Education

JAMB Pegs UMTE Cut-Off Mark At 180

Published

13 years ago

June 19, 2013

The Federal Government has reduced the cut-off marks for gaining admission into Federal Polytechnics and Colleges of Education for the 2013/2014 academic session, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayat Ruf’ai has said.

Speaking at the end of a policy meeting with administrators of tertiary institutions in Abuja, yesterday, the minister announced 150 as cut-off mark for students seeking admission into polytechnics and colleges of education.

For universities, the cut-off point is 180.

Justifying the reduction, Prof Ruf’ai said it was aimed at encouraging students to seek admission into polytechnics and colleges of education.

The policy meeting called to determine the cut-off marks was attended by the Vice Chancellors, Registrars and Administrators of Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education as well as the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

The Tide gathered that outcome of the examination for entry into Nigerian universities for the 2012/2013 academic session is abysmal, at least so shows the result released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board.

Out of the 1,503,931 candidates that sat for the examination, only about 72,400 scored 200 and above out of the 400 marks available.

Most Nigerian universities peg the cut off for their courses at 200.

The results, announced last Friday in Abuja by the Registrar of JAMB, Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, showed that only three candidates scored over 300 marks in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination.

Nine hundred and one candidates were said to have scored above 270 marks while 72,243 had 250 marks.

Only 151 candidates scored between 200 and 249 marks.

Though the analysis showed that 1,048,314 candidates passed the examination, this is based on the premise that the universities will, generally, accept 180 as the cut off mark for admission.

However, most universities demand a score of over 250 for their key courses in the sciences and law.

About 366,330 candidates scored belowe 169, while 374,920 candidates scored between 170 and 199.

On malpractices, Rivers State, like it happened in the National Examinations Council results for the senior school certificate examination released on Thursday, topped the list of states that erred.

Out of the 1,503,931 candidates that sat for the examination, the results of 1,384,644 were released while 5,161 were declared invalid.

Results from 24 centres in Rivers State were withheld.

Lagos came second in this category with the results from 11 centres withheld.

Imo, Benue, Cross River, Delta and Nasarawa States also had plaques in this category, with the results of six, three, two, two and one centres seized.

On the number of candidates that sat for the examination and the schools they applied to, Ojerinde said Imo State had the highest number of applicants, which he put at 123,865.

Delta, Anambra, Osun, Oyo and Ogun States followed with 88,876, 84,204, 73,935, 71,272 and 71,173.

The lowest enrolment came from Jigawa, Kebbi, Yobe, Zamfara, Sokoto and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja that had 11,529, 7,364, 6,389, 5,713, 5,664 and 3,380.

There were 833,082 male candidates and 660,522 female candidates that sat for the examination.

The University of Lagos recorded the highest number of requests for admission with 83,865 candidates.

Others are the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, 82,148; University of Benin, 80,048; University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 79, 398, University of Ilorin, 76,276; Obafemi Awolowo University, 64,702; Ahmadu Bello University, 56,708; University of Port Harcourt, 48,439; University of Uyo, 44,397; Imo State University, 43,353; and University of Ibadan, 40,011.

Education

RIVCHPP Set To Take Health Insurance Scheme To Tertiary Institutions In Rivers State

Published

2 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme (RIVCHPP), the state health insurance agency, is set to take the health insurance scheme to schools, especially tertiary institutions, in the state.

This disclosure was made by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of RIVCHPP, Dr. Vetty Rolegherighan Agala, when she led a team from RIVCHPP on an advocacy visit to the office of the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education on Friday, 16th January 2026.

Dr. Agala, who solicited authorisation from the Ministry for RIVCHPP to write to the institutions under Ministry’s mandate so as to begin enrolment of students in the various schools , said that for the health insurance agency to expand universal health coverage of the state, then students need to be enrolled into the programme.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary announced that the agency has also started talks with the State branch of Nigeria Association of Proprietors of Private Secondary Schools (NAPPSS) to ensure that no one in the state is left out from having the opportunity of accessing quality healthcare services without passing through financial hardship.

Dr. Agala also commended the innovative policies that the Permanent Secretary have brought to bear towards improving the educational exploits in the state, saying that the changes align to the interest and mandate of Governor Siminialayi Fubara stance on education.

RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary appreciated the Permanent Secretary for giving the team audience, pledging her team’s dedication and commitment to clients’ satisfaction, calling on schools to embrace the S-SHIP package dedicated for the well-being of students in Rivers State.

In her remarks and response, the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Dr.(Mrs. ) Azibaolanari Uzoma-Nwogu, who warmly welcomed the RIVCHPP team, promised to share with and disseminate all information about RIVCHPP to all public schools in the state so that the schools will be willing to give RIVCHPP opportunity to sensitise them on what RIVCHPP is all about and the benefits of signing up with RIVCHPP.

