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Unity Schools: 70,603 pupils write 2024 common entrance exam

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Some 70,603 candidates sat for the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into federal unity colleges on Saturday.

The Registrar/CEO, National Examination Council (NECO), Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, during the monitoring in Abuja, said there was a reduction in the registration compared to 2023, when 72,865 registered.
Reeling out the statistics, Wushishi said the council registered 33,335 male and 37,268 female, a lower registration compared to 2023 with 34,064 male and 38,801 female.
According to him, the candidates were posted to write the examination in  599 centres across the country.
He said that many factors were responsible for the lower registration, including the economy.
“There was a slight increase in the cost of registration and we all know what is happening in the economy.
“This affected everybody, especially those in the rural areas; candidates are not sponsored at this level,” he said.
Speaking on the promise made in 2023 by the then Permanent Secretary, Mr David Adejo, that no underage candidate would be allowed to sit for the exams, Wushishi said the council had implemented the decision.
“We have promised to addressed the situation of underage children writing the exams and we did.
“You will find out that most of the candidates you see here that look underage are not, because some of them have just one month to complete 10 years.
“So, in such cases, we excuse them to write; we don’t have any issue that has to do with any underage sitting this exams,” he added.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Basic and Secondary Education, Sen. Lawal Usman, commended NECO for the conduct of the examination.
Usman, representing Kaduna Central, urged the council to upgrade its examinations to ICT platform just at conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
He said that sponsorship for NECO and JAMB was rolled out throughout his state.
“We contributed over 200 million to parents to be able to pay for the children’s NECO and JAMB.
“I am calling on other senators and house members to key into this because this is the foundation for every child,” he said.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, who spoke on the assessment of the examination, expressed satisfaction with the conduct.
“We’ve just been monitoring the ongoing NECO exams; in the FCT, we have 55 centres, but we have so far monitored three.
“Generally, everything is going on well and we are happy with what NECO has put in place to ensure a smooth and seamless exercise,” she said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the schools visited during the monitoring include Model Secondary School, Maitama and Government Day Secondary School, Wuse II. (NAN
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NOA Investigation Reveals Shocking Misappropriation In Student Loan Scheme

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An investigation by Nigeria’s National Orientation Agency (NOA) has uncovered alleged collusion between universities and banks to misappropriate funds from the Federal Government’s Student Loan Scheme, depriving students of their entitled financial support.

In a statement released on Sunday, NOA Director General Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu revealed the findings following a meeting with Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The probe, conducted by NOA’s Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers, exposed deliberate delays in loan disbursements to students for personal gain by certain institutions and banks.

“Some universities fail to acknowledge NELFUND’s disbursements to students,” Sawyerr said, noting that affected institutions receive funds directly but neither inform students nor record payments, forcing students to pay tuition fees out of pocket.

“Withholding critical financial information from students is unethical and a breach of NELFUND’s principles,” he added.

He warned that legal action awaits any institution found culpable.

The NOA has issued a stern directive to implicated schools and banks to halt such practices immediately.

It has also instructed its state directorates to gather further feedback from students nationwide to ensure accountability and prompt government action against those involved.

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Tinubu pledges nationwide road infrastructure boost

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President Bola Tinubu has said his vision is to complete and expand all key road infrastructure projects across Nigeria to improve nationwide connectivity.

President Tinubu stated this on Sunday during the inauguration of section two of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road project.

The President, who was represented by the Governor of Kaduna State, Uba Sani, said the road is a vital link between the South and North, and the government is committed to easing travel across the country.

“My vision is to overhaul Nigeria’s roadways by completing and expanding critical infrastructure projects nationwide,” Tinubu stated.

He acknowledged that some projects began under past administrations but praised his government for refining partnerships, addressing funding issues, and setting new completion timelines.

“In almost two years, we’ve awarded several new road projects, many of which have already been completed to boost trade, productivity, and regional development,” Tinubu said.

He added that no part of Nigeria is being neglected in the ongoing infrastructure upgrades sweeping across the nation under his leadership.

Tinubu said Kaduna State and Northern Nigeria have especially benefited from major infrastructure improvements since his administration began.

He highlighted the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway as a landmark project and one of Nigeria’s most critical road networks.

The road connects the Federal Capital Territory with about 12 states across the north-central, northwest, and northeast, aiding both economic and social development.

Also, Tinubu approved an 11-kilometre extension to connect the road to Aminu Kano International Airport.

He also added 10 kilometres at the start of section one, between Kogi State and Abuja, for greater coverage.

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Tinubu directed that solar-powered lights be installed throughout the road for safety and illumination.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, praised Tinubu’s dedication to improving Nigeria’s infrastructure, especially in the road sector.

Umahi revealed that the 700-kilometre road would be completed using concrete-reinforced pavement within 14 months.

He said the project spans 350 kilometres each way from Abuja, passing through Niger State to Kaduna, Zaria, and ending in Kano.

The minister confirmed that Julius Berger had completed 480 kilometres of the Kano section, with 280 kilometres remaining to be done.

Umahi stated that construction of sections one and three, totalling 118 kilometres, had been awarded for N252 billion with 30 per cent upfront payment to Infiouest.

