Education
We’ll Sustain Growth of Science Education—NNPC
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Maikanti Baru, has expressed the commitment of the corporation to the growth of science education in the country.
The state-owned oil firm chief made this pledge at the grand finale of the NNPC 2017 National Quiz Competition held on Tuesday in Abuja.
He disclosed that the corporation’s stand was informed by the critical role of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education in the quest for nation building.
“To ensure that best standards are maintained when it comes to the quality and integrity of the quiz competition, NNPC has also gone into partnership with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS), as well as the Science Teachers Association of Nigeria (STAN),” Mr Baru stated.
At the end of the annual contest which began on Monday 13, November, Delta State carried the day with 75 points after breaking a tie with Abia State which came second with 70 points.
Ondo State came third scoring 65 points.
Mr Baru disclosed that beginning from this year’s series, the Corporation would commence offering a one-off educational grant of N100, 000 each to all State winners of the competition, adding that a scholarship award of N300, 000 would be granted the overall winner per session, while the second and third place winners would receive a scholarship award of N250, 000 and N200, 000 respectively per session for the duration of their tertiary education.
“I am very happy to see that three of the contestants are female, contrary to the notion that science education is primarily for males. These three females battled with their counterparts and came out victorious. Despite this feat by the female contestants, I want to throw up a challenge to teachers and parents alike across the country: The girl child should be encouraged to excel in core science, technology and engineering subjects,” Mr Baru enjoined.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, represented by the House Committee Chairman on Downstream, Mr Joseph Akinlaja, applauded the NNPC for sustaining the programme in the past 17 years and for grooming the leaders of tomorrow through the Quiz Competition.
He stated that the House of Representatives stood with the contestants and the NNPC for the event which he described as epoch making event.
“Education makes the people to be easily governed, but makes it difficult to enslave them. I urge the students to remain focused and wish them all the best in the contest,” Mr Dogara submitted.
In his goodwill message, Governor of Sokoto State, Mr Aminu Tambuwal, commended the management of the NNPC for sustaining the quiz competition in the last 17 years, noting that the Corporation has not only ensured the survival of the competition but has made it a pan-Nigerian contest.
“It is really a national event and has the characteristic of a football match in Nigeria whereby all sections of the country are represented. For instance Master Sunday Enokela that represented Sokoto State is not an indigene of the State but we are very proud of him and we came all the way to support him. So, I commend the initiative of the NNPC and I am very satisfied with the outcome and organization of the competition,” Governor Tambuwal observed.
Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who also spoke at the event, congratulated NNPC for its support to the education of the youths in the country.
Mr Obaseki stated that he was proud of the representative of his State, Master Hassan David, of Word of Faith Secondary School, Benin.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, congratulated the participants for excelling in their academics by emerging champions of their various states and zones and urged the Governors to continue to serve as fatherly figure to them by encouraging the contestants in their educational pursuit.
Mr Kachikwu stated that the essence of the event in the lives of the contestants might not be apparent now, disclosing that in future, it would add up to their curriculum vitae.
Speaking in similar vein, the Minister of Education, Mr Adamu Adamu, represented by the Director, Research and Planning of the Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Chioma Nwadei, applauded the NNPC for promoting STEM education, stressing that the competition promised to put the country in a good stead among the comity of nations.
Other dignitaries who spoke at the event including the Head of WAEC, Nigeria, Mr Olu Adenipekun and Registrar of National Examinations Council (NECO), Prof. Charles Uwakwe, commended and identified with the NNPC for promoting excellence amongst the youths, stressing that they are the leaders of tomorrow and that the investment in their education was in the right direction.
Mr Adenipekun advised other corporate bodies to invest in the education of the youth in the country.
On his part, pioneer winner of the NNPC quiz competition, Mr Sunday Aliu, applauded the NNPC for giving him the platform to excel in his educational pursuit, adding that the rare opportunity has made him to contribute to the Egina Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) project which is the deepest offshore project in the country.
He encouraged the participants to take advantage of the exposure the quiz competition had afforded them, by excelling in their academics, describing himself as a testimony to the success of the Nigerian Content in the Oil and Gas Industry.
Mr Aliu works with Total Upstream Nigeria Limited as Integrated Control and Safety Systems Engineer (ICSS).
In his victory speech, the overall winner of this year’s competition, Isioma Nelson Ifeanyichukwu, who is a student of the Federal Government College, Warri, thanked the NNPC for giving back to the society through its annual quiz competition, pledging that he would remain a good ambassador of the competition.
The 2017 edition is the sixteenth in the competition’s history. The first edition in 2000 was limited to the Niger Delta.
However, in recognition of the strategic importance of the Quiz to NNPC Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) goals, the competition went nationwide in 2001.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to 21 state-owned universities over alleged failure to implement key provisions of the 2025 agreement reached with the federal government.
The union warned that the affected universities could be heading for industrial action if their respective authorities fail to resolve the outstanding issues within the two-week window.
The ultimatum was one of the major resolutions reached at ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held at the University of Abuja recently.
