Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has congratulated the 44th new Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja, on his formal ascension to the throne of Olubadan of Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in a ceremony slated for Friday.
In a statement released by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, and made available to newsmen on Wednesday, Obasanjo, in Yoruba royalty salutation, prays “Ade a pe lori, bata a pe lese”, even as he observed that the formal coronation ceremony was only a formality.
The former President, who, according to the statement, is presently in New York for the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly session, however, advised the new monarch to separate tradition and politics, noting that the new position requires humility and tolerance among others.
Obasanjo, in the congratulatory statement, said, “I take this opportunity to congratulate you in advance of a formal announcement. Ade a pe lori, bata a pe lese.
“It is an exalted and responsible position to be the traditional ruler of all Ibadan people. It requires humility, patience, divine wisdom, tolerance, and advice from wide and varied quarters to succeed.
“Traditional rulership does not compete or conflict with political rulership. I wish you all the best and the grace, guide, and direction of Almighty God.”
PUNCH Online had, on September 23, 2025, reported that the organising committee, inaugurated by the Oyo State Government to oversee the coronation of the former Governor of the state as new Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, announced the closing of some routes leading to the ancient Mapo Hall.
A statement issued by the committee stated that the affected routes include Beere Junction inward Mapo Hall; Born Photo Junction inwards Oja’ba; Idi-Arere Junction inwards Oja’ba, and Itamerin Junction inwards Mapo Hall shall be shut by 7:00 am on Friday.
According to the statement, the security committee, which is under the General Committee, chaired by the former Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes President, Bayo Oyero, informed that traffic diversions on the routes were occasioned by the coming of President Bola Tinubu, who promised to attend the coronation ceremony of the new Olubadan.
The management of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, has pledged to adopt financial prudence and academic justice in addressing the institution’s challenges.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ibrahim Garba, gave the assurance when officials of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities and the Non-Academic Staff Union paid him a solidarity visit in his office on Wednesday.
Garba, who expressed delight over the visit, said the university community’s pride lay in seeing ATBU progress in its mandate as a citadel of learning.
According to him, his administration inherited a huge debt profile but has succeeded in offsetting nearly one-third of the loan without taking additional credit.
“When I assumed office, I met a huge amount of debt at the university. I have been able to settle nearly one-third of that loan in the last few months without incurring any fresh loan at all,” he said.
On welfare, the VC disclosed that five luxury buses had been refurbished to ease students’ shuttle between Gubi and Yelwa campuses, while a 32-seater bus was also being prepared to support staff transportation.
He further revealed that six of the 11 grounded tractors owned by the university had been refurbished for this year’s farming season, with two more almost ready.
The intervention, he explained, was to support staff and members of the Bauchi community farming on the campuses at subsidised rates of less than 30 per cent of commercial charges.
Garba also announced that management was working on a seamless promotion process to eliminate delays in staff promotion exercises.
Commending the university community for its support since he assumed office, Garba assured that his administration would continue to uphold transparency and justice in running the institution.
Speaking earlier, the SSANU Chairman, Comrade Sulisma Jatau, praised the VC’s leadership style, particularly in financial prudence, staff and students’ welfare, and academic quality assurance.
He, however, described a recent media campaign against the VC as regrettable, noting that the institution did not deserve negative publicity.
Similarly, the NASU Chairman, Yusuf Yusuf, faulted the escalation of negative reports linking the VC to a Federal Government policy decision on restructuring some faculties and courses.
He explained that the decision, announced by the Pro-Chancellor, was wrongly attributed to the VC, leading to the controversy.
Both unions assured Garba of their continued support in his efforts to reposition the university.
PUNCH recalls that a Bauchi-based group had accused the VC of unilaterally misleading the Governing Council to shut down the Faculty of Management Sciences and some courses in the Faculty of Technology Education, a decision later clarified as a directive from the Federal Government.
The Bauchi State Police Command has arrested a 28-year-old Almajiri teacher, Lawal Nasiru, for allegedly assaulting one of his pupils in the Darazo Local Government Area of the state.
The victim, identified as 11-year-old Sa’id Sani, was reportedly tied with a heavy rope and beaten with a stick and thick cable, leaving him with multiple injuries.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Ahmed Wakil, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
He explained that the incident was reported to the Divisional Police Headquarters, Darazo, on September 22, 2025, by one Idris Mohammed, 50, of Gidan Waya, Darazo, who was accompanied by the injured minor.
