Education
Millions of Naira for Grabs in UBA Foundation’s 2025 National Essay Competition
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
More than N22 million in educational grants and consolation prizes are up for grabs in the 2025 National Essay Competition (NEC) of UBA Foundation, the Corporate Social Responsibility arm of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc.
Participants, who are mainly secondary school students, are required to research thoroughly, get their ideas together, write their essays, and submit the scanned copies of their entries through a digital portal on or before Friday, October 17, 2025.
To be eligible to participate, applicants must be Nigerian senior secondary school students with interested candidates required to complete the online application form, upload a handwritten essay of no more than 750 words on the given topic, attach a recent passport photograph, and provide a valid birth certificate, National ID card, or international passport.
The topic for this year’s edition, according to a statement from the organisation, is Nigeria is characterised by diverse cultures, ethnicities, and religions. How can young Nigerians deploy diversity to build a united nation?
It was noted that the topic was carefully chosen to encourage participants to put on their thinking caps, as they examine how the country’s diversity can be utilised as a tool for nation-building, unity, and long-term development, while also rekindling the dwindling reading culture amongst the youth.
The chief executive of UBA Foundation, Mrs Bola Atta, who underscored the significance of the initiative, noted that young minds have a vital role to play in fostering national cohesion, particularly at a time when unity is most needed in the country.
“For well over a decade, the National Essay Competition has provided a vital platform for our secondary school students to express their ideas and showcase their intellectual prowess. Infact, parents and pupils have come to look forward to the NEC as they keep calling to ask about the commencement,” Mrs Atta said.
“This year’s topic is particularly crucial as it tasks them to look at our country’s greatest asset which is our diversity, and devise ways to leverage it for unity, growth, and national development. We believe the young minds of today hold the key to a more harmonious and prosperous Nigeria,” she added.
Now in its 15th consecutive year, the competition has become one of the foundation’s flagship education initiatives, designed to inspire critical thinking, foster a vibrant reading culture, and empower the next generation of leaders to shape the future of the nation through reading and writing.
To also deepen its longstanding commitment to education and youth development, the foundation announced a significant increase in its educational grants, with the first-place winner receiving a university grant of N10 million to study at any African university of their choice, This amount represents a rise by 33 per cent compared with the N7.5 million winning prize of 2024, while the second-place and third-place winners will be awarded N7.5 million and N5 million grants, respectively, up from N5 million and N3.5 million won last year.
Education
Orire School Abduction: Oyo Teachers Begin Indefinite Strike
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Teachers in Oyo State on Monday, June 1, 2026, commenced an indefinite strike to protest the abduction of their colleagues and some pupils about two weeks ago.
The teachers withdraw their services from schools until further notice in compliance with the directive of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT).
In a statement on Sunday, the group said the industrial action affects all public primary and secondary school teachers in Oyo State.
They are aggrieved over the continued captivity of abducted teachers and pupils, whose rescue and safe release remain uncertain.
According to the union, the prolonged detention of the victims has created fear and anxiety among teachers, discouraged parents from sending their children to school, and heightened tension across communities in the state.
The NUT said the industrial action is aimed at drawing the attention of government authorities to the urgent need to intensify efforts toward securing the safe release of the abductees without further delay.
It urged all teachers to comply fully with the directive, remain law-abiding, and stay safe in their respective homes throughout the period of the strike.
The association also reaffirmed its solidarity with the abducted teachers, pupils, and their families, stressing that lawful engagements with relevant government authorities would continue until the victims regain their freedom.
The NUT assured members that it remains committed to protecting the welfare and security of teachers and learners across the country.
A few weeks ago, some terrorists stormed the Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State and kidnapped dozens of children and teachers. They have remained in captivity, with the federal government only sending a delegation to the town on Sunday, May 31, 2026.
Education
KolaDaisi University Hosts Career Fair June 10 in Ibadan
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Wednesday, June 10, 2026, KolaDaisi University (KDU), in a bid to strengthen the talent-to-industry pipeline, will hold its inaugural Career Fair at its campus in Ibadan, Oyo State, with over 200 final-year students, alumni, and a diverse range of leading employers across multiple sectors expected to partake in the programme.
The one-day event, organised by the Directorate of Advancement and Alumni Relations, will feature participation from top-tier organisations spanning finance, consulting, technology, manufacturing, and other key industries.
Participating companies will engage directly with students, offering opportunities for graduate trainee programmes, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) placements, internships, and entry-level employment.
In addition to recruitment opportunities, the Career Fair will include a series of industry-led sessions, panel discussions, and networking engagements designed to provide students with insights into workplace expectations, emerging career trends, and professional development pathways.
“At KolaDaisi University, we are deliberate about preparing our students for life beyond the classroom. This Career Fair represents a critical platform for fostering meaningful engagement between our students and industry leaders.
“It is not just an event, but a long-term investment in partnerships that will drive innovation, talent development, and economic growth,” the President of the Directorate of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Mrs Olasumbo Obaseki, stated.
The Career Fair underscores the university’s commitment to equipping its students with not only academic excellence but also the practical skills, professional exposure, and networks required for success in today’s competitive labour market.
It is put together in collaboration with key industry partners, including Chapel Hill Denham, Mobile Screens and Sound Limited, SKOT Communications, LEADWAY Assurance, HighlerLife Properties Consult Ltd, Idea Konsult, New Horizons Nigeria, alongside several other organisations committed to nurturing emerging talent.
These partnerships reflect a shared vision of developing a workforce that is both competent and responsive to evolving industry needs.
This impactful and timely initiative is an essential platform for aligning academic outcomes with industry expectations.
The initiative forms part of KDU’s broader institutional strategy to enhance graduate employability through sustained industry engagement, career readiness programmes, and alumni relations.
By creating structured opportunities for interaction between students and employers, the institution continues to position itself as a forward-thinking institution committed to producing globally competitive graduates.
Education
Tinubu Appoints 39-Year-Old Prof Segun Aina as New JAMB Registrar
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Professor Segun Aina has been appointed to replace Professor Is-haq Oloyede as the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). The two-term tenure of his successor expires on July 31, 2026.
Mr Aina was chosen for the position by President Bola Tinubu, and he is expected to bring to bear his vast experience, knowledge and practical insight into the operations of the board, to take the critical educational organisation beyond the laudable heights achieved by his predecessor.
According to a statement on Thursday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, Professor Aina, who will be 40 in July, is a distinguished academic and systems expert with extensive experience in national examination systems, digital infrastructure, and public-sector institutional reform.
He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent, an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security, and a PhD in Digital Signal Processing, both from Loughborough University, United Kingdom. He has also completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.
A Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr Aina began his career with JAMB during his National Youth Service, gaining foundational experience in national admissions and data-driven institutional processes. These insights have shaped his ongoing contributions to examination reform and systems optimisation.
With over 15 years of post-graduation experience, Professor Aina operates at the intersection of technology, policy, and institutional transformation, advising federal and state governments on system design, digital transition, and operational reform. At 39, he became one of Nigeria’s youngest Computer Engineering professors and will now make history as JAMB’s youngest registrar.
He has served as a consultant to major examination bodies, including NECO, NABTEB, and various State Ministries of Education, providing expertise on ICT systems, examination integrity, and digital process optimisation.
Professor Aina is a member of several professional bodies, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).
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