Tinubu should scrap Post-UTME; it’s burden to parents, students: South-East Stakeholders - Newstrends
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Tinubu should scrap Post-UTME; it’s burden to parents, students: South-East Stakeholders

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1 year ago

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JAMB Moves 2027 UTME Time — Here’s What Candidates Need To Know

Tinubu should scrap Post-UTME; it’s burden to parents, students: South-East Stakeholders

The conduct of Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination by some Nigerian universities has continued to stir controversy, with many stakeholders describing it as a “legalised means of extorting admission seekers”.

The stakeholders in Anambra, Ebonyi, and Enugu expressed their views in separate interviews with journalists.

They argued that the continued administration of the additional entrance test was an unnecessary burden on parents and students.

They noted that the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, conducted annually by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, was sufficient to test candidates’ aptitude and determine their eligibility for admission into tertiary institutions.

In Ebonyi, Chukwu Ogamdi, a parent, described the post-UTME as “a revenue-generating scheme rather than an academic necessity” and called on the federal government to scrap it.

According to him, parents who have already paid heavily to register their children for the UTME conducted by JAMB are made to pay again for another round of testing that adds little or no value.

Similarly, Lizzy Nwafor, a student seeking admission into one of the federal universities, said the process discouraged many young Nigerians from pursuing higher education.

For Emmanuel Okorie, a civil society activist, the essence of JAMB was being undermined by the persistence of Post-UTME.

“JAMB was established to unify admission processes; allowing universities to conduct another test is like saying JAMB is not competent; it creates confusion, wastes resources, and opens the door to exploitation,” Mr Okorie argued.

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He further called on the Federal Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission to abolish the practice and sanction institutions still involved.

Also speaking, Nkeiruka Akam, a secondary school teacher, noted that the policy had outlived its usefulness.

According to her, the initial intention was to ensure quality control in admissions, but it has allegedly been abused over time.

“The noble purpose of Post-UTME has been defeated. Today, it is about money, not merit. Authorities must listen to the cries of parents and students and put an end to it,” she said.

The admission officer at Peaceland University in Enugu, Charles Igwe, states that the university does not conduct a post-UTME for its students but rather relies on the students it receives from JAMB.

He added that, based on his knowledge, universities conducting post-UTME were not trying to discredit the credibility of JAMB. He stressed that some students had attempted to manipulate the system, citing reports where students were being impersonated during JAMB exams and engaging in irregular activities to pass.

The registrar of the university, Patrick Ugwu, said that public universities, such as UNN and ESUT, and other large universities, had a large number of student applicants. According to him, the introduction of post-UTME helped those universities to, at least, admit those who really merit their admission.

Similarly, the deputy vice-chancellor (academics) at the Godfrey Okoye University, Enugu, MarySylvia Nwachukwu, says the university does not conduct a post-UTME but believes in the student’s qualifications.

Darlington Nweze, a secondary school teacher, said the post-UTME was not necessary, adding that the JAMB exam was enough to test the students’ abilities. He argued that conducting another exam after JAMB was a dual examination on the same procedure.

According to him, a student can pass JAMB but still fail the university test based on the questions asked.

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A parent, Blessing Ani, noted that some students would score high grades in JAMB but would not obtain half of the grade in the post-UTME screening exam. According to her, some students still cheat during the JAMB exam, thereby making the exam not credible.

A cross-section of residents in Nsukka LGA of Enugu stated that they support the use of JAMB scores by candidates for admission.

In separate interviews with journalists in Nsukka, they called on both federal and state governments to ban universities from using post-UTME as a prerequisite for admission into tertiary institutions.

Titus Idu, the proprietor of Future Leaders Academy Secondary School, Nsukka, called for the government’s intervention on the matter through National Assembly legislation.

Florence Ogbonna, a guardian, said that the government should consider the risks and financial expenses incurred by candidates traveling long distances to take post-UTME screenings.

Ms Ogbonna urged the government to choose between JAMB and tertiary institutions in the country that would be vested with the responsibility of conducting admission examinations into tertiary institutions.

