Nation
FG Will Continue To Invest Big In Education, Says Minister
The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has assured that the Federal Government will continue to invest hugely in education to boost the quality of teaching and learning in the country.
Adamu made the pledge in a message he sent to the 33rd convocation ceremony of the Federal College of Education, Eha-Amufu, near Nsukka in Enugu State yesterday.
The Tide source reports that no fewer than 1,611 students were awarded Nigerian Certificate of Education (NCE), while 69 others got their Professional Diploma in Education (PDE) from the institution.
Adamu said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration had always given education special attention, which he said, informed the decision to upgrade teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years.
“This administration invests hugely in education to ensure quality teaching and learning.
“Government has ensured that all tertiary institutions in the country received robust interventions from TetFund to boost infrastructure in institutions.
“Many structures I inaugurated earlier today in this college before the convocation ceremony, attest to government’s huge funding on tertiary institutions in the country.
“It is because of the regard government has for teachers as critical stakeholders in education that it upgraded teachers’ retirement age from 60 to 65 years,” he said.
Adamu, represented by Mr Chukuemeka Nwajiuba, the Minister of State for Education, urged teachers to reciprocate government’s gesture by being dedicated to their duties and to be good role models to students.
“Teachers are critical stakeholders in education, so they should always strive to comport themselves to dignity and respect the teaching profession deserves.
“I commend the Provost of the college, Dr Pauline Ikwuegbu, for her good performance and judicious use of funds as testified to by the facilities I inaugurated today in the college.”
The minister, who congratulated the students, advised them to put the knowledge they acquired to good use so as to contribute their quotas to national development.
Also speaking, Ikwuegbu, who is also the first female provost of the college, said that the convocation was meant to confer certificates on students found worthy in character and learning.
“At this 33rd convocation, we conferred 1,611 graduates with NCE and 69 with PDE certificates, having been found worthy in character and in learning.
“I congratulate them for successful completion of their courses and urge them to always be good ambassadors of their alma mater.
“Don’t see your academic attainment today as the climax but a pedestal for more academic pursuits in life.”
She listed some of her achievements since assumption of office in 2018, attributing them to good working relationship between staff, students, management and the college’s governing council.
The provost expressed appreciation to the minister for finding time to witness the 33rd convocation and 40th anniversary of the college as well as the inauguration of projects completed within three years of her administration.
Some of the projects inaugurated by the minister include an administrative building, 1,000 capacity auditorium and a farm-house, where chickens, rodents and pigs would be reared.
New buildings for the school of arts, school of social sciences and school of languages were also inaugurated.
Prof. Paulinus Okwelle, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education and Mr Doifie Buokoribe, Chairman, FCE Eha-Amufu Governing Council also attended the convocation.
In their separate remarks, they commended the provost for her achievements within three years of assumption of office, urging her to keep it up.
Some of the graduands told The Tide source in separate interviews that they were grateful to God, who made it possible for them to graduate successfully, pledging that they would be good ambassadors of the college.
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that 26,592 public school students failed the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination, raising alarm across the state’s education sector.
The state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Alli-Balogun, during a ministerial press briefing yesterday in Alausa, Ikeja, said that “45.7 per cent of the 58,188 students from public schools who sat for the exams did not pass.”.
This failure rate comes despite the state government’s significant financial backing N1.577 billion was paid on behalf of the students to cover WAEC fees.
“Suffice to say that the sum of N1,577,794,000 only was paid by the state government as examination fees for 58,188 students who were captured for the year 2024 WASSCE,” Alli-Balogun announced.
In a bid to tighten accountability and avoid wastage, the Commissioner disclosed that biometric and image registration was carried out to accurately determine eligible students for government sponsorship for the 2025 WASSCE.
“The exercise successfully captured and registered 56,134 students as bona fide beneficiaries of the Lagos state government’s sponsorship for the examination,” he added.
However, the Lagos State Government rolled out a bold educational intervention – the Eko Learners’ Support Programme for WASSCE and NECO candidates – aimed at reversing the tide of academic failure in the state’s public schools.
Launched on January 14, 2025, the initiative is part of a broader commitment by the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education to equip Lagos students with tools for success.
“This forward-thinking initiative was designed to support and empower young scholars in attestation of the ministry’s commitment to advancing interest and management of the educational system in Lagos State,” Alli-Balogun stated.
Ekiti State Government says it has vaccinated 226,429 eligible girls in the State against the Human Papilloma Virus, an infection believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer.
The wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, said the HPV immunization exercise, which she flagged off in the State in May 2025 was a great success, noting that it reached targeted communities and protected children against cervical cancer.
The governor’s wife made the disclosure in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a one-day stakeholders’ sensitisation meeting on the introduction of Measles Rubella vaccines in Ekiti State.
She said, “The introduction of Measles Rubella Vaccines is a very crucial step towards protecting Ekiti children particularly the target age group of nine to 14 years from diseases.
“I urge all women in the State to regularly scan their breasts. This can be done with the aid of the Mammography machine which is available at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado Ekiti”.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, noted that the Measles Rubella vaccines would be rolled out nationally in October, 2025.
Filani said that the State was taking proactive steps to sensitise residents of the State before the date to ensure adequate awareness on the vaccines by citizens.
The Acting Ochimba of Ogida in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State, Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam, says peace remains paramount in the socio-economic development of Etche land.
Eze Azuatalam, however, called on his people to embrace and eschew violence at all times.
The Onwa Nagbara Oha made the call during the official commissioning of his palace at Ogida recently.
The epoch-making ceremony held at his palace saw the attendance of members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs; the academia; the political class; the clergy ; women as well relevant stakeholders within and outside Etche land.
The Ngbaragida of Azuafor re-emphasised the essence of peace and social harmony which he said open the window for meaningful development to take place.
He also sought the support and collaboration of his people to achieve the desired goals of development, progress and prosperity.
He noted that the peace being witnessed in the area must be sustained through collective effort, saying, contributions and sacrifices need to be made by all concerned to live in peace.
Eze Azuatalam said his aim towards building a better Ogida cannot be compromised as he and his people have no other place called home.
The Acting Ochimba said as part of efforts to build a better Ogida, he has instituted a number of development projects, adding that some of his kinsmen have been empowered through his hard-earned money and resources, saying, he will continue to assist the less- privileged around him.
He reaffirmed his desire to impact positively on the lives of his people as the engagement of the youths will help to reduce social vices in the area.
He thanked members of the Etche Supreme Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs for honouring his invitation.
He specifically thanked the Onyi Ishi Etche and Ochie of Etcheland, His Eminence E mmanuel Opurum for leading Etche on the path of prosperity, and described the revered King as a role model to the younger generation.
He said his fatherly role has been a source of hope and inspiration to his subjects.
The palace was unveiled by His Eminence with the assistance of Ochimba of Abara, Eze Jonah Nwala and other prominent Etche traditional rulers and chiefs while the Onyi Ishi Etche was represented by Eze Ken Nwala, Onyi Ishi Agwuru, Ulakwo/ Umuselem Clan.
The Onyi Ishi Etche urged other prominent sons of Etche to emulate the kind gesture of Eze Ndudiri Azuatalam as his magnanimity is being seen and appreciated by his people.
Eze Azuatalam also applauded the efforts of Prof Mekuri Ndimele, former Vice Chancellor of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in the growth of Etche land.
According to him, during Ndimele’ s tenure, a lot of development projects were sited at the institution, including the development of Etcheland and empowerment of Etche people.