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The federal government has approved provisional licenses for eleven (11) new private universities across the country, further expanding Nigeria’s higher education sector.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, announced the approvals after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa on Monday.
The newly approved institutions include New City University, Ayetoro, Ogun State; University of Fortune, Igbotako, Ondo State; Eranova University, Mabushi, FCT and Minaret University, Ikirun, Osun State.
Others are Abubakar Toyin University, Oke-Agba, Kwara State; Southern Atlantic University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; Lens University, Ilemona, Kwara State, and Monarch University, Iyesi-Ota, Ogun State.
Others are Tonnie Iredia University of Communication, Benin City, Edo State; Isaac Balami University of Aeronautics and Management, Lagos State and Kevin Eze University, Mgbowo, Enugu State.
A Lagos court has granted Jude Okoye, former manager of the defunct music group P-Square, bail set at ₦100 million ahead of his trial for alleged fraud.
Okoye was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on charges of laundering ₦1.38 billion, $1 million, and £34,537.59.
Presiding Judge, Justice Owoeye ruled that Okoye must provide two sureties, each owning landed property in Lagos worth ₦100 million.
The court will verify the property documents, and Okoye is barred from traveling abroad without approval.
Until he meets the bail conditions, Okoye will remain in custody. His trial is set to begin on April 14, 2025.
As the cryptocurrency market fell to its lowest level since the days after his father’s November election victory, Eric Trump urged investors not to lose faith. “Buy the dips!!!” he tweeted last week.
The phrase is a common one in the volatile world of cryptocurrency, where shared momentum and optimism drive the markets. But a few days later, observers might wonder whether there was more behind the message.
On Sunday, Donald Trump announced that his administration was pressing ahead with plans to set up a US crypto reserve, identifying three digital coins – XRP, Solana and Cardano – that would be included in the fund.
The values of the three lesser-known tokens, popular in crypto circles but obscure to much of the general public, instantly surged by up to 20pc.
Trump later added that Bitcoin and Ethereum, the two biggest cryptocurrencies would “obviously” be included, adding: “I also love Bitcoin and Ethereum!” The two digital coins subsequently enjoyed their own price spike.
In the space of an hour, roughly $250bn (£196.7bn) was added to the value of the cryptocurrency market. There is no evidence that Eric Trump’s advice was informed, but it was certainly profitable.
In Trump’s first term, he saw the stock market as a proxy approval rating. In his second, he may prefer the price of Bitcoin.
While Wall Street has been relatively languid since his second election win, cryptocurrencies have traded at all-time highs.
Trump cheered as Bitcoin hit $100,000 for the first time in December, posting on Truth Social: “Congratulations Bitcoiners … You’re welcome!!!”
The Bitcoin price – a single, simple metric – may also appeal to the president as the wider US economy appears to struggle. On Friday, an economic tracker from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta suggested that the economy could shrink at an annualised rate of 1.5pc in the first quarter of the year. Inflation fears have also returned, in part owing to Trump’s tariffs.
The momentum-fuelled crypto market has proven an easier beast to tame.
After a crackdown by the Biden administration, which fretted about the lack of protections around digital assets, Trump has been able to boost prices with a series of crypto-friendly appointments at key government agencies and promises to make America the world’s “crypto capital”.
Once a sceptic who criticised cryptocurrency as a scam, Trump himself has demonstrated little personal passion for the industry. Policies such as freeing Ross Ulbricht, the founder of online drug market The Silk Road, have appeared designed to win the community’s support rather than demonstrate a coherent vision of what cryptocurrency means in Trump’s America.
But they have endeared the president to a new legion of supporters who felt that their industry was under threat. The crypto industry, despite being set up on libertarian principles, spent $133m to help elect Trump and dozens of other supportive candidates in last year’s election, becoming a devastatingly effective new power in Washington DC.
Among Trump’s big supporters were Marc Andreessen, the Silicon Valley venture capitalist whose firm has become one of the crypto industry’s heaviest backers; Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, the twin brothers who became billionaires through Bitcoin; and Brian Armstrong, the boss of crypto exchange Coinbase.
Most prominent has been David Sacks, the former PayPal executive and close ally of Elon Musk, who was a relatively early Trump backer in Silicon Valley and has since been appointed the president’s “crypto tsar”. He will be charged with developing plans for Trump’s crypto reserve, which is likely to be outlined in more detail at a “summit” on Friday.