Meanwhile, in Anambra, some parents and prospective students have commended the scrapping of physical Post-Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) and the adoption of online screening methods.

Major universities, including Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, and Paul University, as well as several private institutions across Anambra, have adopted online screening for student admissions.

The parents and students said that the shift from physical Post-UTME exams to online screening reduced stress, saved costs, and improved accessibility for applicants nationwide.

Ngozi Ezenwa, a parent resident in Oyo State whose son applied to NAU, praised the initiative, describing it as a welcome relief.

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Another parent, Kenneth Agboola, an engineer whose daughter recently applied to COOU, raised concerns about the transparency of the online screening process.

Chisimdi Adogah, a prospective law student at NAU who resides in Lagos, said she paid N2,000 to register online and uploaded her JAMB scores, O’Level results, and other relevant academic records.

Similarly, Janet Ojomo, who applied to COOU, recounted that she went to a cyber cafe to complete her online registration and is now awaiting her screening results.

However, Franklin Okwaraogu, a prospective student of NAU, said he preferred physical exams to online screening, as there could be internet glitches or failures.

University administrators said the decision to adopt online screening was driven by years of logistical difficulties in organising the Post-UTME exams.

Harrison Madubeze, spokesman for COOU, said that admission screening now relied on JAMB scores and O-Level results to determine the internal cut-off marks.

“COOU stopped requiring prospective students to sit for the post-UTME examination five years ago. “The university now uses the results uploaded by students to determine the internal cut-off marks.

“There was no specific reason given for scrapping the physical Post-UTME, but I believe many institutions abandoned it due to logistical challenges and the burden of organizing the exams,” he said.

Chris Abakare of NAU stated that the university ceased conducting physical Post-UTME tests in 2020 to reduce logistical and financial costs.

Meanwhile, some education advocates warn that scrapping the physical Post-UTME could lead to less merit-based admissions.

Chukwudi Emejom, an education policy analyst, said scrapping the Post-UTME could open the door to backdoor admissions and favoritism.

Post-UTME was introduced in 2005 in response to concerns over examination malpractice in JAMB’s paper-based tests.

Proponents argued that it provided universities with an additional filter to assess candidates’ competence. However, critics insist that the transition of JAMB to a fully computer-based testing system in 2013 has addressed most of those concerns, making Post-UTME redundant.

They, therefore, urged the government to prevail on universities still collecting fees from prospective candidates, either for screening or testing, to desist in order to reduce financial pressure on families.

Tinubu should scrap Post-UTME; it’s burden to parents, students: South-East Stakeholders

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Agunbiade Celebrates Wife, Raheem Adepeju, on M.Ed. Graduation from University of Ibadan

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2 days ago

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November 13, 2026

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Agunbiade Celebrates Wife, Raheem Adepeju, on M.Ed. Graduation from University of Ibadan
Agunbiade Celebrates Wife, Raheem Adepeju, on M.Ed. Graduation from University of Ibadan

Mallam Ibrahim Agunbiade has celebrated his wife, Mrs Raheem Adijat Adepeju, following her successful completion of a Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Human Kinetics at the University of Ibadan, Oyo State.

Agunbiade described the academic achievement as a major milestone in his wife’s educational journey, praising her dedication, resilience, intelligence and commitment to personal development.

In a congratulatory tribute, he described Adepeju as a woman of grace and excellence whose latest qualification reflected years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice.

He traced her academic journey from Abeokuta, Ogun State, where she obtained her National Certificate in Education (NCE), to the University of Ilorin, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.Sc. Ed.), and finally to the University of Ibadan, where she completed her master’s degree.

According to him, the progression through the three institutions demonstrated her determination to pursue higher education and achieve her professional aspirations.

Agunbiade said his wife’s accomplishment went beyond the acquisition of another academic qualification, describing it as evidence of her perseverance and willingness to overcome challenges in pursuit of excellence.

