The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and the Data Mining Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to ensure seamless access of students to education loans with biometric-enabled cards.

The MoU was signed at the headquarters of NELFUND in Abuja by the Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer and the Managing Director of Data Mining Company, Femi Akande.

The NELFUND boss, Sawyer described the MoU as a groundbreaking event to drive financial inclusion, promote transparency and accountability in the deployment of Government to People Service Card (G2PS-card). Sawyer said the MoU would open a new vitsa for Nigerian students to access loans seamlessly using multiple wallets as facilitated by the biometric-enabled cards from NIMC.

A firm, Edge Tech Solution has donated computers to People’s Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan.
According to the Director of the firm, Dr. Seyi Akanbi, the donation was to provide ICT literacy opportunities for students to enhance their knowledge.

Speaking while handling over the equipment to management of the school, Akanbi stated that computer is not just only important at this age but has became key aspect of living that people cannot do with. He stated that the earlier students have access to tools that enable them to have a hands-on experience, the better for them.

He said the computers is not just going to enhance learning of the students but will also prepare them for the future. According to him: “The future is right here, and if the future is right here, and our students do not have the right resources to optimize the future, I don’t know what can become of such a generation.”

DEPUTY Vice Chancellor (Administration), University of Ibadan (UI), Professor Peter Olapegba, has stated that the institution is set to leverage the commercialization of its many innovations, research products, outcomes, and knowledge for national development.

Professor Olapegba spoke while receiving a team from Innovative UK Business Connect on behalf of the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Kayode Adebowale, during a courtesy visit to the university. Olapegba appreciated the visiting team for coming to the UI, noting that the university is the right choice for collaboration in academic research and innovation in Nigeria, given its antecedents.

He noted that the institution has set up a committee to commercialise the many patents and intellectual properties of experts and researchers from the various departments and faculties of the institution. He said the committee will encourage partnerships with businesses and funders of research for innovations, ideas, and research outcomes.

THE Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) says it is taking steps to boost transnational education in Nigeria by partnering with British institutions. This is even as it announced that it would reallocate the savings from its suspended overseas scholarship programme to fund in-house training and capacity-building initiatives for Nigerian institutions, aiming to enhance their educational capabilities.

The executive secretary of the fund, Mr Sonny Echono, stated this while hosting a delegation of the British Council, led by the Director of Global Network, Charlie Walker. According to Echono, TETFund’s partnership with British institutions will facilitate knowledge sharing, collaborative research, and faculty development.

He said this collaboration will expose Nigerian academics to global best practice, enhancing the overall quality of education in the country. Echono added that the approach will also enable local institutions to develop their capacity to offer high-quality programmes, ultimately reducing the country’s reliance on overseas studies.

The Director of the Global Quality Assurance Association (GQAA), Dr Violet Makuku, has called on tertiary institutions in Africa to embrace Artificial Intelligence (AI) or risk falling behind in global education standards.

Speaking at a three-day symposium recently on Quality Assurance in Higher and Tertiary Education, Dr Makuku stressed that AI was no longer a future concept but a present reality. “We are already in the future. Tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly and Google Forms have transformed the way we work, enhancing productivity and efficiency. Tasks that once took hours can now be completed in minutes,” she said.

The symposium, organised on behalf of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Nigeria, took place at the Miklin Hotel in Accra. It brought together key stakeholders, including the Vice-Chancellor of the ABU, Prof. Kabiru Bala, along with selected teaching and non-teaching staff from the institution. The staff were trained on aspects of leadership and management, blended teaching and learning and research and innovation within the educational sector.

Federal Government and the People’s Republic of China have partnered on development of facilities of the Nigeria Navy Secondary schools across the country so as to enhance the nation’s quality of education.

Already, the collaboration has led to the construction and equipping of infrastructure facilities at the Navy Secondary School, Offa in Kwara state. Such interventions facilities are creation of the Examination and Dining Halls with 150 capacity, Computer centre with 50 capacity and 40 Home Economics Laboratories capacity for the students of the institution.

Speaking at the unveiling of the infrastructure facilities at Offa, the national president of Naval Wives Association(NOWA), Mrs. Blessing Ijeoma Ogalla, said that, “These new facilities are designed to enrich the learning experience of our students, equipping them with the tools and resources they need to excel both academically and in practical skills”.

