Education

ABU Wins Inaugural ECOWAS Moot Court Competition

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Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has emerged as the winner of the inaugural ECOWAS Moot Court Competition. The competition, which had eight universities compete for the top prize of N5 million, had the University of Jos as its first runner-up, receiving N3 million. Organised by the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, the competition, which concluded over the weekend, also featured law undergraduates from American University, Yola; University of Nigeria, Nsukka; Igbinedion University, Okada; Lagos State University; Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti; and the University of Uyo. The Moot Court Competition, marking a significant step towards deepening youth engagement in regional integration and justice, was held under the theme ‘Promoting Regional Integration and Human Rights through Judicial Processes in West Africa’. In his closing remarks, the President of the court, Justice Ricardo Claúdio Monteiro Goncalves, described the event as a “historic milestone” for the ECOWAS Court and a “beacon of hope” for the next generation of legal professionals in West Africa. Applauding the eloquence, analytical acumen, and professionalism displayed by the participants. He congratulated all the universities represented, declaring that “every team is a winner” for its invaluable contributions. Goncalves also announced that, following the overwhelming success of the maiden edition, the Moot Court Competition will become an annual flagship programme of the court, with plans to expand participation to universities across all ECOWAS Member States. “By creating platforms such as this, the Court not only demystifies its work but also plants the seeds of a more robust legal culture—one that upholds justice, human rights, regional cooperation, and the rule of law,” he stated. Delivering the vote of thanks, the Vice-President of the court, Justice Sengu Mohamed Koroma, lauded the competition as a powerful blend of vision and execution. He commended the students for their dedication and decorum and acknowledged the essential roles played by judges, academic mentors, ECOWAS institutions, and development partners. “Whether or not you won today,” he told the participants, “you have all emerged as ambassadors of law and justice in the ECOWAS region.”

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Nasarawa SUBEB boss orders teacher redeployment, recovers stolen school furniture

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The Executive Chairman of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Kassim Muhammad-Kassim, has pledged to recover all chairs and desks allegedly sold by some education secretaries and headmasters to private schools. Muhammad-Kassim made the pledge in Lafia on Wednesday during a maiden meeting with Education Secretaries from across the 13 Local Governments and 18 Development Areas of the state. He expressed dismay that government provisions for students’ comfort were being diverted and sold to private schools by education secretaries and headmasters. “Our students cannot be sitting on the floor while headmasters and education secretaries sell furniture we provided. “I have visited schools and seen firsthand how children sit on floors, yet records show furniture was provided. I will not tolerate this under my administration,” he said. The NSUBEB Chairman further informed the education secretaries that he had contacted the Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of operations to join his team in identifying and recovering the government’s furniture from private schools. He emphasised that it would no longer be business as usual, and the board under his leadership would focus on rural schools to ensure that they are well-equipped. Muhammad-Kassim also instructed the education secretaries not to make illegal deductions from teachers’ salaries, except on disciplinary grounds, which the board must be aware of, stressing that all illegal deductions should cease immediately. He stated that he was appointed by Governor Abdullahi Sule to reform the education sub-sector, expressing determination to achieve his mandate, even if it meant making unpopular decisions. He further directed the education secretaries not to allocate school lands to small business ventures without the board’s permission, citing instances where individuals claimed school lands for personal use. He also announced plans to establish a maintenance unit in each local government to protect and safeguard SUBEB properties, warning that poorly executed contracts would be revoked and contractors’ payments withheld until satisfactory work is completed. “We cannot renovate a school this year and have the same structures renovated next year. It indicates a problem in the initial contractor’s work. We will not pay contractors until we are satisfied with the quality of work,” he added. Kassim Muhammad-Kassim also directed the immediate redeployment of 1,300 administrative staff out of a total of 3,422 across the 13 local governments and 18 development areas of the state to classrooms. He emphasised that the government does not have to experience a shortage of teachers while administrative departments have an abundance of qualified teachers as staff. “The Board will not tolerate a situation where there are numerous supervisors in urban areas while rural schools lack teachers, so the 1,300 redeployed teachers will be posted to rural schools,” he said. On recruitment, the NSUBEB chairman explained that he had received approval from the Governor to recruit 4,800 qualified teachers for primary schools, revealing that the recruitment drive is tagged “Recruitment of Teachers in Rural Areas.” He further emphasised that applicants should be prepared to serve in rural areas, affirming that no newly recruited teacher will be posted to any of the urban areas in the state. Source: Punch

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OPay extends N1.2bn 10-year scholarship initiative to Benue varsity

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Nigeria’s leading financial technology company, OPay, has extended its N1.2bn 10-year scholarship initiative to students of Benue State University, marking the institution as the seventh beneficiary of the nationwide educational support programme. The company said the move aligns with its commitment to youth empowerment and education, particularly in supporting academic excellence across tertiary institutions in the country. The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of OPay, Dauda Gotring, said the scholarship programme was established to reduce the financial burden on students and to support their personal and academic development. “We are proud to support these future leaders at Benue State University as part of our broader commitment to education and empowerment. Education plays a vital role in nation-building, and this scholarship is our way of helping young Nigerians reach their full potential,” he said. The scholarship scheme is designed to provide financial relief to students, allowing them to focus on their education without the stress of tuition and related costs. According to the company, the initiative targets talented but financially disadvantaged students across various disciplines. Commenting on the development, the Vice Chancellor (Admin) of Benue State University, Prof Tor Iorapuu, described the donation as a milestone in the university’s drive to provide inclusive and accessible education. “This generous donation from OPay marks a significant milestone. It provides a crucial safety net, ensuring that students can focus on their education. This contribution will have a lasting impact, empowering students to pursue their academic goals with confidence and stability,” Iorapuu said. OPay noted that while Benue State University is the seventh beneficiary, the scholarship scheme has already been successfully implemented in six other institutions across the country this year. The fintech firm also reaffirmed its commitment to extending the programme to more universities nationwide in the coming years. The company said the initiative is part of its corporate social responsibility efforts and a demonstration of its belief in education as a tool for sustainable development and social progress. According to OPay, the beneficiaries of the scholarship are not just individual students but also represent the collective hopes of their families and communities, adding that the programme is playing a crucial role in shaping a better future for Nigeria’s youth. As the scholarship programme continues to expand, OPay assured that students from various regions across Nigeria will have the opportunity to benefit from the initiative in subsequent phases. “This generous donation from OPay marks a significant milestone. It provides a crucial safety net, ensuring that students can focus on their education. This contribution will have a lasting impact, empowering students to pursue their academic goals with confidence and stability,” Iorapuu said. OPay noted that while Benue State University is the seventh beneficiary, the scholarship scheme has already been successfully implemented in six other institutions across the country this year. The fintech firm also reaffirmed its commitment to extending the programme to more universities nationwide in the coming years. The company said the initiative is part of its corporate social responsibility efforts and a demonstration of its belief in education as a tool for sustainable development and social progress. According to OPay, the beneficiaries of the scholarship are not just individual students but also represent the collective hopes of their families and communities, adding that the programme is playing a crucial role in shaping a better future for Nigeria’s youth. As the scholarship programme continues to expand, OPay assured that students from various regions across Nigeria will have the opportunity to benefit from the initiative in subsequent phases. The PUNCH reported that OPay has announced a N1.2bn 10-year scholarship initiative for students of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State. Source: Punch

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