He also praised her humility, patience, strength and intelligence, saying her determination to fulfil her aspirations had continued to inspire him.

Expressing his happiness, Agunbiade said watching his wife grow academically and achieve her goals remained a source of pride and personal fulfilment.

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He noted that while the University of Ibadan was celebrating another successful graduate, he was celebrating a remarkable woman, a loving wife and a blessing in his life.

He expressed confidence that the M.Ed. qualification would open new opportunities for Adepeju and provide a platform for greater contributions to education and society.

Agunbiade also offered prayers for Allah’s continued guidance and blessings upon his wife, asking that her newly acquired knowledge be beneficial to humanity and that she be granted greater opportunities, wisdom and success.

He further prayed for peace, love, understanding, prosperity and lasting happiness in their marriage and family.

Concluding his tribute, he reaffirmed his support for his wife’s ambitions and encouraged her to continue pursuing greater accomplishments.

“Congratulations, my Queen! Congratulations, my pride! Congratulations, my forever blessing! The journey continues, and I will always be your number-one cheerleader,” he said.

He urged Adepeju to keep reaching higher, breaking barriers and making positive contributions to society, expressing optimism that greater achievements lay ahead, by Allah’s permission.

Agunbiade Celebrates Wife, Raheem Adepeju, on M.Ed. Graduation from University of Ibadan

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Education

NELFUND Loan: How Parents Can Stop Children from Collecting School Fees Twice

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3 days ago

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November 12, 2026

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NELFUND Loan: How Parents Can Stop Children from Collecting School Fees Twice

NELFUND Loan: How Parents Can Stop Children from Collecting School Fees Twice

Parents and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) have offered suggestions on how to prevent students from collecting money from their parents for tuition fees already covered by the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.

The recommendations followed concerns raised by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) over alleged cases of beneficiaries collecting financial support from the agency while continuing to demand school fees from their parents without disclosing that their tuition had already been paid.

The practice, popularly described as double-dipping, has prompted calls for stronger verification, improved communication and greater transparency in the administration of the student loan programme.

NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, raised the concern during a media briefing in Abuja, where he announced plans to introduce new measures to prevent the misuse of the scheme and eliminate disputes arising from duplicate tuition payments.

Sawyerr said the fund had identified cases in which students benefited from NELFUND’s financial support but continued to rely on their parents to pay tuition fees already covered by the government.

He described the practice as unacceptable, warning that the agency would take steps to end it.

He also explained that some duplicate payments occurred because students were not promptly informed that NELFUND had already transferred their tuition fees to their institutions.

Consequently, some beneficiaries independently paid their school fees because they were unaware that the government-backed fund had settled the bills.

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To address the problem, NELFUND is introducing a token-based payment system that will allow students to authorise tuition payments directly to their institutions through a mobile application.

Under the proposed arrangement, students will receive notifications when their approved loan funds are ready for payment and can authorise the transactions through their phones.

The money will be transferred directly to the designated institutions rather than being made available for withdrawal into students’ personal bank accounts.

Sawyerr said the arrangement would eliminate unnecessary refund complications and give beneficiaries better control over the payment process.

He stressed that the token system would prevent students from redirecting approved tuition funds to personal accounts or other institutions.

NELFUND is also planning a parental verification portal through which parents can check whether their children’s school fees have been paid under the loan scheme.

According to reports, the proposed platform will allow parents to use their children’s matriculation numbers to confirm payment status without necessarily accessing the specific amounts involved.

The initiative is expected to help parents establish whether tuition obligations have already been settled before making additional payments.

Meanwhile, NANS has welcomed the token payment arrangement, describing it as a measure capable of improving transparency, accountability and efficiency in the student loan programme.

The association’s Public Relations Officer, David Obidah, said the innovation could address problems associated with duplicate transactions, delayed payment confirmations and refund disputes.

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He urged NELFUND to ensure that the system remained accessible and reliable, while calling on tertiary institutions to reconcile payments promptly, update students’ records and resolve discrepancies without unnecessary delays.

