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University of Calabar Appoints First Female Vice-Chancellor

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Florence Banku-Obi UNICAL VC

By Adedapo Adesanya

The University of Calabar (Unical) has announced the appointment of Mrs Florence Banku-Obi as the first female Vice-Chancellor of the 45-year-old institution.

This was announced on Friday in Calabar by Mrs Nkechi Nwaogu, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Unical Governing Council, who added that the process of the selection was transparent, fair and just as promised.

According to the Pro-Chancellor, Mrs Banku-Obi emerged the best out of the 13 contestants for the same position and will take up the post from December 1, 2020.

She explained that they used the guidelines set up by the Federal Ministry of Education on the conduct of interview for the appointment of a Vice-Chancellor.

“At the end of the day, we had a brand new first female VC of the University in the last 45 years. The interview was transparent and some of the contestants are part of our council.

“What I expect of her is to look at what the outgoing VC has done because governance is a continuous process. She should invite all those who contested with her and build a team.

“No one person can execute the programmes without the integration of other erudite administrators that presented their CVs yesterday.

“She should be an integrative agent and I expect her to look inward on the areas of internally generated revenue and pluck the areas.

“She needs to motivate staff and students of the school and as an erudite Professor and a mother, I know that she will bring all these to bear,” she said.

She congratulated Mrs Banku-Obi and wished her the best in her tenure.

During her speech, the newly appointed VC, who could not hide her excitement, stated that, “I am very happy today, I just received my appointment letter from the 12th Council as the 11th VC elect effective from December 1, 2020.”

“It was a free and fair contest and I am happy about it. The University of Calabar should expect an inclusive administration from me,” she said.

The incoming 11th Vice-Chancellor of the school will take over from Mr Zana Akpagu whose tenure ends on November 30 after five years at the helm.

Mrs Banku-Obi hails from Boki local government area in Cross River and she has been a lecturer in the Department of Education.

In the history of the university, she was the only person elected the Dean, Faculty of Education, for two consecutive times.

She has also served as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academics) and also as a member of the University Governing Council. The educationist has over 60 publications to her credit in both local and international journals.

She has supervised over 30 postgraduates Diploma Projects, 12 Master Degrees Theses and 8 PhD Dissertations and has so far assessed 13 persons for professorial positions.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Education

Mine Bitcoin and Dogecoin for Free With DL Mining! UK Compliance Platform Officially Opened

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Mine Bitcoin and Dogecoin

Traditional cryptocurrency mining often requires huge capital investment, complex equipment configuration, and high electricity costs. However, DL Mining is subverting this industry, providing users with simple, low-cost BTC and DOGE cloud mining services. As a legal platform certified by the British authority, DL Mining makes mining no longer limited by expensive hardware and technical barriers, and truly enables everyone to participate. With top-level security protection, minimalist operation experience, and stable daily income guarantee, DL Mining has become one of the most promising cloud mining platforms in the encryption field.

Functions of DL Mining
DL Mining is committed to creating a safe, efficient and profitable mining experience for all users. The core advantages of the platform include:

✅ Top security protection

Using McAfee® and Cloudflare® dual encryption technology to fully protect user data and asset security

✅ Completely transparent and zero fees

No management fees are charged, no hidden costs are required, and 100% of the income belongs to the user

✅ Stable mining guarantee

The server runs 100% stably, and cooperates with a 24/7 professional customer service team to ensure continuous profitability

✅ Flexible mining in multiple currencies

Supports 6+ mainstream cryptocurrencies such as USDT,USDC,BTC, LTC, DOGE, XRPand free investment portfolio selection

✅ Newcomer exclusive benefits

Sign up and get a $15 investment package, enjoy $0.6 free income every day, and start mining at 0 cost

DL Mining

How to start cloud mining for free with DL Mining?
DL Mining provides an easy-to-use cloud mining getting started guide. Users can start mining in three simple steps:

Step 1: Register an account get $15 bones

The creation process is very smooth and only requires an email address. After registration, users can immediately access DL Mining’s mining dashboard to monitor their earnings in real time.

Step 2: Select a cloud mining service provider.

DL Mining offers a $15 free mining plan to simplify the mining process without expensive mining hardware. This free plan allows users to earn $0.6 in passive income per day for free without taking any financial risk.

Step 3: Choose a mining contract

DL Mining offers a variety of contract options to meet the needs of different investment levels. Each contract guarantees a fixed return and predictable daily returns, ensuring a transparent and profitable mining experience.

