NEWS
OOU Has Made Remarkable Strides in 42 Years – VC

From Ekundayo Idowu, Abeokuta
Vice Chancellor of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola said the 42-year-old institution has contributed to manpower development in every sector of the nation’s economy since its establishment
He said the institution grew from five faculties to 14 and from fewer than 300 students to 30,000.
He made the disclosure, weekend while speaking with newsmen on OOU’s achievements, especially under his stewardship in the last two years.
Agboola noted that the institution experienced infrastructural uplift with the addition of courses while all the programs of the school were fully digitalized to encourage online learning.
He added that examinations were conducted and results released on time, while salaries and pensions were being paid as and when due.
He noted that courses like Medical Laboratory Science, Nursing, Forensic Science, Taxation, Criminology, Library Science, Geophysics, Building Technology, Quantity Surveying, and Estate Management have been added to expand the scope of the school.
The Vice Chancellor hinted that OOU is collaborating with the National Incubation and Innovation Centre, Abuja, for the entrepreneurship training of its students. Teams from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru, Jos and from the Federal Ministry of Education were in the institution to finalize arrangements for affiliation for the take-off of the leadership training in the school through the Awujale Institute of Governance.
He appreciated the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, the alumni and corporate individuals who have contributed to the infrastructural development of the institution, stating that this has made the school a force to be reckoned with among tertiary institutions in the country.
The Vice Chancellor said the institution is collaborating with some foreign universities, including Swansea University, for further training of its students to broaden their scope and make them competitive at the global level.
“We are determined to ensure that our students have what we call the three Es, which stand for Knowledge, Skills, and Value, realizing that a knowledgeable person should be able to further his/her education; if you are skillful, you will be employable, and also, being an employer of labor, you add value to society.
“This has led to a working relationship with Swansea University and the University of Lancaster to enable our students to further their education if they wish to. Students from Agriculture and Management Science can have part of their studies at Swansea University so that they can have a degree from OOU and a degree from Swansea University. We are at the level of matching up our curriculum so that the two can work together.
“For the University of Lancaster in the United Kingdom, we are working with them for Forensic Science so that our students can start here and there and earn two Degrees,” the VC added.
Agboola emphasized that the welfare of students, lecturers, and staff has been paramount to his administration, with prompt payment of salary arrears, earned allowances, cooperative society deductions, and pension deductions.
“We have been able to satisfy our staff unions to some extent. When we came in, we contended with the issues of arrears from 2013 to 2024, contributory pension, check-off dues, and cooperative deductions. We have paid close to N350m for arrears and have paid check-off dues and cooperative deductions for three months out of the seven months, and we have scheduled how we are going to pay the rest.
“The ones we deducted since I got here, we have been paying. We do not owe; it is only the backlogs that we are trying to solve.
“In terms of pension, we do not owe since I came here. All the deductions we made are also being remitted. From January, as we are paying one, we are also adding to it as we now have a schedule to clear the backlogs,” he explained.
He stated that the cordial relationship between the management, staff, and students has led to the stability of the academic calendar, allowing students to complete their programs on time.
While appreciating the Dapo Abiodun-led administration for supporting the institution, Prof. Agboola called for more support, as the management has put strategic plans in place to make the university one of the best not only in the country but also globally.
Agboola also disclosed that a Reviewing Committee to look into the conditions of service of non-academic staff of the institution has been established.
This follows agitation from the non-teaching staff for the adoption of a three-year interval for promotion to the next level.
He stated that the university, since its inception, has been working on the amendment of conditions of service, expressing hope that the recommendations of the Committee, made up of relevant stakeholders, would go a long way in resolving the matter.
“We have taken steps because we know that when the staff members are agitated, there are some things we need to do. We constituted a Reviewing Committee on conditions of service, and all the staff unions have representatives on the committee. They have already started asking for memoranda from members of the community, including the staff unions.
“Today, we have written to the Chairman of the Review Committee to speed up action so that we can conclude on time,” he added
NEWS
Minister Describes Death of Leon Usigbe as Monumental Loss

By Johnson Eyiangho, Abuja
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris has described the death of Dr Leon Usigbe, the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Tribune Newspaper, as a monumental loss to the Newspaper, journalism profession and to the entire nation.The Minister said with the death of Usigbe, Nigeria has lost one of its finest media minds — a man whose intellect, courage, and clarity of purpose earned him the respect of colleagues, government officials, and the public alike.
In condolence message on Saturday, Idris said he received news of the death of Tribune Newspaper Bureau Chief with profound shock and deep sadness.”Dr. Usigbe was an outstanding journalist, a highly cerebral professional, and a shining light within the Nigerian media landscape. His work was defined by integrity, depth, and an unflinching determination to the public good. As a pen-wielding advocate for democracy and national development, he brought intellectual rigour, insight, and balance to his reporting. In him, the Fourth Estate had a true patriot who used his craft to foster accountability and nation-building.”I recall with particular sorrow his eloquent and thought-provoking contributions during the regular Ministerial Press Briefing Sessions convened by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation in Abuja, as well as at the Press Briefings in the Presidential Villa. His interventions consistently elevated the quality of discourse and helped bridge the gap between government and the media — all in service of a more informed and engaged society,” Idris said.On behalf of the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, and himself , the Minister extended his heartfelt condolences to the management and staff of Tribune Newspaper, the government and people of Edo State, where he hailed from, as well as to his family, friends, and professional associates. He prayed the God Almighty to comfort those the late Bureau Chief left behind and to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss, saying “May his soul rest in perfect peace.”NEWS
Unique Secondary School Expands Outreach, Honors Ogbodo, Launches Scholarships

