Author: Sodiq Mojibola

As millions of Nigerians journey to their hometowns and villages for the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations, alarming data from DevStats, a DevReporting project that focuses on collecting, analysing, and disseminating data on key developmental issues in Nigeria and Africa by extension, signals a warning for travellers.  According to data gathered from different media reports, at least 365 people died in road accidents across Nigeria between January and March 2025. The deaths were recorded from 82 road crashes across 22 states reported in the media in the first quarter of 2025. Findings by this newspaper also revealed that no fewer than 1,028 persons…

A Nigerian private institution, Babcock University, has dismissed Oladipupo Siwajuola, a student who allegedly went missing, after investigations revealed that he had secretly left the campus disguised as an outpatient, and was involved in drug peddling, and fetish practices among others. The university described his actions as a gross violation of its rules and moral code. Master Siwajuola, a one academic year student of the Joint University Preliminary Examination Board (JUPEB), left the university premises on 28 April without authorisation and without the knowledge of any staff member or fellow student. His sudden disappearance sparked panic, prompting his mother to…

The chairman of the Gates Foundation, Bill Gates, has announced that the majority of his $200 billion pledge will be directed toward Africa over the next two decades, with a focus on partnering with governments that prioritise the health and well-being of their people. Speaking at the Nelson Mandela hall of the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, on Monday, Mr Gates urged African leaders to seize the moment and accelerate progress, despite global economic turbulence. Mr Gates last month announced that he would give away 99 per cent of his vast fortune, which he expects to reach $200 billion…

Hours after celebrating the end of the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) held in Abeokuta, Ogun state, tragedy struck, snatching away at least 19 people including young athletes, a journalist and officials from Kano state in a deadly road crash that has plunged Nigeria’s sporting community into sorrow. The victims of the crash had just represented Kano with pride in Abeokuta, and were returning home when their bus conveying 30 athletes from the venue of the sports festival, veered off the Dakatsalle bridge in Kura Local Government Area of Kano state. The NSF came to an end on Thursday with…

In the face of mounting challenges bedevilling the conduct of examinations in Nigeria, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have insisted on transiting from paper-based testing to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) in order to eliminate human errors and sabotage that continue to plague the system. The insistence of the examination bodies to adopt CBT for the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) has sparked a wave of mixed reactions among education stakeholders across the country. While the examination bodies maintain that transitioning to CBT will curb examination malpractice, several stakeholders have raised concerns over the readiness…

It was a chaotic scene across several examination centres in Nigeria on Wednesday, 28 May, as candidates sitting the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) were left stranded and confused over a shocking delay in their English Language paper. DevReporting gathered that thousands of candidates nationwide were made to wait as the exam failed to kick off at the scheduled time. At some centres, candidates were still writing as late as 11:45 p.m. Candidates were seen using torch lights to illuminate their centres, as most school compounds were in total darkness. A candidate from a Lagos school told DevReporting…

As the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates progresses across Nigeria, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning against examination malpractice, declaring zero tolerance for any acts of dishonesty. The council warned that any candidate caught in dishonest acts during the ongoing WASSCE risks outright cancellation of results and possible prosecution. In a statement issued on Tuesday and obtained by DevReporting, WAEC said that despite initial challenges, the conduct of the WASSCE for school candidates has proceeded smoothly across the country since its commencement on 24 April. It however, raised concerns…

Tension is brewing in Nigeria’s university system following the Federal Government’s release of N50 billion for the settlement of earned allowances for university unions, with 80 per cent of the funds allegedly allocated to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), while the remaining 20 per cent is expected to be shared among three other unions. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has outrightly rejected the distribution formula, describing it as unfair, provocative, and capable of triggering industrial disharmony. The N50…

In a world where digital innovation must now answer to environmental and climate realities, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) has played host to a dynamic week-long summer school aimed at preparing Nigerian students for a greener, more sustainable future in software engineering. The summer school, which was held at the Arthur Mbanefo Digital Research Centre atUNILAG, brought together local academics, international experts, and spirited students for an immersive learning experience focused on sustainable computing. The initiative, powered by the Software Engineers for Green Deal Hub (SE4GD), UNILAG, and its European consortium partners, was organised in partnership with the Department of…

The numbers are out, and they are alarming. Of the nearly 2 million candidates who sat the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), more than 78 per cent scored below 200 out of the obtainable 400 marks. The results left many tongues wagging. For many students, the UTME is more than just an exam; it is a make-or-break moment that determines their chances of gaining higher education. Going by the results released by JAMB on 9 May, where only 21.5 per cent scored 200 and above, candidates are crying, parents are anxious, teachers are frustrated, and educationists are warning of…