Education
Lagos Warns Against Corporal Punishment in Schools
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Lagos State Government has warned against all forms of corporal punishment in schools, insisting that it would not accept such from any quarter.
The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folashade Adefisayo, reinstated this at a scientific conference of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba themed Corporal Punishment in the Modern African Setting: Examining the Scientific Evidence behind Corporal Punishment.
The event came after a Junior Secondary School 2 student of Simple Faith Schools, Agbara, Lagos State, Emmanuel Amidu, died after being subjected to punishment by a teacher.
Mrs Adefisayo, represented by Mrs Adumasi Bosede, a Director in the Ministry, decried the prevalence of corporal punishment in schools and homes, noting that it has mostly not ended well.
According to her, there are instances where corporal punishment meted out to students has resulted in the death of the child or student involved.
“There had been occasions whereby corporal punishment given by a teacher to a child either in form of flogging or bullying had eventually led to the death of the child, thereby implicating the teacher.
“To avert such ugly incidents, including other negative effects of corporal punishment; there is a policy in Lagos State prohibiting teachers from inflicting corporal punishment on students and pupils in schools.
“Meanwhile, there are other alternative ways to discipline and correct children, which are being adopted in the schools,” she said.
The President of ARD, Dr Samuel Aladejare, described corporal punishment as one of the burning issues in the society now, as it was prevalent in schools, homes and even workplaces.
In his address, Dr Aladejare said that there was the need to urgently address the issue, with a view to putting an end to all forms of corporal punishment in society.
“The scientific conference is one of the programmes used by the association to identify, discuss and proffer solutions to burning issues in the society through the help of seasoned experts and professionals in the medical field.
“So, I am convinced that the invited guests, experts, academics and professionals here today will adequately deliberate on the topics,” he said.
Dr Tolulope Bella-Awusah, Head of Department, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, UCH, Ibadan, said that corporal punishment was not good for the mental health and brain functioning of a child.
Dr Bella-Awusah said that what children needed was discipline and not punishment, adding that corporal punishment includes slapping, spanking, bullying, flogging, striking, and pinching among others.
According to her, in society; corporal punishment is used to train, discipline and correct misbehaviours among children to no avail.
“Scientifically, using corporal punishment such as flogging or beating is not an effective way to correct children, because it makes them be aggressive, drug abusers or stubborn in life.
“So, there is no need to beat children with the intention to correct them because its effects will manifest later in their lives,” she said.
A consultant psychiatrist at the Federal Neuro-psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Dr Olugbenga Owoeye, said that deprivation of social privilege measures could be used to correct and discipline children rather than corporal punishment.
According to him, parents, teachers and caregivers can deprive the child of certain privileges if the child fails to do what is expected of him or her.
The Director-General, Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Dr Babatunde Salako, said that corporal punishment had become a societal norm, which would be difficult to stop.
“The Nigerian society uses corporal punishment to correct bad behaviours in children.
“The truth is that there are some bad behaviours, which if you do not apply corporal punishment, such a child may not stop nor change from his or her bad habits.
“No matter what you do, people will still lock up their children and beat them if they do bad things. So, there is the need for more scientific evidence to the reasons why corporal punishment must be stopped,” Dr Salako said.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The examination fees of Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have been increased by the federal government by about 82 per cent to N50,000 from N27,500.
A circular signed by the Director of Senior Secondary Education in the Federal Ministry of Education, Mr Adeniji Ibrahim, disclosed that the new fees would become effective in 2027.
In the notice, it was disclosed that the government approved the upward review of the fees following a request by WAEC.
It was further disclosed that the decision to jack up the fees was reached after a March 31, 2026, meeting between the Minister of Education and examination bodies, where the need to review examination fees was discussed.
“You may recall that at a meeting of examination bodies held with the Minister of Education on March 31, 2026, where the need for upward review of examination fees was discussed, the Minister directed that WAEC and NECO should adopt a uniform fee for the conduct of WAEC and NECO SSCE,” the statement read.
“Consequently, I am directed to convey the Minister of Education’s approval of the sum of N50,000 only, as the new examination fee per candidate, with effect from NECO SSCE (Internal), 2027,” it added.
**Modibbo Adama University Emerges Grand Prize Winner, Secures N50m
A leading integrated independent exploration and production company with full-cycle upstream delivery capability, FIRST Exploration & Petroleum Development Company (FIRST E&P), has reaffirmed its commitment to developing Nigeria’s next generation of engineers.