He added that section two, 82 kilometres each way (164 kilometres total), had been flagged off at a cost of N525 billion.

The entire road project, close to a trillion naira in total, is being executed by Infiouest, which Umahi endorsed as reliable.

Umahi assured Nigerians of progress and said the ministry would return in 30 days to assess the ongoing work.

He disclosed plans for zonal engagements across the six geopolitical zones to report on road and bridge achievements under the Tinubu administration.

Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, reaffirmed Tinubu’s commitment to Nigeria’s socioeconomic development.

Goronyo called Tinubu a leader for all regions, with dedication to every corner of the country.

“We deeply appreciate your efforts; your impact is felt nationwide,” Goronyo said.

He commended Tinubu for projects in Illela, Sokoto, Lagos, and Badagry, highlighting them as part of major legacy superhighways.

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“This is a performing President, bringing renewed hope and positive change to Nigerian lives,” Goronyo added.

He encouraged communities to support the contractors, governors, and the president in building a prosperous and transformed Nigeria. (NAN)

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Soyinka Calls For Reversal Of Ban On Eedris Abdulkareem’s Song

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Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has criticised the recent ban placed on a song by Nigerian musician, Eedris Abdulkareem, calling for the reversal of the action.

Abdulkareem, who is popular for his song ‘Jaga Jaga’, which was critical of the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, recently released a new song titled ‘Tell Your Papa’ directed at President Bola Tinubu’s son Seyi. In the song, the singer criticised the President for the worsening economy and hardship in the country.

This moved the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), to release a memo on Wednesday, banning the song from being aired on radio and television, citing its “objectionable nature.” The action has since sparked outrage from Nigerians.

In a statement he issued from New York University, Abu Dhabi, on Sunday, Soyinka described the ban as a return to the culture of censorship and a threat to the right to free expression.

According to him, the action echoed past attempts to stifle artistic and socio-political commentary in Nigeria.

The Nobel Laureate noted that any government that is only tolerant for praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss.

“Courtesy of an artist operating in a different genre – the cartoon – who sent me his recent graphic comment on the event, I learnt recently of a return to the culture of censorship with the banning of the product of a music artist, Eedris Abdulkareem.

“My position is that such a progressive move by the government and its agencies does not go far enough. It is not only the allegedly offensive record that should be banned – the musician himself should be proscribed. Next, PMAN, or whatever musical association of which Abdulkareem is member, should also go under the hammer. Nor should we ignore the cartoonist, Ebun Aleshinloye, who not only etched out his trenchant response to the ban but disseminated it all the way to Abu Dhabi. Let’s simply go the whole hog!

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“I have yet to listen to the record, but the principle is inflexibly etched on any democratic template. It cannot be flouted. That, surely is basic. This is why I feel that we should look on the bright side of any picture and thus recommend the Aleshinloye’ cartoon – and others in allied vein – as an easy to apprehend, easy to digest summation of the wisdom of attempting to stifle unpalatable works of art or socio-political commentary, The ban is a boost to the artist’s nest egg, thanks to free governmental promotion. Mr. Abdulkareem must be currently warbling his merry way all the way to the bank. I envy him.

“We have been through this before, over and over again, ad nauseum. We know where it all ends. It is boring, time-wasting, diversionary but most essential of all, subversive of all seizure of the fundamental right of free expression. It also creates a permissive atmosphere of trickle-down power where governors have been known to pursue social critics across state borders, kidnap and imprison them for long spells, using the judicial machinery of never-ending trials.

“Oh, bear in mind also theocratic “authorities” that continue to arrogate to themselves the right to arrest and imprison artists and thinkers for their expression of opinion and vision of human existence. The fundamental right of free expression, as already touched upon, is not a closet affair, it is never hidden but echoes as loudly on international fora as in the most obscure hamlet.

Any government that is tolerant only of yes-men and women, which accommodate only praise-singers and dancers to the official beat, has already commenced a downhill slide into the abyss. Whatever regulating body is responsible for this petulant irrationality should be compelled to reverse its misstep.

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The statement by the literary icon also touched on the recent mob action in Edo State where no fewer than 19 lives were lost.

He recalled how young student, Deborah Samuel, was also killed in a similar fashion in Sokoto in 2022, regretting that her “identified killers” were freed without any consequence.

He said, “It is a sadly opportune moment, but also an enraged one, to join in conveying my commiseration to the families of the latest victims of the lynch mob mentality that is fast overtaking the nation. Edo today, which state next? Nineteen youths in one fell swoop?

“Let this latest dent in the national armour not pass as the yet soul searing orgy that ended the life of the young student, Deborah Samuel. Recall that identified killers were set free to gloat, and paste their photos on the social media as having lit the consuming pyre – this in full daylight glare, in the presence of both citizen voyeurs and security forces. The horror is not in numbers but in the act itself.

“As long as the culture of impunity is given the sheerest strain of legitimacy in any given cause, such gruesome assaults on our common humanity will continue to prevail, and a reversion to brutish existence become a nation’s stamp of identity.

“The culprits are in plain sight and so are witnesses. There can be no excuses. My heart goes out to friends, colleagues and families of victims and traumatized survivors of this senseless slaughter. Our thirst for justice must remain unslaked.”

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