By Isa Abdul, Abuja

The Federal Ministry of Education has expanded teacher preparation in gender-responsive pedagogy, safe learning environments and digital skills.

According to the press release by Boriowo Folasade,
Director, Press and Public Relations, the Ministry has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening teacher capacity and ensuring that every child in Nigeria learns in a safe, inclusive and supportive environment, as it deepens collaboration with UNESCO, the Government of Japan and other development partners.

The release stated that the “commitment was reaffirmed in Abuja at a three-day Master Trainers Workshop on Safe Learning Environment, Gender-Responsive Pedagogy and ICT Skills for Educators in Teacher Training Institutions.”

Representing the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad, the Director of the College of Education, Dr Uchenna Uba, said increased access to education must be matched by protection, inclusion and effective learning.

She highlighted the National Policy on Anti-Bullying in Nigerian Schools and stressed the need to equip teachers to recognise abuse, respond appropriately and protect learners’ dignity and wellbeing.

According to the release, Ahmad said:

“45 master trainers from 15 teacher training institutions are being equipped with skills in gender-responsive pedagogy, safe learning environments, prevention and response to school-related gender-based violence, and ICT integration. They are expected to cascade the training to about 500 teachers and educators.”

The Ministry’s spokesperson further reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to sustained collaboration with UNESCO, Japan and the African Union to advance teacher development and inclusive education.

By Nick Ibe, Abuja

As Nigeria records increased visibility in the global university ranking, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has directed the Nigeria Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee, NiTERAC, led by Prof. Peter Okebukola, to commence the 2026 national ranking of Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

The directive comes as 29 Nigerian universities have secured places in the 2027 Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, up from 24 institutions in the 2026 edition.

Nigeria’s 29 ranked universities represent the highest number from any country in Sub-Saharan Africa, with five Nigerian institutions entering the global ranking for the first time.

The Federal Ministry of Education said the national ranking framework being developed by NiTERAC, in consultation with stakeholders, would assess tertiary institutions using 22 indicators designed to stimulate healthy competition, improve institutional visibility and strengthen their capacity to compete globally.

The ministry disclosed this in a statement issued by its Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, which linked the increased global representation of Nigerian universities to ongoing reforms under the leadership of Alausa.

According to the ministry, the reforms are focused on research excellence, innovation, institutional performance and international competitiveness under the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI.

The latest THE ranking shows that Nigeria’s federal universities account for a significant proportion of the country’s improved performance.

Five of the seven Nigerian universities placed within the global top 1,200 are federal institutions, representing 71.4 per cent of Nigeria’s universities in that band.

The University of Ibadan and University of Lagos retained positions in the 801–1000 band, while Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ilorin advanced into the 1001–1200 band, joining Bayero University, which retained its position in the same band.

Covenant University also retained a position in the 801–1000 band.

The Ranking, The Ranked and The “Ranker”: An appraisal of the Nigerian university system
The ministry further disclosed that federal universities occupied all six Nigerian positions in the 1401–1600 band.

Five of the seven Nigerian universities that recorded clear upward movement were also federal institutions– Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Benin.

Beyond the 29 institutions ranked globally, another 32 Nigerian universities were listed in THE Reporter category, bringing the total number of Nigerian institutions engaged with the ranking exercise to 61.

The ministry said the 2027 THE ranking identified Research Quality as the strongest performance pillar for Nigerian universities, while Research Environment and Teaching remained areas requiring further attention.

It said continued improvement in academic reputation, research output and productivity, doctoral output, international collaboration and institutional data reporting would be critical to sustaining the progress recorded.

The ministry described the growing participation of Nigerian universities in global rankings as more than recognition, saying the exercise would serve as a mechanism for benchmarking performance, identifying institutional gaps and accelerating continuous improvement across the tertiary education sector.

It reaffirmed its commitment to reforms aimed at advancing research excellence, teaching quality, innovation, international engagement and institutional competitiveness.

Paul Little received his diploma from Dallas Center High School in Grimes, Iowa, more than 80 years after leaving school to help support his family.

Little later spent years farming and, with his late wife, became a longtime supporter of local students and schools, including donating $50,000 to his former school district.

School officials surprised Little at his nursing home on Sept. 17 and awarded him the diploma he never got the chance to receive.

A 98-year-old Iowa man just received his high school diploma over 80 years after having to leave school to help support his family.

Paul Little attended Dallas Center High School in Grimes, a suburb of Des Moines, and was set to graduate in 1946 — but he dropped out during his junior year in order to work, according to CBS 19.

Paul went on to farm for years in nearby Guthrie County, and despite never getting the chance to finish his education, he — alongside his late wife Eleanor — always made a point to support local students and education initiatives.

“For the last 15 to 18 years he’s given money out to help our kids get jump-started to the next stage in life,” Kasey Huebner, superintendent of the Panorama School District in Guthrie County, said while speaking to CBS 19.

Paul eventually moved into a nursing home in his hometown and donated $50,000 to Dallas Center High School — the place that would have been his alma mater.

The school district recently decided to honor Paul and his years of generosity with a surprise visit to his nursing home on Sept. 17, where he was awarded his high school diploma.

“We’re excited to play just a little role in recognizing the awesomeness that is a guy like Paul in our community,” Scott Blum, superintendent of the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District, told CBS 19.

In a statement to PEOPLE, the district added, “We were alerted to Paul’s story by the DCG Education Foundation. After moving back to Dallas Center, Paul connected with this group and offered financial support to our graduating seniors. Paul gave $50,000 to the DCG Education Foundation, and scholarships are now given out annually to our seniors.”

“Paul’s connection to our community spans nearly eight decades,” the Dallas Center-Grimes Community School District continued. “He’s made a lasting impact on our students and their futures. Honoring Paul with an honorary diploma was our way of saying thank you. His legacy will be felt for generations at Dallas Center-Grimes.”

Paul — whose funding has helped over 150 students graduate — said contributing to his community was never a hard decision.

“I think it’s very important. We need to support the kids in schools,” he told CBS 19.