Dr. Uzoma-Nwogu advised RIVCHPP to be proactive and consistent in the mandate of providing affordable and quality health care to Rivers residents.

The visit witnessed a presentation of RIVCHPP’s sensitisation/campaign materials to the Permanent Secretary by RIVCHPP’s Executive Secretary

Education

University Don wants AI to be made compulsory course

Published

2 weeks ago

January 19, 2026

The Tide

A university don, Prof. Sunday Olatunji, has argued that Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be made a compulsory course for all students in higher institutions across Nigeria, irrespective of their field of study

He also called on Nigeria and Africa to build an intelligent, inclusive and technologically sovereign future to elevate human potential through artificial intelligence.

To achieve these goals, the Professor of Artificial Intelligence urged the nation and continent to: institutionalize capacity building for AI excellence; develop functional policy and ethical frameworks for responsible AI; build artificial intelligence literacy and workforce development; make AI a general course in all higher institutions; promote no-code

AI and machine learning pathways for beginners; develop public-private-academic partnerships; and build inclusive and culturally grounded AI.Prof. Olatunji, who is ranked by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the Best AI Researcher in Nigeria (2025), made these statements on Tuesday, while delivering the 53rd Inaugural Lecture of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, held at the University Multipurpose Hall.

The lecture was titled, Symbiosis of Mind and Machine: Harnessing AI for National Development.He stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer science fiction but a reality that permeates every stratum of human life. “Just as Computer Appreciation became a national requirement decades ago, the time has come for AI Appreciation as a compulsory General Studies (GST) course.

This course should introduce all students, regardless of discipline, to aspects of AI including: AI fundamentals, machine learning concepts, applications of AI in their respective fields, ethical implications of AI, and its role in national development, among others,” he said.

The lecturer called on governments to establish AI innovation hubs in all tertiary institutions and research centres; promote cross-disciplinary collaboration integrating computing; provide national research grants focused on AI solutions for local challenges; and recruit and train faculty specialised in AI, machine learning, data science, robotics, and computational intelligence.

Prof. Olatunji allayed fears that AI could replace humans or end humanity, positing that, “Many fear that the rise of artificial intelligence signals the decline of human relevance – that the machine might replace the mind. But history teaches otherwise. Every technological revolution – from the printing press to electricity, from the internet to AI – has not diminished humanity but rather redefined it.

Today, AI diagnoses diseases, predicts the weather, translates languages, and protects nations.

Prof. Olatunji has garnered from far and wide and commended his role in setting up the Faculty of Computing and for doing a yeoman’s job as its founding Dean.

The Vice Chancellor also noted that Prof. Olatunji is a well-respected and accomplished academic and researcher who has carved an enviable niche for himself in the digital world of computing and artificial intelligence.

Education

FG, ASUU Set Date to Sign Agreement

Published

3 weeks ago

January 12, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government is set to formally sign an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities following weeks of negotiations.

The development may be linked to the 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff proposed by the FG last month and accepted by the union.

A circular issued by the Ministry of Education invited Vice-Chancellors and Registrars of federal universities to witness the signing ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Abuja.

The circular, dated January 5, 2026, and referenced FME/IS/UNI/ASUU/C.11/Vol.V/82, was signed by the Director of University Education, Rakiya Ilyasu, on behalf of the Minister of Education.

It was titled ‘Invitation to the Ceremony for the Signing of Agreement Between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities.’

The circular was sighted by our correspondent on Saturday and confirmed by the Ministry’s Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

“This signing represents a critical milestone in promoting industrial harmony and improving teaching and learning in our universities.

“It also reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to the sustainable development of education in line with the Renewed

Attendance at the ceremony was declared mandatory for all invited university administrators, highlighting the importance attached to the agreement and its implementation.

Last month, the industrial crisis that had burdened Nigeria’s university system for 16 years following the 2009 Federal Government–ASUU Agreement saw the union accept the Federal Government’s proposed 40 per cent salary increase for academic staff.

It was reported that the deal, effective from January 1, 2026, would be reviewed after three years

Why FG Shouldn’t Be Blamed for Non-Implementation of Council Autonomy

Under the new terms, professors will earn a pension equivalent to their final annual salary upon retirement at age 70. The agreement also provides for the establishment of a National Research Council to fund research with at least one per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product.

Other provisions include improved funding for libraries, laboratories, equipment and staff development, greater university autonomy, and the election of academic leaders, with only professors eligible to serve as deans and provosts. The pact also guarantees that no staff member involved in past industrial actions will be victimised.