Education
Finalists Share Experiences at InterswitchSPAK Masterclass

By Dipo Olowookere
The InterswitchSPAK Masterclass 1.0 might have come and gone but the experience will linger on in the minds of the 81 finalists who participated in the project.
The Masterclass, which was held on Monday, August 27, 2018, comprised three 45-minute sessions where top-notch speakers engaged the students in lectures on various subjects.
Students were intellectually motivated by high-profile speakers led by Mr Mitchell Elegbe, GMD, Interswitch Group who discussed: ‘Emotional Intelligence and the Leadership Responsibility of Youths’; Mr Yinka Sanni, CEO, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Ltd, focused on ‘Social Innovation – The Power of Transformative Ideas’ and Eloho Omame, MD, Endeavour Nigeria, on the topic ‘Entrepreneurship – A Tool to Creating Impact in Our Society’.
The students certainly had very rewarding experiences from the Interswitch Masterclass 1.0. Some of them were willing to share;
‘I have decided to study Medicine to stop politicians from travelling abroad for medical treatment’ – Rasheed Yekini, from Demonstration Standard College, Okene, Kogi State.
The word ‘medical tourism’ has become commonplace in Nigeria, no thanks to government officials and their likes travelling abroad for every little health challenge. This is the reason why Rasheed Yekini of Demonstration Standard College, Okene intends to study Medicine and Surgery.
“The other day, a former Minister fell sick and was flown abroad for treatment. Recently, the governor in my state had an accident and travelled abroad for medical attention. From the Masterclass, I learnt that I can achieve anything I want by putting my mind to it. I also learnt that people from poor homes have a better chance to see opportunities and find solutions to them,” he said.
‘The Masterclass has helped change my mind about running away from Nigeria,’ Glory Okoli, from Ambassador School, Ota, Ogun State.
Although she also dreamt of relocating abroad for greener pastures, Glory Okoli has had a shift in mindset, thanks to the inspiring sessions at the Masterclass 1.0.
“When I saw people like Mitchell Elegbe and Yinka Sanni who against all odds, schooled and made it here in Nigeria, I changed my mind about ‘running away”, she said. An aspiring paediatrician, Glory wishes to study at the John Hopkins University, USA, but promises she would return home as a qualified paediatrician to help save the lives of Nigerian children who are most susceptible to diseases.
‘The Masterclass made me understand that by inventing new things, I can solve existing problems,’ Uchenna Okoro, from Incubators Academy, Kaduna.
Uchenna Okoro has always had the desire to create new things. He said: “The Masterclass made me understand that by inventing new things, I can solve existing problems and make the world a better place to live”. On why he entered for the InterswitchSPAK science competition, the aspiring Genetic Engineer sees the platform as one that will fully groom his potentials.
‘It is more beneficial when one person grows a business to employ thousands of people; than many small businesses of two, three people,’ Kosiso Ugorji, from Lagoon Secondary School, Lekki, Lagos.
The aspiring biomedical engineer has big dreams of inventing something that will revolutionize the entire medical system, beginning from her state (Imo State).
However, she learnt the importance of not just starting small, but steadily growing a business to become large-scale. She said: “I really gained a lot from the session by Ms Eloho Omame where she talked about scaling I learnt that it is important and more beneficial to the society when one person grows a business to become an employer of hundreds and thousands of people; instead of many small businesses of two, three people”.
‘My takeaway from the sessions is the need to imbibe principles, values, skills, wisdom and knowledge for a successful life,’ Asusu Cookey-Gam, from Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School, Rivers State.
For Asusu Cookey-Gam of Jephthah Comprehensive Secondary School, Rivers State, coming to the competition was scary but the Masterclass was interesting and impactful. He said: “I learnt how to use technology to solve societal problems.
‘I plan to create a software which will help Nigerians become more tech-savvy,’ Feyisayo Adeaga, from the Ambassador School, Ota, Ogun State.
Feyisayo Adeaga, a student of The Ambassador School, Ota, was enlightened about the need to create a solution to a societal problem during the Masterclass.
Speaking on his experience, Feyisayo stated that he was ready to accept Mr. Sanni’s challenge of helping the country solve real problems to improve the lives of fellow Nigerians.
“I plan to become a Software/ Computer Engineer because I realize that many people in Nigeria are technologically illiterate,” he said.
