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

Uniport Appoints Prof. Princewill R. Chike as 10th Vice-Chancellor

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Governing Council of the University of Port Harcourt has approved the appointment of Professor Princewill R. Chike as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University.

Prof. Chike, a former Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, will succeed Prof. Georgewill Owunari whose tenure ends on July 13, 2026.

A statement signed by the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Sam Kpenu and made available to _The Tide_, said the appointment was made by the 17th Governing Council following the successful conclusion of the selection process.

“The process was conducted in strict compliance with the provisions of the Universities (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act and the University of Port Harcourt Act,” the statement read.

It added that the process involved the constitution of a Search Team and a Joint Council-Senate Selection Board. Both bodies carried out their responsibilities in accordance with extant laws and regulations governing the appointment of Vice-Chancellors in Nigerian universities.

According to the statement, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, congratulated Professor Chike on his appointment.

Senator Ohuabunwa expressed confidence in Prof. Chike’s ability to provide visionary leadership for the continued growth and development of the University.

Professor Princewill R. Chike is expected to formally assume office as the 10th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt on July 13, 2026.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

Education commissioner Commends WAEC Conduct in Rivers ,, Vows Sanctions for Malpractice

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

The Rivers State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peters Nwagor, has commended the orderly conduct of the ongoing 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination in the state and urged schools to sustain the standard.

Dr. Nwagor gave the commendation recently during a monitoring tour of selected secondary schools in Port Harcourt and environs where the WAEC exam is ongoing.

The commissioner, who was accompanied by directors and monitors from the Ministry of Education, said he was impressed with the peaceful atmosphere at the centres visited.

“The students conducted themselves properly and wrote their papers under conducive conditions. Invigilators and supervisors also performed their duties professionally,” he stated.

Nwagor noted that the Rivers State Government had invested heavily to ensure the smooth and credible conduct of the examination across the state

He urged candidates to reciprocate government’s effort by shunning all forms of examination malpractice and focusing on their studies.

“Government has done so much to ensure successful examinations in our schools. Students should take advantage of it by remaining focused,” the commissioner said.

While no case of malpractice was recorded in the centres inspected, Dr. Nwagor warned that any principal, teacher, invigilator, or official caught aiding malpractice would face strict sanctions in line with regulations.

He also commended school administrators, teachers, WAEC officials, and security personnel for upholding the integrity of the process. Centres visited included County Grammar School, Ikwerre/Etche; Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Borokiri; Government Secondary School, Borokiri; and Pabod Model Secondary School.

By: Akujobi Amadi

Education

RSU Law Professor Calls for Periodic Review of Nigeria’s Criminal Laws

Published

5 days ago

June 8, 2026

The Tide

A Professor of Criminal Justice and Law at the Faculty of Law, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, Prof. Clifford Anaele Nwanyanwu, has advocated for periodic review of the nation’s criminal justice administration laws to reflect current societal needs and challenges.

Prof. Nwanyanwu noted that many of the criminal justice laws in use today date back to the pre-colonial era. He questioned their efficiency in addressing modern criminal justice administration, adding that the complex nature of adjudication often allows crime to thrive.

He made the call while delivering the university’s 132nd Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday at the Senate Conference Auditorium titled: “Society as Criminal Enterprise: Unravelling a Complex Justice System.”

The erudite legal scholar clarified that the lecture was not meant to condemn the country’s justice system. Instead, he said it was intended to highlight areas that require urgent attention.

He expressed concern that criminal justice practice in Nigeria is more dysfunctional than functional, and stressed that he wants to see a system that works effectively for all citizens.

“The essence of criminal justice administration is due process, and anything contrary is not it. Plea bargains help to fast-track trial processes and reduce delays,” he stated.

However, Prof. Nwanyanwu expressed worry that the sums recovered through plea bargain arrangements are often meagre compared to the wealth looted, noting that this contradicts the purpose of the arrangement.

To strengthen the system, he recommended merit-based recruitment of judicial officers with proven character and integrity. He also called for adequate funding, infrastructure development, removal of political interference, and ethical reorientation within the judiciary.

The law professor further recommended that the state should pay compensation to citizens when security officers are found culpable for arbitrary killings, in line with the principle of vicarious liability.

In his remarks, Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, commended the lecturer. He described the lecture as timely and relevant to addressing the nagging challenges of crime in society.

Prof. Zeb-Obipi expressed concern over the justice system’s inability to curb the rising rate of criminal activities in the state. He added that through inaugural lectures, the university continues to provide solution-based approaches to societal challenges.

Our correspondent reports that the thought-provoking lecture was attended by stakeholders in the judicial system, judges, magistrates, scholars, and members of the university community.

By: Akujobi Amadi