Education
Jubilation As Enugu East LG Boss Pays SSCE Fee For Over 2,000 Students Within Council Area
There was jubilation on Thursday in Enugu East local government area following a declaration by the council boss, Hon. Pastor Beloved-Dan Anike, to pay the senior school certificate examination bills comprising of the West African School Certificate Examination, (WAEC), the National Examination Council, (NECO) and National Board for Technical Education (NABTEB) examinations for the senior secondary school three, (SS3) students across all public schools within the council area.
The mayor disclosed this at the council headquarters, Nkwo Nike, during a special meeting with the principals of the entire public secondary schools within his domain, stressing that his administration is also planning on making similar payments for Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) exam fees for the students when they are due for that, adding that arrangements are also being made to pay extra lessons fees for these SS3 students in order to ensure that they are well prepared for the exams ahead.
Speaking to the press after meeting with the principals, the council chairman, Hon. Beloved-Dan stated that the exercise was part of his administration’s human capital development plan and equal access to quality education, which are in tandem with the vision of the Enugu State governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, aimed at raising a smart generation for global competitiveness.In his words: “We know education is pivotal to taking people out of poverty and stopping hunger, if you are educated you will be prepared to have requisite skills and to make the right decisions to better your life.
“I’m not saying that certification is enough to get empowered, but beyond the certification it will enable you to acquire the right skill and turn your skill to business and business to money. So we have the vision of preparing our future leaders to become globally competitive, that’s why we are looking at human capital.
“You are aware that we just finished our ‘Better Tomorrow Scholarship Scheme’, through which we have selected 50 hyper intelligent students to be moved to highly rated schools where they will be able to gain the right exposure and the right environment to be able to become globally competitive.
“This is in line with the vision of His Excellency the governor of Enugu Enugu State, which places education at the top burner, bringing smart school to every ward of the state. In order to also close the gap, we know as the most populous local council area in the state, we are looking at improving the human capital index of our youth, such that they become globally competitive and also contribute to the economy of the state as we scale up in the trajectory $30billion dollar mark.
Responding to questions on the categories of students to benefit from this intervention, the mayor explained that the exercise is targeting all residents of the local government, both indigenous and non-indigenous SS3 students in public schools, stressing that the intention is to ease the troubling load off the shoulders of the rural, the urban and the semi-urban poor, noting that the focus is on the social impacts.
Beloved-Dan also commended the governor of the state, Dr Peter Mbah, whom he said has already made the job easier for them, (the local government chairmen), through his huge investments in education across the 260 wards of the state, adding that the smart green schools being built in every community by the governor will bridge the inequality of access to quality education and not only boost confidence in public schools but would most likely crash the quest for quality education from the private schools.
“The smart green schools in the 260 wards that are being established by our governor, Dr Peter Mbah, is actually targeted as measure to provide the opportunity for the poor and the provide more importantly an alternative school to what we call private schools, in fact by September 2025 everyone who operates a private school or luxury school in Enugu state will check the indices that makes a luxury school, because what the smart school would provide will have high ratings more than the those private schools/luxury schools.
“So it’s actually to help not just the poor but also the middle class. A whole lot of people who take their children to private schools are overburdened by the load of school fees, ranging from 50-thousand, to 100-thousand and 200-thousand, not to talk of the luxury schools that pay about 500-thousand and above.
“So the critical mass of the population including civil servants move our children to private schools, but by the time the smart schools fully take off by September next year, everybody will go public, it will be a repeat of those days when if you don’t have 36 or 30 aggregates to be in public school, you would know what you are missing. That’s why we are coming back to support the public schools and encourage everybody.
The council boss, flanked by the secretary to the local government, who also doubles as the chairman of the implementation committee, Barr Uchenna Mbeke, also emphasized that the initiative has been captured into law and hopes to be sustained it as an annual exercise.