Trump’s announcement led to a backlash on concerns that taxpayer money would be used to prop up an asset disproportionately held by a rich clique.
“Torn as to whether this is more dumb or more corrupt,” wrote Jason Furman, a key economic adviser to Barack Obama.
Joe Lonsdale, the founder of tech firm Palantir and a major Trump supporter, wrote: “It’s wrong to steal my money for grift on the Left; it’s also wrong to tax me for crypto bro schemes.”
Trump’s specific shopping list of cryptocurrencies also raised eyebrows.
XRP, Ripple and Solana, whose combined value is roughly one seventh of Bitcoin’s, are relatively niche even among those who have parked money in Bitcoin. One meme spreading among Bitcoin fans on Sunday called the plan a “s---coin reserve”.
Others pointed out that the list closely mirrored a cryptocurrency fund that Sacks had invested in – despite Trump’s crypto tsar having denied any conflict of interest on Monday, saying he had sold all of his cryptocurrency holdings before Trump took office.
The sense of injustice rose when it emerged that an anonymous “whale” had made a highly leveraged bet on Bitcoin and Ethereum on Sunday on the trading service Hyperliquid, closing the position after the cryptocurrencies’ price rise and making a $7m profit.
The move led to frenzied social media speculation about the trader’s identity and whether they might have an inside line to the White House.
Regardless, the Trump family itself stands to benefit from soaring crypto prices. Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr have positions at crypto company World Liberty Financial, and the technology company behind Trump’s Truth Social has said it will put up to $250m into assets – including cryptocurrencies.
So far, the design of Trump’s crypto reserve is unclear. Some have speculated that it could merely be funded by cryptocurrencies seized from criminals by law enforcement, a stockpile estimated to be worth almost $20bn. Meanwhile, US senator Cynthia Lummis has suggested a 1m Bitcoin reserve, which would cost $93bn at today’s prices.
“Government waste and expenditures are under the microscope right now, especially with the emergence of DOGE, so I strongly doubt a majority of Americans will take kindly to the government using taxpayer dollars to accumulate Bitcoin or other crypto assets (especially more obscure coins like Cardano or XRP),” says Nic Carter, of cryptocurrency investment firm Castle Island Ventures.
“Bitcoin (and crypto) holders are still a small minority of Americans. Trump’s close associates have a lot of interests in cryptocurrency, so to the broader public, and especially his critics, these moves will seem self-interested, even if they are made with sincere intentions.
“I think Bitcoiners underestimate the political backlash that they will face if the general public views the policy as a government bailout for a small set of (already affluent) Americans, at the expense of the US taxpayer.”
Sacks pushed back on the idea that any fund would be financed by new taxes, saying more details would come. But as American citizens fret about the price of eggs, any suggestion that Trump is bailing out his crypto-owning backers is unlikely to be popular.
[The Telegraph]
Just three days ago, Bitcoin was in a sharp decline, falling below $80,000. However, in a dramatic reversal, the leading cryptocurrency has surged by over $14,000, or 20%, fueled by Donald Trump. Over the weekend, the president revealed plans to establish a crypto reserve — to include Bitcoin, Ether, Solana, XRP, and Cardano — injecting new momentum into the sluggish market.
Here’s a look at what the week holds for these cryptocurrencies:
Bitcoin
Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) experienced significant outflows in February, indicating a shift in investor sentiment. Trump’s announcement has sparked mixed reactions from experts, with its potential impact remaining uncertain.
Currently, Bitcoin is trading at $92,000, a 5% daily gain but a 4% dip over the past seven days.
Ether
Ether, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market value, is following Bitcoin’s trend, including a lack of significant growth in recent months. Despite hosting hundreds of decentralized applications (dApps), the Ethereum blockchain still struggles with high fees and slow transaction speeds.
Additionally, Ether ETFs have also seen substantial outflows due to weak demand.
Currently, Ether is trading at $2,297, a 14% slide in the past seven days.
Solana
Solana is one of the fastest-growing major cryptocurrencies. It competes with Ethereum in terms of speed and has emerged as a strong platform for hosting hundreds of decentralized applications (dApps). Several popular memecoins were developed on the Solana blockchain.
