Education
A’Ibom Approves N728m For Universities Expansion, Conversion
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio has approved the release of N728 million for the conversion of Maritime Academy of Nigeria in Oron into a university and expansion of the state university.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Usoro Usoro, last week said the expansion was for the main campus of the Akwa Ibom University at Ikot Akpaden in Mkpat Enin local government area.
A breakdown of the amount shows that N330 million is for the acquisition and payment of compensation for additional hectres of the land for the conversion of the Maritime Academy into Maritime University of Nigeria.
The N728 million includes the N396. 5 million approved for the acquisition and compensation for additional land for the expansion work at the Akwa Ibom University main campus.
The statement said the approval was part of the condition given by the National University Commission (NUC) during a visit to Akwa Ibom for an on-the-spot assessment of the two institutions.
It said NUC had after approving the conversion of the Maritime Academy into a university, insisted that the current land mass of 60 hectres be expanded to 100 hectres to accommodate all the courses envisaged for the new university.
It added that approval covered compensation for the additional 40 hectres of land acquired by the state government at Eyo Abasi in Oron local government area to meet the NUC requirement.
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The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Rivers State,. Dr. Peters Nwagor, on Friday hosted members of the Ogbakor Etche, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE) Rumuolumeni Chapter, during a courtesy visit that underscored unity and mutual respect between the Ministry and key stakeholders.
The delegation was led by the Chapter Chairman, Prof. Gift Nwiyi, who spoke on behalf of the group. He commended Dr. Nwagor’s leadership style, describing it as purposeful and people centered. He urged the Commissioner to remain focused on his mission to reposition the education sector in Rivers State.
As a mark of solidarity, the delegation presented a symbolic gift to the Commissioner. Prof. Nwiyi said the gesture represents the Chapter’s collective support and confidence in Dr. Nwagor’s capacity to deliver on his responsibilities.
Responding, Dr. Nwagor thanked the group for the visit and their kind gesture. He noted that goodwill from academic and community bodies provides strong encouragement for the Ministry to stay committed to its reform agenda.
The Commissioner restated his resolve to work with stakeholders across the state to improve learning outcomes, teacher welfare, and infrastructure in schools. He added that partnerships with groups like Ogbakor Etche IAUE are critical to achieving sustainable development in the sector.
Members of the delegation also reiterated their readiness to collaborate with the Ministry on programmes that advance quality education. They pledged to mobilize intellectual and community support for policies that raise standards in Rivers State schools.
The visit ended on a note of unity, with both parties reaffirming their shared commitment to educational advancement. It marked another public endorsement of Dr. Nwagor’s leadership since his assumption of office as Commissioner for Education.
By: Akujobi Amadi
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.
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