Education
Kwara gov Abdulrazaq, NBA, others mourn KWASU VC Akanbi who died at 51
Eminent Nigerians and groups including the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the Nigerian Bar Association have commiserated with the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, over the death of the institution’s vice chancellor, Prof Muhammed Mustapha Akanbi (SAN).
Akanbi died at the age of 51.
A statement from the university’s social media on Sunday night said the VC died in Lagos after a protracted illness.
“The sad event took place after a protracted illness. We urge all to remember the immediate and extended family and the University in prayers in this very trying time,” the post said.
Also in a condolence message by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Kwara governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, described as painful and shocking the death of Prof. Akanbi.
“We submit to the decree of Allah who gives and takes. It is against that backdrop that we mourn the vice chancellor who answered Allah’s call tonight. He was a true and humble servant of Allah and we beseech our God, the oft-forgiving and merciful, to grant him al-jannah Firdaus.
“The professor of law was a colossus who played the leading role to open a new chapter of academic excellence and greatness for KWASU. Our condolences go to his family, immediate and extended, to KWASU and the rest of the academic community, and to members of the bar and the bench in Kwara State and across the country,” the statement added.
Similarly, the Emir of Ilorin and chairman Kwara State Council of Chiefs, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, expressed sadness over the incident, adding that it was “quite shocking, unfortunate and saddening.”
The Publicity Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin, Ridwan Musa, said “The Janāzah prayer will be offered on his remains immediately after Salatul-‘Asr at his residence in Ilorin, on Monday.
Late Mohammed Mustapha Akanbi became a professor at the age of 40 years and was appointed as Vice Chancellor at 49.
The KWASU Registrar, Mrs Kikelomo Salle, in a statement issued in Ilorin Sunday said, “Burial arrangement will be announced soon.”
Prof. Akanbi was born to the family of late Hon. Justice Muhammed Mustapha Adebayo Ajao Akanbi and late Hajia Munfaatu Aduke Akanbi.
He hails from the Ile magaji Kemberi, Awodi, Gambari Quarters, Ilorin East, Kwara State.
He attended various primary and secondary schools across the country i.e Kano, Port Harcourt, Ibadan and Okigwe in Imo State. Prof Akanbi graduated from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife with a Bachelor’s degree in law in the second class division in 1993.
Akanbi attended the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos, where he also bagged the second class upper division. He was called to bar in 1995.
During his service year in 1995 – 1996, Akanbi served the nation as a legal assistant in the legal unit of the Central Bank of Nigeria in Lagos.
Between March 1996 and 1998, he practised as a junior in the law firms of Wole Bamgbala & Co, Lagos, Olawoyin and Olawoyin, Lagos and Ayodele, ‘Gafar & Co, Ilorin respectively.
Prof Akanbi bagged a master’s degree in law (LLM) in 1998 from University of Lagos, Akoka. Between 2004 and 2006, he attended the prestigious Kings College, University of London, United Kingdom for his doctorate degree in law (Ph.D) which he bagged in a record time of two years.
During his doctorate programme, Akanbi also earned a Graduate Certificate (Non-award Route) in Academic Practice (GCAP), from the same university in 2005.
In August 1998, Akanbi joined the service of University of Ilorin as a lecturer 2 in the Department of Business law, faculty of law of the University. By dint of hard work and perseverance, he rose through the ranks and was appointed a Professor of Law in the Department of Business Law in October 2012.
In 2014, he was also appointed an adjunct professor of law at the Kings University College, Accra, Ghana for a period of one year.
In over two decades career period in the University of Ilorin, Akanbi had held several administrative positions, chief of which were: Sub-dean of the faculty of law, Head of Business Law Department, Faculty of Law, Postgraduate Representative, Senate member, Dean of the Faculty of Law, Deputy Director, Centre for Research Development and In-House Training (CREDIT) and Director, School of Preliminary Studies, Fufu, University of Ilorin.
Akanbi has over 60 national and International publications in reputable peer-review journals with a bias in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Arbitration Law.
Other research areas include conflict resolution laws, corporate management law and practice.
In 2017, Akanbi completed a BADEA-UNITAR Online Course on Private Sector Development (2017) with specialisation on Ease of Doing Business in Africa and was awarded a Certificate of Completion by Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (BADEA-UNITAR).
