Dikko Radd, the governor of Katsina state, has approved more than N1.3 billion for the payment of final examination fees for indigent students in public secondary schools in the state.

Mukhtar Abdulmumini, the chief executive at the planning and research department of the state’s ministry of basic and secondary education, announced this in Katsina.

NAN reports that Abdulmumini spoke during the fourth quarter meeting of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for social protection in the state.

The meeting was supported by UNICEF in collaboration with the state’s ministry of budget and economic planning.

Abdulmumini said, within the period, N370.9 million was spent on 20,269 students who sat for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

He added that N992.9 million was approved for 48,385 students who sat for the National Examination Council (NECO).

“Also, the sum of N27.9 million was paid for 1,878 who sat for the National Board for Arabic and Islamic (NBAIS) examination,” the chief executive said.

Abdulmumini said N4.5 million was paid for those students who sat for the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB) exams.

The amount spent for the payment of final examinations for the state’s indigenes in this quarter alone, he added, is more than N1.3 billion.

Abdulmumini said payment of the examination fees was an effort to encourage the indigenous students who sat for their various final examinations including WAEC, NECO, NBAIS, and NABTEB.

He further revealed that, in an effort to reduce the rate of unemployment and boost education in the state, the government had recruited 7,325 new teachers for both primary and secondary schools.

“Within the period, no fewer than 350 evaluators received training on Essential Quality Assurance Skills for teachers. The government has also procured chemistry materials for 30 schools at N26 million,” he said.

“Katsina state, in collaboration with UNICEF and in their effort on climate change, granted N150,000 to 25 schools in five LGAs each.

“The grant will be used for the prevention of desert encroachment and erosion through planting trees in their schools and to take other measures.

“The disbursement of the grant is the first phase, the second phase will be disbursed very soon and is N100,000. The benefiting LGAs include Bindawa, Funtua, Bakori, Kaita and Jibia.”

A total number of 12,700 students of Tai Solarin University of Education graduated at its combined 13th, 14th, and 15th convocations held on Tuesday at the OGD Hall of the University, out of which 113 bagged First Class.

329 of the graduates are from its Postgraduate College.

The graduation covered three academic sessions, 2020/2021, 2021/2022, and 2022/2023.

Sunday Oluyemi Gbodogbe of the Mathematics department with a 4.89 CGPA emerged overall best-graduating student for 2020/2021, Elibe Ogadima Patricia with a CGPA of 4.89 from the Biology department picked up the prize for 2021/2022 while Sanyaolu Mercy Deborah, a graduate of Mathematics with CGPA 4.86.emerged the overall best for 2022/2023 session.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, while rejoicing with the students as they begin another phase of life after their graduation urged them not to take failure as final.

Abiodun said that in the face of the global economic challenges ravaging the world, graduates should brace up to shine, be determined to succeed, and persevere to make their marks in life.

Promising that his government will never relent in implementing programmes and policies that will further boost the development of education in the state, Gov Abiodun went ahead to announce a reward of N2m cash to all the best-graduating students for each of the academic sessions while their postgraduate counterparts are to receive N500,000 each.

The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof Oluwole Banjo has however attributed the combined convocations to the disruption occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the protracted strike of the Academic Staff Union of Universities.

While congratulating the graduates for standing firm to finish their academic pursuits despite the rigours, Prof Banjo urged the graduates to go out there and be agents of positive change and transformation.

He said that the graduands must always bring to bear the value of critical thinking, intellectual curiosity and the pursuit of knowledge as instilled in them by the university to make a difference in the world

The VC said, “As you graduate into the world, you’ll find yourselves at various times at crossroads, on the precipice of a world filled with opportunities, In a world that is constantly changing and evolving, the knowledge you’ve acquired is invaluable.

“You are equipped to not only adapt to changes but to be agents of positive change. As you step out into the world, remember that success is not just about personal achievements but also about the impact you make on others and the world around you.

“I encourage you to embrace the challenges that lie ahead. It is through adversity that we discover our true potential and resilience. When you encounter obstacles, remember that they are opportunities in disguise. Be persistent, be determined, and never lose sight of your dreams”.

The Chairman of the Governing Council of the University, Prof Rahaman Bello, has however urged Governor Abiodun to increase the funding for the school given the escalating cost of living and the growing inflation.

Prof Bello equally urged the governor to help in providing the school with a state-of-the-art sporting facility and other infrastructure that will further help the University achieve its core functions of teaching, research and Community Service

The highlight of the combined convocations was the honouring of the former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Dr Tunde Lemo, with a Doctorate Degree in Economics for his invaluable contributions to the socio-economic development of the nation.

The University of Ilorin has said its male members of staff will now enjoy paternity leave.

This was made known by the university’s Registrar, Mr Mansur Alfanla, on Monday, while addressing newsmen.

He noted that the development followed the just amended Conditions of Service of the varsity as part of the ways to improve the varsity’s working conditions.

According to him, the leave lasts for 14 working days for male officers whose partner delivers a baby.

”Paternity leave is for serving male officers whose spouse delivers a baby. The period of the leave shall be 14 working days.

“Where the family of a male officer adopts a child under four months old, the officer will similarly enjoy paternity leave for a period of 14 working days,” Alfanla said.