Education
Government Approves N542 Million For Payment Of UTME, BECE Fees
Government Approves N542 Million For Payment Of UTME, BECE Fees
Government approves N542 million for payment of UTME, BECE fees. Mr Jones explained that N145.4 million would cover CEE for 25,100 basic six pupils and N215.2 million for 30,500 students qualified for BECE.
Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi has approved N542 million for the payment of 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE) fees to 18,734 students in public schools across the state.
The amount will also cover the Common Entrance Examination (CEE) for Basic six pupils and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) fees for students in public schools.
The Commissioner for Education, Wemi Jones, disclosed this at a press conference on Tuesday in Lokoja.
Mr Jones explained that N145.4 million would cover CEE for 25,100 basic six pupils and N215.2 million for 30,500 students qualified for BECE.
He added that N181.7 million would cover UTME fees for 18,734 students, amounting to N542.4 million.
Mr Jones said the gesture was in line with the state government’s law that provides for free examination registration fees for Kogi students in public primary and secondary schools.
The commissioner said the law was enacted by former Governor Yahaya Bello and expressed the commitment of the Ododo-led administration to consolidate the gains recorded by the previous administration in the education sector.
In October 2024, the state government released more than N661.3 million for the payment of 2024/2025 West African Examination Council fees for students in public schools.
Mr Jones said the state government had spent N1.2 billion on payment for public school students’ external and internal examinations in the 2024/2025 academic session.
According to him, the gesture significantly increased school enrolment rates in the state, with the 2024 payments increasing school enrolment by 18 per cent.
“These efforts had greatly reduced the number of out-of-school children that remained a great challenge in the education sector.
“It has also enhanced students’ performance in national examinations,” he said.
The commissioner commended Mr Ododo for prioritising access to quality education to reduce poverty and illiteracy rates.

UTME
He implored the schools’ principals and other heads to cooperate with the ministry for a seamless registration exercise for the benefit of the targeted children.
However, Mr Jones warned that the government would come down heavily on any school principal who tried to shortchange the students or sabotage the process.
Economy
NTI Releases 13,710 Pending PGDE, NCE Certificates: Kaduna
NTI Releases 13,710 Pending PGDE, NCE Certificates: Kaduna
NTI releases 13,710 pending PGDE, NCE certificates: Kaduna. He said certificates for the Bachelor Degree programmes (BDPs) will also be available for collection next week.
The National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna, has released 13,710 pending certificates for Post-Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) and the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE).
This is contained in a statement issued on Monday in Kaduna by Yusha’u Ahmed, the institute’s head of public relations and protocol unit.
He said, “Therefore, the Institute is calling those concerned to contact its offices in states across the country with the required documents and observed procedure for collection.
”The certificates for the Bachelor Degree programmes (BDPs) will also be available for collection next week.”
According to the break down from the Institute’s Academic Records Division of Registry Department, 6,954 PGDE certificates, covering the period 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016, in affiliation with the National Open University of Nigeria(NOUN) had so far been released.
Mr Ahmed added, “There are also 445 PGDE certificates for Post-Graduate Diploma in Education, in affiliation with Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto; 119 PGDE certificates in affiliation with the University of Ilorin.
“The Institute had in addition, released 6,192 NCE certificates for the year 2023.
“The Director and Chief Executive of the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna, Prof. Sadiya Sani-Daura, has expressed commitment and determination to solve the lingering pending certificates issue once and for all.
“The delay in the issuance of the certificates was due to challenges that have now been resolved.
“The National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna remains steadfast in the discharge of its mandate as a teacher education Institute and once again reiterates its commitment to serving its clientele, which are primarily the students of the Institute.”
According to Mr Ahmed, the Institute assures all the stakeholders, students, both graduates and those undergoing its programmes at various levels.

NTI Releases 13,710 Pending PGDE, NCE Certificates
He continued, “That it has renewed its responsibility of delivering quality and exceptional education through the distance learning technique and the use of modern technologies as obtained globally in similar institutions around the world.
“NTI wishes to appreciate all the stakeholders for their patience and support.”
Economy
Ebonyi: Government Sends 47 Students To UK On Scholarship
Ebonyi: Government Sends 47 Students To UK On Scholarship
Ebonyi: Government sends 47 students to UK on scholarship. The governor urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the state.
No fewer than 47 beneficiaries on Monday departed Ebonyi for the United Kingdom on scholarship with Governor Francis Nwifuru describing their sojourn as a bold step towards human capital investment.
Mr Nwifuru said during the beneficiaries’ departure from the Chuba Okadigbo airport, Ezza, that the prosperity of the state depended on deliberate commitment to youth development.
The governor urged the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the state to achieve the overall aim of the investment.
“This event is not just about boarding a flight but destiny taking flight.
“This is about hope leaving the shores of Ebonyi to soar into the future,” he said.
He noted that the scholarship scheme was one of the most financially demanding interventions of his administration, only next to major infrastructure projects.
“We faced strong opposition on it at inception due to its economic pressures.
“Several people called for its suspension, arguing that its resources should be channeled towards roads, hospitals construction among other pressing needs.
“We would however, be mortgaging the future of Ebonyi if we fail to invest in the youths,” he said.
Mr Nwifuru noted that that the programme aligned with his administration’s People’s Charter of Needs mantra which places human capital development at the peak of governance.
“This initiative is deeply personal as the beneficiaries are being offered opportunities I and many others never had.

Government Sends 47 Students To UK On Scholarship
“This venture is aimed at making the path easier for the next generation as every fund spent on it is a collective sacrifice of traders, civil servants, artisans and taxpayers,” he said.
The chairman of the Ebonyi Scholarship Board, Chaka Nweze, said the beneficiaries’ selection process was based strictly on merit.
“We concentrated on first class but due to prevailing developments, considered those with Second Class Upper classification (2:1) CGPA 3.0 and above.
“43 other beneficiaries would travel later as they are still awaiting visa clearance.
‘”The beneficiaries signed a bond to return to Nigeria and serve Ebonyi for five years,” he said.
He noted that the beneficiaries would work at the educational institutions being inaugurated in the state and can pursue personal sojourns after the five years.
Education
Bandit Attacks: Government Reopens Schools In Kwara State
Bandit Attacks: Government Reopens Schools In Kwara State
Bandit Attacks: Government reopens schools in Kwara state. The Kwara government has directed all schools that were closed due to insecurity in some parts of the state to reopen.
The Kwara government has directed all schools that were closed due to insecurity in some parts of the state to reopen.
The announcement was made in a statement by the commissioner for education and human capital development, Lawal Olohungbebe, on Sunday.
Mr Olohungbebe said school authorities had been notified of the decision amid continuous security operations to neutralise marauding bandits in the state.

AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq
“The government deems the situation now to be a lot better than it was before. Even so, we continue to maintain vigilance,” the commissioner stated.
The development came amid recent operations by the troops of the Nigerian Army against the terrorists in Ifelodun, Edu and Patigi local governments.
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