By Nick Ibe, Abuja

Nigerian universities have been asked to stop issuing admission letters to candidates seeking admission into their various institutions. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB insists that such act was not within their mandate.

Stating this was JAMB registrar, Prof. Segun Aina, while receiving a delegation from Veritas University, Bwari, Abuja, which paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

The registrar pointed out that JAMB is the only body statutorily empowered to issue official admission letters to candidates seeking entry into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

Prof. Aina stated that the irony of the situation is that once candidates see a document as emanating from an institution purporting to offer them admission, they believe that it is real.

He, therefore, charged universities guilty of this ignoble act to desist, adding that they also have the responsibility of ensuring that those candidates obtain the right documents from the board.

Furthermore, he referenced the Federal Ministry of Education’s explicit stand that all admissions be conducted through the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) and that anything done contrary to that is illegal and invalid.

As a result, no institution is permitted to substitute its own letters for the official JAMB admission letter issued by the board after a candidate had accepted his admission on CAPS.

He added that it is only admission offered through this platform is recognised and would be accepted for the purpose of mobilisation for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), among others.

By Vincent Tyosuugh

Two academic institutions, Orenda Opal Schools have been closed by the Benue State Government over alleged textbook policy violation which allows students to reuse old text books or source them from the open market.

Giving reasons for the seal, the Benue Education Quality Assurance and Examinations Board, BEQAEB, said its action followed petitions from parents that their wards were forced to buy textbooks from the schools and that their assignments were not being marked for not buying the prescribed textbooks from the schools. It further pointed to failure of the school proprietor and administrators to honour an invitation to address the complaints.

The board’s Executive Secretary, Dr Terna Francis, led officials of its Directorate of Enforcement and Compliance to the schools, where a court order authorising the sealing of the premises was served on the proprietor before the facilities were locked.

According to a statement issued by the board’s Information Officer, Jeffrey Adzam, on Thursday, the government’s policy allows parents to reuse textbooks previously purchased for older children.

“Parents are also permitted to obtain textbook lists from schools and purchase the required books from bookstores outside the schools.”

However, the board alleged that the affected schools insisted that parents must purchase textbooks directly from them, contrary to the new policy.

Francis said the board received reports that some pupils whose parents had paid their school fees but could not afford the prescribed textbooks were subjected to punitive treatment, including having their homework left unmarked.

The statement added that some parents who had already bought the books from external vendors alleged that the schools refused to allow their children to use them during the current academic session.

According to the board, the parents were told to either purchase new textbooks directly from the schools or withdraw their children and enrol them elsewhere.

BEQAEB further alleged that pupils were barred from bringing textbooks bought outside the schools into their classrooms, leaving some of them demoralised.

“Dr Francis described the alleged practices as unacceptable and inconsistent with the protection of learners’ rights and welfare under applicable laws in Benue State and Nigeria.

“He explained that the government’s policy was intended to provide flexibility for parents, promote the reuse of textbooks where appropriate and prevent schools from imposing unnecessary restrictions that undermine the interests of learners and their families,” the statement said.

He said the board had invited the proprietor and school administrators to a meeting to resolve the complaints, but they turned it down.

According to the statement, the board subsequently approached the court through the Benue State Attorney-General and obtained an order authorising the sealing of the school premises.

The proprietor, Onyinye Okoye, allegedly led members of staff to attack Francis and his team after the court order had been served.

The statement said the incident involved verbal assaults on the officials and the destruction of an official vehicle belonging to the board.

The board condemned the reported incident, saying disputes with regulatory authorities should be resolved through lawful channels rather than violence or intimidation.

It said the schools would remain sealed until their proprietors and administrators met its conditions, complied with government regulations and demonstrated a commitment to protecting the rights of pupils and parents.

“He urged parents and guardians whose children experience similar forms of alleged victimisation or violations of government education policies to submit formal petitions to BEQAEB, accompanied by relevant evidence.

“He assured the public that such complaints would be investigated and appropriate action taken in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

By Seyi Balogun, Lagos

The emergence of Nigeria’s Overall Best Teacher for 2026 at the Federal Government’s President’s Teachers’ and Schools’ Excellence Awards, Mary Oluwaseun Adebayo, once a private school teacher, shows that where you start in life does not matter.

Adebayo received the national recognition during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration in Abuja, where she was rewarded with a brand-new car as the star prize.

While receiving the car on Teacher’s Day, she expressed gratitude for the recognition, saying she had continued teaching without any inkling that her efforts would earn her such a reward. In her words:

“I started this work in a private school. I kept doing the work, I did not know the Lord will reward me this way.”

From the Best Public Senior Secondary School Teacher category, she went on to emerge the overall best teacher in the country.

For achieving the feat, Nawair-Ud-Deen Grammar School, Obantoko Old Students Association, NUDGOSA, on Friday, congratulated her describing her achievement as a source of pride for the school and its community.

NUDGOSA in a statement signed by the association’s National Public Relations Officer, Sanni Damilola, said her recognition reflected her commitment to teaching and the advancement of education in Nigeria.

It added that her emergence had brought honour to the school, from whose classrooms she rose to national recognition.

“NUDGOSA is particularly proud that one of our own has risen to the pinnacle of the teaching profession in Nigeria.”

The association also said the award was an inspiration to current students, teachers, alumni and the wider school community, noting that it demonstrated how dedication and commitment to service could earn national recognition.

On behalf of the association’s national executive and members, its National President, Hon. Fasiu Bakenne, congratulated Adebayo, the school’s management and staff, and the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission.

Relatedly, a
lawmaker, Nasir Gboyega Isiaka, also congratulated Adebayo, describing her emergence as Nigeria’s Overall Best Teacher as a source of pride for Afon, Imeko-Afon and the wider constituency.

In a congratulatory message on Friday titled, “Celebrating Excellence: Congratulations to Nigeria’s Best Teacher,” Isiaka described Adebayo as an illustrious daughter of Afon, Imeko-Afon, and said her achievement demonstrated the level of excellence within local communities.

He said education remained important to his service to the constituency, adding that investing in education was essential to expanding opportunities for young people.

“Dr. Adebayo’s achievement therefore resonates deeply with the work we have continued to pursue in strengthening education and supporting those who dedicate their lives to it,” he said.

Isiaka said the award had brought honour to Afon, Imeko-Afon and the entire constituency, while wishing Adebayo greater success in her professional service and future endeavours.

The 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebration was held under the theme, “Standing with Teachers: 60 Years of Protecting the Profession, Advancing the Status and Shaping Our Future.”