By David Torough, Abuja
Unique Secondary School Makurdi (USSM), a leading private educational institution in Benue State, continues to make significant strides in academic excellence and community impact.
In a bold move to increase accessibility and reward excellence, the school has unveiled a new examination centre in Oju Local Government Area, launched a scholarship scheme for families with multiple children in the school, and honoured a distinguished alumnus, Dr.
Mark Ogbodo, by naming a recreational facility after him.The newly inaugurated Dr. Mark Ogbodo Park was officially commissioned on July 24, during a colourful ceremony held at the school’s New GRA campus in Makurdi.
The event drew an impressive turnout of students, staff, parents, alumni, and dignitaries.
Chairman of Unique Schools and co-founder of USSM, Engr. Felix Atume led the commissioning, describing it as a tribute to dedication and impact.
Dr. Ogbodo, an author and founder of Lydia Memorial Hospital, Ugbokolo, was visibly moved by the honour.
In a social media post after the event, he wrote: “Who am I to deserve this great honour? What impact have I made on USSM? These thoughts flooded my mind as I stood speechless in awe.”
He praised the school leadership, particularly Principal Mr. Samuel Ortsega, and the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for the recognition.
Also unveiled at the event was a scholarship programme aimed at easing the financial burden on families with more than one child enrolled at USSM.
The initiative was met with excitement and gratitude from parents in attendance. Furthermore, the newly established Oju exam centre was widely applauded for eliminating the long travel often required for external examinations, especially for students living in remote areas.
Founded on September 1, 1998, by Engr. Atume and Mrs. Juliana Atume, a noted philanthropist, USSM has built a strong reputation for nurturing students through academic rigor and character development.
Originally a day school, it added a boarding facility in 2007 to cater to growing demand. Situated in a serene environment, the school provides a secure and conducive atmosphere for learning.
USSM is part of the larger Unique Schools family, which began with Unique Nursery and Primary School in 1995.
The secondary arm offers a comprehensive curriculum infused with entrepreneurial and vocational training in areas such as catering, fashion, cosmetology, and design—preparing students with practical skills for life beyond the classroom.
The school boasts modern infrastructure, including science laboratories, an ICT centre, a digital library, spacious classrooms, quality boarding facilities, a healthcare unit, and the expansive Engr. Felix Atume Hall. Recreational amenities include courts for basketball, volleyball, tennis, a football pitch, and indoor games like chess and scrabble.
In keeping with global trends, USSM has embraced digital innovations such as an online result-checking system and is planning an enhanced presence on social media.
The school runs a three-term calendar and prepares students for key national examinations including BECE, WAEC, and NECO.
Ambitious plans are underway to launch Unique Technical College, which will focus on technical and vocational education.
As the evening of July 24 transitioned into a celebratory dinner in honour of the 2025 graduating class, guests—including PTA members, parents, alumni, and staff—shared heartfelt goodwill messages. The PTA Chairman described the event as “unparalleled in the school’s history.”
Through initiatives like the Oju centre, new scholarships, and the celebration of alumni impact, Unique Secondary School Makurdi continues to set the benchmark for holistic and community-rooted education in Benue State.
Foreign News
Zelensky Announces New Draft Law on Anti-corruption Bodies after Protests

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he has approved the text of a draft law guaranteeing the freedom of two anti-corruption bodies in Ukraine – days after nationwide protests broke out over changes curbing their independence.
Kyiv’s Western partners had also expressed serious concerns over the legislation.
On Thursday, Zelensky seemed to backtrack, saying the new bill was intended to safeguard the independence of Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (Nabu) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (Sap), and to protect them from Russian influence.
He said the text of the bill was “balanced”, but did not provide any details.
The law passed earlier this week brought Nabu and Sap under the control of the prosecutor general, who is appointed by the president.
At the time Zelensky justified his decision to curtail the bodies’ powers by citing Russian influence. The day before, Ukraine’s security services had carried out searches and arrests targeting alleged Russian spies at the agency.
The passing of the legislation instantly sparked the largest protests since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 in several cities across Ukraine, with many worrying the law would severely undermine the Nabu and Sap’s authority and effectiveness.
Thousands of people gathered in streets and squares across Ukraine, holding placards calling for the legislation to be vetoed.
Several commentators accused Zelensky of democratic backsliding. Their concerns were further exacerbated when Ukraine’s Western partners signalled their displeasure with the bill.
Ukraine has official EU candidate status and a spokesman for European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen previously warned Kyiv that the rule of law and the fight against corruption were “core elements” of membership to the bloc.
On Thursday, the Commission said it “welcomed” the Ukrainian government’s decision to take action against the bill.
“We are working [with the Ukrainian government] to make sure that our concerns… are indeed taken into account,” the spokesman said.
Nabu and Sap were created in 2014-15 as one of the requirements set by the European Commission and International Monetary Fund to move towards a relaxation of visa restrictions between Ukraine and the EU.
Writing on Facebook, opposition MP Oleksiy Goncharenko noted Zelensky said that “the independence of anti-corruption institutions must be guaranteed.”
“First we take it away, and then we say that it must be guaranteed. So why was all this necessary?”
In his message on social media on Thursday, Zelensky did not acknowledge the protests or the backlash but said it was “important that we respect the position of all Ukrainians and are grateful to everyone who stands with Ukraine.”