FG announces new guidelines for appointing VCs, rectors, provosts

The Federal Government has introduced a new policy outlining eligibility requirements for the appointment of Vice Chancellors, Rectors, and Provosts in federal tertiary institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, approved the policy with the aim of fostering fairness, transparency, and accountability in the selection process.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo.

Boriowo noted that the decision was prompted by recurring instances where individuals serving in acting capacities had used their temporary positions to sway the outcome of substantive appointments in their favor.

According to her, these actions have compromised the integrity of the selection process over time.

READ ALSO:

• Mbappe demands €55m from PSG in unpaid wages
• Judge, son shot as bandits kidnap 13 in Katsina
• Song theft: Davido gets 21-day court order to respond to accusations

“The policy is necessary to eliminate this practice, ensure a level playing field for all qualified candidates, and strengthen institutional governance.

“The policy stipulates that any officer serving in an acting capacity as Vice Chancellor, Rector, or Provost shall not be eligible to apply for the substantive position while still holding the acting appointment,” she said.

She explained that such officers can, however, step down from their acting roles before the end of their non-renewable six-month tenure if they wish to contest for the permanent position.

“However, in the interest of fairness, such officers may choose to recuse themselves from their acting positions before the expiration of their non-renewable six-month tenure, thereby becoming eligible to apply for the substantive roles,” she said.
Boriowo added that the new directive is designed to enhance the Ministry’s 2013 guidelines on appointments in federal tertiary institutions and is to be enforced alongside existing regulations.

“Governing Councils, Managements, and relevant stakeholders are hereby requested to ensure strict compliance with the new directive.

“For clarity and ease of implementation, the policy document is enclosed as Annex I, while the 2013 Guidelines are enclosed as Annex II,” she added.

FG announces new guidelines for appointing VCs, rectors, provosts

Sanwo-Olu gifts LASU best graduating student N10m

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, awarded a N10 million cash gift to Miss Isioma Sybil Nwosu, the Best Graduating Student at Lagos State University (LASU) for the 2023/2024 academic session. Nwosu, from the Department of Biochemistry, achieved a remarkable CGPA of 4.93.

The announcement was made during the 28th Convocation Ceremony at LASU’s Buba Marwa Auditorium in Ojo.

At the ceremony, two distinguished individuals were conferred with Honorary Doctorate Degrees: Brigadier-General Mohammed Buba Marwa, the Chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Otunba Olufemi Pedro.

Marwa received a Doctor of Humane Letters for his contributions to infrastructure, security, and national development, while Pedro was awarded a Doctor of Business for his work in banking and entrepreneurship.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, urged Nigerian leaders and academics to prioritize education and provide innovative solutions to real-life challenges.

He emphasized the importance of academic excellence and urged society to value education as much as other fields like sports and entertainment.

READ ALSO:

• • Era of Police detaining suspects for weeks gone – Falana
  • Give me N100m, I’ll fight Anthony Joshua – Portable
  • President Tinubu greets Aliko Dangote on his birthday

The Governor also pledged continued support for Lagos State’s tertiary institutions, focusing on empowering students to become innovative thinkers and leaders.

His administration has made significant investments in the university’s infrastructure, safety, and student welfare, aligned with the THEMES+ agenda.

Reflecting on the achievements of LASU, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello for her leadership, which has elevated the university’s status both nationally and internationally.

A total of 11,917 students graduated, including 971 diploma students, 8,711 first-degree students, 2,235 postgraduate students, and 125 PhD graduates.

The ceremony marked the end of a significant chapter for these students, who now face a future full of opportunities.

Prof. Olatunji-Bello acknowledged the vital role of the state government in supporting the university, highlighting recent achievements like the accreditation of 43 out of 44 courses and the launch of postgraduate programs at the Africa Centre of Excellence for Innovative and Transformative STEM Education.

LASU Chancellor, Prof. Gbolahan Elias, also addressed the graduates, urging them to be excellent ambassadors of the university and make a positive impact in the world.

Sanwo-Olu gifts LASU best graduating student N10m

Easiest way to pass UTME, by JAMB registrar Oloyede

Ahead of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which will commence on 25th April,  Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has revealed the easiest way to pass the annual exam.

Speaking to newsmen in Abuja after monitoring the 2025 Mock UTME on Thursday,  Oloyede  cautioned candidates against cutting corners.

He revealed that about 180 candidates, who have paid money to a rogue website secretly operated by JAMB in order to get UTME questions leaked to them, would have their results cancelled.

“We need to let the students know that the best way to pass the examination, UTME in particular, is to study. We are aware of some rogue websites asking people to come and pay that they can help.

“It cannot work. We have also opened our own rogue website. And as of this morning, about 180 students have paid.

“So those students, because to attempt to cheat is already an infraction. So those who paid into that account, looking for questions, we are going to deal firmly with them. And many of the institutions, UTME is not a school-based examination.

“We register students individually. And that is why we tell the students, do not give (out) your registration number. Do not register by proxy.

READ ALSO:

• Naira down to N1,620 in parallel market
• INEC names Sam Olumekun as acting chairman
• My daughter worked for Buhari for 5 years without pay – Buba Galadima

“Do not give your registration number to anybody. Because some of these schools want to be able to brag that, oh, my 10 students from my school scored 280. There was a state where even the governor of a state was misinformed, and they were celebrating nothing. So this type of thing that people want to cut corners, we are abreast of all this. And we are doing everything possible (to stop it).

“We have about 180 of them. And we are going to deal with them firmly. We are going to cancel their results, both UTME and DE,” Oloyede said.

He advised candidates to steer clear of fraudulent websites and individuals claiming to offer assistance during the examination.
“Some of them are paying N30,000 for something that will never work. And to some, when I look at those who have paid to us this money, I smile,” he added.

On the mock UTME, Oloyede said no fewer than 211,000 candidates sat for the exercise across designated Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres in the country, adding that the results of the mock exam will be released on Friday.

“They will have the results tomorrow. The results will be ready. Those who finished, we are working now on their results, but we want to compare with the second batch, the third batch, and so on. And see that everything is working well. But later by tomorrow, they will have the results,” he said.

Explaining the purpose of the UTME Mock, Oloyede said the exercise was aimed at testing the board’s readiness for the main examination and experimenting with new strategies to improve the process.

“The word is mock, and we want to say so far so good. What we want to do is to try some things. As students are getting wiser, we are also getting better…..

“Because we are doing certain things to ensure that those things are done. So we are trying to make sure that when we go for the exam, we will have taken experience and taken some lessons from our experience at the Mock level. So, so far, so good,” he said.

Easiest way to pass UTME, by JAMB registrar Oloyede