Education
Winners Emerge In NTIC 20th Maths Context

The Nigerian Tulip International College (NTIC) has awarded finalists of its 20th Annual National Mathematics Competition (ANMC) with scholarships and cash prizes.
The ANMC is the largest and yearly competition organised for math enthusiasts in Primary 5, Primary 6, and JSS 3 by NTIC in collaboration with the National Mathematics Centre (NMC).
It recognises the achievements of outstanding young mathematics minds with the ultimate goal to produce remarkable students that would lead to changes in the inventions that would shape the future of sciences in Nigeria, Africa, and the world at large.
This year, about 10,000 students participated in the first round across various states while thirty two won the scholarships and other prizes.
Speaking during the prize giving and award ceremony, Fevzullah Bilgin, the managing director of NTIC, said the school has been organising ANMC for the past 20 years as the sole sponsor of this 20th edition.
He said the aim of annual competition is to harness outstanding young mathematics minds, sharpen their rough edges and groom them to become strong and proficient in sciences.
“The Annual National Mathematics Competition is set for outstanding students, and these qualifiers have made themselves proud; brought accolades to each school they represent and their parents.
“Mathematics is a critical part of modern life, and its importance cannot be overstated. Mathematics is a fundamental branch of science that is essential for understanding and analyzing the world around us.
“It provides us with the tools to understand the world around us and make informed decisions that affect our lives and the lives of others, and this is what Annual National Mathematics Competitions revolves around.”
Bilgin noted that the NTIC currently has more than 144 students studying in the school through ANMC scholarship scheme.
“It is worth mentioning some of ANMC’s exceptional students are; Henry Aniobi, a 2007 ANMC winner. Henry is a three-time gold winner of Pan African Mathematical Olympiad. He is also a four-time International Mathematics Olympiad medalist worldwide.
“Ayomide Bamidele, a 2008 ANMC winner, was a National Physics Olympiad winner in 2014. He also won bronze at International Physics Olympiad in 2014 at Kazakhstan. Vincent Anioke, a 2006 ANMC winner, scored 2390 out of 2400 in S.A.T and gained a scholarship into MIT, one of the world’s leading universities.
“A recent one is Chioma Opara, a 2016 ANMC winner who graduated in the 2022/2023 academic session. She had an almost perfect score of 1550 in SAT, 345 in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), and an unprecedented straight 9As in West African Examination Council (WAFC). She set the record straight by gaining scholarship to two prestigious universities in the world: Toronto University, Canada and Long Island University, USA,” he added.
Prof. Promise Mebine, the Director and Chief Executive, National Mathematical Centre (NMC), who was represented by Prof. Jonathan said its relationship with NTIC is symbiotic one as both parties benefits from each other.
He commended the school for the gesture to promote science in the country, while pledging his support.
Meanwhile, Nwakuche Festus Chidubem of Pyramid Learning Academy, Anambra State who emerged over all best won N100,000 and scholarship waiver.
The third best students got cash rewards of N50,000, while the second over all best, Amah Chibuike from Diamond Special school, Imo state got N75000 cash prizes with scholarship waiver.
Education
UNICAL VC Promises to Resolve Dentistry Students’ Crisis

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Florence Obi has promised that she would do everything humanly possible to ensure that the ongoing crisis in the institution’s Department of Dentistry, is resolved.
Prof.
Obi made the promise in Calabar during a press briefing, stressing that she will resolve the crisis before leaving office.She explained that the problem predates her administration, and pledged to intensify efforts to rectify the crisis.
She added that the crisis was as a result of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN)’s refusal to induct 2016 Dentistry students of the institution.She also debunked claims circulating on social media that the institution’s Dentistry programme has lost its accreditation, describing the reports as “misinformation and distortion of facts,” clarifying that the programme remains fully accredited and no students have been directed to transfer to other universities.
“At no point did the University ask Dentistry students to seek transfers to other institutions, nor were they advised to ‘go and learn a trade’ as falsely alleged online,” the VC stated.
“I will feel very bad if I leave without solving this problem and the students are left hanging without knowing their fate. I won’t be fulfilled,” she said.
She reaffirmed the University’s commitment to ensuring all Dentistry students graduate and are duly licensed as dental surgeons.
She noted that the Dentistry programme commenced in the 2013/2014 academic session, and in November 2019, the University secured pre-clinical accreditation from the MDCN and full clinical accreditation was subsequently granted in December 2022.
The VC added that the university’s synergy and partnership with the Minister of Education and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to upgrade its facilities.
“All we asked for is time to engage with other institutions, update the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), and follow through on due processes,” she noted.
Speaking further, Obi said that some of the affected students demanded to be transferred to the Department of Medicine and Surgery but said it was not the solution as the department was already saturated.
She urged the affected students to remain calm, noting that the university was doing everything possible to resolve the issues before the end of her tenure.
Education
NUT Reaffirms Commitment to Teachers’ Professional Development in Kwara

From Abdullahi Abubakar, Ilorin
The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Kwara State Wing has restated its commitment to strengthening the professional growth of teachers across the State, to enhance the quality of education delivered in public schools. Speaking at the opening of a three-day capacity-building workshop in Ilorin, the State Chairman of the Union, Comrade Yusuf Wahab Agboola, noted that continuous training of teachers remains a vital component of educational reform and improved classroom delivery.
The training, organised in collaboration with the NUT National Secretariat, is targeted at selected teachers and focuses on the “Study Circle Conveners’ Model”—a grassroots strategy for enhancing peer-to-peer learning and participatory leadership within the education sector.
Comrade Agboola explained that the workshop aims to equip teachers with practical skills in collaborative learning, peer engagement, and innovative teaching practices. He expressed optimism that the training would promote professional bonding among teachers and foster collective solutions to challenges facing the education sector.Also speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of the NUT Study Circle Project, Comrade Solomon Igbelowowa, traced the initiative’s roots to 1985 when it was introduced in Nigeria by the Swedish Teachers Association, having recorded success in Sweden and other parts of the world. He commended the Nigerian Union of Teachers for sustaining the project over the years and urged participants to engage fully and make the most of the training opportunity.
The workshop was officially declared open by the National President of the NUT, Audu Amba, who was represented by the 3rd National Vice President, Bashir Oyewo.
He encouraged teachers to approach the sessions with dedication and punctuality.
Education
JAMB Sets 150 Cut-off Mark for University Admissions

By Tony Obiechina Abuja
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has fixed 150 as the minimum cut-off mark for admission into Nigerian universities for the 2025/2026 academic session.
The decision was reached on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions, held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre in Abuja, with stakeholders from various tertiary institutions in attendance.
According to JAMB, 140 was approved as the minimum score for colleges of nursing sciences, while polytechnics, colleges of education, and colleges of agriculture will admit candidates with a minimum score of 100.
“The minimum admissible scores for admissions for the next academic session have been fixed at 150 for universities, 100 for polytechnics, 100 for colleges of education, and 140 for colleges of nursing sciences by the stakeholders (Heads of Tertiary Institutions),” JAMB announced via its official X account.