In a statement signed by ASUU President, Professor Christopher Piwuna, the union expressed concern over what it described as the “haphazard implementation” of the 2025 Federal Government-ASUU agreement, accusing relevant authorities of displaying a lackadaisical attitude towards its implementation.
ASUU said the problem was particularly pronounced in several state universities, where university visitors had allegedly failed to implement the agreement, leaving affected branches with little option but to seek NEC’s approval to commence the process for industrial action.
Consequently, NEC authorised the affected branches to issue 14-day ultimatums to their university authorities, after which strike procedures would commence if the issues remained unresolved.
The universities affected include Nasarawa State University, Keffi; Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai; University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; Gombe State University; Plateau State University, Bokkos; Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa; Abia State University, Uturu; and University of Education and Entrepreneurship, Akamkpa.
Others are Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo; Kaduna State University; Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil; Northwest University, Kano; Enugu State University of Science and Technology; Imo State University, Owerri; Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island; University of Africa, Toru-Orua; Bayelsa Medical University, Yenagoa; and Taraba State University, Jalingo.
According to the union, the 14-day ultimatum is a precondition for the affected branches to begin formal procedures for industrial action.
ASUU said branches in the Sokoto Zone had already issued a similar two-week ultimatum, while NEC would reconvene in an emergency session at the end of August or early September to assess developments and determine the union’s next line of action.
The union also revived its “No-pay-No-work” position, directing branches in federal universities where salaries had been withheld or underpaid to take appropriate action.
It specifically cited affected universities, including universities of agriculture, where members had allegedly received incomplete salaries.
Beyond the salary and agreement implementation disputes, ASUU maintained its opposition to the National Education Repository Databank (NERD), insisting that unresolved questions surrounding its hosting arrangements and intellectual property rights must first be addressed.
The union also waded into the country’s political process, urging its members to participate actively in politics and approving the establishment of an ASUU Independent Monitoring Group.
The group, according to the union, will monitor and observe elections across the country.
Meanwhile, growing insecurity within university campuses also featured prominently in the NEC deliberations.
ASUU expressed concern over attacks and other security incidents that had claimed the lives of members, directing affected branches to engage the police and other relevant security agencies in pursuing justice for victims.
Branches were also mandated to document cases of insecurity and present comprehensive records to the union’s NEC for further action.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates, with 61.54 per cent of candidates obtaining credits in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
The Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, Mr Amos Dangut, announced the results at a press briefing in Lagos on Wednesday.
Mr Dangut said 1,200,514 candidates met the benchmark for admission to higher institutions, out of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination nationwide, held between April 24 and June 19.
He said 102,708 examiners were engaged in the marking exercise held at 88 marking venues across the country between 2 July and 20 July.
“Today, I am happy to inform you that all the processes leading to the release of results have been completed. It is now my pleasure to announce the release of the results of candidates who sat the WASSCE for School Candidates, 2026 in Nigeria,” he said, directing candidates to the agency’s portal to access their results.
“UPDATE: 2026 WASSCE (SC) results have been released. Generate your PIN at waec.org and check your results now on waecdirect.org,” the examination body said, noting that candidates must obtain their Serial Number and PIN before they can check their results.
To generate the required credentials, candidates are expected to visit WAEC’s official website and select the “Serial Number and PIN” option at the top of the page.
They are then required to select the appropriate examination year and diet, enter their examination number and National Identification Number (NIN), and ensure that the NIN provided is the same one used during registration for the examination.
Candidates must also provide their email address and phone number to receive a One-Time Password (OTP).
After entering the OTP, candidates can recover their Serial Number and PIN, which they can subsequently use to check their results through WAEC Direct.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 200 senior students of Cleggs Girls High School, Surulere, Lagos, were on July 23, 2026, engaged in practical knowledge about the risks associated with smoking, vaping, and shisha.
This engagement was made possible through a collaboration between Breathe Life Foundation and Teach Nigeria Fellow.
Participants were students aged 15–19 years. They were also informed about the misconception that shisha is a safer alternative to cigarettes or other substances.
Through an engaging and interactive discussion, students explored the influence of peer pressure and learned practical strategies for making healthier, more informed lifestyle choices.
They also gained a better understanding of common environmental triggers of asthma and other respiratory conditions, including cigarette smoke, generator fumes, bush burning, mosquito coil smoke, candles, charcoal, and firewood.
The session highlighted an important reality: young people may not always recognise how seemingly routine lifestyle choices and environmental exposures can gradually affect their respiratory health, quality of life, and long-term wellbeing.
For Breathe Life Foundation, this reinforces the importance of shifting the conversation from treatment to prevention through awareness and education.
By equipping young people with the knowledge to identify risks and make healthier choices early, the foundation is helping to build a generation that is more conscious of – and better prepared to protect – its respiratory health.
The organisation said it is dedicated to advancing respiratory health, an often-neglected public health priority. Healthy lungs are essential to life, yet respiratory diseases remain among the world’s leading causes of death and disability, even though many are preventable and treatable.
