Following the release of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results, numerous candidates have publicly expressed concerns over what they describe as unusually low scores. These reactions have gained momentum on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), where individuals have shared personal experiences and tagged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) requesting clarification. User @BAyeoyenikan1 posted: “We are concerned with the unusually low scores released this year. Many of us who have consistently scored between 230 and 310 in previous UTME attempts despite less intense preparation, dedicated even more effort and sleepless nights to this year’s exams. It…
Author: Muwaffaq Yahaya Adadu
The Governing Council of Isa Mustapha Agwai I Polytechnic, Lafia, has debunked recent allegations circulating on social media concerning the ongoing selection process for a substantive Rector, describing them as “unfounded, misleading, and intended to cause division.” The council, chaired by Professor Muhammad Sanusi Liman, a renowned physicist and former Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, said the claims are a misrepresentation of the lawful and transparent processes currently underway in the institution. In a statement signed by Mukhtar Wakeel, Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocol, the council described the allegations which suggest the selection exercise failed…
In today’s Nigeria, the pathway to quality higher education is increasingly shaped by socio-economic status rather than intellectual merit. The stark contrast between private and public universities, once a matter of institutional choice, is now a growing indicator of educational inequality. With tuition in some private institutions skyrocketing beyond the reach of the average Nigerian, the question arises: Is quality education becoming a privilege? Nigeria’s higher education system is broadly divided into public (federal and state-owned) and private institutions. Public universities like the University of Ibadan, Ahmadu Bello University, and the University of Lagos have long been the pride of…
In bustling northern cities like Kano, Sokoto, and Maiduguri, thousands of barefoot children roam the streets, bowls in hand, reciting Islamic verses under the hot sun. They are known as Almajiris young boys sent far from their homes to study the Qur’an under the tutelage of a Mallam, a religious teacher. In the early days, this practice was revered as a way to foster strong, educated Islamic scholars. However, today the Almajiri system has spiraled into a dire crisis, leaving children vulnerable to poverty, exploitation, illiteracy, and even radicalization. The system’s original intent was noble. It provided an opportunity for…
In a bid to strengthen the synergy between academia and environmental action, the Department of Geography, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the Nasarawa State office of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project. The visit, which took place at the ACReSAL headquarters in Lafia, was aimed at fostering knowledge exchange and offering students practical insight into the ongoing climate resilience and environmental restoration initiatives being implemented across the state. Led by the field trip coordinator, Dr. S.Y. Kpalo, the delegation comprised faculty members and students who expressed keen interest in understanding ACReSAL’s efforts…
Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) at federal tertiary institutions have voiced their concerns over the non-payment of their April 2025 salaries, raising alarm over what they describe as neglect and potential discrimination. Sources within the unions suggest that the delay may be linked to the recent transition of university-based unions from the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to the Government Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS). On May 7, 2025, SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, sent a letter titled “Concern Over the Consistent Delay in the Payment of…
Despite a series of ambitious policies and initiatives rolled out by the Nigerian government to reform the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, miners across the country remain trapped in a cycle of informality, exploitation, and environmental degradation. The Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (2007) and the National Minerals and Metals Policy (2008) provide a legal framework for small-scale miners to operate formally. Additionally, the Presidential Artisanal Gold Mining Development Initiative (PAGMI) was launched in 2020 to formalize gold miners and channel resources to local communities. However, the impact of these reforms has not been deeply felt by the miners…
Students of Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) are voicing frustration over the recent surge in house rent prices across Keffi town, describing the situation as exploitative and a threat to their education. In recent months, the cost of off-campus accommodation around the university has risen by as much as 150%, leaving many students scrambling for affordable alternatives. Areas such as High Court, Angwan Lambu, Low-cost, and GRA have witnessed particularly steep rises, with single-room apartments now going for between ₦300,000 and ₦600,000 per annum, more than double the rates paid by students just two years ago. “This is becoming unbearable,…
