By Seyi Balogun

The 174th Governing Council meeting of the University of Calabar has approved the dismissal of eight members of staff and sanctioned another with a two-year promotion delay.

The offences range from examination malpractice to fund diversion and vandalism.

Dr Mrs Icha Chukwuka, the University Registrar, who signed the memo doubles as Secretary to Council, disclosed that the sanctions followed a review of disciplinary cases presented before Council members.

Those dismissed include Prof. Emilia Oyira of the Department of Nursing Science, over alleged examination misconduct; Mr Ukachukwu Echezunachi Darlington of Chemical Pathology, Mrs Akinrinade Opayemi Ogunluyi of Microbiology, Dr Arum Priscilia Nchekwube of Internal Medicine, and Mrs Okoi Nyesam Eni of the Clinical Medical Hostel, all sacked over absence and abandonment of duty.

Furthermore, the memo stated that Mr Joseph Edet Okon of the Works Department, was dismissed over allegations of vandalism and carting away of armoured cables, and Mr Eworo Valentine Ibor of Pure and Applied Chemistry, dismissed for allegedly falsifying and altering examination results.

Similarly, Mr Emmanuel Adariku of the Alumni Relations Office was dismissed over unauthorized withdrawal of funds from the Friends of Malabor/Alumni Trust Funds account, while Dr Mathias Agba of Nursing Science was handed a two-year promotion delay and forfeiture of 50 percent of his withheld salary over negligence linked to an examination misconduct case.

The Registrar’s memo added that the University “continues to reiterate its zero tolerance for all forms of unethical practices,” noting that the administration of Prof. Offiong Efanga Offiong “remains resolute in its determination to rebrand the institution on a foundation of integrity and excellence in service delivery.”

The University’s Public Relations Unit, which released the statement, said the affected staff were dismissed in line with due process, following Council’s deliberation on the disciplinary reports presented to it.

By Isa Abdul

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has countered claims that Government Secondary School, Olowa, in Dekina LGA of Kogi state, where five persons were abducted during the ongoing Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), is a “miracle centre”.

Gunmen abducted students from the school around 5:25pm, on Tuesday while candidates were writing the ongoing NECO examinations.

The principal of the school and a NECO ad hoc staff were also kidnapped during the incident.

Godiya Solomon Monde, commanding officer, 21 battalion, Nigerian Army, while speaking to journalists alleged that the school was a renowned place for examination malpractice, popularly referred to as “miracle centre”.

“The issue is that this school is definitely isolated as you can see; it’s actually tagged as a miracle centre for the students. Ten students were brought here for the literature,-in-English exams, and around 16:00 hours we got the call that the school was attacked,” Monde said.

“Even to locate the school was not easy, but we finally got here with the aid of somebody from the community. When we got here, we saw some papers littered on the ground.”

On Thursday, the Kogi state government referred to the school where four persons were kidnapped during the recent attack as an “unauthorised” examination centre.

Kingsley Femi Fanwo, Commissioner for Information and Communications, said that the rescue followed a coordinated security operation ordered by Ahmed Ododo, governor of Kogi.

But responding to the “Miracle Centre” allegation in a statement on Friday, Azeez Sani, NECO’s acting director of information and public relations, said the council disagreed with comments attributed to the army and Fanwo.

Sani expressed sympathy for the victims and commended the Kogi state government and security agencies for prompt efforts that led to the rescue of the remaining four abductees.

He said Government Secondary School, Olowa, is a state-owned institution that has existed for more than 40 years also presenting candidates for the NECO SSCE examinations since 2000. The added:

“The principal of the school, Daniel Iyamaa, who was among those abducted, is a Grade Level 17 officer in the Kogi state civil service.

“Similarly, the kidnapped supervisor, Solomon Audu, is a Grade Level 12 officer employed by the Kogi state government and posted to Community Secondary School, Effin.

“Available records also show that the abducted candidates are duly registered students of Government Secondary School, Olowa, who were presented for the 2026 NECO SSCE by the school in conjunction with the Kogi state government.”

The council stressed that the 28 candidates registered by the school for the 2026 SSCE are bona fide students and not external candidates, contrary to the impression created by the commissioner’s remarks.

–Warns Against Stopping Students from Writing Exams

By Michael Lim

The National leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed great discontent and strong resentment over the position of the management of the Federal University Wukari over fee payment.

In a statement issued on 16th July, 2026, signed by NANS National President, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, the body condemned the university’s policy that:

“Students who are unable to pay their school fees to defer their semester or academic session, … that failure to either pay tuition fees or formally secure approval for deferment would result in the forfeiture of both the semester and the entire academic session.”

It further decried the. management’s stated position that students who defer without approval or absent themselves without an approved deferment would be barred from registering for the next academic session.

“We strongly decry this position, as it is insensitive, anti-student, and contrary to the ideals of accessible and inclusive education.

“Humanity must always precede our personal dispositions in the management of institutions. This decision is cruelty in its purest form. At a time when the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has introduced the NELFUND initiative to make education accessible to ordinary Nigerians and every young Nigerian who aspires to pursue higher education, it is disheartening that the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Wukari is the very one frustrating students and keeping them out of school because of financial challenges that the initiative was designed to address.”

The apex leadership of Nigerian students strongly condemned the position of the management of Federal University Wukari for adopting a stance that is not student-friendly and a direct attack on Nigerian students and the education sector at large.

The statement added: “It is on record that many of these students have already applied for NELFUND, which means the management will receive the tuition fees as soon as NELFUND disburses the funds. It is therefore inhumane for the Vice-Chancellor and the entire management of the institution to deny students the opportunity to write their examinations despite the assurance that NELFUND will certainly disburse the funds in due course.

“It is also on record that even when many students go out of their way to pay their fees before NELFUND disbursements, several institutions fail to refund them promptly. It was only recently, following sustained pressure from the leadership of NANS, that many of these institutions began processing refunds.

“According to reports available to us, over 5,000 students have been affected by this decision. Considering the sheer number of students involved and the willingness of the Vice-Chancellor to deny them access to education, it is evident that his policies are anti-student. More importantly, his actions undermine the very essence of the NELFUND initiative of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose vision is to ensure that every deserving Nigerian, regardless of financial circumstances, has access to quality education.”

The body unequivocally stated that there is no circumstance under which the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) will fold its arms and watch over 5,000 students to be denied the opportunity to sit for their examinations on account of late registration, despite having secured funding for their tuition through NELFUND.

Nans president declared that:

“Our position, as the apex leadership of Nigerian students, is clear and unambiguous: if these students are not allowed to complete their registration and sit for their examinations, then the examinations should not proceed for anyone.

“We shall continue to resist every policy and action that is detrimental to the interests and welfare of Nigerian students. We therefore call on the Vice-Chancellor,h as a matter of utmost urgency and importance, to immediately reverse this decision.”