First Lady Commissions N1bn ICT Centre at UNICROSS, Gives Students Free Laptops

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has commissioned a N1 billion state-of-the-art Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Digital Experience Centre at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) in Calabar, providing students with free access to laptops, desktops and other digital resources . The facility, delivered through the Renewed Hope Initiative in partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) , is designed to expand access to digital tools, particularly for economically disadvantaged students who cannot afford personal devices .

Commissioning the facility on Friday at the university’s main campus in Calabar, Senator Tinubu said the centre would provide students with uninterrupted opportunities to learn, create and build digital skills without the constraints of device ownership or unstable electricity . She emphasised that the initiative is particularly important for young people from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who cannot afford laptops and desktops required for effective learning in today’s technology-driven environment . “No student should miss digital learning for lack of a laptop,” she stated .

According to the First Lady, the project is part of a nationwide pilot initiative involving selected tertiary institutions across the country’s six geopolitical zones . The beneficiary institutions in the pilot phase include Ekiti State University; Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State; Kaduna State University; Kwara State University; UNICROSS (hosting the South-South zone); and Taraba State University . The facility at UNICROSS will serve as the South-South hub for the initiative .

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The Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, commended the initiative, describing the ICT Digital Experience Centre as a significant investment in the digital empowerment of students and the advancement of education in the state . He noted that the facility would help bridge the digital divide among students while equipping young people with the skills required to compete effectively in an increasingly technology-driven global economy . Governor Otu expressed gratitude to the First Lady and TETFund for choosing UNICROSS as the South-South beneficiary institution .

The Chairman of the TETFund Board of Trustees, Rt. Hon. Aminu Masari, disclosed that UNICROSS was among six institutions nationwide selected as pioneer beneficiaries of the strategic intervention under the Fund’s 2024 activities . Masari said the Board approved an ICT Experience Centre in each of the six geopolitical zones at a total cost of N1 billion per zone, with UNICROSS hosting the South-South centre . He explained that the Fund approved the N1 billion allocation for each of the six centres as part of its 2024 intervention budget .

Masari explained that the centres are designed to equip students and lecturers with critical digital skills in Artificial Intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, robotics and software development, while exposing them to emerging technologies applicable to sectors including agriculture, healthcare, security, media and mining . According to him, the intervention is aimed at enhancing graduate employability, fostering innovation and preparing Nigerian youths to compete effectively in the global technology-driven economy .

The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the project reflects the Fund’s commitment to strengthening digital infrastructure in tertiary institutions and expanding access to technology-driven learning . He stressed that the centres should not be viewed merely as physical infrastructure but as platforms for creating opportunities for young people and advancing Nigeria’s vision of a knowledge-based and technologically empowered economy . Echono noted that the centre would provide students with access to modern digital resources and create an enabling environment for research, learning and skills development, with particular focus on students who lack personal digital devices .

Echono commended the First Lady for championing initiatives focused on youth empowerment and acknowledged the cooperation of UNICROSS management in ensuring the successful delivery of the project . He urged the university authorities to ensure that the equipment and facilities are properly maintained, secured and regularly upgraded to preserve the centre’s value and sustainability . Echono assured that TETFund would continue to support interventions aimed at improving the quality of tertiary education and equipping Nigerian graduates with the competencies required in the emerging digital economy .

The N1 billion centre is expected to operate with free access to laptops, desktops and other digital resources for students, helping to reduce inequality in access to education and technology . The facility is also equipped with uninterrupted power supply to address the challenge of unstable electricity, ensuring students can access digital resources without interruption . The centre features modern workstations, high-speed internet connectivity and a conducive learning environment designed to foster innovation and creativity .

The project aligns with the Federal Government’s broader vision of leveraging technology to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities for Nigerian youth . By providing students with access to cutting-edge digital tools and training, the initiative aims to produce a new generation of graduates equipped with the skills needed to compete in the global digital economy .

First Lady Commissions N1bn ICT Centre at UNICROSS, Gives Students Free Laptops

LASU: Mother allegedly assaults daughter’s roommate, student rushed to LASUTH with eye injury

A disturbing incident involving a mother, her daughter and a fellow student at the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Ikeja, has triggered reactions after a video of an alleged assault circulated widely on social media.