‘Life goes beyond Physics, Chemistry and Biology; a good attitude is important,’ Oreofe Daniel, from Ambassador School, Ota, Ogun State.
For Oreofe Daniel, the Masterclass was super fun and interesting. The 15-year-old, who incidentally scored the highest marks in the InterswitchSPAK national qualifying examinations, also learnt that beyond knowing and passing Physics, Chemistry and Biology, it was important to apply the knowledge acquired to real-life situations and to develop a good attitude to life in general.
‘I want to impact my love of Math’s on the younger generation,’ Anuoluwa Aruleba, from Ambassador School, Ota, Ogun State.
Worried about the dearth of trained teachers in Nigeria and the resultant brain drain of Nigeria’s best educators, Anuoluwa Aruleba of The Ambassador School, Ota, wants to become a Mathematics teacher.
“Mathematics is my favourite subject and I want to impart my love and knowledge of Math’s on the younger generation”, she said. Her key takeaway from Mitchell Elegbe’s session of the Masterclass was that people will have expectations and perceptions about you and things around.
She said, “Expectations cannot be controlled but can be managed, so try to change people’s perception instead of lowering their expectations.”
‘Creating a positive impact is more important than making money,’ Gift Ukpoweh, from ECWA Model College, Oyo.
Ukpoweh Gift is a 14-year-old student of ECWA Model College, Oyo State. Probably one of the youngest finalists, Gift’s vision in life is to become a frontline architect due to her love for drawing and a desire to improve the field of architecture.
Her participation in the Masterclass further enhanced this vision as she learnt that impact should be the major reason for any venture.
She said, “I learnt that in everything we want to do in life, we should have a vision. I also learnt that in any field we want to go into, we must not go there only because of profit. Creating a positive impact is more important and should be our number one goal in life. That is what I intend to do when I become an architect”.
Commendably, Interswitch has sparked off a huge ripple from this 135 minutes of mentoring at the InterswitchSPAK Masterclass. There is no doubt that the forum has changed the mindsets of the students that participated, rekindling their interest in STEM and helping them to refocus their purpose and career paths.
Indeed, the InterswitchSPAK project has all the trappings of a revolution that will hopefully change the face of STEM education in Nigeria, leading into the future.
Education
Education Minister Denies Scrapping 6-3-3-4 System

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, has denied reports making the rounds that the federal government has scrapped the current 6-3-3-4 system for a new structure, the 12-4 model.
The media space was agog on Thursday with news that the Education Minister was planning to introduce a new 12-year uninterrupted basis education structure because of the scrapping of the Junior Secondary School (JSS) and Senior Secondary School (SSS) classes.
He was said to have made this proposal yesterday while speaking at the 2025 Extraordinary National Council of Education meeting of in Abuja.
Reacting to this, Mr Alausa clarified that the new system has not been introduced but was being proposed to replace the current structure.
At a media conference on Friday, the Minister appealed to members of the public to disregard the false claim that JSS and SSS have been scrapped, noting that, “The federal government remains committed to policies that enhance access to quality education while aligning with global best practices.”
He stressed that his remarks on the issue were misinterpreted as he merely presented a proposal for discussion—not an immediate policy change.
“The proposal seeks to migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.
“At the Extraordinary National Council on Education (NCE) Meeting held on February 6, 2025, in Abuja, I presented a proposal for discussion—not an immediate policy change. The proposal seeks to migrate to 12 years of compulsory education while retaining the current 6-3-3 structure.
“A key aspect of this proposal is to eliminate the examination barrier between JSS and SSS, allowing for a seamless transition of students without the hurdles of an external assessment at that stage. However, this is still a subject of consultation and deliberation.
“To ensure a well-informed decision, the Ministry will undertake extensive stakeholder engagements over the next eight months, consulting widely with education policymakers, state governments, teachers, parents, and other key players. The final decision on whether to adopt this reform will be made at the October 2025 National Council on Education Meeting,” he explained.
Education
Tinubu Overhauls Federal Universities Leadership

By Adedapo Adesanya
President Bola Tinubu has announced significant leadership changes at several federal universities, including the University of Abuja, which is now known as Yakubu Gowon University.
According to a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, these changes are effective immediately.
