JAMB officials seize candidates’ hijab at Caleb varsity, Muslim students kick

Muslim students have vowed to take legal action against any harassment, threats, or unjust treatment directed at female candidates wearing hijabs at centres for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

This comes in the wake of reports of hijab harassment and hijab seizures that have sparked widespread concern among Muslim students and religious organizations, following incidents that took place on Thursday.

Under the umbrella of the Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit (MSSNLagos), the students issued a statement on Friday, signed by their Amir (President), Kamoldeen Abiona, expressing deep dissatisfaction with reports of harassment at several UTME centres across Lagos, particularly Caleb University in Ikorodu, a Christian-owned institution, where hijabs were forcibly removed from candidates.

Abiona criticized the ongoing incidents, emphasizing that despite established guidelines allowing the wearing of hijabs, female Muslim candidates continue to face harassment and coercion at examination centres.

“It is distressing to report that incidents of discrimination against female candidates wearing hijabs during the UTME persist,” said Abiona.

JAMB officials seize candidates’ hijab at Caleb Varsity, Muslim students kick

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FG announces 2025/2026 overseas scholarship for graduates (See how to apply)

The Federal Government, through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), has opened applications for the 2025/2026 edition of its Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (OSS), targeting academically qualified Nigerian youths.

In an announcement shared via PTDF’s official handle on X (formerly Twitter), the agency revealed that the revamped scholarship programme is geared toward developing local expertise for the nation’s oil and gas sector.

“The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) is pleased to bring to the notice of the public that the applications for the 2025/2026 Overseas Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (OSS) has commenced,” the statement reads.

Eligible candidates can apply for fully funded master’s or doctoral studies in several international locations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia, as well as at the PTDF College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna.

According to the agency,“Fully funded MSc scholarship will be provided in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.”“Fully funded PhD scholarship will be provided in Germany, France & Malaysia.”

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For PhD candidates interested in studying in the UK, the award will now follow a split-site format, combining overseas learning with a local academic base.“Fully funded PhD scholarship for the United Kingdom will now be offered exclusively as a Split-Site Programme at the PTDF College of Petroleum & Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK) in collaboration with three partner Universities in the United Kingdom: Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde and University of Portsmouth,” the statement further explained.

The scholarship package covers return air travel, health insurance, tuition and bench fees (where applicable), and a living allowance for the duration of the programme.

Applicants must be Nigerian graduates with strong academic credentials in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas industry.

Interested individuals are expected to complete their applications via the PTDF Scholarship Management Portal. The deadline for submission is June 4, 2025.

Additional information on eligibility, programme specifics, and partner institutions is available on the official PTDF website.

FG announces 2025/2026 overseas scholarship for graduates (See how to apply)

FG says colleges of education will begin awarding degrees in September

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, says a dual mandate allowing colleges of education (COEs) to award both bachelor’s degrees and the National Certificate in Education (NCE) is for implementation this September.

In 2023, the mandate was signed into law, having undergone ideation with numerous committees recommending its adoption.

It was to take effect from the 2024/2025 academic session (starting September 2024), where only federal COEs aged at least 10 years were to pilot the programme.

Alausa spoke in Abuja during a follow-up meeting on resolutions from the last biannual stakeholders meeting.

He said the implementation of the dual mandate will now begin in September 2025.

The education minister said it would boost enrolment in COEs and eliminate the need to convert COEs to universities.

Alausa said reforms within COEs are important for adapting to modern demands and technological advancements.

He urged educators to integrate technology, critical thinking, and computational skills into their curricula.

“We once had a strong educational system, and that’s what we are working hard to restore. All hands are on deck to achieve this,” he said.

“We must tackle the high number of out-of-school children and reduce learning poverty across the country. As teachers, you are at the centre of driving this change, and you must also challenge yourselves.

“The way we taught 30 or 50 years ago is no longer relevant. Education and teaching methods are evolving. You must start thinking about how to use technology in the classroom.”

Alausa stressed the need for educators to harness educational technology and artificial intelligence to improve teaching and learning outcomes.

Addressing declining enrolment in colleges of education, he urged administrators and staff to support the ongoing reforms, warning that the survival of their institutions depends on their ability to adapt.

“With this dual mandate, there is no need for conversion to university status. You should be the ones pushing for implementation, not the other way around. It’s a matter of your survival,” he said.

“The government has secured the future of colleges of education. It is now up to you to sustain them. Failure to embrace this mandate could lead to extinction.

“With this reform, there’s no justification for any college of education to seek university status.”