Following the successful launch of Bitcoin and Ether ETFs, there are strong indications that Solana ETFs may be launched soon. Several asset management companies have already submitted applications.
Currently, Solana is trading at $158, representing a fall of 5% over a week.
XRP
XRP continues to be worth watching as the Securities and Exchange Commission has officially begun reviewing the proposed XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF).
XRP is the native token of the XRP Ledger, an open-source blockchain. It is used by the Ripple payment network to facilitate cross-border transactions and is designed to act as a bridge currency.
Currently, XRP is trading at about $2.60, representing a gain of 8% in a week.
Cardano
Cardano has been rising since Trump’s reelection amid unconfirmedrumors that its founder, Charles Hoskinson, may join the Trump administration. The SEC hasformally acknowledged the Cardano ETF proposed by Grayscale.
Currently, Cardano is trading around $0.96, up more than 34% over the past seven days.
[Quartz]
Cryptocurrency prices jumped after President Donald Trump's surprise announcement he wants the U.S. government to purchase and hold a variety of digital assets in a strategic reserve fund, an announcement that highlights Trump's growing attempts to use volatile cryptocurrency prices as a barometer of his public support.
Trump said on social media Sunday that his administration is working toward creating a “Crypto Strategic Reserve” that will include lesser-known cryptocurrencies XRP, solana, and cardano. He later followed up with another post saying his planned reserve would also include bitcoin and ether, the two most popular cryptocurrencies.
The announcement helped crypto prices rebound, at least temporarily, after recent sell-offs. Bitcoin was trading around $90,000 Monday morning after dipping below $80,000 last week. XRP, solana and cardano saw massive spikes in their prices after Trump's announcement Sunday followed by a more gradual decline through Monday morning.
On the campaign trail, Trump pledged support for a “strategic national bitcoin” stockpile, which would include bitcoin the U.S. government has previously seized in law enforcement actions. Sunday's announcement was the first time he advocated for the government to hold other types of cryptocurrencies.
The White House did not immediately provide additional details, including how much of each type of cryptocurrency Trump wanted the U.S. to hold, and how the government would acquire them, and whether he favored including other types of cryptocurrencies as well.
Eric Trump, the president's son, said the price increases validated the recent advice he's made on social media to stock up on crypto assets. “Hopefully, I made someone's life just a little bit better," he posted on social media.
The president has cast himself as hero to the crypto industry, which he said in his announcement had been the target of “years of corrupt attacks by the Biden administration." The crypto industry felt unfairly targeted by the Biden administration and spent heavily to help Trump win election. The first several weeks of his administration have seen several moves to boost crypto, including ending or pausing high-profile enforcement actions by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Crypto prices soared after Trump's victory last year, and when the price of bitcoin first crossed $100,000 in early December, Trump took credit and posted "YOU’RE WELCOME!!!" on social media.
But prices have fallen since Trump's inauguration and Trump has faced criticism, including from allies within the crypto industry, for helping launch a personal meme coin just before he took office that has since collapsed in value. The crash of meme coins linked to First Lady Melania Trump and Argentine President Javier Milei, along with a massive hack of a major cryptocurrency exchange that the FBI has said was done by North Korea, have also dimmed enthusiasm for crypto.
“Why is crypto in the toilet if Trump is crypto king?" Dave Portnoy, an influencer and crypto enthusiast, said on social media last week.
The inclusion of cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin is likely to face sustained pushback among some corners of the heavily divided cryptocurrency industry. Bitcoin is the oldest and by far most popular cryptocurrency, and accounts for more than half of the world's global crypto market cap.
Advocates for the government holding a crypto reserve said would help diversify government holdings and hedge against financial risks. Critics say the volatility of cryptocurrencies makes them a poor choice as a reserve asset.
In addition to his announcement Sunday, Trump has also recently announced he will speak at and host industry leaders on Friday at a White House “Crypto Summit.”
[AP]
Fulham have condemned racist abuse against Calvin Bassey following their Emirates FA Cup win against Manchester United at the Old Trafford on Sunday.
Bassey was subjected to racist and homophobic abuse on the social media after the game.