The statement read, “On the 21st September, 2025, one Lawal Nasiru, aged 28 years, of Unguwar Jarmai, Darazo, criminally used a heavy rope to inhumanely tie the said Sa’id, an Almajiri boy, and further assaulted him with a stick and thick cable, causing various degrees of injuries to his hands and legs.”
“Upon receipt of the complaint, the Divisional Police Officer, SP Auwalu Ilu, led a team of operatives to the scene where the suspect was arrested. The victim was immediately taken to General Hospital, Darazo, for medical examination and treatment.”
Wakil noted that during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the act, claiming that the boy had attempted to flee from the school, and he tied him to prevent him from running away before his parents arrived.
“The minor also narrated how the suspect mercilessly confined him with a thick rope for a prolonged period,” the police spokesman added.
He said the Commissioner of Police, Sani-Omolori Aliyu, has directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Bauchi, for discreet investigation.
Wakil further assured that the suspect would be profiled and charged in court upon completion of investigations.
The Airtel Africa Foundation, in collaboration with UNICEF, has unveiled an ambitious plan to directly impact over 10 million lives across the continent by 2030 through education, digital inclusion, environmental sustainability, and financial literacy programmes.
The announcement was made on Tuesday at a press conference in Lagos State, where the foundation was formally launched.
In his opening address, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Nigeria, Dinesh Balsingh, said the foundation was committed to improving Africa’s socio-economic landscape through education and digital empowerment.
“We gather today to officially present the Airtel Africa Foundation to the world. This foundation carries forward our tradition of social investment and multiplies its reach with a sharper focus, a stronger platform, and a groundbreaking vision.
“For the first time, the world will see in one frame the projects we are delivering across the continent. These initiatives are already catching light in classrooms, in hospitals, in rural communities, and in cities, where digital access determines the difference between stagnation and opportunity,” he said.
Balsingh explained that the foundation was equipping schools with devices, internet connectivity, and teacher training to prepare young Africans for self-reliance in the digital economy.
Also speaking at the event, Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Africa, Sunil Taldar, described the goal as both a business imperative and a guiding philosophy.
“We have visited over 1,200 schools, impacted more than one million students, and trained 17,000 teachers in digital education across our 14 markets. A very large portion of the foundation’s investment will go into Nigeria,” Taldar stated.
Since its inception in July 2024, the foundation has been active in Nigeria and 13 other African countries, bridging the digital divide, equipping young people with 21st-century skills, and promoting economic resilience.
Chairman of the Airtel Africa Foundation, Dr. Segun Ogunsanya, described the initiative as a catalyst for change and a lasting legacy.
“What makes you rich is not what you have, but what you give,” he said.
Ogunsanya highlighted the foundation’s focus on creating pathways to higher learning through zero-rated educational platforms, device donations, and school refurbishment projects.
“We’ve given IT materials to teachers, installed smart TVs in classrooms, and reconstructed six schools across Nigeria — one in each region. Our target is to reach 10 schools for a geo-balanced impact,” he said.
The foundation has also introduced the Airtel Africa Fellowship, which offers full undergraduate scholarships in technology and STEM fields, mentorship opportunities, internships, and exchange programmes to groom Africa’s next generation of innovators.
“Beyond building schools, we are supporting students who cannot afford school fees through scholarships, and we are working towards building a major tech hub in Nigeria. Currently, we are sponsoring two Nigerian students in a university in India, and I am pleased to announce that 100 additional scholarships will be awarded to Nigerians,” Ogunsanya revealed.
He added that Airtel employees are central to the mission, with more than 1,100 staff volunteering their expertise for mentorship, coaching, and community projects across Africa.
The National Youth Service Corps has announced that the 2025 Batch ‘B’ Stream II Orientation Course will commence nationwide on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, across all orientation camps.
According to a a statement issued via its official Facebook page on Monday, the scheme said registration will run until midnight on Friday, September 26, while the swearing-in ceremony is scheduled for the same day.
It added that the three-week exercise will end with a closing ceremony on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
However, the NYSC clarified that the orientation course in Kwara State will open later, beginning on Tuesday, September 30, and closing on Monday, October 20, 2025.