LTC [basic  contract]: investment amount: $100, contract period: 2 days, daily income of $4, expiration income: $100 + $8

LTC [basic  contract]: investment amount: $500, contract period: 5 days, daily income of $8, expiration income: $500 + $37

BTC [classic contract]: investment amount: $1,000, contract period: 10 days, daily income of $16, expiration income: $1,000 + $160

BTC [classic contract]: investment amount: $3,000, contract period: 16 days, daily income of $51, expiration income: $3,000 + $816

BTC[Advanced  contract]: investment amount: $10,000,contract period: 35 days, daily income of $215, expiration income: $10,000 + $7525

BTC[Super  contract]: investment amount: $50,000,contract period: 45 days, daily income of $1250, expiration income: $52,000 + $67080

Why DL Mining stands out in the field of cloud mining

Easy to get started

DL Mining is designed for both new and experienced miners. The user-friendly interface ensures that even people who know nothing about cryptocurrency mining can seamlessly participate and earn rewards.

Profitability and flexibility:

Unlike traditional mining models that require long-term commitments and large investments, DL Mining offers flexible contract terms and guaranteed returns. Users can withdraw earnings daily, reinvest for higher returns, or exit at any time.

Worry-free experience

DL Mining handles all technical issues of mining, including equipment maintenance and energy costs. This allows users to focus on maximizing earnings without worrying about the complexity of operations.

DL Mining leads the new wave of cloud mining: a new choice for compliant, efficient and sustainable crypto income

The rise of the cloud mining platform DL Mining is completely changing the way people participate in cryptocurrency mining, and its innovative model may become a key force in promoting industry change:

Four core driving forces of industry change

Authoritative compliance guarantee

As an official British certification platform, DL Mining has established industry trust with perfect regulatory compliance, effectively solving the most concerned security and reliability issues in the field of cloud mining.

Green mining practice

With efficient and energy-saving cloud solutions, DL Mining significantly reduces the carbon footprint of traditional mining and provides a sustainable way of participation for environmentally conscious investors.

Broad market prospects

With the surge in demand for passive income, retail and institutional investors have flocked to the field of crypto mining, indicating that innovative platforms such as DL Mining will usher in explosive growth.

Disruptive cost advantage

Compared with traditional mining that requires the purchase of ASIC mining machines and high electricity bills, DL Mining has redefined industry standards with a nearly zero-threshold participation method and a stable income structure.

Future Outlook

DL Mining is driving the entire industry towards a more convenient, safer and more profitable direction through its innovative cloud mining model. The zero-cost entry, stable daily income and extremely simplified user experience provided by the platform make it an ideal choice for BTC and DOGE mining enthusiasts.

As the cryptocurrency market continues to expand, DL Mining is expected to grow into a leading platform in the cloud mining field, providing investors with a high-quality alternative to traditional mining. Whether you are a novice who is new to crypto mining or a veteran player pursuing stable returns, DL Mining deserves your attention.

Explore new opportunities in cloud mining now

Download APP or Official website: dlmining.net

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Education

Prodigy Finance Unveils NovaGrad AI-enabled Planning Tool for Students

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prodigy finance

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

An Artificial Intelligence (AI) platform giving LATAM and African students a clearer path to global universities known as NovaGrad has been launched by Prodigy Finance.

This tool allows users to plan their study-abroad journeys with confidence. The goal is to give every ambitious student the clarity, guidance, and confidence they need regardless of their background.

Many students still face steep tuition fees, shifting visa rules, complex admissions processes and limited access to reliable information.

The initiative has been created to make those first steps clearer and easier to manage. As interest grows across LATAM and Africa, universities have also stepped into the mission, recognising that students who arrive prepared are far more likely to succeed.

The platform is an AI-enabled planning tool that supports students throughout their study-abroad journey. It helps them explore courses, compare universities, understand their financial options and prepare strong, clear applications.

Students can research programmes across the United States, United Kingdom, Europe and many other countries, understand what each university expects and organise their plans in one place.

With visa policies evolving globally, students can also turn to the platform to make sense of timelines, documentation and opportunities in newer destinations.

The tool supports students as they prepare to apply for university and their student visa. The platform helps them understand each step of the process and gives them the confidence to submit a strong, well-planned application.

“2025 has been one of our strongest years yet. We launched several scholarship programmes globally, and the interest from students across Africa and LATAM was remarkable.

