Introduction The 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), administered by Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), was intended to showcase the nation’s commitment to a digital-first, fraud-proof tertiary admissions process. Instead, it unveiled a catastrophe. With nearly 400,000 students impacted by severe technical glitches and 78% scoring below the midpoint of 400, the credibility of the exam and the competence of its administrators have been brought into serious question. I was moved seen Professor Oloyede on national TV sobbing for this misdemeanour, and as public servant with character and impeccable record of service, that was a genuine emotional outburst…
Author: Development Reporting
The immediate past National Vice President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Chris Piwuna, a Professor of Medicine and Consultant Psychiatrist, has been elected the union’s national president. Mr Piwuna, a former Dean of Students Affairs at the University of Jos, Plateau State, emerged victorious at an election during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Congress, which commenced on Thursday, 8 May, and concluded earlier today, 12 May, at the University of Benin in Benin City, Edo State. The new President defeated his opponent, Adamu Babayo, a professor from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi State, Northeast Nigeria. The…
By Adejumo Kabir The oil and gas sector in Nigeria has over the years been plagued by weak management, lack of accountability, defective leadership, and reactive regulation, which has made the country further lose ground among the leading oil producing nations. To address critical challenges in this sector, the Bola Tinubu-led government had introduced reforms aimed at revitalising the industry. While the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and recent Executive Orders to reform the sector seem promising, the implementation has been slow, raising concerns among stakeholders, particularly industry players, who argue that the pace of reform has been sluggish and weak. Recently, Good…
Damilola Agbalajobi, a specialist in gender studies, peace and conflict, and political economy, has been appointed a professor of Political Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife. Mrs Agbalajobi, who joined the institution as a lecturer in 2012, now ranks the university’s first female political science professor since its establishment in 1962. The promotion was approved by the university’s Appointment and Promotions Committee at its meeting on Monday, 14 April, and is effective on 1 October 2024. The professor, who is also on the Lagos team of the African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) alongside the Team Lead and Editor-in-Chief…
The embattled Vice Chancellor of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria, Abayomi Fasina, has embarked on a sudden leave from the university and a successor in acting capacity has been appointed. This was confirmed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Foluso Ogunmodede. Also, in a two-paragraph statement issued by the university and signed by the Registrar, Mufutau Ibrahim, a copy of which was obtained by DevReporting, the governing council said it approved the request by the vice-chancellor to embark on his accumulated leave. The new development may not be unconnected to the sexual harassment scandal rocking the…
By Abdulkareem Alao The year 2024 was marked by unprecedented crises in various countries across Africa. These crises did not only threaten the lives and livelihoods of millions of people; they threatened the stability and prosperity of the African nations. Some of the major disasters that rocked the continent include armed violence, climate change, disease outbreaks, and migration tragedies, among others. With rising temperatures, droughts, and floods, different countries, including Nigeria, experienced multiple deaths and massive displacements. In September 2024, for instance, a collapsed dam in Maiduguri, northeastern Borno State, affected about a million people. While no fewer than 37…
Today, 21 March 2025 marks a historic milestone as Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah becomes Namibia’s first female president. This presidency signifies a shift towards more inclusive governance, where women are recognised as leaders who can shape national and continental policies. The election of Netumbo is a collective win for African women who have long fought for equal representation in governance. She has earned the trust and confidence of the Namibian people, culminating in her historic election. This victory sends a powerful message that women can lead and excel at the highest levels of governance. Credence to the sagacity of late President Hage…
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has faced significant funding cuts over the years, with notable reductions occurring during the current administration. The Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, announced on 11 March, 2025, that 83 per cent of USAID programmes were slated for cancellation. The cuts were finalised after a review process, with many USAID workers and contractors filing lawsuits in response. Critics warned of severe humanitarian and political consequences, including accelerated global disease spread and heightened security risks. This article explores the impact of these cuts on children aged 0-8 in humanitarian crises globally and underscores the urgent…
This visit is in recognition of a policy shift in Nigeria borne out of a growing acceptance that military operations alone are insufficient in the fight against terrorism and insurgency.
With its headquarters in Lagos, the newspaper said its interest is to promote informed discourse, balanced reporting, and comprehensive impact on development issues in Nigeria and Africa.