This commitment was highlighted during the grand finale of the maiden edition of the Nigerian Engineering Olympiad (NEO), held on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The event recognised outstanding student innovators whose engineering solutions addressed real-world challenges, marking the culmination of months of regional qualifiers, prototype development, mentorship and boot camp sessions that equipped students from universities and polytechnics across Nigeria with practical skills in engineering, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Olympiad attracted 984 participants across 375 teams from more than 80 tertiary institutions representing all six geopolitical zones of the country.
Delivering the sponsor’s address, the General Manager, Engineering and Capital Projects, FIRST E&P, John Alamu, emphasised that the competition reflects the company’s commitment to equipping students with the practical knowledge and innovative mindset required to excel in engineering and strengthen Nigeria’s future workforce.
Alamu, noting that initiatives such as the Engineering Olympiad provide a structured platform for young talent to transform innovative ideas into practical solutions that contribute to the country’s technological and industrial advancement, stated that, “FIRST E&P believes that developing STEM capacity is an investment in this country’s ability to solve its own problems. The Nigerian Engineering Olympiad has taken young engineers and taught them to think beyond the drawing board, and FIRST E&P is proud to have been a funding partner for this initiative. I commend NCDMB for championing the Olympiad and Enactus Nigeria for successfully delivering a platform that is helping shape the next generation of Nigerian engineers and innovators.”
In his address, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Acting Director, Planning, Research and Statistics, Silas Ajimijaye, expressed appreciation to FIRST E&P for their unwavering support in successfully delivering the Olympiad.
Ajimijaye added that the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s Nigeria First Policy, which aims to build indigenous engineering capacity and equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills needed to drive industrial competitiveness, technological advancement, and sustainable national development.
The competition concluded in the awarding of prizes, with Team Mavericks of the Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Adamawa State, winning the grand prize of N50 million and a Centre of Excellence building for its Faculty of Engineering.
The team’s winning innovation, Ubuntu Sapphire, is a community-powered rapid alert system that uses affordable devices to instantly notify neighbouring households and emergency responders during emergencies, offering a practical solution aimed at strengthening community security and emergency response infrastructure.
Speaking after receiving the award, Team Lead, Dr David Patrick, expressed gratitude to the organisers and sponsors for providing a platform that fostered innovation and practical learning.
The University of Ibadan emerged as the first runner-up, receiving N30 million and N75 million worth of engineering equipment for its Faculty of Engineering. The University of Nigeria, Nsukka, secured third place and was awarded N20 million and N50 million worth of engineering equipment. The University of Jos finished fourth, receiving N10 million.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Corporate Social Responsibility arm of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, UBA Foundation, has collaborated with Slum2School Africa to deliver a hands-on financial literacy workshop for underserved children.
At the event designed to equip participants with essential money management skills from an early age, an engaging learning companion, the UBA Money Explorers Book, was presented.
The book introduces the children to the fundamentals of financial literacy through interactive stories, practical money ledgers, games and activities.
The pupils were also introduced to the UBA Red Vault, a savings product created to encourage healthy financial habits from childhood.
This is part of UBA Foundation’s broader financial inclusion and social impact agenda, which promotes education, youth empowerment and community development through innovative learning programmes and grassroots outreach across the group’s 20 African countries of operation.
The Managing Director of UBA Foundation, Ms Bola Atta, underscored the importance of introducing children to financial education early, noting that such interventions help build lifelong habits that foster confidence, responsibility and economic independence.
“Every child deserves the tools to dream bigger and plan better, regardless of where they come from. When we teach a child to understand money, we are giving them confidence, choice and a clearer sense of what is possible.
“Our partnership with Slum2School Africa enables us to reach children who stand to benefit the most, and seeing their enthusiasm as they learn reminds us why this work is so important,” she stated.
Also commenting, UBA’s Segment Executive for Children and Youth Banking, Ozioma Obi, said, “We are creating products and experiences that make banking simple, relatable and enjoyable for children from their very first lesson.
“The Money Explorers Book and the UBA Red Vault are designed to make saving exciting rather than a task. When children begin this journey early, they develop habits that will serve them throughout their lives. That is how we nurture informed, empowered and financially responsible future generations.”
On his part, the Senior Programmes Manager for Slum2School Africa, Mr Adekunle Idowu, said, “Financial literacy is a life skill that every child deserves, regardless of their background.
“Through this partnership with UBA Foundation, we are helping children develop the confidence, knowledge and discipline to make informed financial decisions from an early age. When we empower children with these skills today, we are investing in a more financially responsible and economically resilient future.”
