Education
UNILAG VC Wins €38,000 Grant for Research Project
By Ahmed Rahma
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, has secured a research grant worth €38,000.
In a statement issued on Saturday, it was disclosed that Mr Ogundipe won the prize for his project proposal titled Implementation of the Biodiversity Information and Data System for Coastal Ecosystem in Nigeria.
In the statement issued by Mrs Nonye Oguama, a Principal Assistant Registrar, Corporate Affairs of the institution, it was said that the sum of money is the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) grants for the year 2021, which was also won by another botanist, Dr Temitope Onuminya.
According to Mrs Oguama, the fund is part of the 2021 Biodiversity Information for Development (BID) programme, funded by the European Union.
According to the statement, the GBIF, an international organisation with Secretariat in Copenhagen, focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available through the internet.
It provides human resources and technical infrastructure enabling the publication of and access to large volumes of data gathered over centuries about the earth’s species.
“Ogundipe, a Professor of Botany, won a national level grant of €38,000 for his project proposal Implementation of the Biodiversity Information and Data System for Coastal Ecosystem in Nigeria,” a part of the read.
“Onuminya, on the other hand, won an institutional level grant of €18,850 for implementation of a BID project proposal Expanding the Visibility of the Lagos Herbarium through Digitisation and Mobilisation of Plant Specimen Data.
“The University of Lagos is rejoicing with them (mentor and mentee) and wishes them successful implementation of their proposals,” the statement added.
About the BID programme
According to information on its website, as earlier stated, the programme is funded by the European Union and led by GBIF with the aim of enhancing capacity for effective mobilization and use of biodiversity data in research and policy in the ‘ACP’ nations of sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Funding from the programme’s first phase has supported capacity enhancement activities and projects to mobilize biodiversity data and strengthened national and regional biodiversity information facilities in these regions.
Its impacts to date have focused on data that support the regions’ policy needs, particularly in connection with protected areas, threatened species and invasive alien species.
Other past Nigerians with the grants
The UNILAG VC is not the first to receive this funding support from the organisation to execute a research project. On October 15, 2017, Dr Omokafe Alaba Ugbogu of the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria located in Ibadan, Oyo State received a national grant of €39,972 to carry out a research project titled Capacity advancement for the Nigeria node of GBIF. The project was completed on March 31, 2019.
Reason for the project
The objective of the project was to initiate mobilisation of biodiversity data from Nigerian data holders, custodians and institutions, estimated to hold more than 700,000 data records related to plants and animals within protected areas and likewise invasive, threatened and endemic species.
While educating biodiversity data stakeholders across Nigeria on the benefits of biodiversity data mobilisation and sharing, the project also disseminated and demonstrated the best practices for digitising natural history collections through training workshops and thereby mobilize biodiversity data from Nigeria.
Coordination of the reseach
Project activities were coordinated by the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and executed in collaboration with project partners at Nigeria National Park Service, Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Nnadi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nasarawa State University and the University of Kansas.
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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