUC is primarily dedicated to ensuring quality and global competitiveness of Nigerian universities as well as the graduates we produce.

” The development of the CCMAS went through a painstaking process by bringing experts from our universities comprising of professors, regulatory bodies, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and all stakeholders.

‘The CCMAS reflects global initiative that will equip graduates with knowledge and wherewithal that will advance the development of the nation,” he said.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, in his remark, said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration is unwaveringly committed to the continuous repositioning and revitalisation of the entire education sector for a quickened socio-economic development of Nigeria.

He urged universities to make optimal use of the 30 per cent university senate’s input, stressing that tertiary institutions in the country must strengthen their quality mechanism to ensure that graduates who are produced are highly skilled and employable to contribute to national development efforts.

Mamman advised universities to ensure that learning outcomes, skills as well and soft skills were acquired, irrespective of the core discipline.

He said that the skills must be readily applicable to the environment of the university, the country in particular and the global community in general.

”There is no better place and time than now to develop a strategy that will guide tertiary institutions particularly universities in their mandate to provide appropriate manpower for the country.

”This is through using a curriculum and applying minimum standards that would guarantee we teach our students in such a way and manner that they would be highly skilled and employable to contribute to national development efforts.

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” 70 per cent of the total curriculum is captured in the CCMAS while 30 per cent of the curriculum has been ceded to universities Senates to build in the uniqueness of their various universities.

”This principle allows for a good deal of adaptation that suits not only local peculiarities of the universities but provides universities opportunities to carve a niche for themselves in areas of comparative advantage,” he said.

The minister commended universities who had concluded their work on the 30 per cent component and submitted same for review.

He also urged those who have not to endeavour to do so in the shortest possible time as the next academic session rolls in.

He pledged the commitment of the Federal Government in ensuring that our education system remained nationally relevant and globally competitive.

In a keynote address, Former Vice Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Prof. Michael Faborode said the idea of the CCMAS was to promote diversification and differentiation in the system.

This he said was to provide proper conceptual administrative guidelines and a harmonised legal framework for higher education.

Faborode commended the over 70 per cent universities that had already complied with the uploading of their 30 per cent curriculum inputs into the CCMAS.

He said this was the way to go so that universities could be globally relevant and competitive and as well provide the educational needs to the students so they could be employable after graduation.

CCMAS was developed in 2018 following the review of the Benchmark Minimum Academic Standards (BMAS) –the curriculum guide for Nigerian universities, which had been in use since 2007.

The CCMAS also expanded BMAS from 12 to 17 disciplines to reposition the system to reflect the realities of the 21st century.

The 17 disciplines are Administration and Management, Agriculture, Allied Health Sciences, Architecture, Arts, Basic Medical Sciences, Communication and Media Studies, Computing and Education.

Others are Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Law, Medicine and Dentistry, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sciences, Social Sciences and Veterinary Medicine.

Implementation of new varsity curriculum begins September — NUC

Education

Students expelled as police probe viral assault at Igbinedion School

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Students expelled as police probe viral assault at Igbinedion School

 

The Edo State Police Command has launched an investigation into a viral video showing a violent bullying incident involving students of Igbinedion Secondary School.

The footage, which has been widely circulated on social media, shows two students repeatedly beating, kicking and dragging a younger boy believed to be in a junior class across the floor.

During the assault, one of the attackers was seen using a belt to flog the victim, while another stomped on the boy’s chest as he cried out in pain.

The victim could be heard screaming while another student, who appeared to be recording the incident, pleaded with the attackers to stop.

The motive behind the assault has not yet been established.

Reacting to the incident on Sunday, the Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, SP Eno Ikoedem, said the police were aware of the disturbing video and had commenced steps to investigate the matter.

She said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Agbonika, had directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area to immediately visit the school and begin a thorough inquiry.

“The Commissioner of Police has directed the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area to proceed to the school and commence a detailed inquiry into the matter,” Ikoedem said.

She noted that although the school authorities had taken disciplinary action, the police would still carry out a comprehensive investigation into the incident.

According to her, the management of the school informed the police that the students involved in the bullying had already been expelled.

The command condemned all forms of bullying, violence and intimidation among students, warning that anyone found culpable would be dealt with in accordance with the law and in line with their ages.

Ikoedem also urged members of the public to remain calm and assist the police with credible information that could aid the ongoing investigation.

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Sanwo-Olu to Ban School-Age Children from Streets During School Hours

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu

Sanwo-Olu to Ban School-Age Children from Streets During School Hours

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has announced plans to issue an executive order banning school-age children from roaming the streets during school hours in Lagos State, as part of broader reforms aimed at tackling the problem of out-of-school children and improving learning outcomes.

The governor made the announcement on Friday during the launch of the Lagos Education Access Fund (LEAF) and the inauguration of the Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board (LASUBEB) in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu said the planned executive order would reinforce existing education policies and hold parents, guardians, communities and institutions accountable for ensuring children of school age attend classes regularly.

“I will be issuing an executive order to back this up and ensure that we are putting our money where our mouth is.
No child should be seen outside between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. unless there is a very good reason that child is not in school,” the governor said.

Alongside the proposed restriction, the Lagos State Government unveiled a $25 million outcomes-based education fund designed to improve school access, retention and measurable learning outcomes for children across the state.

