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Varsity students to face drug tests, says education minister

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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has backed the introduction of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions across the country.

This decision followed a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), where both parties discussed measures to curb substance abuse among students.

In a statement on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a review of the current secondary school curriculum to incorporate updated drug education and committed to forming an inter-ministerial working group with the NDLEA.

Babafemi said the NDLEA boss had proposed a three-pronged approach: revising drug education content in schools, introducing stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, and implementing a drug testing policy for tertiary institutions, including for new students, returning students, and random testing.

Marwa described the drug scourge as a threat to national security and youth development, citing its links to criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.

He disclosed that the agency had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs in the past two years.

“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.

Responding, Alausa acknowledged the urgency of the problem, stating: “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education.

“At the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower.

“Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable.

“And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional.”

The minister stated that drug tests for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions would be done.

He said, “You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it.

“We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

He announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and confirmed that a revised curriculum for secondary schools was underway.

Alausa said, “I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA.

“As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry.

“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the Director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school.

“We need to incorporate both primary and secondary schools into their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can do that now. We’re currently developing their new curriculum.

“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down.”

The minister also committed to working with the Universal Basic Education Commission and Tertiary Education Trust Fund to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.

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Education

NABTEB releases 2025 NBC/NTC results, records improved performance

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The National Business and Technical Examinations Board has released the 2025 June/July National Business Certificate and National Technical Certificate results, with improved performance recorded in Mathematics.

Registrar/Chief Executive Officer, Dr Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, who announced the results in Abuja on Thursday, said 92,875 candidates registered for the examinations across 1,892 centres nationwide.

He noted that the figure represented a 37.08 per cent increase in enrolment compared to 2024, while the centres rose by 10.77 per cent.

According to him, candidates sat for 16 Engineering Trades, seven Construction Trades, nine Miscellaneous Trades, four Business Trades and 16 General Education Subjects.

Mohammed disclosed that 89,621 candidates had their results released, with 61,104 candidates, representing 68.18 per cent, obtaining five credits and above including English Language and Mathematics.

He also added that 74,633 candidates, representing 83.28 per cent, scored five credits and above with or without English Language and Mathematics.

“More candidates passed Mathematics while fewer candidates passed English Language this year when compared to last year’s examination results,” he said.

He revealed that 93.10 per cent of candidates who sat for English Language recorded pass grades, while Mathematics had 94.60 per cent.

On examination malpractice, Mohammed explained that 435 candidates were involved in 516 cases, compared to 349 candidates in 524 cases recorded in 2024.

“This is a decrease in the incidence of examination malpractices,” he stated.

The Registrar said registration had commenced for the 2025 November/December NBC/NTC and Advanced National Business Certificate/Advanced National Technical Certificate (ANBC/ANTC) examinations.

“Prospective candidates can access the NABTEB portal or visit any State or Zonal Office to obtain guidelines for registration,” he said.

Mohammed further stressed the importance of vocational and technical education in national development.

“You will agree with me that in today’s 21st-century world the need for comprehensive TVET is highly crucial,” he said.

NABTEB was created by Decree No. 70 (Act 70) of 1993 to take over technical and business exams previously administered by foreign bodies like RSA, City & Guilds, WAEC, ensuring government-controlled, nationally relevant certification.

The NBC/NTC exams are part of Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education & Training (TVET) framework, aimed at equipping learners with practical, employable skills in trades and vocational fields.

In the June/July 2024 NBC/NTC exams, 67,751 candidates sat; 44,000 of them (65.34%) obtained five credits including English & Maths, and 62,235 candidates (92.42%) got five credits or more with or without English & Maths.

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The First Graduating Set of Medical Doctors from University College, Ibadan, 1951

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In 1951, Nigeria marked a defining milestone in its educational and healthcare history: the graduation of the first set of medical doctors trained locally at University College, Ibadan (UCI). This historic event symbolized the beginning of self-reliance in medical training, reducing dependence on British institutions, and laying the groundwork for modern medical education in the country.

The Birth of Medical Training in Nigeria

University College, Ibadan, was established in 1948 as the country’s first university-level institution. It began as an affiliate of the University of London, which supervised its curriculum and examinations to ensure international standards. Among its earliest faculties was the Faculty of Medicine, designed specifically to address the shortage of indigenous doctors in colonial Nigeria.

