President Bola Tinubu has directed a thorough review of the recently unveiled governing boards of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, prior to their inauguration and retreat.

The move comes in response to public feedback indicating a lack of adequate representation and adherence to the principle of federal character.

The Federal Ministry of Education had recently unveiled the list of nominees for chairmen, Pro-Chancellors, and members of the boards and councils of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. However, concerns were raised regarding the geographical spread of the nominations, with some states receiving disproportionately few nominations compared to others.

In a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, it was emphasised that President Tinubu is committed to upholding the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution. The review will aim to rectify any imbalances and ensure equitable representation across all regions of the country.

The directive for a comprehensive review comes following criticism from the Bauchi zone of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which expressed dissatisfaction with the composition of the governing boards.

They advocated for the reinstatement of the previously dissolved members, highlighting the need for inclusivity and fair representation.

The inauguration and retreat for the nominees, initially scheduled for 31st May, will be postponed pending the outcome of the review process.

The Kaduna State government has unveiled plans to merge 359 schools in response to escalating banditry and insecurity, which have led to numerous cases of abduction and kidnapping across the state.

Speaking at a stakeholders forum and the training session of the Schools’ Protection Squad, Governor Uba Sani, represented by his Chief of Staff, Sani Kila, emphasised the need for decisive measures to protect schools and children from bandit attacks.

The merger will involve consolidating schools in vulnerable communities with those located in safer areas.

Kila highlighted the significance of the newly launched School Protection Squad, part of the Federal Government’s Safe School Initiative, aimed at safeguarding educational institutions, children, and teachers from various forms of attacks orchestrated by bandits and terrorists.

Acknowledging Kaduna’s relentless battle against banditry, terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities, Kila expressed concern over the disruptive impact of non-state actors on socio-economic activities. He underscored the threat these activities pose to the state’s educational revitalisation programme.

The governor’s representative raised alarm over the crisis of declining school enrollment in Kaduna, citing a drastic drop of over 200,000 primary school pupils in the 2022/2023 academic session compared to the previous year.

This decline, he attributed primarily to insecurity, particularly in areas such as Chikun, Birnin Gwari, Kajuru, Giwa, and Igabi, where insecurity has forced school consolidation, exacerbating the number of out-of-school children.

Kila stressed the critical role of ensuring the safety and security of schools in achieving human capital development goals and sustainable development.

He lauded the Federal Government for launching the N144.8 billion safe schools financing plan and the establishment of the Schools Protection Squad, aimed at enhancing security and safety in educational institutions nationwide.

In addition to merging schools in conflict-prone areas with safer locations, the Kaduna State government is implementing various measures to strengthen school security, including fencing, establishment of security committees, deployment of vigilance services, provision of emergency lines, and security awareness training for staff and community members.

Kila expressed hope that the capacity-building programme would equip participants with the necessary skills to navigate challenging security situations and foster strategic communication to win the hearts and minds of citizens in conflict-affected communities.

He emphasised the importance of regular engagement between security forces and community leaders to enhance collaboration and trust-building efforts.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has unveiled the results of the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), marking the culmination of a rigorous evaluation process for aspiring tertiary education students nationwide.

JAMB’s Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede, announced during a press conference held at the board’s headquarters in Bwari, situated on the outskirts of Abuja.

The examination, spanning 118 towns and boasting over 700 centers across the nation, witnessed a remarkable participation of over 1.94 million candidates.

Commencing on Friday the 19th of April and concluding on Monday the 29th of April, the UTME saw 80,810 candidates absent out of the 1,989,668 registered.

A total of 1,904,189 candidates actively engaged in the six-day examination.

Oloyede disclosed, “Out of the 1,842,464 released results, a modest 0.4% attained scores exceeding 300, while 24% achieved 50% (200/400) and above.” He further revealed that 1,402,490 candidates, constituting 76% of the total, obtained scores below 200.

In emphasising JAMB’s stance on recognising top performers, Oloyede reiterated the board’s decision not to publicise the identity of the highest-scoring candidate.

“The Board has consistently reiterated its position against disclosing the names of top-performing candidates, viewing the UTME primarily as a ranking examination considering other pivotal factors determining the minimum admissible score for tertiary institution admissions,” he affirmed.