Education
US to increase visa issuance to Nigerian students from November 24
The United States says it will be expanding operations to increase visa issuance for Nigerian students.
In a statement on Friday, the US mission announced a visa surge for Nigerian students to commence on November 24.
It said a special procedure has been put in place for those who need to renew student visas to continue their course of study.
It also said that a series of dedicated interview days have been set aside for prospective new students.
The US mission said students may be eligible for a priority student visa interview slot if they are prospective students seeking an F1 visa appointment and have not been refused an F1 visa in the past six months.
Abuja surge days, it said, will be on December 8, December 15, and January 12 on a first-come, first-served basis.
In turn, Lagos students’ visa surge days were set for November 24, December 8, and December 15.
For those already studying in the US, the mission said they may be eligible for a special application procedure.
“To qualify for this procedure, you must be renewing a student visa that is still valid or has expired within the past 24 months and are renewing your visa either to: (a) continue participation in the same major course of study even if at a different institution; or (b) attend the same institution even if in a different major course of study,” it added.
You can visit the US embassy’s website for more information.
Education
Christ Mitots School suspends teacher who assaulted toddler over numeracy test
Christ Mitots School in Ikorodu Lagos has suspended the teacher filmed assaulting a toddler in a numeracy class.
Earlier, a video surfaced on social media showing a primary school teacher violently smacking a toddler for failing in a numeracy lesson.
The female teacher, who tutors at Christ Mitots School in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos, was subsequently arrested after public outrage.
In a statement responding to the matter, the school authority expressed its concerns over the viral footage.
The management described the teacher’s action as “unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school”.
It said the teacher has been suspended indefinitely until an investigation is finalised.
“We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media,” the school’s statement reads in part.
“The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.
“As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care, and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.
“In response, the teacher involved has been suspended indefinitely while a thorough investigation is conducted.
“This immediate and decisive action reflects our zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct and our obligation to safeguard the safety and well-being of every child under our care.
“We extend our sincerest apologies to the student and their family. We have reached out to them personally to express our regret, after cur support, and ensure that their needs are fully addressed during this time.
“In light of this incident, we are taking firm steps to ensure that such behaviour is never repeated. As such, we will be organizing mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasize positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.
“Additionally, we have introduced a confidential whistle-blowing system to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.
“We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work to address this matter responsibly and comprehensively.”
Education
TASUED alumni award scholarships to six undergraduates
Tai Solarin University of Education Alumni Association has presented scholarships to six best 200-level students picked from the six colleges of the university.
The alumni equally warned the newly matriculated students of the university to prioritise excellent academic pursuit and shun all forms of distraction and negative tendencies, including cultism, examination malpractices, and drug abuse, among other vices that could make a shipwreck of the glorious future ahead of them.
The National President of TASUED Alumni, Bolaji Oladeji, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Thursday.
Oladeji said that the alumni actually initiated the scholarships, which cover the tuition fee of the beneficiaries to reward hard work and instil a reading culture and pursuit of academic excellence into the life of the undergraduates
The Alumni President presented the scholarships to the undergraduates during the matriculation of the newly admitted students held on Wednesday.
However, the president urged the freshmen students to shun vices like cultism, examination malpractices, and drug abuse and instead make excellent academic pursuits their watchword.
The statement partly read, “The Alumni Association of Tai Solarin University of Education has awarded scholarships to six undergraduate students across the university’s six colleges.
“The scholarship, which covers full tuition for each of the best 200-level students in each college, was presented by the National President of the association, Mr Oladeji Bolaji Julius, at the matriculation ceremony of the university held on January 8, 2025, at the University Auditorium.
“While presenting the award, the president noted that the scholarship scheme is an established legacy and initiative of the alumni, to stimulate reading culture and serve as a reward model for academic excellence among undergraduate students.
“The President used the occasion to congratulate the newly matriculated students.
“He advised the newly admitted students to shun cultism, substance abuse, examination malpractices, and other illicit behaviours that are capable of bringing their family names and that of the university into disrepute.”
Education
COEASU threatens strike as management crisis unsettles Imo college
Academic staff at the Benjamin Uwajumogu State College of Education in Imo have threatened to embark on a strike.
NAN reports that the staffers called on Hope Uzodimma, the state governor, to intervene in a management crisis plaguing the institution.
The crisis, it is understood, borders on the acting provost Maryrose Nwachukwu, resource usage, and contract award procedures.
The Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) at the institution accused Nwachukwu of abusing her powers and awarding contracts without due process.
It stated that the provost had been acting for 30 months but paid imprest for only five months to directors, deans, and department heads.
Imprests are funds used in an organisation for small expenditures and are usually restored to a fixed amount periodically.
The union claimed that directors, deans, and department heads have been using their funds to prepare accreditation documents and logistics since March 2024.
It alleged that the provost procured items single-handedly and awarded TETFund contracts without academic deans and HOD involvement or due process.
It accused Nwachukwu of solely accessing TETFund for microteaching laboratory equipment without the knowledge of the HOD of the office.
COEASU argued that TETFund projects executed under her watch were poorly executed and did not follow the college’s development plan.
“She awards TETFund contracts in the college without following the Procurement Act 2007 guidelines and has awarded over N1.5 billion contract without tenders board, which comprises academic deans and HODs,” the union said.
The COEASU chairman Wilson Amandi and its secretary in the college Benedict Amuchie asked the state government to intervene.
Both executives said the union is forced to consider embarking on a strike in two weeks, should the matter remain unresolved.
The union expressed concern that the claims of insecurity cited for the non-provision of the essentials were not investigated.
It accused the provost of terminating the acting bursar’s appointment without reason, forcing him to hand over to a new appointee.
COEASU said it wrote letters seeking state intervention through the chief of staff Ferdinard Uzodimma and alleged that Nwachukwu ignored invitations to meet the governor’s aide.
Reacting, the provost described COEASU’s allegations as “baseless”, insisting that her actions were based on state directives.
On the sacked bursar, Nwachukwu said the college did not have a governing council and that the commissioner of education oversees the affairs of the institution.
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