Before this development, Nigerians who aspired to practice medicine had to study abroad, mostly in Britain. Notable pioneers such as Dr. Isaac Ladipo Oluwole (1892–1953) trained overseas, often at great personal and financial cost. The establishment of UCI’s medical school changed this dynamic permanently.

The First Seven Medical Doctors

In 1951, only seven students successfully completed the rigorous program to become the first medical graduates trained in Nigeria. This small but groundbreaking group included:

Dr. Ishaya Audu, later the first professor of medicine from Northern Nigeria, Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Nigeria’s Ambassador to the United States.

Dr. Olajide Akinoso, who went on to make significant contributions in medical practice and public health.

Several others who would rise to prominence in clinical medicine, education, and administration.
Though small in number, this cohort represented a turning point in the nation’s history.

Significance of the 1951 Graduation

This graduation was not merely ceremonial; it was revolutionary. For the first time, Nigeria had produced its own cadre of doctors within its borders, trained to the same standards as their British counterparts. The development gave Nigeria confidence in its capacity to sustain higher education and professional training locally.

It also reflected the colonial government’s recognition of the need to indigenize the health sector at a time when infectious diseases, maternal mortality, and shortages of healthcare workers posed urgent national challenges.

Ishaya Audu: A Pioneering Figure

Among the seven, Dr. Ishaya Audu stood out as a trailblazer. Beyond his medical career, he became a statesman and educator, embodying the multiple roles that graduates of that first set would go on to play in Nigeria’s development. His journey illustrated how the medical profession could serve as a springboard for leadership in other national spheres.

From University College, Ibadan to the University of Ibadan

It is important to note that in 1951, the institution was still University College, Ibadan (UCI), functioning under the University of London. Full autonomy came later in 1962, when it was renamed the University of Ibadan (UI), becoming Nigeria’s first independent university. The medical school that began with seven graduates now produces hundreds of doctors annually and remains one of Africa’s foremost training centers.

Legacy

The 1951 graduates were more than pioneers—they were nation-builders. They helped establish the credibility of Nigerian medical education, mentored subsequent generations, and shaped healthcare policies in the decades that followed.

Today, their legacy lives on in the University of Ibadan’s College of Medicine, which stands as a leading institution for research, clinical training, and innovation in Africa. The journey that began with seven doctors in 1951 has now produced thousands, ensuring that the vision of self-reliance in healthcare continues to thrive.

Sources
University of Ibadan Archives

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Education

Nigerian students now rely on AI for support — Google

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Nigerian students are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence to support their studies, according to new Google Search trend data released on Tuesday as schools reopen across the country.

Google said searches combining “AI + studying” rose by more than 200 per cent compared with 2024, showing that learners are not only curious about AI but are actively using it as a study companion. The company explained that students were seeking out AI tutors, free tools, and prompts to guide their work across a variety of subjects.

The data indicated that searches for “AI + chemistry” grew 50 per cent, while “AI + maths” and “AI + languages” each climbed 30 per cent. Queries linking AI to grammar also recorded a 20 per cent rise.

Google reported that popular search questions included “What is the best AI in the world for solving mathematical problems?” and “how to use AI to solve math problems”.

Google’s West Africa Director, Olumide Balogun, said the trend showed that students were embracing AI as a way to deepen their learning.

Balogun said Nigerian learners were not just using AI for answers but as a tool to deepen their understanding of complex subjects, from chemistry to mathematics. He added that the company was committed to providing tools that would empower students to learn, grow, and succeed.

Google noted that interest in AI was spreading beyond schoolwork. Searches such as “how to use AI” and “what is the full meaning of AI” each rose 80 per cent, while “who is the father of AI” increased 70 per cent.

At the same time, queries for “AI detection” jumped 290 per cent, a development Google said reflected a wider conversation about responsible use and academic integrity.

The company also pointed out that career-focused searches were rising. It said “Generative AI” had emerged as a breakout search term in the past 12 months, often appearing alongside “professional certification”, suggesting that young Nigerians were positioning themselves for the future workforce.

Google said the findings highlighted a broader national trend, with AI-related searches in Nigeria hitting an all-time high in 2025, up 60 per cent in the last year.

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