Education
No Age Restriction for WAEC, NECO Exams, Education Ministry Clarifies

No Age Restriction for WAEC, NECO Exams, Education Ministry Clarifies
The Federal Ministry of Education has dispelled rumours suggesting that students under the age of 18 have been barred from taking the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) or National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.
Dr Yusuf Sununu, Minister of State for Education, clarified the issue on Friday in Abuja during an event marking the 2024 International Literacy Day (ILD). He addressed public confusion over remarks made by the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, regarding the 18-year age limit.
Sununu expressed disappointment over the misinterpretation of the minister’s statement, explaining that it referred to the minimum entry age for tertiary institutions, as per the 6:3:3:4 educational system.
“We were shocked to hear that a university in this country admitted children aged 10, 11, and 12. This is completely wrong,” Sununu said. “While exceptions exist for highly talented students, who may possess adult-level IQs even at ages 6 or 7, these cases are rare. There must be general rules, and the ministry is working on guidelines to identify such talented children.”
He emphasized, “Nobody said children must be 18 before they can write WAEC, NECO, or any other exam. This is a misrepresentation of what was said.”
On the significance of International Literacy Day, Sununu highlighted literacy’s role in promoting peace and socio-economic development. He reiterated the government’s commitment to tackling literacy challenges through the Education for Renewed Hope roadmap (2024-2027), with a focus on youth and adult literacy.
“We must prioritize the role of a learner’s first language in literacy to promote mutual understanding and peace,” he said, adding that well-trained educators must be equipped to teach in local languages.
Prof. Simon Akpama, Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Mass Literacy, Adult, and Non-formal Education (NMEC), echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of multilingual education in schools.
“Multilingual education fosters peace and cultural respect in our interconnected world,” Akpama said.
UNESCO’s Country Representative, Diallo Abdourahamane, also stressed that literacy is a fundamental human right, essential for building a peaceful and sustainable society.
The theme of this year’s International Literacy Day is “Promoting Multilingual Education: Literacy for Mutual Understanding and Peace.”
Education
NELFUND Disburses Over N20bn in Student Loans, Assures Transparency

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed a total of N20,074,050,000 in institutional fees, benefiting no fewer than 192,906 students across tertiary institutions in the country.
Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFUND, disclosed this in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Monday.
According to him, the Fund has received loan applications from no fewer than 364,042 students, while about 169,114 students have so far benefitted from NELFUND’s monthly stipends disbursement. He added that N12,818,960,000 had been disbursed as stipends, with each student receiving N20,000.
Expressing gratitude to the government, Sawyerr said, “We appreciate the unwavering support of President Bola Tinubu in making higher education accessible to all deserving Nigerian students.”
He further assured that NELFUND remains committed to transparency and efficiency in managing the student loan scheme, promising to continue providing accurate updates as disbursements progress.
Education
OISD Empowers Teachers with Digital Literacy and AI Skills to Revolutionize Education in Nigeria

The Organization for Innovation and Sustainable Development (OISD) has taken a significant step toward transforming education in Nigeria by organizing a one-day special training on digital literacy for secondary school teachers in Abuja.
The event, held at the OISD Training Centre in Abuja, was designed to equip educators with essential digital skills and increase awareness of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance their teaching impact.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Jamilu Yusuf Dan-Ummah, the Executive Director of OISD, introduced the theme of the program: “Empowering Educators: Advancing Digital Literacy and AI Awareness for Secondary School Impact.” He emphasized the critical role teachers play in shaping the future of education and the need to adapt to the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Mr. Dan-Ummah highlighted that the objective of the training was to bridge the digital gap in classrooms by empowering teachers with the knowledge and tools to integrate digital literacy and AI-driven solutions into their teaching methods.
According to him, educators must stay ahead of technological advancements to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
“This training is a response to the growing demand for educators who can leverage digital tools and AI to deliver effective learning experiences. Our goal is to ensure that teachers are not just aware of these technologies but are also capable of applying them to improve student outcomes,” Mr. Dan-Ummah stated.
The program brought together secondary school teachers from various schools across Abuja, providing them with hands-on training on essential digital tools, interactive learning platforms, and AI concepts.
Facilitators at the event shared insights on how to use technology to make lessons more engaging, foster critical thinking, and prepare students for a technology-driven world.
The event concluded with participants expressing their appreciation for the training and the actionable insights they gained. Some of the teachers highlighted the importance of continuous capacity-building programs to keep up with emerging educational trends.
Education
Army chief charges junior officers to be enterprising and resourceful

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, has charged students of the Junior Course 98 of the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji, to be enterprising, diligent and resourceful.
Oluyede gave the charge while addressing the students at their regimental dinner night on Wednesday in Jaji, Kaduna State.
According to him, possessing the attributes will enable them build successfully on their career and personal lives.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the dinner night is one of the major events lined up for the graduation of the students on Friday.
Oluyede said the objective of the college was to develop the professional knowledge and understanding of selected officers to prepare them for staff and command appointments.
He said the officers in the last 23 weeks had learnt some vital concepts like counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency operations, estimate process and manoeuvring approach to warfare and peace support operations.
“It is also gratifying that you learnt the rudiments of time management, perseverance, determination, team spirit, staff work, and self-confidence and most importantly, discipline while on this course.
“Your leadership, dedication and ability to inspire and guide your teams are essential to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and excellence.
”As junior leaders, you must be able to inspire confidence in subordinates and not lead through intimidation or be overtly coercive.
“Your impact significantly contributes to the overall plan and objectives at the operational and strategic levels, “he said.
The army chief congratulated the students on the successful completion of their course
NAN reports that prizes were given to students who distinguished themselves
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