Category: Education

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has been declared the champion of a nationwide Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition, outperforming the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) in the decisive final round.

The university shared the news through a statement released by its Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Olarewaju, on Tuesday, highlighting that the event attracted leading institutions from across Nigeria.

According to the statement, the contest employed a stringent evaluation process that assessed participants’ knowledge, creativity, and problem-solving skills in STEM areas. OAU advanced to the finals with FUTA after excelling in the preliminary stages against other contenders.

The final showdown was marked by intense rivalry, with both universities demonstrating remarkable originality, collaboration, and technical prowess. Ultimately, OAU claimed the top spot, surpassing FUTA in aggregate performance to win the national title.

In response to the victory, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Adebayo Simeon Bamire emphasized that the accomplishment reflects the university’s unwavering dedication to academic distinction. He remarked, ‘This major win reaffirms our strong tradition in science and technology education, research, and innovation.’

Bamire further noted that the students’ excellence showcases their self-discipline, inventiveness, and the hard work of the faculty. He called it a proud milestone in the university’s history, proving OAU’s leadership in STEM education, research, and innovation.

Leye Falode, Global President of the Great Ife Alumni Association, also expressed admiration for the students’ perseverance and team spirit. He stated, ‘This success stems from thorough preparation and the supportive academic atmosphere fostered by the university. Our students have once again proven their ability to perform at the highest echelons.’

The university administration praised the team for bringing glory to the institution and thanked stakeholders whose contributions made the win possible, reaffirming its pledge to foster talent and maintain academic excellence.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has shed light on why certain candidates who participated in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) encounter a ‘No Result Yet’ message when attempting to access their scores. In a statement released on Tuesday, JAMB’s spokesperson, Fabian Benjamin, clarified that this situation specifically impacts underage test-takers whose outcomes have not been published.

According to the board, individuals who do not meet the age requirement—being at least 16 years old by September 30, 2026—fall into this category. When such candidates try to view their results, the system automatically displays the notice that no results are available. JAMB previously announced that only those who meet the age cutoff are eligible to sit for the exam, though exceptional academic performers may receive consideration regardless of their age.

This measure aims to enforce the board’s age policy while allowing for flexibility in rare cases of outstanding scholarly achievement. The clarification comes amid widespread curiosity and concern among students and parents about the delayed release of results for some participants.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has raised the alarm over deteriorating conditions at tertiary institutions under the control of Sokoto State, threatening to down tools if urgent action is not taken by authorities to address long-standing grievances.

In a joint statement released on Wednesday, the leadership of ASUU chapters at Sokoto State University and Shehu Shagari University of Education expressed deep concern over what they described as persistent neglect of staff welfare. The statement, which was co-signed by Dr. Bello Musa of the SSU branch and Dr. Shamsu Kabiru of the SSUE branch, warned that the current state of affairs could soon force the union to embark on industrial action, severely disrupting academic programmes.

The union highlighted that multiple appeals to the state government have yielded little to no progress, and that the continued inaction is eroding the foundation of industrial harmony at the two institutions. “These challenges have dragged on for far too long, and despite our constant reminders, there has been no meaningful response. We believe that resolving them is important for sustaining a productive atmosphere and enhancing overall output,” the statement read.

Among the key demands put forward by ASUU is the immediate implementation of the 2025 agreement between the union and the Federal Government, particularly regarding the payment of special allowances meant for teaching and research staff. The union noted that while federal universities have begun to see progress on this front, lecturers at state-owned institutions in Sokoto are still being marginalized.

ASUU is also calling for the settlement of Earned Academic Allowances (EAA) that have remained unpaid for the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sessions. The union argued that since salary structures are negotiated centrally within the national framework, it is unacceptable for state institutions to exclude their lecturers from the benefits enjoyed by their federal counterparts.

The union warned that unless the government acts swiftly, the growing frustration among lecturers could lead to a complete shutdown of academic activities. This development reflects a broader trend of increasing tension within Sokoto’s higher education sector, as unions across the country push for better funding, fair remuneration, and full adherence to existing agreements.