The Federal Government has directed that all secondary school teachers, in both public and private institutions, must possess proper certification, warning that schools failing to comply will no longer be allowed to serve as examination centres.

The directive was issued in a memo on Thursday, September 11, by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to the Registrar/Chief Executive of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). Alausa said the measure aligns with government policy to strengthen professionalism in the teaching sector.Nigerian fashion

He stated, “Accordingly, effective from March 2027 for WASSCE, May 2027 for NABTEB, June 2027 for NECO and June 2027 for SAISSCE, any school whose teachers are not duly registered and licensed with the TRCN shall be disqualified from serving as an examination centre.”

Alausa further urged state governments to enforce compliance, saying, “Compliance with this directive shall be monitored, with schools expected to achieve a minimum compliance rate of 75 per cent by 2026 and full compliance of 100 per cent by 2027.”

To ease the process for teachers who are non-education graduates but have at least 12 months of classroom experience, the minister encouraged enrolment in the National Teachers Institute (NTI). He explained, “The affected teachers could qualify for the abridged professional certification programme offered through the National Teachers Institute. The programme consists of short professional courses lasting between three months and six months, after which participants would qualify for TRCN registration and licensing.”

He concluded by urging stakeholders to prioritise the directive, noting, “I urge those concerned to give the directive the highest priority and ensure wide sensitisation of stakeholders across the country so as to avoid disruption of accreditation for public examinations.”

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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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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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