Education
UTME: 28 Visually Impaired Candidates Write 2023 Exams in Ekiti
The Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) says 28 visually impaired candidates will be writing the examinations in Ekiti.
The JAMB representative, Prof. Rasheed Aderinoye, stated this at an opening ceremony organised by JAMB Equal Opportunity Group for visually impaired candidates on Thursday in Ado-Ekiti.
Aderinoye stated that the visually challenged candidates took the same test items as those who were not.
The don called on government to establish more special schools for the physically challenged students in Nigeria for equal rights.
He stressed the need for government at various levels to increase the establishment of schools for the physically challenged with a view to accommodating more special students across the country.
Aderinoye decried the situation, where most schools for the visually impaired and other challenges were privately owned, thereby denying most of the special students the opportunity to further their education.
He said the 2023 JAMB examinations for special candidates had commenced in eleven centres across the country.
He listed the states to include: Oyo, Lagos, Benin, Abuja, among others, where 360 candidates were accomodated, with only 28 writing their examination in Ekiti.
The JAMB representative noted that free accomodation, transportation, feeding and writing materials were provided for the special candidates having their exams in Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, covering the neighbouring states.
He maintained that the arrangements were to ensure that all physically challenged students were giving the opportunity to acquire tertiary education.
Wife of Ekiti Governor, Dr Olayemi Oyebanji, in her remarks, commended JAMB for equal opportunity to special candidates.
She said that such had contributed to promoting diversity, tolerance and acceptability among the physically challenged.
The governor’s wife noted that inclusive education was fundamental to human rights that every child deserved, which was crucial for development of the society.
She appealed to stakeholders in the education sector to continue to promote ideas that would allow students to thrive and reach their potentials.
The Vice Chancellor, Ekiti State University, Prof. Edward Olanipekun, represented by his Deputy (Academics) Prof. James Ayodele, urged stakeholders to ensure that every child had access to education regardless of their physical or mental ability.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was attended by top government officials, including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Education, Dr Bimpe Aderiye.
Others are the Permanent Secretary ,Ministry of Education, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi and University senior lecturers, among other stakeholders in the education sector. (NAN)
Education
NECO Reschedules 2024 Common Entrance Exam into Unity Colleges
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has re-scheduled the 2024 National Common Entrance Examination into Federal Unity Colleges and the entrance examination into Federal Government Academy, Suleja.
This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday by Azeez Sani, acting Director, Information and Digital Communication of the council.
Sani stated that the common entrance examination earlier scheduled for April 20, 2024, would now hold on June 1, 2024.
He also said that the entrance examination for Gifted and Talented Children into Federal Government Academy, Suleja, earlier scheduled to hold on May 4,
2024 would now hold on May 25, 2024.
He added that the rescheduling of the two examinations was due to low enrollment of candidates.
He enjoined candidates, parents, guardians, schools and relevant stakeholders to take note of the new dates.
Sani said that registration of candidates would continue till the new dates of the examinations. (NAN)
Education
Six Nigerian Universities to Benefit from EU’s €27m Funding
By Eddy Ochigbo
No fewer than six Nigerian Universities have been selected to benefit from the 15 Intra-Africa Mobility Scheme Projects funded by the European Union (EU) with €27 million under the flagship Youth Mobility for Africa.
Permanent Secretary, of the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs.
Didi Walson-Jack, who signed the agreement at the Global Gateway High-Level Event on Education in Brussels, said Nigeria would also benefit from the regional Team Europe Initiative on Opportunity-driven Skills, Vocational Education and Training in AfricaUnder the initiative, the European Union would spend €27 million, allocating €1.
8 million to each of the Projects in the education and healthcare sectors in Africa.These Projects, which are to be facilitated by various Universities, aim to enhance learning mobility opportunities for Students, Trainees, and Staff across the Continent, focusing on developing high-level green and digital skills.
The participating Universities include the University of Lagos, the University of Port-Harcourt, Ebonyi State University, the Federal University of Technology, and the University of Nigeria.
Education
UTME: Police, JAMB Warn Candidates Against Patronising Fake Websitess
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the police have warned candidates preparing for the 2024 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) against patronising fake websites.
The two bodies gave the warning at a joint news conference in Abuja on Saturday.
The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said there were several fake websites created by unscrupulous individuals with the intention of misleading candidates.
He urged candidates to be wary of their tactics, saying the fake web sites were designed to deceive innocent candidates into providing personal details such as registration numbers, email addresses, and phone numbers.
“Both JAMB and the Nigeria Police Force condemn these fraudulent activities and hereby reiterate the readiness to safeguard the interests of candidates and maintain the integrity of the examination process.
“We urge parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to ensure that candidates print their UTME Notification Slips only from the Board’s approved website: www.jamb.gov.ng.
“Candidates can print their slips from the comfort of their homes or visit any of the over 700 accredited Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres nationwide,” he said.
Adejobi explained that the force was familiar with the tactics employed by fraudsters, especially during the annual assessment and admission exercises.
He, therefore, said that both organisations was actively sensitising candidates and the public about these deceptive practices.
“Any candidate who visits these fake sites will definitely have unreliable information and thereby miss out in the forthcoming exams.
“Candidates are advised to print their UTME Notification Slips before Friday, 19th April, 2024, to access vital information about their examinations.
“Any website other than www.jamb.gov.ng offering UTME slip printing services is fake and designed to defraud candidates,” he said.
He also called on candidates to beware of web sites offering ‘live’ questions and answers, as they were false and deceptive, saying that accessing such materials was prohibited.
He further said the board was partnering with the Nigeria Police Force National Cyber Crime Centre (NPF-NCCC) to address online scam-related issues seamlessly.
He assured candidates and the public of the force firm dedication to ensuring a fair and transparent examination process.
He also stressed that the Inspector General of Police had ordered the NPF-NCCC to go after scammers and fraudsters who engage in cyber related crimes and create phishing sites/portals.
On his part, the JAMB spokesperson, Dr Fabian Benjamin, pledged the Board’s commitment to continue in playing its role
He, therefore, urged candidates to ignore any unsolicited messages noting that they were from elements who aim at defrauding candidates.
The 2024 UTME is scheduled to commence on Friday, April 19, and end on April 29. (NAN)