At Yakubu Gowon University, named after Nigeria’s longest-serving Head of State from 1966 to 1975, President Tinubu dissolved the entire governing council and relieved Professor Aisha Sani Maikudi of her duties as Vice-Chancellor. He chose Mr Lanre Tejuoso, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, as the Pro-Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University.
He will be succeeded in Makurdi by Ms Joy Emordi after being moved from Alvan Ikoku University of Education.
To succeed Professor Maikudi, President Tinubu appointed Professor Lar Patricia Manko as Acting Vice Chancellor of the Yakubu Gowon University for a six-month term. She will not be eligible to apply for the substantive position when it becomes available.
In addition, President Tinubu has removed Professor Polycarp Emeka Chigbu from his position as Acting Vice-Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), before his tenure ends on February 14.
Professor Oguejiofu T. Ujam has been appointed as his successor for six months and will not be eligible to apply for the permanent position.
The leadership changes at UNN extend to the role of Pro-Chancellor, with Mr Ike Nwachukwu reassigned to Pro-Chancellor at the University of Uyo.
Mr Tinubu also appointed Engineer Olubunmi Kayode Ojo as the new Pro-Chancellor of UNN. Previously, he held the same position at the Federal University of Lokoja and the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti.
Professor Zubairu Tajo Abdullahi, currently the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Uyo, has been appointed to succeed Ojo at the Federal University of Lokoja.
Mr Sani Stores is the new Pro-Chancellor of Alvan Ikoku University of Education, succeeding Senator Joy Emordi. He is a Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Additionally, Mr Olugbenga Kukoyi, a current Council Member at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, has been appointed the new Pro-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State.
“All appointments and reassignment decisions are effective immediately,” the statement affirmed.
President Tinubu emphasised that these changes reflect his administration’s commitment to revitalising Nigeria’s higher education system through dynamic leadership and accountability.
The restructuring aims to strengthen governance and academic excellence within Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.
Education
Tax Clearance Certificate Required to Enjoy Free Education in Lagos—LIRS

By Modupe Gbadeyanka
For children to access free education from kindergarten to SS3 in Lagos State-funded schools, their parents must provide a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC), the Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has reiterated.
According to the chairman of the tax agency, Mr Ayo Subair, “It is standard procedure to require a Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) to access government services.
“To obtain a TCC, individuals must file their annual tax returns for the applicable assessment year and ensure their tax payments are currently based on their declared income,” Mr Subair stated.
He highlighted that this requirement has been in practice for a long time and aligns with Section 85 of the Personal Income Tax Act (PITA) 2004 (as amended).
He disclosed this initiative, part of the THEMES PLUS agenda, is included in the government’s broader efforts to provide essential services such as affordable housing, efficient transportation, free healthcare, youth and small business empowerment programs, enhanced security, and better road infrastructure, among others.
The tax chief emphasised that every resident of the state, whether in formal employment or not, is required by law to file annual tax returns, declare their income and pay any taxes due.
This requirement is backed by the Nigerian constitution; it is also the law, as stipulated in the PITA and part of the social contract between the government and residents, he stressed.
According to him, requiring a TCC for access to free services is not a new policy but a longstanding practice intended to foster fairness and transparency in using public resources, noting tax revenues help fund various public programs that benefit millions of Lagos residents.
For informal sector taxpayers, who might not have detailed financial records, the government has introduced a presumptive tax of N10,100 (comprising N10,000 in annual tax and a N100 development levy) to facilitate their inclusion in the tax net.
Mr Subair explained that tax compliance is essential for the sustainability of public programs and services, emphasising that the Lagos State government is dedicated to offering quality and efficient services to its residents.
As part of this mission, it mandates that all taxable individuals register with the tax authority, submit their returns, and pay applicable taxes to maintain an updated TCC.
To enhance the convenience and streamline the process, LIRS has deployed staff and agents to markets and schools, establishing one-stop centres where individuals can obtain their TCC without needing to visit tax offices.
Flexible payment options, including instalment plans, are also available, though full payment must be completed before the TCC is issued, adding that the TCC of guardians will be accepted from students who do not reside with their biological parents.
“The aim is fairness, accountability, and sustainability. This policy is not about inflicting hardship, but rather ensuring that everyone, including those in the formal sector, contributes their fair share to sustain the provision of essential services,” the LIRS chief stated.
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