By Tony Obiechina Abuja 

The federation government has commended Miss Nafisa Abdullah Aminu, a 17-year-old student from Yobe State, for emerging as the World’s Best in English Language Skills at the 2025 TeenEagle Global Finals held in London, United Kingdom.

Minister of Education, Dr.

Representing Nigeria through the Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC), Miss Nafisa outshone over 20,000 participants from 69 countries, including native English-speaking nations.

Her victory is not only a personal milestone but a resounding affirmation of the Renewed Hope Agenda for Education championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which continues to empower Nigerian youth to compete and excel on the global stage.

According to the statement, “This extraordinary achievement not only brings pride to the nation but also underscores the effectiveness of the education-focused components of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

” The President’s unwavering belief in human capital development through sustained investment in the education sector is beginning to yield global recognition, as demonstrated by Nafisa’s remarkable success.

The Ministers jointly commended Nafisa for her brilliance, determination, and discipline. They described her victory as a “proud moment for Nigeria and a strong endorsement of the Federal Government’s ongoing efforts to revitalise the education sector and raise globally competitive students.”

The Ministry extends heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni, whose visionary investment in instructional materials and education reform has created an enabling environment for students like Nafisa to thrive. This achievement is a shining testimony to the renewed collaboration between the Federal Government and sub-national governments, and a clear indication that our shared commitment to quality education is bearing fruit.

Special commendation was further extended to the Yobe State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Dr. Muhammad Sani Idriss, for his tireless efforts in strengthening the state’s educational institutions and supporting academic excellence. Also acknowledged is the vital role played by the management and staff of NTIC in nurturing Nafisa’s academic growth. Eulogising the dedication and guidance of her parents and teachers, the Ministry noted that they have played a pivotal role in shaping her academic journey, exemplifying the power of community in nurturing excellence.

“This is not just a personal victory; it is a national milestone that affirms the capabilities of Nigerian students to excel on the global stage,” the Ministers stated.

Miss Nafisa’s success reflects the kind of youth the Ministry is determined to raise—globally competitive, intellectually empowered, and rooted in national pride. It reinforces the Ministry’s agenda to continue investing in instructional materials, teacher training, and student development to ensure that Nigerian children receive education that meets international standards.

The Federal Ministry of Education encourages students across the country to be inspired by Nafisa’s achievement and reaffirms its commitment to building a future where many more Nigerian students can stand tall among the world’s brightest.

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A don, Prof. Tunde Akanni, has commended the Federal Government for reintroducing the 16-year age limit for admission into the country’s universities.

Akanni gave the commendation while speaking on the sidelines of the Graduation and Prize Giving Ceremony of Adedokun International Schools on Saturday at Iyana-Iyesi, Ota.

According to Akanni, a Professor of Journalism and Communication with Lagos State University (LASU), the policy is not a bad or new idea in the education sector.

He described the re-introduction of the policy as a welcome development, saying that it would help universities to admit mature students.

“The reality is that people hardly see underage students in universities abroad.

“But in Nigeria, there are quite a lot of underage students who cannot function on their own.

“Also, if a student cannot live independently as an undergraduate, that means he/she is not fit for a university programme,” he said.

Akanni noted that a number of underage students, if not the brilliant or gifted ones, hardly function independently.

According to him, university education is a level of education where students are being prepared for adult life.

He admonished parents against being in a hurry for their children to get admission into the university, maintaining that this would not help them in the future.

The don also called on governments at all levels to strengthen their communication mechanisms by constituting special teams dedicated to social campaigns, monitoring and evaluation.

This, he said, would help in checking abuse of social media, particularly among the youth.

The federal government had, on July 16, announced 16 years as the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

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The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) and TIMIK Engineering have pledged to collaborate with the University of Ibadan (UI) to address housing challenges facing its staff.

Head of Operations, National Housing Fund (NHF), Juliet Olobio, stated this in Ibadan on Monday at a sensitisation programme for UI staff members concerning the Ajoda Federal Housing Authority Housing Scheme.

Olobio, who spoke on available housing options, allocation procedures, and mortgage processing, said the scheme was established to ensure affordable housing options for civil servants.

She stated that the sensitisation addressed particular issues related to the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme and concerns from UI staff members that had arisen over the years.

According to her, the NHF scheme includes housing products such as the NHF Mortgage Loan, Home Renovation Loan, Rent-to-Own Scheme, and the Cooperative Housing Development Loan.

Olobio said this is aimed at enabling contributors to own homes with single-digit interest rates.

The Group Managing Director, TIMIK and WOODSTON Engineering, Dr. Mike Anjorin, said his company would collaborate with UI and FMBN to deliver between 50 and 100 housing units within six months.

He said that the profiling of eligible staff had commenced, while discussions with UI management and the Housing Committee would continue to ensure the scheme’s smooth implementation.

“We brought our Primary Mortgage Institution (PMI), the Federal Housing Authority Mortgage Bank, to liaise with the University of Ibadan.

“We came to profile staff, assess their eligibility, determine the types of houses they prefer, and structure loans for them over 15 to 30 years,” Anjorin said.

He noted that issues raised about NHF subscription and mortgage remittances were also addressed, enabling some staff members to clear their outstanding issues.

Anjorin said, “Several have subscribed and will be profiled to sign up immediately.

“We are targeting the delivery of between 50 and 100 housing units within six months.

“We will also hold further meetings with the Registrar and the Housing Committee chairperson to develop a robust housing scheme.

“The Federal Government is particularly interested in supporting university lecturers, so we are confident this will succeed.

“In terms of the FHA project at Ajoda and other sites, we have completed key infrastructure works, including almost a kilometre of fencing, road construction, and street lighting.

“Our progress has attracted interest from within and outside Nigeria, but our focus remains on delivering housing solutions for institutions to help curb brain drain,” he said.

Earlier, UI Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kayode Adebowale, stated that the interactive session addressed various concerns about the NHF.

Adebowale described adequate and affordable housing for staff as vital to improving productivity, retention and welfare in the university system.

“Housing is not just a welfare issue; it is a key factor that affects morale, recruitment, teaching, research and ultimately, the services we deliver to the nation,” he said.

He called for accelerated loan approvals, dedicated NHF funding for federal universities, and the development of housing products tailored to the income profiles of academic and non-academic staff.

Adebowale expressed optimism that the collaboration would help address the housing deficit among UI staff and strengthen the university’s ability to attract and retain skilled manpower.