General News
N365m for Tertiary Institutions’ National Laureate Prize Awards
-Competition Open to FG, State, Private Varsities, Polys, Monotechnics and Colleges of Edu
By Nick Ibe
The newly established Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize to recognise outstanding academic research, innovation and intellectual excellence across the country. has N365 million earmarked for its operation by the Federal Government for annual prize pool.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausthe newly established Tertiary Institutions National Laureate Prize to recognise outstanding academic research, innovation and intellectual excellence across the country. Alausa disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja, on Wednesday.
He stressed that the initiative was designed to promote scholarship and encourage research with potential for commercialisation, industrial application and national development.
The minister added that the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in the education sector, and was being jointly implemented by the Federal Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Education Repository and Databank (NERD).
He said the National Laureate Prize Committee, recently inaugurated by him, had been charged with providing the strategic direction, governance and integrity required for the successful implementation of the programme.
The initiative was intended to change the culture of national recognition, according to him, by ensuring that exceptional academic achievements receive the attention and reward they deserve.
“Scholarship matters; research matters; innovation matters; and intellectual excellence deserve a prominent place in our national consciousness,” the minister said.
He disclosed that the prize categories will include outstanding undergraduate dissertations demonstrating strong commercial potential, exceptional master’s theses and doctoral theses with clear industrial and developmental applications.
“Special prizes will also recognise outstanding works in Engineering and Technology, Medicine and Health Sciences, Arts and Social Sciences, Agriculture, Law and Teaching Innovation.
“One of the special awards will be the Dr. Stella Adadevoh Prize for Medicine and Medical Innovation, honouring the late physician whose courage and professional sacrifice helped prevent the 2014 Ebola outbreak from becoming a national catastrophe,” he said.
The Minister said the competition would be open to universities, polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of education, regardless of whether they are federally, state or privately owned.
A member of the committee, Nwhator Solomon, confirmed that the selection process would begin at institutional level, with participating institutions identifying their strongest entries before they proceed to zonal and national assessments.
“The six geopolitical zones will have selection committees to assess the best works emerging from their respective zones, after which finalists will be subjected to a final national selection.
“The process will involve recognised experts and professionals with established records in research, academic publication and peer review. Supervisors, heads of departments and external examiners will also play roles in validating submitted academic works.
“To guard against conflicts of interest, members of the national governing committee will be excluded from institutional selection committees,” he said.
Other committee members further assured that the process would be transparent, competitive, merit-driven and insulated from political, institutional or personal influence.
They commended the initiative, saying it would broaden national recognition beyond entertainment and sports to include scholars, researchers and innovators. “Nigeria needed to place knowledge and innovation at the forefront of its response to global economic challenges, describing the minister’s initiative as commendab
General News
Benue Bishop Shuts Schs, Hospital, Parish In Alia’s Community Says “Church Cannot … Expose Priests, Students To Danger”
By Felix Umande
The Catholic Bishop of Gboko, Most Rev. William Avenya, has ordered the indefinite closure of four Catholic institutions in Ihugh, Benue State, and withdrawn pastoral agents following repeated attacks, arson and insecurity.
The decision, contained in a letter and decree dated October 12, takes immediate effect and affects St. Winifred Secondary School, St. Winifred Nursery and Primary School, St. Thomas Hospital, Salus Mind Care Center and St. Winifred Parish, Ihugh.
In the pastoral letter, Avenya described the withdrawal as painful but necessary to protect lives, stressing it was not motivated by anger or retaliation.
“The Church cannot, in conscience, continue to expose her Priests, Consecrated Persons, Teachers, Medical personnel, Students and Patients to danger,” he said.
The bishop cited repeated disturbances including the burning of student hostels at St. Winifred Secondary School on October 28, 2025, May 10 and 15, 2026, and October 11, 2026, recurrent burglaries at St. Winifred Parish and criminal incidents at St. Thomas Hospital. He recalled that during the reopening of the hospital on June 21, 2024, some persons displayed placards and chanted slogans demanding that Reverend Sisters leave Ihugh.
Avenya said the Diocese had engaged the host community, traditional rulers, elders and security authorities to find lasting peace, but without security guarantees.
The decree directs the withdrawal of priests, consecrated persons, catechists, pastoral workers and lay mission partners, while teaching and non-teaching staff, medical personnel and administrators are to be redeployed through appropriate diocesan offices.
It also orders safeguarding of diocesan property, transfer of parish registers and archives to the diocesan archives, and reverent removal of the Blessed Sacrament, sacred vessels and other sacred objects under supervision.
The bishop said arrangements would be made to minimise impact on students, patients and staff. Students are to be assisted to continue education in other Catholic schools in the Diocese, while patients at St. Thomas Hospital will be referred to other facilities, especially those needing urgent care. Affected staff, he said, would be treated with justice and charity.
Addressing Catholics in Ihugh, he declared:
“To our Catholic faithful in Ihugh: do not lose heart. Your Baptism is not lost with a building, nor is your faith diminished by the closing of a door.”
He appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youth leaders, government and security agencies to restore peace and ensure perpetrators are brought to justice, adding that return is conditional on genuine repentance, restitution and credible assurances of safety.
“This decision is a painful one, but it is not a final farewell,” he said.
Avenya called for intensified prayers for peace and designated Friday, October 23 as a day of prayer and fasting for peace and reconciliation.
Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, today at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, presented the Company’s 2025 Audited Financial Statement (AFS) to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
Ojulari, who was accompanied by the Company’s Group Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Dapo Segun, presented the statement, which delivered impressive results that include ₦7.2 Trillion Profit After Tax (a 33% rise compared to ₦5.4 Trillion in 2024), ₦5.8 Trillion dividend and ₦34.5 Trillion revenue.
On 29th September, 2026, NNPC Ltd announced its audited results for the year ended 31 December 2025, following its Annual General Meeting and second Earnings Call with financial and business analysts.
The results highlight the Company’s growing earnings strength and improved operational performance, laying the foundation for future growth.
The National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Marine Engineers and Naval Architects (NIMENA), Dr. Eferebo Sylvanus has been honoured with the Maritime Innovation and Technology Leadership Award at the 15th Democracy Heroes Award Africa.
Eferebo received the honour at the ceremony held at the weekend at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, in recognition of his professional leadership and contributions to marine engineering, naval architecture and maritime technology.
The award comes amid growing calls for Nigeria to harness its maritime resources through indigenous expertise, technological advancement and research-driven industrial development.
The Democracy Heroes Award Africa, now in its 15th edition, recognises individuals making contributions across different sectors.
Eferebo’s recognition places a spotlight on a specialised but strategically important profession whose impact extends beyond engineering into industrial development and the wider blue economy.
As Nigeria continues to explore new opportunities in maritime trade, offshore energy and shipbuilding, the challenge will be ensuring that professional recognition is matched by sustained investment in research, infrastructure, training and the practical application of homegrown technology.
With more than two decades of experience in engineering consultancy and technical leadership, Eferebo leads NIMENA, a professional body committed to advancing marine engineering through research, education, technical standards and industry collaboration.
His academic background includes a Bachelor of Technology in Marine Engineering, a master’s degree in Naval Architecture and Ship Construction, and a doctorate in Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding from Rivers State University, Port Harcourt.
He is also a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and a registered engineer with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN).
Beyond his professional credentials, Eferebo has built a career around developing technical solutions for Nigeria’s maritime and offshore industries.
He is the founder and chief executive officer of Somatrix Marine Limited, an engineering consultancy involved in marine consulting, ship design, marine surveys, construction management and research and development.
His leadership extends to engineering regulation and policy development, including work on maritime engineering standards and local content development.
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