Osun Rewards 31 Top WAEC Students With Scholarships, Cash

The Osun State Government, in partnership with consulting firm Electronic Collections Group (ECG), has rewarded 31 outstanding students from the 2025 West African Examinations Council (WAEC) examination with scholarships and cash prizes at the maiden Imole SSCE Scholarship Award Ceremony. The event, held on Wednesday at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Hall, Osun State University, Osogbo, was organised by ECG in collaboration with the Osun State Ministry of Education. It also featured recognition for teachers and schools whose students performed exceptionally well, with educational materials and cash gifts distributed as part of the award package.

Each of the best students from Osun’s 30 local government areas received ₦100,000, while the overall best student was awarded ₦1 million. Teachers who taught the students across the nine WAEC subjects were also recognised, with each receiving ₦50,000, while their respective schools benefited from educational support packages aimed at improving learning facilities and academic performance. Officials said the initiative was designed to promote academic excellence, reward hard work, and strengthen competition among students in public secondary schools across the state.

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Governor Ademola Adeleke, who addressed students, teachers, school administrators, and local government chairmen at the ceremony, said the programme was aimed at raising a generation that would be guided by knowledge and purpose. “To our awardees, you are that light. But your light must shine beyond this stage, into your future,” the governor said. He commended teachers, education officials, and administrators for their role in shaping students’ character and academic success, noting that his administration remains committed to recognising excellence from the grassroots to higher levels.

Adeleke also stated that Osun’s education performance had improved since he assumed office, claiming that the state moved from lower rankings to 7th position nationally in education performance within his first year. He said, “The education policy of the governor is working despite the challenges,” adding that his administration will continue to prioritise education development across all levels.

The governor also used the occasion to caution residents against vote buying ahead of the August 15 governorship election in Osun State. He alleged that some political actors were attempting to influence voters with money and urged citizens to reject inducements. “Osun is at an unusual time ahead of the August 15 election. Those who hijacked and diverted over ₦300 billion Osun local government funds are desperate,” he said. He added, “I charge Osun people to reject Greek gifts, to shun proceeds of crime and use their votes to sustain continuity.”

Coordinator of ECG, Akinmade Akintoye, said the scholarship initiative would become an annual programme aimed at encouraging academic excellence among students and teachers across Osun State. He urged schools to remain committed to nurturing future leaders despite societal distractions. “We implore schools not to relent. This is just their stepping stone; the sky is going to be their limit,” he said. Organisers also confirmed that the list of award recipients was obtained directly from the WAEC headquarters, ensuring transparency and credibility in the selection process.

Osun Rewards 31 Top WAEC Students With Scholarships, Cash

Tinubu Approves ₦250bn for Student Hostel Construction Nationwide – Alausa

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says President Bola Tinubu has approved ₦250 billion for the construction of student hostels across tertiary institutions in Nigeria as part of efforts to address the country’s long-standing student accommodation crisis. Alausa made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja during the inauguration of governing boards, principal officers, and chief executives of agencies under the Federal Ministry of Education. He explained that the intervention represents the first major, dedicated federal investment targeted specifically at improving hostel facilities in universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country.

The minister stated that the funding will be deployed to at least 50 tertiary institutions, with each institution expected to receive about ₦2 billion for the construction of hostels Feacapable of accommodating at least 500 students. He added that an additional ₦90 billion will be channelled through Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements to support hostel development in 24 federal institutions, with each facility expected to provide between 1,200 and 1,500 bed spaces. According to him, “We have several of those schools whose constructions have already started cumulatively, ₦250 billion in 2026 to provide student accommodation alone.”

Alausa further disclosed that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) will provide ₦1 billion counterpart funding per institution, while private investors are expected to contribute about ₦4 billion each under the PPP framework. He said the initiative is designed to expand access to safe and affordable student housing in Nigerian tertiary institutions, reduce overcrowding in hostels, and improve overall welfare and learning conditions.

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The minister noted that the project directly targets long-standing accommodation deficits in institutions such as Lagos State University (LASU) and Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) among others. He stressed that the administration is now prioritising implementation-driven reforms that focus on measurable outcomes rather than policy announcements alone. Alausa also commended President Tinubu for what he described as a “missionary approach” to governance, saying the Renewed Hope Agenda has strengthened investment in education and human capital development. He added that the education sector has received the highest budgetary allocation in Nigeria for two consecutive years, reflecting government focus on education reform in Nigeria.

