Amid the controversy over the concession of King’s College, Lagos, and the disruption of academic activities in several Federal Unity Colleges, the school’s old boys have rolled out the drums for Kingsweek 2026. While KCOBA celebrates the school’s heritage and future, parents, unions and education advocates continue to demand answers about the fate of one of Nigeria’s most prominent public schools. The King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA) on Monday unveiled plans for Kingsweek 2026, the annual celebration of the Lagos school, as controversy over its concession to the association continues to unsettle parents, unions and the wider federal unity-school…
Author: Development Reporting
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC), Nigeria, says only 69 out of 2,267 candidates whose 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) results were reviewed had their grades adjusted. The figure represents 3.0 per cent of the candidates whose scripts were subjected to a comprehensive review following requests from some schools and the Minister of Education. WAEC said the review, which covered scripts from 47 schools, confirmed the credibility and reliability of the 2026 WASSCE results. The Council made the disclosure in a statement issued amid recent controversies surrounding the 2026 WASSCE results. According to a statement, the adjustments…
The years of smooth academic calendars hitherto enjoyed by the Lagos State Government-owned tertiary institutions may have just come to an end as lecturers across the state’s universities have declared an indefinite strike action. The Joint Campus Group of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), comprising the Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), and Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH), on Tuesday asked its members to down tools with “immediate effect”. A statement signed by the trio of the Coordinator of the Steering Committee of ASUU in LASU, Olusegun Babalola; Acting Chairman of…
Kenyan businesses and community groups are turning discarded cotton stalks, gin waste and textile offcuts into briquettes, household textiles and mattress filling. The emerging industry could create new income for farmers and women-led enterprises. By Gitonga Njeru, bird story agency For years, Peterson Mwadau regarded the stalks and other plant residue left after his cotton harvest as little more than a disposal problem. Mr Mwadau grows cotton on 18 acres in Kilifi County on Kenya’s coast. Once the crop has been picked, a considerable amount of plant material remains in his fields. Now, instead of burning or discarding all of…
The Federal Government has said that King’s College, Lagos, has not been sold or privatised, stressing that the institution remains a publicly owned national institution with legal title retained by the government. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, gave the assurance while clarifying the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) concession between the Federal Government and the King’s College Old Boys’ Association (KCOBA). Under the concession agreement, KCOBA is responsible for financing, rehabilitating, modernising, operating and maintaining the 117-year-old institution, while the Federal Government retains ownership as well as its statutory regulatory, monitoring, inspection and enforcement powers. Mr Alausa also said the agreement does…
Individuals, organisations, schools, governments and communities driving Africa’s environmental sustainability and green transformation will be recognised at the Earth Stewards Award 2026 in Accra, Ghana, on Saturday, 12 September. The award, organised by the Africa Horticultural Circle (AHC), will recognise contributions to environmental conservation, biodiversity protection, horticulture, Green Literacy, sustainable development and environmental innovation. The ceremony will take place at Efua Sutherland Park, Accra, alongside the Ghana Garden & Flower Show. The event will also be streamed online. According to AHC, the award seeks to spotlight people and institutions whose work is helping to restore degraded landscapes, protect biodiversity, expand…
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has warned that it may resume its suspended nationwide strike if the Federal and state governments fail to urgently address unresolved issues affecting university lecturers and the wider public university system. The warning followed the resolution of an emergency meeting of the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) held at its National Secretariat, University of Abuja, on 5 September. In a press release signed by its President, Prof. Christopher Piwuna, the union accused governments of failing to fully implement the December 2025 FGN-ASUU Agreement, despite months of engagements and earlier public warnings. ASUU said…
As schools prepare to reopen for a new session, the Lagos State Government has stepped up vaccination awareness and disease surveillance among schoolchildren amid diphtheria outbreaks in other parts of Nigeria. The Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, said on Wednesday that there is currently no diphtheria outbreak in Lagos, but that the state is taking precautionary measures because of its large population and the constant movement of people from affected states. Mr Abayomi said the Ministry of Health was working with the education sector to strengthen awareness and vaccination among schoolchildren ahead of resumption. Suspected cases in schools, he said, would…
Rising temperatures may be taking a hidden toll on pregnancies in Sub-Saharan Africa, with new research linking heat exposure during early pregnancy to increased loss of male fetuses. An analysis of nearly three million births across 33 countries found that exposure to temperatures above 20°C during the first trimester was associated with a higher likelihood of pregnancy loss, highlighting the need to strengthen maternal healthcare as the climate warms. By: Paul Adepoju [LAGOS, SciDev.Net] Exposure to even moderately warm temperatures during pregnancy is increasing the loss of vulnerable male fetuses in Sub-Saharan Africa, highlighting the need to strengthen maternal healthcare…
It is a privilege to join distinguished industry leaders in honouring Mrs Bimbo Oloyede as she marks an extraordinary 50-year career in broadcasting, strategic communication, language instruction, and public speaking. Few occasions present such a distinguished gathering. Approximately 60 media professionals, scholars, newsroom executives, and mentees contributed to a single volume in her honour, resulting in one of the most comprehensive festschrifts within Nigeria’s media and communication landscape. Eager host, reluctant guests My contribution, titled “Eager Hosts, Reluctant Guests: Bridging Research Communication Gaps in Africa,” analyses the historical disconnect between academic researchers and journalists, examining how this gap affects socio-economic…