Obidah also emphasised the importance of proper communication between the fund, students, institutions and parents to prevent misunderstandings about tuition payments.

On the question of parental involvement, NANS has maintained that parents should be informed when their children apply for or receive student loans, but their consent should not become a compulsory condition for accessing the scheme.

The association argued that making parental approval mandatory could create unnecessary barriers for students whose parents are unavailable, financially incapable or unwilling to support their education.

It therefore favours a structured notification system through which parents and guardians can receive information about loan applications and approvals without having the power to determine whether eligible students can access the financial support.

Parents have also been advised to take a more active role in monitoring their children’s educational finances rather than making tuition payments without first confirming whether the students have benefited from NELFUND.

An official of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, Dr Helen Nsirim, had earlier advised parents to verify the list of NELFUND beneficiaries before paying their children’s school fees.

She warned that some students allegedly concealed their beneficiary status from their parents to continue collecting tuition money despite receiving government assistance.

Nsirim urged parents to check with their children’s institutions and use available NELFUND information channels to establish whether their fees had been covered.

She also called on NELFUND to improve transparency by making beneficiary information accessible through appropriate channels.

Beyond the recommendations, stakeholders have stressed the need for tertiary institutions to maintain accurate payment records and notify students promptly whenever tuition fees are received from NELFUND.

This is considered important because delays in updating institutional records can leave beneficiaries uncertain about their financial status and expose them to unnecessary duplicate payments.

NELFUND has also announced plans to organise re-education workshops across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to explain the revised payment procedures to students, parents and tertiary institutions.

The workshops are expected to address misunderstandings about institutional fees, upkeep allowances, payment confirmation and the responsibilities of different stakeholders.

The development comes as the Federal Government continues to expand its interest-free student loan programme, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, to reduce financial barriers to tertiary education.

As of October 3, 2026, NELFUND had reported more than N372 billion in loan disbursements to beneficiaries across hundreds of tertiary institutions nationwide.

The growing scale of the programme has increased the need for effective monitoring, accurate financial records and stronger accountability mechanisms to ensure that public funds reach their intended beneficiaries.

While NELFUND’s proposed reforms are expected to address some of the challenges, their effectiveness will depend on timely implementation, cooperation from tertiary institutions and adequate communication with students and their families.

For parents, the immediate advice is to verify tuition payment status before paying school fees. Students, on their part, are expected to disclose their NELFUND beneficiary status and avoid collecting money for educational expenses already covered by the government.

NELFUND Loan: How Parents Can Stop Children from Collecting School Fees Twice

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University Funding Crisis: States Beg FG to Take Over Cash-Strapped Institutions

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1 week ago

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November 7, 2026

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University Funding Crisis: States Beg FG to Take Over Cash-Strapped Institutions
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa
University Funding Crisis: States Beg FG to Take Over Cash-Strapped Institutions

Some state governments have appealed to the Federal Government to take over their universities amid mounting financial difficulties and growing concerns about their ability to sustain the institutions.

The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, disclosed this in a memorandum addressed to Senate President Godswill Akpabio on November 2, 2026, while seeking legislative support for a seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new federal universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

According to the minister, some state governments have approached the Federal Government because they can no longer adequately meet the financial and administrative responsibilities associated with running their universities.

Although Alausa did not identify the states involved or disclose the number of institutions affected, he cited the experiences of Ekiti and Imo states as examples of the difficulties associated with establishing and maintaining multiple tertiary institutions without sustainable funding arrangements.

The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over the financial sustainability of public universities in Nigeria, recurring industrial disputes involving university lecturers, deteriorating infrastructure and demands for improved staff welfare.

Alausa argued that the country’s immediate priority should be strengthening existing institutions rather than continuously establishing new ones without adequate financial provisions.

He warned that expanding the number of universities without addressing their funding challenges could further weaken the quality of tertiary education and undermine academic standards.

The minister also highlighted the Federal Government’s outstanding financial commitments to the revitalisation of public universities.