“We strongly condemn this abhorrent behaviour which has no place in football or society. Such actions are entirely unacceptable, and we stand in full support of Calvin Bassey, who will continue to receive our full backing,” the London club wrote on their official website.
“We will do everything in our power to work with the relevant authorities in identifying the perpetrators of these vile messages and taking the strongest form of action against them.
“Fulham Football Club is committed to maintaining a firm stance against all forms of discrimination and remains dedicated to fostering an environment of respect and inclusion.
Bassey scored the game’s opening goal late in the first half.
Captain Bruno Fernandes equalised for United 19 minutes from time.
The scoreline remain 1-1 after extra time with Fulham prevailing 4-3 on penalities.
[DailyPost]
When the news of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa’s return as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly broke on Monday March 3, it sent shockwaves through the political landscape.
His removal from the speakership position on January 13 attracted flurry of reactions and also sparked crisis in the Lagos Assembly.
Obasa was replaced by his former deputy, Mojisola Meranda, as the new Speaker.
He rejected his removal as unconstitutional. He filed a lawsuit against Meranda, the Assembly, and 36 lawmakers, challenging his removal.
Over the years, Obasa has cultivated a strong reputation, commanding respect and fear alike.
Obasa was born on 11 November 1972. He had his primary education at St Thomas Acquinas Primary School, Surulere, Lagos.
He then attended Archbishop Aggey Memorial Secondary school, Mushin, Ilasamaja, Lagos where he obtained the West Africa School Certificate.
He received a bachelor’s degree in law from Lagos State University, Lagos in the year 2006.
His political career took off when he became a councilor in Agege Local Government under the Alliance for Democracy in 1999. He served in this role until 2002.
Obasa secured a seat in the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003, representing Agege Constituency I. He became a member of the Assembly in 2003 and had since then enjoyed re-election and served as member of numerous committees including Committee on Lands and Housing and Physical Planning.
At different times, he served as Chairman of Committee on Rural Development, House Committee on Public Account for Local Government for six years and Chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning.
He went on to win re-elections in 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023, solidifying his position as a prominent figure in Lagos State politics.
Obasa has served as a lawmaker under four different state governors (Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola, Akinwunmi Ambode and Babajide Sanwo-Olu) and was Speaker during the tenure of the last two.
In July 2023, Obasa was presented with an honorary citizenship of the state of Georgia at the Georgia Legislative Black Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, for his “service to the state of Georgia” and Nigeria.
From his days at SDP and UNCP to now being a member of the APC, Obasa can be described as an experienced grassroots politicians.
[TheCable]
Some retail outlets belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited have adjusted the petrol pump price to N860 per litre.
PUNCH Online observed that while there is no official communication from the NNPCL Retail yet, some stations in Lagos adjusted their pumps to N860 per litre, down from N945 as of Sunday.
This comes a few days after the Dangote Refinery reduced its ex-depot petrol price from N890 to N825 per litre.
NNPC spokesperson, Olufemi Soneye, did not respond to calls or messages regarding the development.
However, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, confirmed the development to PUNCH Online.
“It is true, NNPC is selling petrol at N860 in the filling stations. Though this has not been reflected on the portal, they told me they are working on updating the portal,” the IPMAN leader said.
Also, the National President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria, Billy Gillis-Harry, said, “They reduced the pump price earlier this morning but I’m yet to get the details.”
The Dangote Refinery announced a price cut last week Wednesday, setting another price regime for the petrol market in Nigeria.
[Punch]
The world’s highest paid CEOs are not just business leaders: they are visionaries shaping industries and driving massive financial growth.
Their compensation, often tied to stock performance and company success, reflects their impact on the global economy.
Here’s a look at the highest paid CEOs and their contributions to their respective companies, per TOI World Desk data:
1. Elon Musk (Tesla) – $23.5 Billion
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, has played a transformative role in the electric vehicle (EV) industry. His compensation package, estimated at $23.5 billion, is primarily tied to stock options linked to Tesla’s market performance. Under his leadership, Tesla has maintained its dominance in the EV market, demonstrating remarkable financial growth and innovation in sustainable technology.