The incident reportedly involved Adebayo Oluwatumininu, a 300-level Nursing student, who was allegedly assaulted by the mother of her roommate, Hassan Temiloluwa, a Physiotherapy student.

The Lagos State University Students’ Union (LASUSU) confirmed the incident in a statement issued on September 2, 2026, saying the confrontation left Oluwatumininu with an injury to her eye.

Following the incident, officials of the students’ union at the Ikeja Campus reportedly intervened and took the student to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) for medical attention.

The incident attracted widespread public attention after a video showing part of the confrontation was shared on social media.

In the footage, an older woman is seen confronting the student inside a room before the encounter escalates into physical violence. The circumstances leading to the confrontation, however, remain the subject of competing claims.

Reports circulating online have alleged that the woman accused the student of slapping her, while other accounts have made different claims about how the physical confrontation began.

Those claims have not been independently verified, and the LASU Students’ Union did not publicly establish who initiated the physical altercation or provide a complete account of what happened before the incident captured in the video.

The students’ union said the seriousness of the incident became apparent after Oluwatumininu sustained an eye injury and was taken to LASUTH for treatment.

A medical assessment is expected to provide further information about the extent of the student’s injury.

The response to the incident reportedly involved LASU management, the university’s Centre for Gender-Based and Sexual Violence, students’ union officials and members of the affected student’s family.

The matter has also attracted police attention, with the mother of the Physiotherapy student reportedly taken into custody over allegations of physical assault and threats.

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The police investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and determine whether any criminal offence was committed.

Meanwhile, the university is separately examining the circumstances surrounding the incident involving Hassan Temiloluwa.

According to the students’ union, the student is expected to appear before the LASU University Disciplinary Committee in line with the institution’s established procedures.

The union did not publicly disclose the specific allegations against the student or indicate what sanctions, if any, she could face.

Her appearance before the disciplinary committee should therefore not be interpreted as a finding of guilt, as the university process is intended to examine the circumstances and allow the parties involved to present their accounts.

LASUSU condemned the alleged use of violence in resolving disputes and stressed the importance of using appropriate channels to address disagreements within the university community.

The statement was signed by the 37th LASUSU President, Olipehin Ahmad Rufai, and the union’s Public Relations Officer, Jinadu Jamiu Ademola.

The students’ union also commended the university management, the Centre for Gender-Based and Sexual Violence and others who intervened following the incident.

The case has generated a wider discussion about the role of parents when their children become involved in disputes at tertiary institutions.

While parents may understandably become concerned when their children face disagreements or conflicts, universities typically have established procedures for handling disputes involving students.

In the LASU incident, an alleged disagreement between students reportedly escalated into an altercation involving an adult, resulting in an alleged eye injury, medical treatment, police intervention and a university disciplinary process.

Several important questions surrounding the incident remain unanswered.

It has not been independently established what initially triggered the disagreement between the two students, why the mother went to the hostel or what occurred immediately before the confrontation recorded in the viral video.

There are also conflicting accounts on social media regarding who initiated the physical confrontation.

What the students’ union has confirmed is that an altercation occurred, Oluwatumininu sustained an injury, she received medical attention, the police became involved and the university initiated its disciplinary process.

The police investigation and the university’s proceedings are expected to provide further clarity on the circumstances of the incident.

The case remains under investigation, and allegations against the individuals involved have not been finally established by a court or other competent authority.

The development also underscores the importance of resolving disputes within university communities through established institutional and legal channels rather than through physical confrontation.

As the matter progresses, further information from LASU management, the police, the university disciplinary committee and the courts, where applicable, could clarify the events surrounding the alleged assault.

Newstrends.ng will continue to monitor developments in the case and provide updates as further verified information emerges.

LASU: Mother allegedly assaults daughter’s roommate, student rushed to LASUTH with eye injury

Regnum Medical University Opens Admission, Gets NUC Nod for Six Health Programmes

Regnum Medical University, Anthony, Lagos, has secured approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence academic operations and admit students for the 2026/2027 academic session into six health professional programmes, including Medicine and Surgery, Pharmacy and Nursing Science.

