Author: Grace Nwosu

Sharks are frequently dreaded and misconstrued, yet they hold an essential function in upholding robust marine ecosystems. Globally, and especially in West Africa, shark populations are swiftly diminishing due to excessive fishing, habitat deterioration, pollution, and inadequate management systems. In Nigeria, the situation is even more daunting. While sharks are captured daily in small-scale fisheries, limited scientific data is available regarding their population status, distribution, and ecological contributions. This scarcity of information has hampered efficient conservation strategies and sustainable fisheries management. To fill this void, a recent conservation initiative funded by the Save Our Seas Foundation (SOSF) is enhancing shark conservation through a novel approach that m...

The administration of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (FUHSA), Bauchi State, has cautioned newly enrolled students against cult activities and other societal ills, emphasizing that such behaviors will be unacceptable under any circumstances. This comes as the university welcomed a total of 1,448 fresh students into its diverse academic programs for the 2025/2026 academic year. The matriculation event, conducted on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at the temporary campus of the university in Azare, the administrative center of Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi State, was overseen by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bala M. Audu. In his speech, Prof. Audu revealed that 1,076 students were admitted into 20 departments within the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, 109 students i...

The Senate of the University of Abuja has sanctioned the dismissal of 28 students due to various disciplinary violations. The institution revealed this in an announcement by Dr. Habib Yakoob, the acting Director of Information and University Relations, issued to journalists on Sunday in Abuja. Yakoob indicated that the choice to expel the students was made during the routine assembly of the Senate, after reviewing the report and suggestions from the Students’ Disciplinary Committee, SDC. He clarified that the infractions for which the involved students were found guilty encompass threats to life and assault, examination irregularities, conspiracy, burglary, theft, cult-related activities, along with possession and usage of narcotics. He identified additional offences as falsifying ‘O’ Le...

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has refuted assertions that it has elevated its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and Direct Entry registration charges. JAMB provided this clarification in a statement from its representative, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, on Friday. As per JAMB, its registration charges remain constant at N7,200 (excluding mock examinations), N8,700 (including mock exams), and N5,700 for DE, respectively. The Board emphasized that allegations of an increase in registration fees are incorrect, deceptive, and completely unfounded. “These charges have stayed the same since 2019. It is essential to remember that in 2018, the Federal Executive Council sanctioned a decrease in the UTME application fee from N5,000 to N3,500, effective from the 2019 registration pr...

The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, over the weekend cautioned the 11,500 new students of Ebonyi State University to avoid cultism, examination dishonesty, and other societal ills. The 28th matriculation celebration of the university attracted a large crowd and is recognized as the highest enrollment since the establishment of the state in 1996. Governor Nwifuru, who spoke to the stakeholders and students, reaffirmed his administration’s unwavering dedication to high-quality education in the state. The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Education, Dr. Donatus Ilang, praised the University Administration for reinstating the institution’s outstanding status. He encouraged the newly admitted students to concentrate on their educational endeavors, stating that it is the...

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Ishaq Oloyede, has stated that the board is not accountable for the lack of mobilization of Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). Mr. Oloyede provided this clarification during a meeting with the leadership of the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) in Abuja. He clarified that JAMB solely administers entrance assessments and oversees admissions into tertiary institutions via its Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS), stressing that the board does not manage admissions for HND programs. He noted, “polytechnics are tasked with admitting students into HND programs,” adding that the challenges affecting the mobilization of certain graduates are often asso...