Tanko Ishaya, the vice chancellor of University of Jos (UNIJOS), has expressed concern over the institution’s inadequate infrastructure, particularly the shortage of hostel accommodations for students.

Ishaya spoke during a courtesy visit from the varsity’s faculty of law 1988 alumni on Saturday.

The VC revealed that out of the 45,000 students, only seven percent have access to on-campus housing.

Ishaya said the university management is exploring public-private partnerships to address the challenge and increase hostel capacity.

”As we speak only seven per cent of our students live within the campus against the global standard of 40 percent,” he said.

”This is due to shortage of hostel accommodation; so over 90 per cent of students live off campus.

”We are making efforts to address this concern through public-private partnership.”

Ishaya also lamented the high cost of electricity on campus, which he said has “risen to over N80 million per month”.

However, he assured that efforts are underway to develop a solar farm, providing a sustainable power solution for the institution and its host community.

On his part, Caleb Mutfwang, governor of Plateau who is an alumnus of UNIJOS, pledged his continued support for the institution.

Represented by Rauta Dakok, former head of service, Mutfwang also commended the school management for maintaining academic standards.

Earlier, Emeka Etieba, the senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and leader of the 1988 faculty of law class, revealed that their visit aimed to identify challenges facing the university and explore potential interventions.

Tahir Mamman says the ministry of education plans to develop guidelines that will enable exceptionally brilliant students to gain admission into tertiary institutions before the age of 18.
NAN reports that the minister spoke at the ministerial session of the 68th National Council on Education (NCE) meeting in Abuja.

The 68th meeting is themed “Innovation, Digital Technology, and Entrepreneurship: Tools for Education and National Development”.

In July, the education ministry introduced a policy adopting 18 as the minimum age for tertiary institution admissions.

It said the policy, which is to take effect in 2025, will ensure candidates are mature enough to deal with the rigours of tertiary education.

It further said candidates who do not spend the required years in primary and secondary school would not be allowed to write the SSCE.

The age policy has been critiqued, with stakeholders concerned that exceptional students could be unduly shut out of tertiary education.

At the NCE meeting, Mamman said there is a need for clarity on the minimum age policy which has dominated the media discourse.
He said the ministry is working to establish guidelines that would guarantee admission for exceptional students who may be under 18.

“The ministry is simply emphasising the age requirement for entry into tertiary institutions as outlined in the National Policy on Education, the UBEC Act, and the Education (Minimum) Standards Act 1993,” Mamman added.

“It is not about the age for participating in WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, or any ordinary level examinations.”

Nigeria operates the 6–3–3–4 system where a child enrols in school at age six for six years each of primary and secondary education.

At the end of secondary school, a Nigerian is expected to be aged 18 but many students often graduate at 16 or less due to skipped grades.

A High Court of Justice, Ota Judicial Division, sitting in Ilaro, Ogun State, in Charge No. HCT/78c/2021—The State vs. Stephen Ukenna—on 5th June 2024, struck out a three-count charge of sexual intercourse, sexual exploitation, and rape against Dr. Stephen Ukenna, a former lecturer in the Department of Business Administration at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State.

Ukenna was alleged to have committed the act against a 17-year-old female student of the Department of Human Resources of the same university on or about the 11th day of March 2021.

The defendant was subsequently charged to court and the case pended for more than three years without the prosecution producing their witnesses to prove the alleged offences.

During these period, the case came up first before Honourable Justice N. O. Durojaiye (later transferred to another Judicial division) and later Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo.

Premised on this, on 5th June, 2024 the prosecutor, O. A. Osunsami, State Counsel, informed the court that she has been directed by the Director Public Prosecution to withdraw the charges against the defendant as all efforts to get their witnesses have proved unsuccessful.

The High Court, presided by Honourable Justice A. A. Shobayo, struck out the case and the defendant discharged.