The statement said the Director-General of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Olakunle Nafiu, urged all Prospective Corps Members to report to the camps indicated in their call-up letters, stressing the need for compliance with all registration requirements. Foreign-trained graduates are expected to present their international passports and original copies of uploaded documents.
He warned PCMs against presenting fake documents, cautioning that offenders would be handed over to law enforcement agencies for prosecution. Graduates of monotechnics and polytechnics are specifically required to produce their National Diploma certificates as part of the registration process.
In the event of a lost call-up letter, the NYSC directed corps members who collected theirs from their institutions to obtain a police report and sworn affidavit before returning to their schools for further action. Those who printed theirs online can reprint copies.
Highlighting safety concerns, the scheme strongly advised PCMs against night journeys.
“Once it is 6:00pm, prospective corps members are enjoined to break their journeys and spend the night at military or police barracks, NYSC secretariats or corps lodges nearest to their disembarkation point,” the statement read.
The NYSC also advised corps members to only patronize government-approved motor parks and transportation companies to avoid falling prey to criminals.
The NYSC boss was quoted as saying, “Any prospective corps member who refuses to report for service or participates illegally in the scheme will be prosecuted, as stipulated by the NYSC Act.”
He added, “Married, pregnant, and nursing mothers posted outside their husbands’ states of residence may complete the orientation course in their states of domicile, provided they present evidence of marriage, their husbands’ identification, and proof of residence.
“For registration, all corps members must present their original call-up letters, statements of result or certificates, school identity cards, and certificates of medical fitness issued by government or military hospitals stamped by the Nigerian Medical Association. Medical and allied health graduates are also required to show proof of registration with their respective professional bodies.”
The NYSC boss concluded by saying, “We wish all prospective corps members safe travels to their various camps and a successful service year.”
The Lagos State Government, through the Office of Education Quality Assurance, has commenced the monitoring of schools for compliance with standards as students resumed activities this week.
The OEQA spokesperson, Adepeju Adeyemi, said in a Wednesday statement sent to PUNCH Online that the inspection began on Monday across the state for schools below the tertiary level.
The monitoring team, led by the Coordinating Director of OEQA, Remi Abdul, visited several schools, including Dolphin Senior High School, Lagos Island, where the team was received by the Principal/Director, Comfort Agunlejika.
Abdul explained that the purpose of the monitoring was to ensure compliance with the approved resumption date as stated in the Year 2025/2026 Harmonised Academic Calendar.
The PUNCH reports that basic and secondary schools in Lagos resumed on September 15, 2025, for the First Term of the Y2025/2026 session.
According to the approved 2025/2026 harmonised calendar made available to our correspondent, the First Half of the term is scheduled for September 15 to October 31, 2025, with a duration of 34 days. The second half will commence from November 10 to December 19, 2025, with a duration of 34 days. In between the halves are Open Day and Mid-Term Break.
Abdul noted that the monitoring team deployed was also verifying whether school administrators held pre-resumption meetings and whether key teaching and statutory records, such as lesson notes, diaries, and makeshift attendance registers, were in place for the smooth take-off of the new academic session.
“While addressing SSS 3 students, Abdul encouraged them to take their academics seriously, noting that how well they perform this term would determine their transition to higher education. He urged them to read well, stay focused, avoid skipping classes and begin early preparation for their WASSCE examinations,” the statement said.
He also encouraged teachers to remain dedicated and committed to delivering quality education.
The Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, Dr. Aisha Garba, has declared that Nigeria’s education sector is facing a “crisis of great magnitude,” requiring the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to ensure quality basic education for children.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting co-hosted by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and UBEC in Abuja, Garba highlighted the dual challenges of the country’s massive out-of-school population—recently estimated by UNESCO at 20 million—and the growing learning crisis, where children enrolled in schools fail to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills.
According to a statement on Friday, the meeting brought together top education policymakers from all 36 states alongside technical experts and development partners from the World Bank, European Union, and UNICEF.
In her opening address, Garba warned that the future of millions of children and the nation’s overall development were at risk, emphasising the urgent need for synergy among stakeholders.
As part of efforts to address the crisis, she unveiled the HOPE-EDU programme, a major government initiative developed in partnership with international donors.
“Through the HOPE-EDU programme, a $552 million partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria, the World Bank, and the Global Partnership for Education, we are responding with the urgency this crisis demands.
