Education
Tech-U: One Year of Innovative Education
THE words of John C. Maxwell, that “effective leaders look for ways to use the successes of today to empower their people for the challenges of tomorrow” couldn’t have been truer in the case of The Technical University, Ibadan.
Before the Bill establishing Nigeria’s first Technical University was passed and assented to by the Visitor to the University, Governor Abiola Ajimobi on July 12, 2012, he already had a clear vision of what the university would look like and the purpose it would serve.
Between then and June 6, 2017 when the Library project was commissioned, signaling the take-off of the university, a lot of diligence, commitment and careful planning had gone into the execution. The result was the inch-perfect structure that was commissioned, the beginning of the interpretation of the vision.
There, His Excellency the Governor made it clear that Tech-U is not a university of technology but a Technical University. “It is an initiative of Oyo State, continuing in the tradition of innovation and excellence pioneered by our pathfinders. It is a marriage between classroom and industry, a marriage between theory and practice”, he said.
Summing it up, Governor Ajimobi said “it is not a university of Technology but the first Technical University in Nigeria”.
Everything was put in place to ensure that the University has a world-class academic environment. Apart from the state-of-the-art facilities, a lot of effort went into guaranteeing that the University took off with highly skilled, goal getting personnel. Round pegs were put in round holes.
The kick-off of academic activities on January 8, 2018 was in style. For 2 weeks, Tech-U pioneer students were orientated into the Tech-U ideal and what is expected of them as students of the nation’s first Technical University as well as why the state, the country and the international community expect so much from them. The University also took another week to orientate the students on entrepreneurship which is in line with the University’s objective of equipping every student with managerial skills consistent with international best practices.
With the matriculation of 183 pioneer students on March 9, 2018, The Technical University, Ibadan surpassed the take-off expectation in many quarters and it has only proved to be the beginning of the journey into the institution’s glorious future.
The installation of Chief Tunde Afolabi, a great player in the oil and gas sector, foremost entrepreneur and accomplished international businessman as the Pioneer Chancellor of the University has been likened by many to fitting the right piece in a jigsaw puzzle.
With his wealth of experience in different sectors of human endeavor, Tech-U’s journey to greater heights is expected to be safe and speedy.
And since the take-off of academic activities, the pioneer Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ayobami Salami and his team have not reduced the velocity with which the institution took off.
Not only have they kept the fire aglow, they have been able to sustain the vision of advancing technologically and providing training that is relevant to the needs of Nigeria. While most Nigerian universities lay emphasis on the theoretical aspect of learning, learning at The Technical University is creatively technical with great emphasis on the practical aspect.
Through the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Vocational Studies, students are taught to make business out of the vocational training they get thereby positioning them for job creation by the time they graduate. The enrolment of all Tech-U students for French Language at the Centre for Language and General Studies is to make sure that they are well prepared for the international market.
The Vice-Chancellor has pointed out that “we are training youths whose trainings will contribute richly to the socioeconomic advancement of Nigeria and other climes. The graduates we will produce will have the confidence of their trainings; will be innovators, job creators, employers and ultimately builders of society”.
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He thus confirmed that the University is being run to boost Nigeria’s human capacity growth and make positive impacts on its socio-economic development.
The University’s programmes have been carefully chosen to fill the gap in the technical know-how and bridge the skill deficiency gap between graduates and the industry. And to guarantee that Tech-U graduates are better trained and finely equipped for the challenges ahead, the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding with industry partners, the Nigerian Society of Engineers inclusive.
This is to foster a deeper and stronger relationship between the gown and the town. The relationship will also provide abundant possibilities of hands-on experience for students.
The recent curriculum review, which had in attendance representatives from the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), Automation and Engineering Academy, among others, points to the fact that The Technical University is working with the highest standard of efficiency to achieve the goal of solving the issues that border on deficiencies in the employability and entrepreneurial skills of Nigerian graduates.
Representatives of the University met with industry stakeholders and other partners to review the curriculum. With input from the industry in the curriculum, students will be trained towards the needs in the industry and by the time they graduate, those who plan to seek employment will have no problem fitting in into the industry.
Those who will start their businesses on the other hand would have been adequately trained and fine-tuned for real-time issues in the outside world. In the last one year, Tech-U has shown that it is indeed a place where brains are developed and hands are trained.
Wole Adejumo,
Media Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor of The Technical University writes from Ibadan
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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