“The journey of many miles starts with a step. We have already made funds available for this initiative. We have passed the Human Capital Development Bye Law, that approved 25-million naira monthly for human capital development which amounts to 300-million annual estimates in that regard. So we would be spending around 50-60 million on this which should make it an annual event, hoping that even subsequent chairmen after me would sustain”, he said.
Responding, some of the school principals who were full of joy commended the chairman, Hon. Beloved-Dan, for bringing succour to the less privileged.
.Dr Agada Gregory, the principal of community secondary school, Ugwogo Nike said, “If you look at our faces you will see that we are so happy about this project which our dear mayor has introduced. It’s going to go a long way to bridging the gap between the rich and the poor, whereby those who have money go to the private schools.
“This path the mayor is taking, I bet you in the next two years, nobody will be thinking of sending their children to the private schools. This initiative will put an end to the issue of dropout due to lack of funds. We enjoin other local government chairmen to emulate this kind of gesture.
On her part, Mrs Agbo, from Annunciation secondary school, Nkwo Nike, also expressed her joy and prayed for the chairman, “We are grateful for having this opportunity to interact with our precious Beloved-Dan, he is a good leader.
“We really appreciate what is happening today because poverty is a disease. That many of our children don’t go to school is not because they don’t want to, but because they don’t have the money, now that we have been given this opportunity, only the sky is our limit and God will strengthen our able chairman to do even more and I believe everyone will benefit, even the farmers in the villages may now want to enroll in schools. Our dear mayor, we love you, everyone loves you, ride on, May God strengthen you sir.
A hostel building has reportedly collapsed at the Federal Polytechnic, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, with an unknown number of students feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The multi-storey building reportedly caved in on Sunday night, July 27, 2026, while students were inside.
Eyewitnesses said residents and students in the area heard a loud rumbling sound shortly before the structure suddenly collapsed, sparking panic.
A large crowd reportedly gathered at the scene as residents and students rushed to assist in the rescue efforts before emergency responders arrived.
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities work to determine the number of people trapped and evacuate those affected.
By Okey Maduforo, Awka
Paul University, Awka, has suspended a member of its academic support staff, Ven. Cornelius C. Eze, an Anglican priest, over allegations of sexual misconduct involving a student.
The development also appears to vindicate the management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, which had earlier denied claims circulating on social media that the individuals involved were members of its staff and student body.
In a statement issued by its Public Relations Department, UNIZIK had clarified that neither the alleged staff member nor the student was affiliated with the institution.
Meanwhile, Paul University has launched an internal investigation into the allegations while relevant law enforcement agencies have also commenced their inquiries.
Ven. Eze, who serves as a Practical Biology Technologist in the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences, was placed on indefinite suspension pending the outcome of the university’s disciplinary process and the police investigation.
The suspension was announced in a statement dated July 17, 2026, signed by the university’s Public Relations Officer, Rev. Godisplan Onukwufor.
According to the statement, the allegations were brought to the attention of the university management on Tuesday, July 14, 2026. Management said it immediately invited security agencies to intervene in order to prevent a breakdown of law and order following tensions among students.
The university stressed that the suspension is an administrative measure taken without prejudice to the outcome of the investigations.
A video circulating on social media, whose authenticity has not been independently verified, allegedly shows the suspended staff member dressed only in boxer shorts and apparently fleeing from his office amid a commotion. The footage has been widely shared alongside claims that he was caught in a compromising situation by angry students and members of the university community.
However, the university did not comment on the authenticity of the video or the specific circumstances surrounding the incident.
Reaffirming its commitment to ethical standards, the faith-based institution said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy on sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, abuse of office, immoral behaviour, and any conduct capable of endangering the safety, dignity, or welfare of students and staff.
The university stated that anyone found culpable after due process would face appropriate disciplinary measures in line with its regulations and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Management also disclosed that counselling and psychological support would be provided for the affected student(s) and other members of the university community.
It urged the public to avoid speculation and the spread of misinformation while investigations are ongoing, assuring parents, guardians, students, and staff of its commitment to maintaining a safe, secure, and morally sound learning environment.