2. Tim Cook (Apple) – $770.5 Million
Since taking over as Apple’s CEO in 2011, Tim Cook has guided the company to unprecedented success and finds himself among the highest paid CEOs in the world. Under his leadership, Apple became the first company to reach a $2 trillion valuation. His compensation, totaling $770.5 million, includes stock grants and bonuses, reflecting his pivotal role in driving innovation across products like the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
3. Sundar Pichai (Alphabet) – $280 Million
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has been instrumental in the company’s dominance in search, advertising, and cloud computing. His estimated salary of $280 million underscores his leadership in steering Google Search, YouTube, and Google Cloud toward continued global expansion and innovation.
4. Jensen Huang (Nvidia) – $561 Million
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, has led the company to remarkable heights, particularly in AI and gaming technology. His compensation of $561 million is largely based on stock options, reflecting Nvidia’s rapid growth and its emergence as a leader in AI and graphics processing.
5. Reed Hastings (Netflix) – $453.5 Million
Reed Hastings, co-founder and CEO of Netflix, has reshaped the entertainment industry with his pioneering leadership in streaming services. His compensation of $453.5 million highlights his role in Netflix’s global expansion and its dominance in digital content distribution.
6. Leonard Schleifer (Regeneron Pharmaceuticals) – $452.9 Million
Leonard Schleifer, CEO of Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, has overseen groundbreaking advancements in biopharmaceuticals. His $452.9 million compensation, largely derived from stock options, is a testament to Regeneron’s success in developing innovative treatments for diseases such as cancer and eye disorders.
7. Marc Benioff (Salesforce) – $439.4 Million
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce, has revolutionized customer relationship management (CRM) software. His $439.4 million compensation reflects his leadership in expanding Salesforce’s reach through acquisitions and advancements in cloud computing and AI-driven business solutions.
8. Satya Nadella (Microsoft) – $309.4 Million
Under Satya Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft has evolved from a software giant to a cloud computing powerhouse. His $309.4 million compensation underscores his role in driving success through Azure, gaming, and productivity tools, significantly boosting Microsoft’s global influence.
9. Robert A. Kotick (Activision Blizzard) – $296.7 Million
Robert A. Kotick, CEO of Activision Blizzard, has overseen the company’s success in the gaming industry, with franchises such as Call of Duty and World of Warcraft. His $296.7 million compensation package, heavily based on stock options, reflects his role in the company’s expansion and market dominance.
10. Hock E. Tan (Broadcom) – $288 Million
Hock E. Tan, CEO of Broadcom, has played a strategic role in the semiconductor industry, leading the company to significant growth. His $288 million compensation underscores his impact on innovation and acquisitions that have strengthened Broadcom’s position in telecommunications, data centers, and consumer electronics.
Patrick Doyle, the ace Nigerian actor, has weighed in on the sex-for-Lamborghini controversy between Burna Boy and Sophia Egbueje, the socialite.
The controversy began after an audio recording where Sophia claimed that Burna Boy had promised to buy her a Lamborghini, but reneged on his pledge after they became intimate.
She alleged that he gave excuses for not buying the car, prompting her to block him and purchase the vehicle herself.
A few days after the audio circulated online, she shared a video of a Lamborghini being delivered to her house.
Doyle took to his Facebook page to criticize Sophia and those who congratulated her on acquiring the luxury vehicle.
He questioned how people could praise her despite the rumours surrounding her means of livelihood, which he described as “shameful”.
Doyle condemned the “romanticising of iniquity” and the tendency to celebrate questionable behavior, calling out those who congratulated Sophia as “half-wits” and “dim wits.”
“She boasted about the value of her wrist watch and flaunted a 600 million naira car. The combined value of both items is in the range of 650 to 750 million naira,” he wrote.
“Some half wits were impressed and effusively congratulated her as she smiled and flaunted both items. As if we hadn’t heard about her shameful means of livelihood.
“Meanwhile, I can bet that there are members of her extended who are going through a tough time. The romanticising of iniquity has become the stock in trade of dim wits amongst us.”
Burna Boy had earlier shared a video of himself singing, seemingly mocking Egbueje for making a fuss about the issue.
[TheCable]
More...
A Chief Superintendent of Police serving with the Kwara State Command, Modestus Ojiebe, has been kidnapped in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
According to sources, Ojiebe was attacked while attempting to fix his vehicle which broke down near Dei-Dei Police Barracks in Abuja.
