The FCT Universal Basic Education Board(UBEB) has reiterated its commitment to ensure quality education and address out of school children.The Board made the pledge on Monday in Abuja during the finals of the 2024 season 3 of the FCT Universal Basic Education Board Head – To- Head Debate Reality show.

Through the programme student ambassadors aim to convince their peers at home to return to school. The Board’s spokesperson, Mrs Patience Ossai quoted Dr Alhassan Sule, the Acting Executive Chairman of FCT UBEB in a statement as saying the importance of education could not be overstated. He affirmed that globally, education was the bedrock of development and a passport to the future.He added that the Federal government under President Ahmed Tinubu saw education as a priority, adding that FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wikem was working to improve infrastructural development in FCT schools.Sule noted that the board was using the initiative as a strategy to curb the menace of out of school children in the territory and further supported the Federal government effort in reducing the syndrome.“We all know that Basic Education is free and compulsory and there is sanction for violation of the Act.“So we urge all hands to be on deck to support education for all. No more hawking during school hours,” Sule said.The Minister of State, FCT, Dr Mariya Mahmud commended FCTUBEB for the invaluable contribution in addressing the incidence of out- of – school children challenge in FCT.Mahmud represented by Mrs Grace Adayilo, Permanent Secretary, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, assured that the FCT Administration would be duly responsible for sustaining the project.Dr Jumai Ahmadu, the leader of Head – To- Head Reality Show and Director, Reform Coordination and Service Improvement Department, FCTA, said that the debate was the first of its kind under Sule’s visionary leadership.She added that Head – To- Head was a vision that should be supported and sustained.“The vision of the programme is to ensure that every child of school age is in school and to reduce social vices in the society,” she said.Ahmadu also applauded FCTUBEB for providing a serene and conducive environment marked with high-tech equipment to host the programme.The winners of the reality show were from Bwari Area Council they won the 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions.The winning school, Junior Secondary School Dutse Alhaji II was given a generator, laptops, knapsacks, certificates and a golden trophy.The second place, JSS Kubwa 1 was equally rewarded with laptops, bags, certificates and trophy. Consolation prizes were given to the third, fourth position. (NAN)

The Veritas University, Abuja, on Saturday, graduated a total of 795 students in various disciplines from six facilities during its 13th Convocation ceremony

Report says that 716 of the graduands bagged first degrees while 79 graduated from the post graduate school.

56 if the first degree graduands came out with first class honours, 329 with second class upper division, 291 with second class lower division and 40 with third class.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof.

Hyacinth Ichoku, said that the impact of the institution had reflected in its standard of education.

Ichoku said the students had recorded outstanding breakthroughs by winning awards for the school and country both at the national and international levels.

”Our students have continued to shine in the last years. The Software Engineering Department of the institution won the African Global Engineering Competition.

”We have also won the Commonwealth debating championship as well as an AI competition involving 150 university,” he said.

He added that the institution had inaugurated its endowment fund with the aim to generate funds to address the infrastructural need of the university.

He also said that the institution had just completed the construction of two separate hostels, each to accommodate 500 students, while also expanding its digital hub that would facilitate international teaching and learning.

He said pledged that the institution was planning the construction of its faculty of engineering and innovation.

In a goodwill message, the Acting Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Chris Maiyaki, lauded the institution its achievements.

Maiyaki said that the milestone resulted from years of hardwork, resilience and commitment in inculcating academics and moral values for the educational advancement of the country.

The institution’s Pro-chancellor and Chairman of Governing Council, Dr Matthew Kukah, said that the country was at the crossroads as a result of numerous challenges the country is faced with.

Kukah said that with the emergence of a new terrorist group, there was need for the country to brace up to this challenge to avert future problems.

He charged the graduating students to deliver on the confidence reposed in them to help the country find a lasting solutions to some of the challenges.

Highlight of the event included award of prizes to the outstanding students in their various departments and faculties.

Prominent Nigerians also bagged the institution’s honorary doctorate degree award.

The honorees were the Asagba of Asaba Kingdom, Prof. Epiphany Azinge, and the Executive Secretary, Sahara Power Group, Kolawole Adesina.

Others are Archbishop Emeritus of Ibadan Archdiocese, Most Rev. Alaba Job and Archbishop Emeritus of Owerri Archdiocese, Most Rev. Anthony Obinna.(NAN)

Bells University of Technology, Ota, Ogun,  on Saturday awarded 91 students of the institution  First Class (Honours) at its 16th Convocation Ceremonies.

The convocation ceremonies are for the 2023/2024 academic session.

Ojediran said that a total of 969 students graduated in the  academic session.

He said that they comprised the 91 students who made First Class grade, 505 who secured  Second Class (Upper Division), 313 with Second Class (Lower Division) and 60 graduating with Third Class.

The vice-chancellor said that 220 students were graduating in the post-graduate category.

Mr Sally Farouk  from the university’s Department of Architecture emerged the overall best  student with  a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.

94, according to Ojediran. 

He said that the institution set out to proffer best solutions from collective knowledge, shared experiences and resources, recognising that education was a lifelong activity.

The vice-chancellor lauded the staff of the university for cooperation and dedication to giving the students  quality education.

“You have joined  hands with the management of the institution to work on this fertile ground,” he  said.

The Pro-Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Bart Nnaji, said that university was the first private university of technology in Nigeria, noting that it was established in 2005.

Nnaji said that the institution had made remarkable achievements in teaching and research as part of its vision to contribute to the growth and development of Nigeria.

“Let me also congratulate the graduating students who have distinguished themselves through their hard work and discipline and are being rewarded today.” he said.

In his remarks, the Chancellor of the institution, Dr Ibrahim Dankwambo, commended former President Olusegun Obasanjo for contributions to education development in the country.

Dankwambo also congratulated a former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Peter Okebukola, and the Executive Director of Sahara Group, Mr Temitope Shonubi, for  honorary doctoral degree given them by the university.

Report says that Okebukola and Shonubi were conferred with the degree for their outstanding pedigrees  and services to humanity. (NAN)