The university added that further updates would be provided as investigations progress.
The presidential candidate of the NDC for the 2027 election, Mr. Peter Obi, has described the Federal Government’s suspension of the proposed increase in examination registration fees as a welcome relief and a victory for the Nigerian people.
The Federal Government on Monday suspended the proposed review of registration fees for the 2027 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE).
In a statement, the Federal Ministry of Education said the fee adjustment proposal contained in its June 18, 2026 letter had been withdrawn pending broader consultations with stakeholders.
The Ministry explained that the proposed increase was necessitated by the rising cost of conducting credible national examinations. However, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking.
According to the Ministry, consultations will be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors, parents, organised labour and other stakeholders before any decision is taken. It also assured Nigerians that the proposed fee review would not take effect until the consultations are concluded, while reaffirming its commitment to protecting students’ welfare.
Reacting to the development, Obi commended the government for listening to the widespread public outcry but maintained that the proposed fee hike should never have been introduced.
“While I commend the authorities for listening to the widespread public outcry and suspending the policy, it must be said that the fee was an unnecessary burden that should never have been introduced at this time of great hardship, when we should be doing everything possible to invest in basic education and reduce the millions of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.
Obi argued that at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet, access to education should be expanded rather than restricted.
“Education is a fundamental right and a public good, not a source of government revenue,” he said.
He added that imposing multiple fees at the basic education level risks denying many children their right to education.
“At that stage, the State has a duty to invest in educating and preparing its citizens for productive lives, not to erect financial barriers that keep them out of school,” Obi stated.
He further noted that true leadership is demonstrated not only by making decisions but also by having the humility to reverse policies that impose unnecessary hardship on the people, adding that many other anti-people policies deserve similar reconsideration.
Obi thanked citizens, parents and advocacy groups whose collective voices contributed to the suspension of the proposed fee increase, concluding with his familiar message: “A New Nigeria is Possible.”
In a Monday statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the ministry said the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated June 18, 2026, had been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review before any final decision is taken.
The ministry, in the release signed by the Director, Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, said the suspension followed concerns and feedback from members of the public.
“The Federal Ministry of Education announced that the letter conveying the proposed fee adjustment, dated 18 June 2026, has been withdrawn to allow for a comprehensive review and broader consultations with all relevant stakeholders before a final decision is taken,” the statement said.
According to the ministry, the proposed fee review was driven by rising costs associated with conducting national examinations, noting that registration fees have remained largely unchanged for several years despite increasing operational expenses.
It cited higher costs of logistics, security, printing of examination materials, technology deployment, quality assurance and other services required to maintain the credibility of public examinations.
The statement said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, directed that the proposal be put on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and evidence-based policymaking.
“The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, has directed that the proposal be placed on hold in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive, transparent and evidence-based policymaking,” it said.
It added that consultations would be held with examination bodies, state ministries of education, school proprietors and administrators, parents’ associations, organised labour, education stakeholders and other critical partners before any decision is reached.
Accordingly, the ministry said the proposed review of examination registration fees would not take effect as earlier communicated until the consultation process is concluded.
The Federal Ministry of Education reiterated that students’ welfare, equitable access to quality education and responsible policymaking remain central to the Federal Government’s education agenda and pledged to keep the public informed throughout the consultation process.
FG said it approved N50,000 as the new examination fee for WAEC and NECO for secondary school candidates from 2027.
The initial registration fee was N27,500, which means the new increment comes with an 82 per cent hike.
In a statement on June 18, 2026, issued by the Director of Senior Secondary Education of the Ministry of Education, Adeniji Ibrahim, the approval followed a request by WAEC for an upward review of the fee for the Senior School Certificate Examination for candidates from 2027.
Meanwhile, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the National Association of Nigerian Students had earlier kicked against the Federal Government’s approval of a uniform N50,000 fee for candidates.
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