Beyond the hostel project, Alausa announced additional investments including ₦130 billion for engineering and technology workshops and ₦120 billion for upgrading medical schools nationwide. He charged newly inaugurated board members of education agencies to ensure accountability, transparency, and improved institutional performance across the sector.

The event also featured the inauguration of several governing council members and agency heads across key education institutions. Among those inaugurated were Prof. Babatunde Salako as Chairman of the NBTE Governing Board, Prof. Modupe Adelabu as Chairman of the NECO Governing Board, and David Shofoyeke as Executive Secretary of the National Institute for Educational Planning and Administration (NIEPA). Others include Prof. Garba Shuaib, Prof. Kabiru Dungurawa, Dr Bongfa Bonfa, Prof. Tijani Kalli, and Mr Abba Goni, among others appointed to various councils and administrative positions across federal tertiary institutions.

Chairman of the NBTE Governing Board, Prof. Babatunde Salako, pledged commitment to transparency, institutional strengthening, and aligning Nigeria’s education system with national economic needs. The Federal Ministry of Education says the new interventions are part of a broader strategy to improve infrastructure, reduce student hardship, and reposition Nigeria’s tertiary education system for long-term competitiveness.

Tinubu Approves ₦250bn for Student Hostel Construction Nationwide – Alausa

Man Confesses: I Got N500,000 to Bath Spa Worker with Acid

LAGOS, Nigeria – A 37-year-old man, Ziaulihak Zakari, also known as Abuja, has confessed to receiving N500,000 to carry out a brutal acid attack on a female spa worker in the Lakowe area of Lagos State. However, in a shocking twist, Zakari admitted that he mistakenly assaulted the wrong person. The suspect, who was arrested on March 19, 2026, revealed that he was hired by another man, Owolabi Daniel, to pour acid on the spa owner, Olorunmaye Ifeoluwa, following a failed romantic relationship. Instead, the victim – Olorunseunfunmi Awosogbon – an innocent staff member, sustained severe burns to her head, chest, and hands. The attack, which occurred on October 25, 2025, has sparked outrage over the rising incidence of acid violence in Nigeria and raised serious questions about the effectiveness of Lagos State criminal laws in prosecuting such heinous acts.

According to reports from PUNCH Metro, the victim had honoured a home service request booked through the spa where she worked. The appointment was scheduled at Lakowe Golf Gate, near Utmost Care Hospital. Upon arrival in a ride-hailing vehicle, Zakari allegedly approached her and poured a corrosive substance on her. She was not the intended target. Her employer, Ifeoluwa, explained that the attack stemmed from a brief relationship she had with Daniel. The relationship lasted only a few months and was riddled with disagreements before it ended. After she ended things, Daniel allegedly began sending threatening WhatsApp messages, warning that she would be harmed. “I later told him I needed space and that the relationship would not work. He continued to reach out, but I made it clear I did not want to continue,” Ifeoluwa told PUNCH Metro.

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In a video obtained by journalists, Zakari detailed how he was recruited for the job through a security guard who connected him to Daniel. He stated, “There is a man named Daniel who contacted me through a security guard and told me he had a job. When he said he needed someone to pour acid on a person, I agreed. I couldn’t carry it out the first time because I was scared. When another opportunity came, I mistook the target and attacked the wrong person. The acid was procured by the man and the security guard. I was paid N500,000 for the job and gave the security guard N50,000 for linking me up.” He expressed regret but admitted that the attack was financially motivated.

Both Zakari and Owolabi Daniel (25) have been arraigned before a Magistrate Court in Ebute-Metta on charges including conspiracy, threat to life, and causing bodily harm, under Sections 411, 232, and 246 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. However, the victim’s lawyer, John Olobayo, has criticized the charges as too lenient, arguing that attempted murder or grievous bodily harm with corrosive substances should have been applied. “We believe more serious charges should be considered based on the available information,” Olobayo stated, adding that applications have been filed with the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

Despite the arrests, Ifeoluwa claims that threatening messages have continued, including one that read: “I’m going to kill you soon. You deserve to be in a grave.” Meanwhile, the father of the primary suspect, Mr. Owolabi, revealed that he sold his residence to pay for the victim’s medical bills. “To make the payment, I sold my residence. I’m not sure what else is expected of us,” he said in Yoruba. The victim, Awosogbon, is still undergoing medical procedures and could not be reached for comment.

Man Confesses: I Got N500,000 to Bath Spa Worker with Acid