“Even though each cycle can only support a small number of winners, our recent Prodigy Finance Awards granted close to $40,000 to eight international students, including learners from Africa and Mexico. It became clear that we needed a broader solution for this region,” the Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, Ms Sonal Kapoor, said.

”After nearly a year of work, we have launched a platform where students can explore multiple scholarship options, receive guidance on choosing universities and prepare their statements of purpose with confidence. That is why we built this service.

“It gives learners clarity about their choices and helps them plan their journey with purpose. This isn’t the kind of AI that replaces talent, it’s the kind that helps students unlock it,” she added.

Also commenting, the Head of Acquisition Strategy at Prodigy Finance and spokesperson for NovaGrad, Ms Mariana Alcocer, said, “I grew up in Colombia, and I know what it feels like to want something bigger than the place you grew up in.

“Many students across LATAM and Africa carry that same determination. They are ambitious and ready to work hard, yet the path in front of them isn’t always clear. The platform gives students the kind of guidance I wish I had in the past, a place where your options make sense and you don’t feel lost or alone.”

“Students aren’t looking for shortcuts. They want clarity. They want to know which universities align with their goals and how to present a strong application.

“The service brings all of that into one space. When students have the right tools, they move from doubt to confidence. That shift is exactly what the platform is built for,” she noted.

Prodigy Finance, a popular brand known for funding international students, has helped more than 45,000 masters students from 150 countries and has disbursed over $2.3 billion in funding.

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Education

Human Rights Watch Urges FG to Protect Schools from Attacks

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kebbi schoolgirls

By Adedapo Adesanya

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the Nigerian government to secure the safe release of students and teachers recently kidnapped in the country’s northwest and take concrete steps to protect schools and communities from further attacks.

In a statement on Tuesday, the rights body said, “The groups responsible for the kidnappings should immediately release the students and teachers they are holding captive.”

On November 18, 2025, over 20 schoolgirls were kidnapped by unidentified armed men from the Government Girls Comprehensive Secondary School in Maga, Kebbi state.

Just three days later, on November 21, about 303 students and 12 teachers were kidnapped at St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Niger state.

“These mass school kidnappings once again lay bare the deliberate targeting of students, teachers, and schools in Nigeria’s deteriorating security environment,” said Ms Anietie Ewang, Nigeria researcher at Human Rights Watch. “The deepening crisis underscores the government’s failure to protect vulnerable communities.”

Human Rights Watch said it spoke with parents of two of the girls abducted in Kebbi state. Mrs Isa Nazifi, whose 13-year-old daughter Khadija Nazifi, a junior secondary school student, was among those abducted.

“I immediately took a motorbike and rushed to the school, where I found my second daughter, also a student at the school. She told me Khadija had been taken. We are extremely worried. My wife is in tears. I will stay here at the school until my daughter returns. If I go home without her, what will I tell my family?”

Also, Mr Sani Zimri, whose daughter, Salima Sani Zimri, is a senior secondary school student who was also abducted, said he had heard rumors from other parents of a possible attack by bandits the week before the incident.

“We developed confidence after seeing military operatives surveilling the area, only to realize that there were no security operatives on the premises for the entire three hours that the incident occurred,” he was quoted in a statement by HRW.

The rights group also noted that the development was not new and dates back as far as 2014 and has been occuring with successive governments.

Human Rights Watch said Nigerian authorities have failed to apply lessons from previous attacks to create early warning systems and other measures that could prevent these atrocities.

In response to the recent kidnappings, the government has promised to rescue the kidnapped students and hold those responsible accountable. President Bola Tinubu directed security agencies to act swiftly to bring the girls back while also urging local communities to share intelligence.

The authorities have also shut down 47 federal secondary schools known as Federal Unity Colleges, and some states including Katsina, Taraba, and Niger have also closed schools or restricted school activities, particularly boarding institutions.

The rights group lamented that while these measures are aimed at protecting students, they have disrupted learning for thousands of children, denying them access to education and the social and psychological support schools provide.

“Without concrete measures to provide alternative learning opportunities to ensure continuity in their education, the students are at risk of falling behind academically and facing long term setbacks in their development,” the statement added.

It explains that since Nigeria is a signatory to the Safe Schools Declaration, the government should move with urgency to advance a proposal to introduce legislation to implement the Safe Schools Declaration.

“Children in Nigeria have the right to go to school without fearing for their lives,” Ms Ewang said. “Nigerian authorities should prioritize the safe release of the kidnapped children and their teachers and bring those responsible for their abduction to justice.”

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