Akanbi has a number of cutting-edge and trans-disciplinary research projects and consultancy to his credit, some of which include: Lead researcher (2016- 2017), ‘Developing Interventions: Understanding Prosecutors’ Routine and Pretrial Practices’. (A research project involving 6 countries: USA, Mexico, South Africa, Ukraine, Poland and Nigeria) commissioned by the Open Society Justice Initiatives, New York.
Education
FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates
FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates
The Federal Government has approved the mobilisation of all full-time Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), ending years of exclusion from the scheme.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the decision on Thursday in Abuja, stating that only graduates of full-time HND programs would be eligible for mobilisation. The policy shift follows consultations with the Director-General of the NYSC and is aimed at promoting fairness in the education sector.
“The Federal Ministry of Education remains committed to equity, fairness, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s education system,” Alausa said in a statement released by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo.
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To ensure smooth implementation, the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to compile data on eligible HND graduates. A circular has also been issued to polytechnic rectors, instructing them to upload the necessary graduate records to a newly established HND admission portal, which will serve as the official database for NYSC mobilisation.
However, the minister clarified that part-time HND graduates remain ineligible for the scheme.
“This decision applies strictly to those who completed a full-time HND programme,” Alausa reiterated.
He urged all qualified graduates to take advantage of the opportunity and begin their mobilisation process immediately.
The move is expected to address long-standing concerns among polytechnic graduates and enhance their participation in national development through the NYSC scheme.
FG approves NYSC mobilisation for all full-time HND graduates
Education
Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025
Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025
Romanian university offers fully funded scholarships to non-EU and non-EEA students for 2025
Education
New Zealand university offers up to $10,000 scholarship for international students
New Zealand university offers up to $10,000 scholarship for international students
Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, is offering the Tongarewa International Scholarship, which provides financial assistance of up to $10,000 to international students for their first year of study.
The scholarship seeks to support students in covering part of their tuition fees at the university.
The Tongarewa International Scholarship is available to international students starting their studies at Victoria University of Wellington in Trimester 2 or Trimester 3 of 2025.
This partial fee-based scholarship is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students, offering a maximum award of $10,000.
“This is a partial fee-based scholarship that will go towards tuition fees for one year of study. It is designed for new international students, who are entering their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate studies at Victoria University of Wellington,” the institution informs.
“Scholarships are awarded competitively on the basis of academic excellence”
Eligibility criteria for the scholarship
To be eligible for the Tongarewa International Scholarship, applicants must:
- Be new international students
- Students must also hold a Conditional or Unconditional Offer of Place for an eligible program at Victoria University of Wellington
- New students to Victoria University of Wellington
- Selected by the scholarship award panel (upon scholarship application)
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Applicants are not eligible for this scholarship if they:
- Completed their secondary education at a New Zealand school;
- Completed the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) or the Victoria University of Wellington Foundation Studies programme;
- Are a Study Abroad or Exchange student or a Twinning student from one of the institution’s overseas partner universities;
- Are in their second trimester or year of study in the same degree programme (returning students) at Victoria University of Wellington
Application process
Students interested in applying for the scholarship must submit an application demonstrating academic achievement and leadership potential.
Scholarship requirements
The following documentation must be provided as part of the online scholarship application:
- A personal statement of up to 500 words outlining why the applicant wishes to study at Victoria University of Wellington, their academic goals and why they merit the scholarship
- Applicants should also include any leadership positions and details of their involvement in their school or community
According to the institution, “this is a partial fee-based scholarship which is awarded competitively based on academic excellence and the student’s personal statement. A panel comprising appropriate Wellington University International staff will review the applications and award the scholarships.”
Details further inform that the amount of the stipend will be awarded as either $2,500; $5,000; $7,500 or $10,000.
The scholarship amount, according to the institution, will be credited to students’ accounts two weeks after the programme begins. It cannot be paid out before this date.
Once the scholarship is awarded, the decision is final and cannot be appealed.
“Should the recipient withdraw from Victoria University of Wellington during the tenure of this scholarship or fail to achieve satisfactory progress, partial repayment of the Scholarship will normally be expected. Recipients must advise the Scholarships Office if they intend to withdraw,” the institution states.
Important deadlines
The deadline to apply for the scholarship is May 1st, 2025 for Trimester 2 and 1 August 2025 for Trimester 3. Applications must be submitted on the respective deadline dates.
For more details or to apply, students can visit the Victoria University of Wellington website.
New Zealand university offers up to $10,000 scholarship for international students
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