Education
77 Contractors Jostle For UBE Jobs In Rivers
A total of 77 companies have taken part in the process to select contractors that will execute the 2019 Federal Government Universal Basic Education intervention project in Rivers State organized by the management of the State Universal Basic Education Board (RSUBEB) .
Speaking while declaring the bid process open at RSUBEB office in Port Harcourt, over the weekend, the Executive Chairman of the board, Ven Fyneface Ndubuisi Akah said the ceremony had become an annual ritual.
Akah said the benefits of the programme to the development of basic education in the state would be enormous when the projects are executed and infrastructure provided.
According to him, the state was benefiting from the FGUBEB 2019 Projects due to the commitment of the state government to the development of basic education in the state and lauded Governor Wike for his efforts in this direction.
He disclosed that about 52 civil works, comprising 22 new school buildings as well as 6 storey classroom blocks among others were expected to be constructed during the project execution.
The RSUBEB boss warned prospective contractors that the board would not tolerate substandard jobs, saying that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Abuja, had put up a sustainable monitoring mechanism to check low quality jobs.
He commended past contractors who executed the 2017, 2018 jobs for good work done, noting that it was their excellent job delivery that placed the state on top among other states across the country even as he appealed to contractors who will not be successful not to be deterred but to try next time as they may be lucky.
Also speaking, the state representative of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Mr Isaac I Chenwo, commended the organizers of the programme and described the event as transparent and credible.
Chenwo lauded the commitment of the RSUBEB leadership for the various feats achieved in the advancement of basic education in the state, saying that the chairman and his team were making concerted efforts to getting basic education system right in the state.
He charged the would be contractors to ensure that they delivered quality jobs and not to see the opportunity as an avenue to become rich, adding that there would be intensive monitoring for compliance in accordance with laid down rules.
The RSUBEB Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Evangelist Emmanuel Ogbugo, while giving the breakdown on the overview of the 2019 FGN/UBEC projects said a total of 85 bids lots were sold in six weeks but, only 77 companies returned their bids.
He disclosed that the prospective jobs would cover the areas of construction of 52 new schools, water/sanitations, primary and junior secondary schools renovations, among others.
Our correspondent reports that representatives of ICPC, EFCC and civil society organisations witnessed the ceremony organised in accordance with the procurement act.
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An organic chemist at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Professor Adebisi Olonisakin has charged the government and relevant stakeholders to strengthen investment in research that explores the various known and undiscovered health and industrial potentials of plant secondary metabolites, in order for ‘Africa to evolve organic, home-grown methods of tackling health challenges if it must preserve its population and save its economy’.
He made this call on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, while delivering the 57th inaugural lecture of the institution titled ‘Nature’s Pharmacy: Unlocking the Secrets of Plant Secondary Metabolites’.
He further advocated sustainable governance principles, encouragement of conservation efforts and clubs, establishment of botanical gardens, biotechnology research units, approval of complementary herbal medicine, and setting up of laboratory infrastructure and central analytical facilities as avenues to getting the most from nature.
Prof. Olonisakin posited: ‘Secondary metabolites are nature’s valuable compounds that have contributed significantly to human well-being, safety and economic activities. These compounds have been a rich source of medicines, food additives, and other valuable products. Their diverse biological activities and potential applications make them an important area of research, offering new opportunities for improving human health and quality of life.
‘The isolation of secondary metabolites from plants has led to the discovery of numerous bioactive compounds with potential applications in medicines, agriculture and other industries. These compounds have shown promising results, making them attractive candidates for further research and development in order to uncover more of nature’s hidden treasures.’
Professor Olonisakin said secondary metabolites are natural compounds found in leaves, roots, bark and seeds of plants that protect them from insects and infection, adding that scientists study these plant chemicals to produce drugs for treating illnesses.
While affirming that nature can be seen as a pharmacy because it provides healing substances, the organic chemist urged students and researchers to pay attention to local plants, saying that Nigeria is blessed with many medicinal plants whose properties are yet to be fully discovered and utilised to help improve healthcare and boost the country’s economy.
Prof. Olonisakin noted that mosquito-borne viral diseases such as malaria continue to pose significant global health challenges with increasing resistance of mosquitoes to conventional insecticides. This, he said, has created an urgent need for alternative vector-control strategies through further research and development of plant secondary metabolites.
He, however, stressed the need for intentional scientific research into beneficial and safe plant-derived compounds, noting that genetic and environmental factors significantly influence the efficacy and chemical composition of plant secondary metabolites.
The chemist highlighted some of the challenges associated with secondary metabolites research to include complicated extraction process, low yield of secondary metabolites in sources, compound instability, structural diversity, high-demanding purification techniques, and limitations in analytical techniques.
To address these challenges, Prof. Olonisakin called on the Nigerian government to adopt integrated management principles that include responsibility, scale-matching, precaution, adaptive management, full cost allocation and stakeholder participation. He added that large-scale botanical gardens be established in all Nigerian states to conserve and manage useful plants effectively.
He also urged relevant stakeholders to encourage the establishment of conservation awareness and clubs from primary schools to universities and across local communities.