“This bold, strategic, and multisectoral initiative is designed to address foundational learning gaps and reduce the number of out-of-school children through coordinated, state-led action”, she announced.
Speaking further, she said, “Our country is facing an education crisis of great magnitude. Millions of Nigerian children remain out of school, while many of those enrolled are not acquiring the foundational literacy and numeracy skills essential for lifelong success.
“These gaps are not just academic—they represent lost opportunities, widened inequality, and weakened national development. The time has come to change this narrative.”
Garba noted that the aim of the meeting was to move beyond dialogue and develop concrete, evidence-based strategies to rescue a generation of learners.
The workshop served as a platform for state officials to review existing policies and explore the potential for scaling up successful interventions, including the use of educational technology.
The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmed, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to transforming the education sector.
She emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is already guiding policy actions across relevant ministries and agencies.
Roundtable sessions at the dialogue featured robust discussions, with state commissioners and SUBEB chairpersons directly engaging with development partners to identify persistent challenges and explore new solutions.
Organisers expressed hope that the meeting would spark the creation of a permanent support hub, giving education officials continuous access to data-driven strategies and successful models to drive and sustain reform.
Stakeholders at the event agreed that the dialogue marked more than just another meeting—it was a crucial turning point in efforts to reclaim the promise of education in Nigeria.
The National Association of Nigerian Students on Monday raised the alarm over what they described as the “nefarious and atrocious” activities of members of Dragon Squad, a police unit that has been terrorising residents of Ogun State, particularly students.
According to a statement signed by the National President of NANS, Ladoja Olushola, on Monday, in Abuja, the squad claimed to be established by the Office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, has continued to harass and intimidate residents and students of Abeokuta, on the pretext of going after “Yahoo Boys”.
Olushola added that the squad, being led by one DSP has its office in the Laderin Estate in the state capital, where several innocent people were being detained.
He said that the DSP, who was part of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (
and Zonal Intervention Squad located in Obada-Oko Area of the state, has continued to lead his team to terrorise, extort, detain and raid the homes of residents illegally.
The NANS National President further stated that the squad, apart from arresting and detaining Ogun residents who are mainly youths and students, has been acting as security backing to suspected land grabbers who invaded part of Ita Oshin and Oke Ata communities in Abeokuta, to unleash mayhem and wreak havoc.
He noted that despite several complaints made by the residents to the office of the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, the “heinous activities of the Dragon Squad have continued unchecked”, calling on the Inspector General of Police to urgently intervene and rein in the terrors of the DSP and his team.
Olushola disclosed that the senior police officer claimed that his squad was sent by the AIG in charge of the Zone 2, Onikan to Ogun, hence, the Commissioner of Police in the state cannot interfere with his operations.
He maintained that the excesses of the police squad have spread fear in the hearts of Ogun residents, particularly students and their parents who had either been detained or forced to cough up an exorbitant sum of money.
Olushola observed that the Gestapo style of operations of the squad, is gradually bringing back the inglorious era of SARS’s brutality and inhumane treatment meted out to the people.
While reiterating NANS’s call to the IGP to order the AIG in charge of Zone 2 in Lagos, to disband the Dragon Squad in Ogun, Olushola declared that the student body will mobilize students and stage a massive protest against the “nefarious and illicit activities” of the squad.
He further expressed dismay that that a police officer whose notorious and obnoxious activities in Ogun State largely contributed to the disbandment of the defunct SARS and ZIS, could be assigned by the AIG to surreptitiously revive SARS modus operandi in the state.
The statement reads further: “NANS has viewed with dismay and unpleasantness, the nefarious and atrocious activities of members of a police unit, dubbed Dragon Squad in Ogun State. The squad being led by one DSP Akeem Adeyemi, has not only been terrorizing residents of Abeokuta, especially students, who have fallen victim, but it has also become a ready-made tool of oppression in the hands of land grabbers in the state.
“The office in Laderin Estate in Abeokuta has a holding cell where innocent people are being detained for up to a month without being charged to court. No victim has come out of the detention without tales of horror, extortion and intimidation. On the pretext of going after Yahoo Boys, several students have been arrested, detained and extorted. Their parents are not spared.
“These policemen have turned Ogun, Abeokuta specifically, to their workshop. They carry out dirty jobs and extort the youths and students. In fact, NANS was reliably informed that a sum of N1.5m was collected from a male victim last week.