The approval clears the way for the newly established university to admit qualified candidates into Medicine and Surgery (MBBS), Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D), Nursing Science (B.N.Sc), Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT) and Radiography (B.Rad).

The NUC approval followed a comprehensive resource verification exercise during which a team of professors and specialists assessed the university’s academic programmes, infrastructure, laboratories, library resources and faculty strength.

With the approval, Regnum Medical University joins the growing number of institutions seeking to expand Nigeria’s capacity for training doctors, pharmacists, nurses and other health professionals at a time when the country faces a significant shortage of skilled healthcare manpower.

A statement by the university obtained on Friday says for the 2026/2027 academic session, it will admit students into:
1. Medicine and Surgery – MBBS
2. Doctor of Pharmacy – Pharm.D
3. Nursing Science – B.N.Sc
4. Medical Laboratory Science – BMLS
5. Doctor of Physiotherapy – DPT
6. Radiography – B.Rad

These programmes, it adds, were carefully selected to align with national health priorities and are designed to meet global best practices in medical training. Each course combines intensive classroom instruction with hands-on clinical training to produce graduates who are competent, compassionate, and ready to serve.

Regnum Medical University is located in Anthony, a central and secure part of Lagos. The location at Anthony is about 5-10 mins drive to both the International Airport and the Local Airport and is accessible from Maryland, Palmgrove, Ikeja, Oshodi, and a straight drive from the Lagos Island.

According to the statement, the campus has been structured to support modern education in the health professions.
Facilities include adequate lecture room facilities, state-of-the-art basic science, basic medical science and basic clinical science laboratories, simulation centres, digital library, ICT centres, rehabilitation facilities and air-conditioned hostels.

To drive and implement the various health professions curricula, the university has assembled a team of highly qualified and experienced academic faculty.

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This will ensure that students receive instruction from professionals with both academic depth and real-world clinical experience. Leading this team of erudite professionals and serving as pioneer Vice-Chancellor is Professor Akin Osibogun, a Professor of Community Medicine, who has been Chief Medical Director at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) for eight (8) years, and former President, National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

The Vice-Chancellor will be supported by other astute and renowned Professors in the Health Professions.

Speaking on the development, the Vice-Chancellor said, “Our goal is to create an environment where learning meets practice,” a university spokesperson said. “We are committed to training healthcare professionals who can compete anywhere in the world.”

Understanding that medicine is best learned at the bedside, for strong clinical practices, Regnum Medical University has secured agreements with hospitals under the Lagos State Health Service Commission (LSHSC) for clinical training and affiliations.

This affiliation ensures that Regnum Medical University graduates will not only be academically sound but also clinically competent and familiar with Nigeria’s healthcare system.

To support student welfare, the university provides comfortable hostels with air-conditioned rooms. The hostels are designed to create a conducive living and learning environment, with 24-hour power, water supply, internet access, and security. Other amenities include a cafeteria, recreation areas, and transport services to and from clinical training sites.

The establishment of Regnum Medical University comes at a critical time when Nigeria faces a shortage of doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and allied health professionals.

By expanding access to quality medical education, the university aims to bridge this gap and reduce medical tourism.

With this development, applications for admission into the six programmes for the 2026/2027 academic session are now open to qualified candidates from Nigeria and other countries.
Prospective students with the required UTME and O’Level qualifications in the sciences are encouraged to apply early as spaces are limited.

Further information can be obtained directly from the University at its campus :Regnum Medical University, 326-330 Ikorodu Road, Anthony, Lagos OR by visiting the University website at regnummed.edu.ng or follow @RegnumMedicalUniversity on social media.

The university will also hold physical and virtual admission counseling sessions for parents and prospective students in the coming weeks. Details will be announced on the university’s official website and social media pages.

Regnum Medical University, Anthony, Lagos is a private university dedicated to excellence in health sciences education, research, and service. Admissions are ongoing.

“Apply today and begin your journey to becoming a competent and confident health professional.”

Regnum Medical University Opens Admission, Gets NUC Nod for Six Health Programmes