The  Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, has awarded scholarships to 107 foreign students, indigent and students with special needs, an official disclosed.

A statement issued by Auwalu Umar, Director Public Affairs Directorate of the university on Friday in Zaria said that 49 postgraduate foreign students benefitted from the scheme.

Umar added that others were, 42 undergraduate foreign students, 10 Nigerian students, and six undergraduate indigent students.

He said Prof. Kabiru Bala, Vice-Chancellor, ABU while presenting the award letters to the beneficiaries said, the scheme was in line with the yearnings of the founding fathers of the university.

He added that the vice-chancellor also made it clear that the doors of the university were opened to men and women of different races, and that was why the university extended the hand of help to the most vulnerable students.

Bala, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academics, Prof. Raymond Bako, added that the scholarship was not coming in cash, but rather, through any means to support students to excel.

He said: “There is always ability in disability, the sky is the starting point for all students with special needs.”

The Vice-Chancellor enjoined foreign students to be good ambassadors of the university in their respective countries after the completion of their studies.

The statement also quoted the Director, Counseling and Human Development Center, Dr Sa’adatu Muhammad-Makarfi, as saying that the university decided that foreign students both undergraduate and postgraduate pay the same amount as indigenous students.

This, according to her, is with a view to reducing the burden on them due to the harsh economic situation of the country.

Muhammad-Makarfi said for students with special needs, the university had paid complete tuition fees and accommodation for some, while for those who had already paid their tuition fees, the university had covered their accommodation.

Also speaking, the President of Students with Special Needs, Mustapha Yahaya, expressed gratitude to the university for looking into their plights.

Yahaya said students with special needs in the university were more than 15 while appealing to the institution’s management to extend the scholarship to others.

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) results, with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.

The Registrar of NECO, Prof. Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger.

Wushishi said that a total of 1,376,423 candidates, representing 706,950 males and 669,473 females, registered for the exam.

The registrar said that 1,367,736 candidates sat for the examination, representing 702,112 Males and 665,624 females.

He said that 828, 284 candidates had five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, representing 60.55 per cent.

Wushishi said that the number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, was 1,147,597, representing 83.90 per cent.

He said that there was a great reduction in the number of examination malpractices this year compared to 2023.

“The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437 as against 12,030 in 2023, which shows a reduction of 30. 1 per cent,” he said.

The registrar, however, said that 40 schools were found to be involved in mass cheating during the examination.

“During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), 40 schools were found to have been involved in whole school (mass) cheating in 17 states.

“They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied.

“A school in Ekiti was recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and one Science subject.

“Similarly, 21 Supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness and negligence in 12 states,” he said.

He urged candidates who sat for the examination to visit the NECO website to access their results.

Wushishi said candidates can access their results on the NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number.”

Teacher docked for allegedly assaulting 4-year-old pupil

A Female school teacher, Dupe Ehiorobo, on Friday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly assaulting a four-year-old pupil.

The police charged Ehiorobo, 45, a teacher at Access Ville School, Ipaja, Lagos with assault.

The woman, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor, Insp John Iberedem, told  the court that Ehiorobo committed the offence on May 13 at Access Ville School, Ipaja, Lagos.

According to him, Ehiorobo assaulted the pupil by flogging him mercilessly on his body which inflicted injuries on his back and laps.

He said the class teacher flogged the pre-school pupil for misbehaving in the class.

Iberedem  said the offence contravened the provisions of Section 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Section 172 attracts one year imprisonment to anyone found guilty of unlawful assault.

The Chief Magistrate, Mrs E. Kubeinje admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

She ordered that the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the state government and their addresses be verified.

Kubeinje adjourned the case until  Oct. 10 for hearing.