Education
EDUCATION: Tech U signs MoU with Texas varsity on exchange programmes
A new vista in higher education in Nigeria was opened as Technical University (Tech U), Ibadan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Texas Technical University (TTU) Tuesday evening.
Texas Technical University (TTU) is among the top three per cent universities in the world.
With the MoU, the two institutions will start collaborations in forms of exchange programmes for students, lecturers, researchers and other members of staff for internationalization of their degree and post-graduate programmes. Tech U may also emerge as the hub for TTU’s Study Abroad programme in Nigeria and other West African countries.
The exchange programme could commence as early as the 2019/2020 Academic session with TTU students coming for their six weeks internships in factories and institutions in Ibadan and Lagos as may be facilitated by the Tech U.
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Tagged ‘Collaborative Agreement for Study Abroad and Research’ between students and staff of the two institutions, the partnership will afford students of Tech U to complete their degree programme at TTU and proceed to post graduate studies if they desire. TTU has an expansive campus spread across the major parts of Lubbock, a serene city in Texas, United States of America.
President, Texas Tech University, Prof. Lawrence Schovance, presenting a copy of the signed agreement to his Tech U, Ibadan counterpart, Prof. Ayobami Salami, after the signing ceremony at the Office of TTU President, Lubbock, Texas, United States Tuesday evening.
According to reports, the partnership will also afford students and staff Tech U to participate in short and postgraduate programmes in which TTU has special capacity and competence. Researchers in both institutions will also collaborate in areas of common interest to internationalize their works.
Signing the agreement at his office, the TTU President (Vice Chancellor equivalent), Lawrence Schovance, said his institution was elated to expand scholarly activities to Nigeria through the partnership with Tech U.
Schovance, who is an engineering professor, averred that the partnership was another step forward in TTU’s goal of widening its international operations to ensure that its students and faculty enjoy international enrichment in their studies and research.
He pointed out that the partnership will bring great opportunities to both students and faculty of the two institutions. He added that Nigeria has now become a priority for TTU in its efforts at achieving global connections for studying, teaching and research.
An elated Tech U Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ayobami Salami, said a major goal of Tech U is to produce graduates who will be key players within the national space and in the larger global economy. For it to happen, Salami said internationalization is key, hence the huge satisfaction with the TTU partnership.
He said the university was happy to have the partnership from its first year of operation, pointing out that it conveys the level of seriousness and determination of the management and promoters of Tech U to the ideals of sound education that will enable their graduates make meaningful contributions to the progress of the society.
“I am very excited seeing the dream coming to reality.” Salami said.
On funding and immigration challenges related to the implementation of the partnership, Salami explained that the institution does not fully rely on the government. He said Tech U already has three tiers of funding which include government, donors, the private sector and investors.
The Vice Chancellor further explained that the relevant departments at TTU will handle all immigration aspects of the collaboration for students and staff.
In his speech, the TTU Pro-Chancellor, Prof. Ibidapo-Obe, said the partnership was the first among the steps to take the new university to the international scene. He explained that in the next 50 years, Tech U will be a model university in Nigeria given this type of partnerships and related initiatives.
Ibidapo-Obe, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, said Tech U will not back down on its vision to produce graduates who can think with their heads and work with their hands to develop Nigeria and make great impact in the global community.
He pointed out that Tech U has identified commonalities between the two universities, stressing that faculty and staff of TTU, for instance, can come to Tech U for Fulbright specialty programme in Nigeria through Tech U.
TTU’s programmes are highly rated with its research works regarded as among the best in the United States.
Photo credit: Bisi Oladele
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Oyo State Wing, has directed all public primary and secondary school teachers in the state to embark on an indefinite strike over the continued abduction of teachers and pupils.
The strike, which takes effect from Monday, June 1, 2026, is expected to ground academic activities across public schools in the state.
The union said the action became imperative following what it described as growing insecurity in schools and the prolonged captivity of abducted teachers and pupils whose whereabouts remain unknown.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of the Oyo State Wing of the NUT, Hassan Fatai, and the Secretary, Salami Olukayode, the union expressed concerns over the psychological impact of the incidents on teachers, learners and parents.
According to the union, the lingering abduction cases have created fear and anxiety among teachers, weakened confidence in the safety of schools and discouraged many parents from sending their children to school.
The statement read in part, “The Nigeria Union of Teachers, Oyo State Wing, hereby directs all public primary and secondary school teachers across the state to commence an indefinite strike action effective from Monday, June 1, 2026, pending urgent and decisive action by relevant authorities on the abduction of teachers and pupils.”
The union explained that the industrial action was aimed at compelling the government and security agencies to intensify efforts toward the immediate and unconditional release of the victims.
It urged teachers across the state to comply fully with the directive, remain peaceful and law-abiding, and prioritise their safety while staying away from classrooms during the strike.
The NUT also expressed solidarity with the abducted victims and their families, assuring that it would continue to engage relevant authorities until the victims were safely rescued.
The union reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, safety and security of teachers and pupils, stressing that the protection of school communities remained non-negotiable.
No fewer than 2,243,816 candidates on Thursday commenced the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board across accredited Computer-Based Test centres nationwide.
