Author: Christiana Alabi-Akande

The Federal Government has directed the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) to fully adopt Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for all their examinations by 2026, describing it as a major step towards eliminating examination malpractice and encouraging genuine academic preparation among students. The Minister of State for Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the directive on Monday during a monitoring exercise of the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) alongside officials of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) in Bwari, Abuja. Mr Alausa explained that by November 2025, both examination bodies must begin conducting their objective papers via CBT,…

In the last five years, about 1,800 of over 3,000 academic staff of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, representing almost 60 per cent, resigned their appointments from the tertiary institution in their quest for greener pastures, DevReporting reports. Only 1,200 lecturers, including professors, senior, and junior academic staff, are currently on the university’s nominal roll. Yet the Vice-Chancellor, Folasade Ogunsola, a Professor of Medical Microbiology, said “the number keeps changing rapidly.” However, the Nigerian government seems unconcerned by this significant threat as successive administrations have continued to grant approvals for new ones. Mrs Ogunsola, who spoke in an exclusive…

Ahead of the commencement of the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has barred 574 schools from participating in its examinations over their alleged involvement in examination malpractice. The Head of Nigeria’s National Office of the examination body, Amos Dangut, disclosed this on Thursday during a media briefing on preparations for the forthcoming WASSCE, which is scheduled to take place from 24 April to 20 June. According to Mr Dangut, “A total of 574 schools have had their recognition withdrawn. This figure does not include those facing shorter sanctions…

What began as a modest work-site clinic at a single location in 2009 has grown into a 50-bed ultra-modern hospital network including a dialysis centre, and several work-site clinics. Avon Medical Practice, a company under Heirs Holdings on Monday unveiled its new ultramodern facility in Lagos Nigeria, promising affordable, world-class care to families long underserved by overstretched public systems. At the official launch, the Chairperson of Avon Medical, Awele Elumelu, a medical doctor described the milestone as ‘emotional and fulfilling,’ stressing that the investment was inspired by the need to close critical healthcare gaps in Africa where only 1 per…

As families and friends around the world gathered to celebrate Christmas on 25th December 2024, 10-year-old Emmanuella took her final breath. The little girl, known for her infectious laughter and playful spirit, had battled malaria in silence. It began as a mild fever but worsened due to lack of timely treatment. The first hospital turned her away, unable to handle her critical condition. By the time she finally received medical attention, there was nothing more that could be done. Her death brought deep sorrow to the neighbourhood at Mangoro area in Lagos State, turning the joyful Christmas celebrations into a…

The Governing Council of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) has cleared the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Abayomi Fasina, of allegations of sexual harassment and corrupt practices levelled against him by a female Deputy Director, Folasade Adebayo This is contained in a statement issued by the university and signed by its registrar, Mufutau Ibrahim, noting that the decision was taken at the council’s 8th extraordinary meeting, held on 8 April. Mr Ibrahim, who doubled as the secretary to the governing council, said the resolutions followed deliberations on the reports of investigative committees constituted over publications credited to the leadership of the university’s branch…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has revealed a disturbing surge in the use of fake A-Level certificates, with at least 585 cases uncovered in 2025 alone. This was published in the Board’s weekly bulletin of 7 April. According to the bulletin, the Board’s Registrar, Is-haq Oloyede made the revelation during a virtual meeting with JAMB staff ahead of the 2025 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the main UTME. Professor Oloyede expressed concern over the growing trend of forged advanced level qualifications, describing it as a serious threat to the integrity of Nigeria’s education system. He explained…

Every two minutes, a woman somewhere in the world dies from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth, a United Nations (UN) report has revealed. According to the report titled  Trends in Maternal Mortality, released on World Health Day 2025, global maternal deaths dropped by 40 per cent between 2000 and 2023, largely due to improved access to essential health services. However, progress in reducing maternal deaths has slowed drastically since 2016, with an estimated 260,000 women losing their lives in 2023 alone, that’s roughly one maternal death every two minutes. The report further shows that pregnant women living in humanitarian…

Between 1 January and 27 March, Lagos State recorded 10 confirmed cases of diphtheria, a serious bacterial infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which produces a toxin responsible for severe complications. The State’s Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi disclosed this in a statement signed on 30 March by the Director of Public Affairs in the Ministry of Health, Tunbosun Ogunbanwo.  According to the statement, laboratory tests conducted on 76 samples confirmed 10 positive cases, while 63 samples returned negative. Prof. Abayomi noted that suspected cases fluctuated over the period, with some days recording as many as 15 cases and others as…

Wasiu Abatan cheats death on an ordinary day at the Lagos-Ogun border tollgate which took a horrific turn after a routine task became a desperate fight for survival. The 33-year-old was collecting levies from tricycle operators when a Hilux lost control and rammed into him.  In the blink of an eye, the vehicle’s front and rear tyres had crushed his stomach, leaving him struggling to breathe.  “I remember the moment my body hit the ground. Out of reflex, I jumped up so that another vehicle wouldn’t crush me. It was then I felt an unbearable pain, but worse than that…