The Chairman of Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Mr Peter Tanko, has paid the 2026 West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) registration fees for 250 indigent students in public Secondary Schools.

Speaking at the inauguration of the WAEC fee payment exercise in Kafanchan, Tanko said that the gesture was borne out of his compassion to support less privileged students.

According to him, no child should be denied the opportunity to access education because of lack of funds.

He reiterated his commitment to initiating policies and programmes that would have direct bearing on the lives of the people.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Mr Yunana Barde, lauded the council chairman for placing premium on  educational development of his people.

Barde said that the importance of education to societal development could not be overemphasised.

Also speaking, Audu Dogara, the council’s Education Secretary, described the intervention as an investment in the children and the future of the local government.

He admonished the beneficiaries to see the gesture as an opportunity for them to give their best in the examination.

Mr Emmanuel Utung,  Chairman of the WAEC Sponsorship Committee, said that the beneficiaries cut across the 12 wards of the local government.

According to him, the gesture would go a long way in easing the financial burden on the beneficiaries’ parents.

Miss Benedicta Boniface, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries,  thanked the chairman for his magnanimity and promised that they would not disappoint him.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

Reaffirming its strong commitment to free technical education and skills development, the Federal Government has announced the commencement of applications for admission into Federal Technical Colleges across Nigeria.

The announcement was made by the Federal Ministry of Education following the approval of the initiative by the Minister of Education, Dr.

Tunji Alausa.

The initiative according to a statement by the director of education, Folashade Boriowo on Monday, aligns with the Federal Government’s broader strategy to expand access to quality technical and vocational education and to equip young Nigerians with practical, employable, and industry-relevant skills.

Registration for the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) into Federal Technical Colleges will open on Monday, 26th January 2026, and close on Sunday, 24th May 2026.

The entrance examination will be conducted nationwide on Saturday, 6th June 2026.

Prospective candidates are required to complete their applications through the official National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) online portal via the designated website.

The Ministry emphasises that possession of a valid National Identification Number (NIN) is compulsory for all applicants and remains a prerequisite for successful registration.

The Federal Government further reiterates that technical education in Federal Technical Colleges is fully funded upon admission, underscoring its commitment to human capital development, youth empowerment, and enhanced national productivity.

Admission is open to candidates aged between 13 and 20 years. Parents, guardians, and prospective candidates are advised to strictly comply with all application requirements and obtain information solely from official channels of the Federal Ministry of Education and designated examination bodies.

By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The Federal Government has announced a comprehensive set of measures aimed at eliminating examination malpractice in the 2026 examinations and beyond in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations.

Director, Press and Public Relations, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade who announced the development in a statement on Monday said it was part of ongoing reforms to strengthen credibility, transparency, and public confidence in Nigeria’s assessment system.

Boriowo informed that the Minister of Education, Dr.

Tunji Alausa alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Ahmed, stated that the Federal Ministry of Education was intensifying oversight and deploying targeted strategies to safeguard the integrity of national examinations.

“Among the key measures is the introduction of enhanced question randomisation and serialisation mechanisms. While all candidates will answer the same examination questions, the sequencing and arrangement will differ for each candidate, ensuring that every student writes a unique version of the examination and significantly reducing opportunities for collusion.

“The Ministry also reaffirmed its strict policy prohibiting the transfer of candidates at the Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) level. This directive, already communicated through an official circular, will be rigorously enforced to prevent last-minute school changes often associated with examination malpractice”, she said.

The Director also informed that new national Continuous Assessment guidelines had been developed for immediate implementation to further ensure transparency:

“All examination bodies (WAEC, NECO, NBAIS etc) must strictly follow the standardized submission deadlines for each academic period:Submission Windows• First Term CA: January• Second Term CA: April• Third Term CA: August

“These timelines are mandatory and designed to ensure consistency, data integrity, and prompt processing of Continuous Assessment records across the country.

“In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education is introducing a unique Examination Learners’ Identity

Number for all candidates. This identifier will enable effective tracking of learners throughout the examination process, strengthen monitoring and accountability, and support long-term reforms in assessment, certification, and data management”, she said.

The Ministers further assured stakeholders that examination administration will be conducted under strengthened supervision and coordination with relevant examination bodies to ensure strict compliance with established guidelines and ethical standards.

They emphasized that these measures reflect the Federal Government’s resolve to conduct examinations that are credible, fair, and reflective of global best practices, while addressing Nigeria’s unique educational realities.

“The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with all examination bodies, state governments, school administrators, parents, and candidates to ensure the successful implementation of these strategies and the smooth conduct of the 2026 examinations nationwide”, the statement concluded.