Education
LBS Builds Research Centre to Honour Gamaliel Onosode
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The management of Lagos Business School (LBS) has commenced the process of building an International Management Research Centre to be named after the late Nigerian technocrat and administrator, Mr Gamaliel Onosode.
To mark the occasion, a sod-turning ceremony was held at the centre’s construction premises at the Lagos Business School on Wednesday, November 29, 2017.
LBS received a generous donation from the Onosode family, on behalf of the Gamaliel and Susan Onosode Foundation (GAMSU), for the research centre project. The foundation is a non-profit and non-political organization, set out to provide the enabling environment for the success of the Nigerian child through innovative and flexible learning opportunities.
At the ceremony, Professor Juan Elegido, Vice Chancellor of the Pan-Atlantic University, commended the Onosode family for their commitment to the project and expressed his delight at the values which the late Onosode represents.
“Onosode’s commitment to professional ethics and excellence are the reason why we are gathered here to erect this research facility that would add value to our faculty and in turn immortalise him,” he explained.
Mr Joseph Moyo Ajekigbe, Chairman of GAMSU, said that LBS is an institution noted for excellence and commitment to adding values to the society, hence, deserving of such a research centre that would project the vision of the late administrator.
“We are happy to be worthy partners with the LBS on this project and we are sure the institution’s unique ways of doing things is in line with Onosode’s vision,” he said.
He thanked the Onosode family for their commitment to the project and assured that users of the research facility would be happier when the project is completed.
On his part, Mr Ese Onosode reaffirmed his father’s commitment to the completion of the project and assured the institution of his family’s efforts to bring the project to fruition.
“We are happy to share my father’s vision with LBS and to witness the start of the project and pledge our continuous support till the very end,” Ese stated.
He also expressed his confidence at the Lagos Business School describing it as a brand to be associated with.
Dr Christopher Kolade, former Pro-Chancellor of Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, said that one of Onosode’s top concerns about Nigeria, the business sector and public sector was the poverty of management performance in many places.
As such, “setting up a management research centre such as this is one of the best things we have done with the legacy he left behind. This is an area of interest in which Onosode had passion and by doing this, we would immortalise him,” Mr Kolade stated. He further thanked the LBS and members of the family for embarking on the project to accomplish the vision of a visionary leader.
Dr Enase Okonedo, Dean of the Lagos Business School, expressed the institution’s appreciation to the Onosode family and the Foundation. She revealed that there was great cooperation and willingness from both parties during the preparatory stage of the project and commended their commitment towards the vision of the research centre.
The Lagos Business School also received donations from Col. Paul Obi (rtd.), and Zenith Bank Plc. The donations would go towards the building of the International Management Research Centre (IMRC), which will be used for the school’s research activities.
The Gamaliel Onosode Management Research Centre project will house LBS existing and future research centres. These include The Christopher Kolade Centre for Research in Leadership and Ethics, The First Bank Sustainability Centre, The Centre for Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation and Advancement as well as The Centre for Competitiveness and Strategy.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Monday in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade.
The ministry announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken.
The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold, with the Ministry acknowledging the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public since the planned increase became known.
The Ministry said the proposed fee review was driven by rising operational costs that have accumulated over several years without a corresponding adjustment to examination registration fees.
It said the current fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in costs covering logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the integrity of public examinations.
“The proposed review was informed by the prevailing economic realities and the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations,” the statement said.
“The current examination registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite significant increases in operational costs,” the Ministry added.
The ministry said the proposed fee hike will no longer take effect as earlier planned, while acknowledging that the concerns raised by Nigerians warranted a pause in the process.
“The proposed review of examination registration fees will not take effect, as earlier communicated, pending the conclusion of the consultation process,” the statement confirmed, adding that the June 18 letter conveying the proposed adjustment has been formally withdrawn.
“This decision underscores the Ministry’s determination to ensure that policies affecting millions of Nigerian students and their families are carefully considered, socially responsive and reflect the collective interest of the nation,” it said.
The Ministry outlined a fresh stakeholder engagement process that must be concluded before any decision on examination fees is made, signalling that the review has been delayed rather than permanently shelved.
The Ministry said it will engage extensively with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour and other education stakeholders as part of the renewed consultation process.
It said the goal of the consultation is to ensure that any future decision is “fair, sustainable, transparent and responsive to prevailing realities while safeguarding access to education,” framing the suspension as a course correction rather than an outright reversal of policy intent.
“The Ministry acknowledges the concerns and constructive feedback received from the public and appreciates the keen interest shown by Nigerians in matters relating to access to quality education,” the statement read.
The Ministry assured Nigerians it would keep the public fully informed throughout the consultation process, saying the welfare of students and equitable access to quality education “remain at the heart of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the education sector.”
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.
