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
A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof Oluwatoyin Temitayo Ogundipe, has been appointed as the chairman of the governing board of the National Universities Commission (NUC).
He was chosen for the role by President Bola Tinubu, according to a statement on Monday by the president’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.
Prof Ogundipe succeeds Professor Olufemi Raphael Aina, who resigned his appointment after less than one year in office.
President Tinubu appointed Professor Aina in July last year, and the board members were inaugurated in November 2025.
As NUC Chairman, Prof Ogundipe will oversee the regulatory body of the Nigerian university system, focusing on funding, global competitiveness and academic stability.
He is expected to provide visionary leadership at the NUC and sustain the credibility of the Nigerian university system by advancing quality, access, and integrity in the education sector.
Prof Ogundipe headed the University of Lagos between 2017 and 2022. He is a professor of Botany with expertise in molecular plant taxonomy, biosystematics, ethnobotany, cytogenetics, forensic botany, and ecological conservation.
He holds a PhD in Botany from Obafemi Awolowo University and an MBA from the University of Lagos.
Currently, Prof Ogundipe, 66, serves as Pro-Chancellor of Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State.
He is a fellow of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Academy of Science, the Linnaean Society of London, and the Royal Society of Biology, London. He has also served as President of the Botanical Society of Nigeria and Chairman of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
To improve sanitation and enhance the learning environment for students at Ebenezer Grammar School, Iberekodo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, a four-unit toilet facility has been built by OPay Digital Services Limited (OPay) in partnership with Dolly Children Foundation (DCF).
The project was commissioned on Thursday, June 18, 2026. It is expected to provide a safe and hygienic environment for the students and contribute to improved health outcomes.
It will also benefit hundreds of students by promoting healthier hygiene practices, reducing sanitation-related challenges, and creating a safer and more conducive environment for learning.
The OPay Clean Future Project aligns with broader national and global efforts to advance sustainable development, environmental protection, quality education, and community well-being. It further reflects OPay’s commitment to creating value beyond financial services through impactful corporate social responsibility initiatives while reinforcing Dolly Children Foundation’s mission of empowering children and strengthening underserved communities through sustainable development programmes.
At the commissioning, students were also given some educational and hygiene materials, while outstanding learners were recognised with school bags, sandals, and other learning resources in celebration of their academic excellence and exemplary conduct, underscoring the importance of supporting education while rewarding positive values and achievement.
“Education is the foundation of a brighter future, yet many children still face barriers to quality learning. Through the OPay Clean Future Project, we are improving sanitation, supporting education, and ensuring more students have the opportunity to learn in a safe and dignified environment,” the CSR Manager for OPay Digital Services Limited, Mr Itoro Udo, said.
Also, the Executive Director of Dolly Children Foundation, Adedolapo Osuntuyi, said, “Every child deserves access to a safe, healthy, and supportive learning environment. This project addresses a critical sanitation need while promoting environmental responsibility and helping students reach their full potential.”
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The national pre-qualifying examinations for the eighth season of the prestigious InterswitchSPAK have been concluded.
The exercise kicked off on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, and ended on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, with over 21,000 students participating, representing a 19.7 per cent increase compared with the over 18,000 registrations recorded in Season 7, underscoring continued nationwide growth and interest in the competition.
The competition is organised by Interswitch, Africa’s leading technology company focused on creating solutions that enable individuals and communities to prosper.
InterswitchSPAK was designed to identify and nurture exceptional Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) talents at the secondary school level.
The national pre-qualifying examinations marked the first stage of a rigorous selection process designed to identify the brightest young minds in STEM across the country. Successful candidates will progress through subsequent stages of the competition, culminating in a televised grand finale where finalists compete for scholarships and prizes worth over N40 million.
This year’s registration process also introduced an expanded access model, allowing parents and guardians to register their wards directly, alongside the traditional school-based registration approach. This enhancement contributed to broader participation and reinforced Interswitch’s commitment to creating inclusive access to educational opportunities for talented students nationwide.
Over the past seven seasons, InterswitchSPAK has continued to deliver impact through scholarships, mentorship, and national recognition for outstanding students, while consistently promoting educational equity and excellence in STEM education.
The overall winner of Season 8 will receive a N15 million tertiary scholarship, including monthly stipends. The first runner-up will receive a N10 million scholarship, inclusive of monthly stipends, while the second runner-up will be awarded a N5 million scholarship, also including monthly stipends. All scholarships are payable over five years. In addition, all nine finalists will receive brand-new laptops and other exciting prizes.
Beyond the top prizes, Season 8 introduces enhanced rewards for finalists placed 4th to 9th, alongside increased recognition for the teachers of students who finish in the top nine. The expanded reward structure further underscores Interswitch’s commitment to celebrating academic excellence and recognising the vital role educators play in nurturing future STEM leaders.
Commenting on the continued growth and participation in the initiative, the Executive Vice President for Group Marketing and Communications at Interswitch, Ms Cherry Eromosele, said, “The remarkable increase in registrations for Season 8 reflects the growing enthusiasm among young Nigerians for STEM education and innovation. We are encouraged by the confidence students, parents, teachers, and schools continue to place in InterswitchSPAK as a platform for academic excellence and opportunity.”
-
Feature/OPED6 years agoDavos was Different this year
-
Travel/Tourism10 years ago
Lagos Seals Western Lodge Hotel In Ikorodu
-
Showbiz3 years agoEstranged Lover Releases Videos of Empress Njamah Bathing
-
Banking8 years agoSort Codes of GTBank Branches in Nigeria
-
Economy3 years agoSubsidy Removal: CNG at N130 Per Litre Cheaper Than Petrol—IPMAN
-
Banking3 years agoSort Codes of UBA Branches in Nigeria
-
Banking3 years agoFirst Bank Announces Planned Downtime
-
Sports3 years agoHighest Paid Nigerian Footballer – How Much Do Nigerian Footballers Earn