Counter-insurgency expert, Zagazola Makama reports that, “While he was attempting to fix the vehicle, an ash-coloured Mercedes-Benz with four armed occupants stopped behind him.
“The assailants searched and robbed Ojiebe and his wife of their mobile phones and ATM cards. However, upon discovering his police identity card, they forced him into their vehicle and sped off, leaving his wife and their car at the scene.
“Following the incident, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Dawaki Division received a distress call and immediately dispatched a patrol team to the area.
“Stop-and-search operations have been intensified at various entry and exit points of the FCT in an effort to rescue the officer and apprehend the culprits.”
At least, three independent security sources, among whom are police officers, have also confirmed the development to reporters.
“The information is correct but you know I am not permitted to speak on it, so don’t expect anything more from me on this, please,” one of the sources said.
At the time of filing this report, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in FCT, Josephine Adeh has not reacted to the incident
A former federal lawmaker and elder statesman in Osun State, Prof. Olusola Adeyeye, has disclosed his numerous but unsuccessful attempts to reconcile President Bola Tinubu and former Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, whose once-solid friendship has deteriorated over time.
Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Adeyeye painted a picture of the bond that once existed between the two political heavyweights.
According to him, Tinubu had such unwavering trust in Aregbesola that he openly vouched for him in the most striking terms.
“I was at a meeting where Tinubu said, ‘If you see me sleeping and you see Rauf coming with a dagger or a knife, don’t wake me up; Rauf will never injure me.
“That was how much trust he had in Aregbesola,” Adeyeye stated.
The former lawmaker revealed that the feeling was mutual, as Aregbesola held Tinubu in the highest esteem, placing him just below God in his hierarchy of respect and loyalty.
“For Rauf, the only entity in the universe bigger than Tinubu was God,” he added.
Despite their once-unbreakable bond, Adeyeye suggested that a perceived betrayal may have caused the rift.
“I have the feeling that what happened between them was Rauf thinking that Tinubu sided with his own brother against him,” he said.
Adeyeye expressed deep sadness over the fallout, describing his tireless but futile efforts to mediate between the two.
“I tried my best to settle them. I tried my very best. Not once, not twice, but severally.
“Power can be a terrible thing. It is treacherous in Nigeria,” he admitted.
Reflecting on his own position, Adeyeye emphasised his neutrality and commitment to peace.
“I seek nothing,” he said, adding that his long-standing experience in politics predates both Tinubu and Aregbesola.
“Only God elevates,” the Osun-born lawmaker asserted.
While he acknowledged the difficulty of mending the fractured relationship, he maintained that reconciliation was not entirely out of reach.
“If the two of them want to settle, it’s not impossible,” Adeyeye concluded, leaving the door open for a potential resolution.
All is now set for the formal reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday afternoon as the presiding officers of the House have suddenly tendered their resignations at plenary.
The deputy Speaker of the House, Hon. Fatai Bola, has announced his resignation at about 3.15pm.
As the plenary progresses, the Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda also announced her resignation.
Consequently, the coast is now clear for the return of Obasa as Speaker of the House following the crisis that engulfed the House after his impeachment in January.
Details Later…
The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the employment of 1,010 secondary school teachers in the state
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Monday, the governor’s approval came after the completion of the recruitment process by the state Teaching Service Commission which screened thousands of applicants last year.
Adeniyan said the successful candidates are to begin their documentation immediately.
The statement read, “The governor had given approval for the recruitment of 1010 secondary school and 1000 primary school teachers last year, which signalled the start of the recruitment exercise by TESCOM and the State Universal Basic Education Board.
“While the final list for the secondary school candidates was approved by the governor on Friday, that of the primary school candidates is currently undergoing its finishing touches.
“Governor Aiyedatiwa has expressed concern over teaching staff shortages in public schools, particularly in rural communities. This necessitated his directive that the recruitment must be based on the peculiar needs of the understaffed schools across the state.”
He added that the recruitment of teachers in both primary and secondary schools was one of the efforts of the Aiyedatiwa administration to revamp the education sector in the state.
“The governor had last Friday approved the payment of N633m for the registration of students for the West Africa Examination Council’s Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination.
“This came after the governor approved the upgrade and conversion of the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo to a University of Agriculture and Agribusiness,” he added.