“While NANS will not condone or support crimes in any guise, even from our members, the student will stand against and resist any violation of rights of our members, harassment and intimidation from any security agency, particularly the ones that engage in activities not backed by the Nigerian Constitution”.
“We, however, call on the Inspector General of Police not to allow DSP Adeyemi and his cohorts in the Dragon Squad, constituting himself into a terror and above-the-law personality, in the state of origin of the IGP. The AIG in charge of the Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, whom Adeyemi claimed birthed Dragon Squad, should also be called to order.
“To this end, NANS will mobilize massively and storm the office of AIG, Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos State, on Wednesday, to protest the nefarious, obnoxious and notorious activities of the police Dragon Squad in Ogun State
“By next week Monday, NANS will mobilize and march in protest to the office of the Inspector General of Police in Abuja; the National Assembly and the Office of the Secretary of Government of the Federation (SGF) and the Police Service Commission office, in order to call their attention to the aberration and siege on the innocent people of Ogun, courtesy DSP Adeyemi and his team.”
A financial technology company, OPay Digital Services, has called on corporate organisations, public institutions, and well-meaning individuals to increase investment in the educational needs of schoolchildren across Nigeria.
This appeal was made during the recent unveiling of the Back-to-School outreach held at Government College Ibadan, Oyo State.
A statement by the firm on Saturday said that the initiative, organised in partnership with Brace-Up The Young Foundation, provided school supplies to over 650 students from various secondary schools across Ibadan.
Speaking at the event, OPay’s Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, Itoro Udo, stressed that meaningful societal progress depends on how well a nation invests in its youths.
“We are using this opportunity to call for more support for schoolchildren, especially those in underserved communities. At OPay, we believe real change starts with the child.
“When we provide students with basic educational materials, we’re not just helping them for today — we are building their confidence and capacity for the future,” she said.
The outreach, which forms the first phase of a two-part campaign, saw 650 children receive school bags, books, stationery, and learning aids in preparation for the upcoming academic session.
The second phase is scheduled for September 2025.
Also speaking at the event, the founder of Brace-Up The Young Foundation, Obasanjo Fajemirokun, echoed the need for collective action in closing the learning gap.
He said, “Education is a powerful equaliser, but many children still lack the basic tools to succeed in school. We are calling on more fintechs, companies, and individuals to get involved.
“This partnership with OPay has made a big impact, and we are grateful. We must all play our part in building a better future for Nigerian children.”
The Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Mr Olusegun Olayiwola, represented by Mr S.O. Oladokun, lauded the initiative and called for its replication across other local government areas.
“This programme aligns with our mission to provide inclusive access to education. We appreciate the foundation and OPay for complementing government efforts,” Oladokun said.
The University of Lagos has set Monday, July 28, for commencement of its online registration for the Post-UTME screening exercise for admission into all undergraduate programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year.
This was contained in a statement by the Registrar One and Secretary to Council, Mrs Abosede Wickliffe, obtained from the institution’s website on Friday in Lagos.
According to the institution, the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination registration which commences on Monday, will come to a close on August 20.
The statement added, “Eligible candidates who made UNILAG their first choice in the 2025/2026 UTME, and scored 200 and above, are eligible to apply for the Post-UTME online screening.
“In addition, candidates must possess five credit passes at one sitting in relevant Ordinary Level (O/Level) subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“Only candidates who must have uploaded their O/Level results on or before Sept. 12, will be considered for admission.
“Candidates, who will not be 16 years of age by Sept. 30, are not eligible and need not apply. Candidates who do not participate in the post-UTME online aptitude test, will not be considered for admission.”
It further urged candidates to ensure they used their personal and active emails to register for the screening, as this would be the channel for communication.
The university added that its former students, whose admissions were withdrawn on the basis of poor academic performance or absence status, could reapply.
It, however, noted that this was on the condition that the new admission would be for a new programme/course, different from the former ones.
“Any student expelled from the university cannot be offered fresh admission.
“The university has zero tolerance for drug abuse, as it will not hesitate to withdraw admission of students who tests positive for drug use, whenever the institution conducts such test, either before or after registration,” the statement read.
It noted that the Mock examination for the Post-UTME online aptitude test would hold from Monday, August 25, to Wednesday, August 27, ahead of the official Post-UTME test, scheduled for September 1, to September 5