While presenting the inaugural lecturer, the Vice Chancellor and Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Olugbenga Ige, described Prof. Olonisakin as a distinguished scholar whose work sits at the intersection of tradition and science, as well as nature and human well-being. He commended him for his unwavering commitment to solution-driven research that advances knowledge within the university and benefits society at large.
The Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, announced that over 10,000 teachers across the country have successfully registered for its upcoming Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) scheduled for May 14 to 16, 2026. The development is being seen as a major sign of growing confidence in the council’s digital registration platform, which has become central to teacher licensing and certification in Nigeria.
According to TRCN Registrar and Chief Executive, Dr. Ronke Soyombo, the high turnout reflects increasing trust in the portal’s ability to manage registration, licensing, and certification efficiently on a national scale. She explained that although the system faced early technical difficulties after its September 2025 launch, those issues were largely caused by heavy traffic, system upgrades, and users adjusting from manual to digital processes.
Soyombo further stressed that the portal is now operating smoothly and remains the only approved channel for TRCN registration, warning teachers against unofficial third-party agents or fraudulent form sales.
Beyond the numbers, the milestone represents a broader shift in Nigeria’s education sector toward digital efficiency, transparency, and professional standardisation, with the TRCN positioning itself as a key driver of modern teacher regulation.
The Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) has flagged off the construction of a 1,600-bed ultramodern students’ hostel as part of efforts to tackle the growing demand for accommodation driven by rising student enrolment.
Speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Aloysius-Michaels Okolie, disclosed that the project had a completion timeline of 12 months, describing it as a strategic intervention aimed at improving students’ welfare and enhancing academic productivity.
He attributed the university’s recent strides to what he termed the “disruptive innovation” model of Governor Mbah’s administration, noting that ESUT’s management had aligned with the vision to deliver measurable results rather than mere promises.
“This is a management driven by demonstration and practicality. We have keyed into the governor’s philosophy of innovation, and that is why we are recording visible progress,” Okolie said.
The Vice Chancellor particularly lauded Governor Mbah for his forward-looking investments in technology and education, highlighting the approval of an Artificial Intelligence Application Centre at the former NCC facility in Nike.
According to him, the centre will serve as a practical hub for research, training, and certification in emerging technologies, positioning ESUT at the forefront of digital transformation in Nigeria’s tertiary education space.Nigeria investment guide
He further disclosed that, with the governor’s backing, the university had commenced plans to send selected academic staff to leading global centres in cities such as Doha and Dubai for specialised training in Artificial Intelligence, adding that the initiative would enable the institution to import global best practices and build a critical mass of experts capable of driving innovation and research.
Okolie also commended the governor for providing consistent and massive support to the institution, including funding for critical infrastructure, recruitment of academic and non-academic staff, and ongoing interventions at the College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital.
According to him, ESUT has witnessed a sharp increase in its admission quota, rising from about 2,842 in 2022 to over 8,700 currently, a development that has intensified the need for expanded accommodation facilities.
Okolie added that the university was repositioning itself as a model of a modern institution, citing ongoing reforms, completion of previously stalled projects, and a renewed focus on quality delivery.
In his goodwill message, the TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, said the hostel project reflected the agency’s commitment to strengthening tertiary education through impactful interventions, noting that the initiative would significantly improve student accommodation and enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
Echono, who was represented by the South East Zonal Coordinator, Mrs Catherine Onuoha, also commended the governor for fostering an enabling environment for educational development and urged contractors to adhere strictly to approved standards and timelines.
Also speaking, the representative of Africa Plus Nigeria Ltd, Dipo Lawore, described the project as part of a broader national programme to address the acute shortage of student housing across tertiary institutions, stressing that the ESUT hostel would feature modern facilities including reading rooms, a cafeteria, 24-hour security, laundromat, and en-suite rooms designed to provide comfort and safety for students.Nigeria investment guide
The firm noted that the project was being funded through a partnership involving TETFund, Family Homes Funds Limited, and Africa Plus Partners, with TETFund providing 25 per cent of the funding, while the private partners cover the remaining 75 per cent.
The Student Union Government representative, Comrade Okeke Raphael, praised both the governor and the Vice Chancellor for their commitment to transforming ESUT into a world-class institution.
He noted that the new hostel would significantly ease the burden of rising accommodation costs on students and improve their learning environment.
In a similar vein, the host community, represented by the traditional ruler of Umueze Community, Igwe Emeka Ani, described the project as timely and inspiring.
He commended the governor’s developmental strides across the state and assured the university management of continued support and cooperation from the community.
Performing the foundation-laying ceremony, Governor Mbah lauded the Vice Chancellor for what he described as proactive and result-oriented leadership, noting that the university’s progress was a reflection of effective alignment with his administration’s vision.
“I must commend the Vice Chancellor for being a strategic game changer. The success stories we have heard today show clear alignment with our governance philosophy,” the governor said.
He also expressed appreciation to TETFund and other development partners for their contributions, assuring that his administration would continue to prioritise education by providing the right infrastructure and support systems.
Mbah added that the project underscored the state’s commitment to innovation, academic excellence, and community development, expressing optimism that ESUT would continue to evolve as a hub for knowledge, research, and progress.
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