According to the memorandum, under the 2013–2018 Federal Government agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the government committed ₦1.3 trillion to university revitalisation.

However, only ₦250 billion was released between 2013 and 2021, representing less than 20 per cent of the original commitment.

Alausa further disclosed that of the additional ₦150 billion approved in 2025 for the Needs Assessment Intervention, only ₦50 billion was initially released.

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He said the funding gaps demonstrated the difficulty of meeting existing obligations and raised questions about the government’s capacity to sustain additional institutions without guaranteed budgetary provisions.

The minister identified inadequate lecture halls, overcrowded classrooms, insufficient laboratories, shortages of qualified lecturers, accommodation deficits and deteriorating facilities as some of the major challenges confronting public tertiary institutions.

He maintained that spreading limited resources across more universities without addressing existing deficiencies could further weaken the sector.

Alausa also recalled that Ekiti State consolidated three state-owned universities into a single institution, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, in 2011.

He cited institutional reviews and integration exercises undertaken by Imo State following the establishment of several tertiary institutions under previous administrations.

According to him, these experiences demonstrate the risks of establishing universities without proper feasibility studies and sustainable funding arrangements.

He warned that institutions created without adequate financial planning could eventually become liabilities for successive administrations, forcing governments to undertake costly mergers, restructuring or closures.

The minister also referenced international examples, including Australia, Finland, Japan, the United States and South Africa, where institutional mergers and consolidation have been used to address funding constraints, duplicated academic programmes and administrative inefficiencies.

He argued that Nigeria could adopt similar measures to improve governance, strengthen research capacity and ensure more efficient utilisation of available resources.

Beyond the requests for federal takeovers, Alausa urged the National Assembly to support a seven-year moratorium on establishing new federal tertiary institutions.

He said the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved the moratorium at its meeting on August 13, 2025, as part of efforts to address the proliferation of public tertiary institutions.

However, the minister expressed concern that lawmakers were still considering bills seeking to establish additional institutions despite the policy.

He acknowledged the constitutional powers of the National Assembly to initiate and pass legislation but urged lawmakers to consider national education priorities, demonstrable needs and the financial implications of establishing new institutions.

Alausa stressed that setting up a university involved more than passing an enabling law, as it required land acquisition, take-off grants, infrastructure, recruitment of academic and non-academic personnel, equipment, utilities and recurrent expenditure.

He warned that institutions established without credible long-term funding arrangements could exist only on paper, without the resources required to deliver quality education.

The minister clarified that the proposed seven-year moratorium was not intended to permanently deny Nigerians access to tertiary education or prevent future expansion where compelling national needs existed.

Rather, he said the measure would allow the government to consolidate existing investments, improve academic standards and address infrastructure and staffing deficiencies.

The development comes against the backdrop of recurring industrial disputes between state governments and university lecturers over salaries, allowances, earned academic benefits and the implementation of agreements with ASUU.

The union has consistently maintained that state governments must honour applicable agreements with lecturers in their institutions rather than rely solely on commitments made by the Federal Government.

The disputes have disrupted academic activities in some institutions and raised questions about the ability of certain state governments to provide stable funding for university education.

Meanwhile, the Federal Government announced on October 25, 2026, that it had disbursed ₦38.93 billion to 166 public tertiary institutions under the Needs Assessment Revitalisation Fund.

The allocation covered 79 universities, 46 polytechnics and 41 colleges of education, with the money earmarked for approved infrastructure and teaching-related projects.

Despite the intervention, Alausa’s latest memorandum suggests that substantial funding and infrastructure challenges remain across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

The minister appealed to Senate President Akpabio, Senate Majority Leader Michael Opeyemi Bamidele and other lawmakers to support the proposed moratorium.

He maintained that the success of Nigeria’s education system should be measured by the quality of its institutions, teaching, research and graduates rather than simply the number of universities established.

 

University Funding Crisis: States Beg FG to Take Over Cash-Strapped Institutions

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