According to the governor, the initiative—implemented in collaboration with the Education Outcomes Fund and development partners—will target more than 200,000 children across Lagos.

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The programme is expected to enrol more than 50,000 out-of-school children aged six to 14 into mainstream education through community outreach and targeted interventions while also supporting 150,000 pupils already in school by strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes. The plan also aims to address barriers preventing school attendance, including poverty, family instability and limited access to learning resources.

Sanwo-Olu said the initiative represents a shift from focusing solely on enrolment statistics to ensuring real learning outcomes and long-term educational success.

“This initiative is not just about funding education; it is about ensuring every investment translates into real learning, real opportunity and measurable outcomes for our children,” he said.

The governor explained that the programme builds on Project Zero (Lagos education initiative), launched in 2021 to identify and return out-of-school children to classrooms.

According to him, the initiative has already helped reintegrate more than 36,000 children into formal education across the state.

To further support families and sustain school attendance, the Lagos State Government has provided vocational training to more than 360 parents and guardians, equipping them with skills in areas such as fashion design, soap making, catering and hairdressing. The governor said the programme recognises that family economic stability plays a key role in ensuring children remain in school.

Sanwo-Olu also highlighted his administration’s investment in education infrastructure, noting that more schools and classrooms have been built in the past seven years than were constructed in the previous two decades combined.

“In one school complex alone, we are handing over 35 schools with capacity for nearly 20,000 students,” he said, describing the development as evidence of sustained commitment to improving access to education.

Speaking at the event, Amel Karboul, Chief Executive Officer of the Education Outcomes Fund and a former Tunisian minister, praised Lagos for adopting an accountability-driven model of education financing.

Karboul said governments often spend heavily on education inputs such as buildings, books and services without achieving measurable improvements in learning outcomes.

“The most important infrastructure any nation can build is educated minds,” she said.

She explained that the Education Outcomes Fund, established with support from Gordon Brown and impact-investment pioneer Sir Ronald Cohen, focuses on results-based financing where governments and partners pay for measurable outcomes rather than simply funding inputs.

According to her, Lagos is not only launching a programme but also creating a model that other governments in Nigeria and across the world could adopt.

“Lagos is not just launching a programme today; it is creating a blueprint for the world because the future of public finance is about delivering real impact,” she said.

At the event, Sanwo-Olu also inaugurated a new board for LASUBEB, appointing Hakeem Shittu as chairman to strengthen oversight and improve accountability in the state’s basic education system.

Other board members include Saheed Ibikunle, Sijuade Idowu-Tiamiyu, Sherifat Adedoyin, Owolabi Falana, Adewale Babatunde, Babatunde Williams, and Hakeem Lamidi.

Sanwo-Olu emphasised that meaningful progress in education cannot be achieved by government alone, stressing that strong partnerships, shared responsibility and community collaboration remain essential to securing the future of children in Lagos.

Sanwo-Olu to Ban School-Age Children from Streets During School Hours

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JAMB Disowns Lead City University Law Admissions, Warns Against Inter‑University Transfer Fraud

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JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede
JAMB registrar, Professor Ishaq Oloyede

JAMB Disowns Lead City University Law Admissions, Warns Against Inter‑University Transfer Fraud

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially disowned all admissions into the Law Faculty of Lead City University, stating that such offers are illegal, invalid, and not recognised. The board clarified that the programme remains under a five‑year suspension and that any purported admissions did not go through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) — the only authorised platform for processing admissions into Nigerian tertiary institutions.

In a statement issued on Thursday by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s Public Communications Adviser, the board said it had received multiple complaints accusing it of negligence over the purported admissions into Lead City University’s Law Faculty. JAMB emphasised that admissions not processed through CAPS carry no legitimacy, and students who accept such offers cannot claim official recognition for academic registration, graduation, or mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC).

“The Board unequivocally states that the said admissions were not conducted through CAPS. Consequently, such admissions are void as they are unknown to the Board. The institution is not authorised to admit candidates into the programme until the expiration of the suspension,” JAMB said.

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The examination body warned candidates not to accept offers outside CAPS, stressing that such irregular admissions are considered fraudulent and may implicate recipients as complicit in bypassing official regulations. Prospective students are advised to register for the next Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to pursue legitimate admission through approved channels.

JAMB also raised concerns about alleged attempts by some universities to circumvent regulations through inter‑university transfer fraud, transferring improperly admitted candidates to other institutions. The board stressed that no inter‑university transfer will be recognised unless the initial admission was validly processed through CAPS.

The board reiterated its commitment to maintaining transparency, fairness, and integrity in Nigeria’s tertiary education system. It called on candidates, parents, and institutions to rely exclusively on official JAMB channels and CAPS to avoid falling victim to fraudulent schemes or risking invalid admissions.

JAMB’s warning reflects ongoing efforts to ensure that Nigerian universities adhere strictly to regulatory standards, with the Council of Legal Education (CLE) monitoring law programme compliance nationwide. The board continues to enforce admission rules and combat attempts to bypass the CAPS system.

JAMB Disowns Lead City University Law Admissions, Warns Against Inter‑University Transfer Fraud

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