The figure represents a 10.5 per cent increase from the 2.03 million candidates recorded in 2025.
The examination, which began on April 16, is being conducted in about 1,000 CBT centres nationwide, with candidates scheduled in four daily sessions to reduce congestion and improve verification processes.
The board said it had deployed biometric verification and real-time monitoring systems to safeguard the integrity of the exercise, noting that candidates whose biometric details could not be authenticated would be rescheduled.
Candidates were advised to print their examination slips from the JAMB portal to confirm their schedules and arrive at least one hour before their examination time.
Under the revised timetable, first-session candidates are expected at 7:00 a.m., followed by 9:00 a.m. for the second session, 11:00 a.m. for the third session, and 2:00 p.m. for the final session.
JAMB disclosed that Lagos State recorded the highest number of registered candidates with 381,814, followed by Ogun with 137,156 and Oyo with 122,662. Kaduna recorded 103,498 candidates, while the Federal Capital Territory had 102,961.
Other states include Rivers with 105,584 candidates and Kano with 83,167, while Borno and Zamfara recorded the lowest figures with 13,483 and 14,861 candidates respectively.
Outside Nigeria, participation remained low, with Côte d’Ivoire recording 32 candidates, followed by Equatorial Guinea with 16, Burkina Faso with 14, and the United Kingdom with 12 candidates.
As part of efforts to enhance efficiency, the board increased the number of CBT centres but delisted 23 centres across several states, including Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Edo, Plateau and the Federal Capital Territory, over technical deficiencies observed during the mock examination.
The board said the action was necessary to maintain operational standards and ensure the credibility of the examination process.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force dismissed reports of insecurity at some centres, describing such claims as unfounded.
The police said it had deployed additional personnel, including patrol teams, perimeter surveillance units and rapid response squads, to ensure the safety of candidates nationwide.
The force added that it was collaborating with other security agencies to monitor the exercise and respond swiftly to any threats.
It assured parents and candidates of adequate security, urging candidates to comply with examination guidelines, arrive early and report suspicious activities.
The police also advised the public to disregard unverified information on social media and rely on official communication channels.
JAMB reiterated its commitment to transparency, warning candidates against accepting admissions outside its Central Admissions Processing System.
It stressed that any admission conducted outside CAPS would be considered illegal and would not be recognised.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres nationwide following technical deficiencies recorded during the 2026 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.
The Board disclosed this in a bulletin issued on Friday and signed by its Public Communication Advisor, Fabian Benjamin, as preparations intensify for the 2026 UTME scheduled to hold across the country from April 16 to April 25.
According to JAMB, the mock examination was designed to assess operational readiness and identify centres that failed to meet the required technical standards.
“Following the conduct of the 2026 Mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, the Board has delisted 23 Computer-Based Test centres for technical deficiencies,” the statement read.
The Board added that several centres with minor issues had been placed on notice, warning that continued non-compliance could lead to further sanctions. It also stated that one centre would no longer be used for any of its examinations.
JAMB disclosed that a total of 2,243,816 candidates registered for the 2026 UTME, with Lagos recording 321,814 candidates, Kaduna 303,498, the Federal Capital Territory 302,963, and Ogun 137,156.
To improve accessibility and logistics, the Board said it increased the number of approved examination centres to 1,000 nationwide, up from fewer than 800 in 2025.
However, an internal review conducted after the mock exercise revealed that some centres failed to meet operational and technical benchmarks, prompting their removal from the approved list.
The delisting followed reports of widespread technical glitches during the mock examination, including network failures, system malfunctions and delayed commencement of tests in several locations. Some candidates and parents also complained about hours-long waiting periods at affected centres.
The affected centres are located in Abia, Anambra, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Plateau states.
Among the delisted centres are Micben Seat of Wisdom Academy, Ukwa West, Abia; Bishop Crowther Seminary CBT Centre, Awka, and The Oracle Lens, Nnokwa, Anambra; Derby’s Young ICT Centre, Yenagoa, Bayelsa; Avid ICT Solutions CBT Centre, Asaba, Delta; and Daniet Global Resources CBT Centre, Benin City, Edo.
Others include De-Lite CBT Centre, Maitama, Abuja; Florin High School CBT Centre, Ejigbo; Folbob CBT Centre, Lakowe; Great Kezino College CBT Centre, Ikorodu; Obans CBT Centre, Ikorodu; and Teesas Learning and CBT Centre, Lekki, all in Lagos.
Also affected are Braingate Model Schools CBT Centre, Arepo, and Greenhills Academy CBT Centre, Itele, Ogun State; Oduduwa University CBT Centre, Ile-Ife, Osun State; Lasting Glory Schools CBT Centre, Ibadan; Nesam International School CBT Centre, Ibadan; SAF Polytechnic CBT Centre, Iseyin, Oyo State; and Rabjib Computer Academy, Jos, Plateau State.
JAMB stated that the decision formed part of efforts to safeguard the integrity of its examination process and ensure that only centres that meet its operational requirements are used for the main UTME.
The Board assured candidates that necessary measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth conduct of the examination nationwide.
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