The management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, has mourned the death of six nursing students who lost their lives in a road crash on the Ilorin–Ogbomoso Road.

The institution, in a statement dated February 24 and signed by its Registrar, Olayinka Balogun, described the incident as tragic and a monumental loss to the university community.

PUNCH Metro had earlier gathered from a university source that the students boarded the same commercial bus from Suleja, Niger State, before the fatal accident.

In the statement, the university identified the deceased as Shehu Nana Firdawsi Hamza, Idris Jamila, Abdulraheem Maimunah Hamza, Blessing Kevwe, Owoicho Elizabeth, and Aroke Ozavize Victoria.

Balogun stated that the students, all in their final year under the Open and Distance Learning Nursing programme, were travelling to campus for their final examinations when the accident occurred at Otte in Kwara State on Sunday.

“With a heavy heart, the management of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, announces the tragic loss of six of our cherished Open and Distance Learning Nursing students who were involved in a ghastly motor accident on the Ilorin–Ogbomoso Road on Sunday, February 22, 2026,” the statement read.

“The deceased students… were travelling in a public bus from Suleja, Niger State, to the university for their final examinations when the unfortunate incident occurred at Otte, Kwara State.

“This devastating incident has left our entire academic community in mourning, as the students were not only pursuing their educational dreams with determination and resilience, but also represented the spirit of hope and progress that defines our institution.”

The management extended its condolences to the families of the deceased and urged members of the public to pray for the repose of their souls.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and loved ones of the deceased. The university stands in solidarity with them during this time of immeasurable grief.

“While we grieve as an institution, we call on all members of the public to join us in prayer for the fortitude of the families, friends, and colleagues to bear this irreparable loss.

“We pray that the memories of the departed will continue to inspire us to uphold the values of compassion, perseverance, and unity,” the statement added.

The incident marks the second fatal crash involving final-year students in Kwara State within one month.

On February 5, the management of Kwara State University confirmed the death of a 400-level student, Idris Agboluaje, in an auto crash in the Malete area of the state.

The institution’s Registrar, Dr Kikelomo Sallee, had stated that the student was on his way to campus to write an examination when the accident occurred.

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Authorities in Kebbi State and Sokoto State have adjusted their 2025/2026 academic calendars to accommodate the ongoing Ramadan fast, reshuffling term dates and holiday periods across schools.

In Kebbi State, the Kebbi State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) extended the ongoing Second Term by two weeks, altering the earlier timetable for the Ramadan break in all public and private primary schools.

Under the revised schedule, the term, previously set to end on February 13, 2026, will now run until February 27, 2026.

” The Ramadan break will begin on February 28 and end on March 21, while schools are to resume on March 22 to complete the term, now slated to close on May 1, 2026″

In a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, SUBEB said the adjustment was approved by the state Ministry for Basic and Secondary Education to ensure adequate academic coverage before the break.

“The extension of the Second Term by two weeks is aimed at allowing schools sufficient time to complete instructional activities and other academic engagements before the Ramadan break,” the statement said.

The board directed Education Secretaries, Head Teachers and School Administrators to strictly comply with the revised calendar to guarantee smooth implementation.

The updated academic plan shows that the First Term ran from August 24 to December 12, 2025, followed by a three-week holiday, while the Third Term is scheduled to begin on May 24 and end on August 14, 2026.

Similarly, the Sokoto State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education announced adjustments to its calendar in preparation for Sallah.

In a statement dated February 19, 2026, the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Sanusi Aliyu Binji, said the revised timetable was approved to ensure effective planning and coordination of school activities statewide.

According to the ministry, the Ramadan break will commence on March 6 and end on March 29, 2026, after which academic activities will resume as scheduled.

Both states urged principals, parents and guardians to take note of the changes and support efforts to maintain academic standards during the holy month of Ramadan, a period marked by fasting, prayer and reflection for Muslims.

Education officials say the adjustments are part of routine measures in northern Nigeria to balance religious observances with uninterrupted learning.

The Federal Government has announced plans to establish the Armed Forces College of Medicine and Health Sciences as part of efforts to address Nigeria’s estimated shortfall of 340,000 doctors.

The decision followed a high-level meeting involving the Minister of Education, Maruf Alausa; the Minister of State for Education, Suiwaba Ahmed; and the Minister of Defence, Christopher Musa, alongside other stakeholders in the education, defence and health sectors.

The development was disclosed in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, on Friday.

According to the statement, Nigeria’s population has exceeded 240 million, while only 189 medical professionals are currently serving within the Armed Forces.

“While the nation’s population exceeds 240 million, only 189 medical professionals currently serve within the Defence Forces.

“He further highlighted Nigeria’s broader deficit of approximately 340,000 doctors, stressing the urgent need for scalable and innovative training models,” the statement read in part.

The proposed AFCOM&HS is designed “as a strategic national intervention to strengthen military healthcare services, address critical manpower shortages within the Armed Forces, and expand Nigeria’s overall medical training capacity.

“It will further position Nigeria as a regional hub for military medical training in West Africa.”

As part of broader reforms, the government said it has increased annual medical school admissions from about 5,000 to nearly 10,000, with projections to scale up to approximately 19,000 in the coming years.

The ministry noted that the new college would form a critical component of this expansion strategy, aimed at building a sustainable pipeline of combat casualty-trained doctors, surgeons, trauma specialists, emergency response medics, military public health and disaster response professionals, as well as other allied health personnel.

The initiative aligns with the administration’s education reform agenda, with emphasis on strengthening science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medical sciences.

According to the statement, the college will operate within the existing university framework of the Nigerian Defence Academy in compliance with the Federal Government’s seven-year moratorium on new tertiary institutions and in line with the directive of President Bola Tinubu.

Clinical training will take place in accredited federal and military hospitals.

Medical cadets will gain admission through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board and, upon completion of their training, will be commissioned as Captains in the Armed Forces.

A Technical Working Group comprising representatives of the Federal Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Nigerian Defence Academy, MODHIP, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria, the National Universities Commission, JAMB and other regulatory bodies has been constituted to oversee compliance and quality assurance.

The government said the necessary processes are being put in place for admissions to commence by October or November 2026.

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