Nigeria has made history in aviation education as President Bola Tinubu grants approval for the country’s first private aeronautic university, the Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management (IBUAM). The approval, announced by Sunday Dare, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communications, came after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Monday, March 3, 2025.

IBUAM was among 10 universities approved during the session held at the State House. The decision sparked widespread jubilation, particularly among young Nigerians who have benefited from the generosity of Comrade Isaac Balami, the University’s founder.

The approval had been pending for four years before finally receiving the presidential nod. Balami, who also founded 7Star Global Hangar and Airlines, described the moment as a major leap for Nigeria’s aviation industry. “I am happy to be the progenitor of such a lofty idea that not only aims at global aviation prominence but also focuses on producing the next crop of credible Nigerian leaders,” he said.

The federal government has launched a Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) Certificate Licensing Programme to enhance workforce skills and address Nigeria’s widening digital skills gap. Speaking at the unveiling yesterday on the Lagos campus, DBI President and CEO David Daser highlighted the initiative’s importance in establishing Nigeria as a frontrunner in digital transformation.

Daser said the programme aims to equip individuals and organisations with globally recognised ICT certifications, improving employability and driving economic growth in the digital economy. “This programme is designed to provide access to high-quality, industry-recognized training that will empower individuals, close the skills gap, and strengthen Nigeria’s workforce,” he said

He explained that DBI, a subsidiary of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), has been at the forefront of ICT education in Nigeria and is licensed by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU).

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has granted provisional licenses for 11 new private universities in Nigeria. The announcement was made on Monday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, following the council’s meeting, which was chaired by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

According to Alausa, the newly approved universities successfully completed the National Universities Commission’s (NUC) rigorous 13-step assessment process before being granted their licenses. He further clarified that a moratorium has now been placed on the approval of additional private universities, meaning no new applications will be considered for the time being.

“These 11 universities have met all the necessary requirements of the NUC and have been awarded provisional licenses to commence operations,” the Minister stated. “While we have approved these institutions, we have also placed a moratorium on the establishment of new private universities.

A seasoned Guidance and Counselling scholar at the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), Prof. Augustine Chinweuba Ukwueze, has asserted that the role of academic counselling in Nigeria’s education sector is often under-appreciated despite its impact.

Ukwueze, a lecturer in the NOUN’s Department of Educational Foundations, Faculty of Education, stated this during the NOUN 31st Inaugural Lecture held at the university’s headquarters in Abuja. In the lecture titled ‘Academic Counselling: A Dark Horse in Education Industry’, he provided an analysis of why academic counselling remains a “dark horse,” saying, “It is a powerful but overlooked force capable of driving significant improvements in educational outcomes and student well-being.”

The lecturer offered conceptual clarifications, distinguishing academic counselling from other forms of counselling, and emphasised that academic counseling plays a pivotal role in ensuring students make informed educational choices.

As part of its commitment to shaping the next generation, Corona Schools has concluded plans to unveil its legacy project, a state-of-the-art tech hub designed to equip students with STEM skills, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.

According to the school management, this is part of the activities listed for the celebration of the institution’s 70 years of excellence in the education sector, other programmes include with gala, and educators’ roundtable.

Sola Alamutu, the co-chairperson of the gala planning committee explained that the anniversary takes into cognizance of the renewed commitment of the management to quality education. “This anniversary is not just about celebrating our past but embracing the future with renewed commitment,” Alamutu said.

Huawei Nigeria has celebrated exceptional female students in its ICT Academy and Women in Tech training programme as part of its activities marking International Women’s Day. The ceremony paid tribute to women who have achieved outstanding success in their ICT training, allowing them to share their accomplishments and serve as role models, motivating and empowering the next generation of women in technology.

The event, held in Abuja ahead of the global celebration on March 8, brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Ministry of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; industry leaders; programme beneficiaries; and members of the press.

Themed ‘Cultivating Talent Through ICT Training for a Prosperous Nigeria, ’ the gathering aligned with the 2025 International Women’s Day theme, Accelerate Action, which calls for expedited progress in gender equality and inclusive development.