The Chairman of Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, Chibueze Ofobuike, has announced plans to sponsor the education, provide accommodation and offer other support to Richard Emmanuel Ekene Ike, whose story recently drew public attention after he reportedly dropped out of school following the death of his parents.

Richard’s case was brought to public attention by his former teacher, Joy Oñuchukwu Anopuechi, who described him as a brilliant student and one of the outstanding speakers who represented Aguata Zone at the state level of the 2021 Governor’s Debate.

In a statement shared on Facebook on Thursday, Ofobuike said he was providing an update on the support being offered to Richard.

“Richard’s case was brought to the limelight by Mrs Joy Oñuchukwu Anopuechi. He is a brilliant young man who recently lost his parents and, sadly, was subsequently left without a home, dropped out of school in SS II, and lost all the basic support he needs, following challenges arising from his polygamy and other tough family issues,” Ofobuike said.

The council chairman said his team had offered to sponsor Richard’s West African Senior School Certificate Examination, provide him with decent accommodation and other financial support.

“Having learnt of Richard’s situation, my team and I offered to sponsor his WAEC examination, provide a decent accommodation for him and other financial support needed for survival,” he said.

Ofobuike added that other Nigerians had also offered support for Richard’s education and welfare through Anopuechi.

He further disclosed that the founder of the Okwumereze Foundation, Evans Emesim, popularly known as MC Okwumereze, had offered to sponsor Richard’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination and provide him with a full scholarship throughout his university education.

“Chief Evans Emesim, MC Okwumereze, Founder, Okwumereze Foundation, has offered to not only sponsor Richard’s JAMB examination but will place him on a full scholarship for his entire university education,” Ofobuike said.

According to him, a meeting was subsequently held with Richard and Anopuechi to coordinate the support and determine the best educational path for him.

The chairman said it was agreed that Richard should first enrol in a secondary school, prepare for and sit for his senior school examinations before proceeding with his tertiary education.

“In acknowledging the need to streamline these supports, my team and I held a meeting with Richard and Mrs Anopuechi, where we observed the need that Richard enrols into a good secondary school, prepare and write the senior school examinations, and be placed on a better pedestal for success,” he said.

Ofobuike said plans had been concluded to enrol Richard in a secondary school in September 2026, subject to his passing the school’s entrance examination.

He added that the council would provide him with educational materials, including a smartphone, computer, books and other items needed for his studies.

“We have concluded plans on the school he will be enrolled in by September 2026, subject to an entrance examination, and we are providing him with a smartphone, computer, books and other needed educational items,” he stated.

The council chairman appealed for additional support towards Richard’s daily upkeep and other needs, adding that financial donations would be paid directly into his account and monitored to ensure proper use.

“While we strive to ensure that Richard’s brilliance is harnessed as much as possible, any support for his sundry needs and daily upkeep will be hugely appreciated,” Ofobuike said.

He added, “Financial supports for Richard will go directly into his account which, as we have agreed, will be closely monitored to ensure proper usage, and will be reported occasionally.”

Ofobuike expressed hope that the intervention would help Richard fulfil his potential and encourage efforts to identify and support other talented young people facing similar challenges.

“May Richard rise to blossom his potentials and may help locate numerous other brilliant minds like him in our communities,” he said.

The intervention comes days after Richard’s story of academic interruption and survival through odd jobs, including bricklaying, gained widespread attention on social media.

Source: punchng.com

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The United Kingdom has opened applications for the 2026/27 Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, offering fully funded opportunities to mid-career professionals and university academics from Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria.

The UK in Nigeria announced the opening in a post on its X handle on Thursday, urging eligible candidates to apply before the August 25, 2026 deadline.

“Applications are currently open for the #CommonwealthFellowships 2026/27! Professional Fellowships for mid-career professionals and Academic Fellowships for PhD-holding university staff. Open to candidates from all Commonwealth countries till 25 August 26,” it said.

According to the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission, the 2026/27 programme features two strands: Commonwealth Professional Fellowships and Commonwealth Academic Fellowships.

The Professional Fellowships are designed for mid-career professionals to undertake development at a UK host organisation working in their sector.

The Academic Fellowships are for university academic staff who hold a PhD and are employed at a university.

The CSC said about 40 fellowships are provisionally planned for the 2026/27 programme, with approximately 10 available to citizens of Commonwealth countries not eligible for official development assistance and about 30 for citizens of countries eligible for such assistance.

The fellowships cover six development themes: science and technology for development; improving population health, health systems and capacity; promoting innovation and entrepreneurship; strengthening peace, security and governance; strengthening resilience and response to crises; and access, inclusion and opportunity.

Who can apply?

Professional Fellowship applicants must have at least five years of relevant full-time or equivalent part-time work experience by the proposed start of the fellowship.

Academic Fellowship applicants must hold a PhD and be employed by a university in a Commonwealth country other than the UK.

Applicants must also be citizens of, or have refugee status in, an eligible Commonwealth country, be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country and be employed by an organisation they will return to after the fellowship.

They must provide at least two references, including one from their current employer, unless they are self-employed.

Applicants must also not have undertaken a Commonwealth Fellowship within the previous five years.

Nigeria is listed among the eligible Commonwealth countries.

Fellowship duration

Professional Fellowships are expected to last between six weeks and three months and begin between mid-February and mid-March 2027.

Academic Fellowships will last three months and are scheduled to begin in January or February 2027.

How to apply

Interested applicants are required to complete the online Commonwealth Fellowship application form through the CSC application portal.

Commonwealth Fellowship application form

Applications opened at 9am BST on July 28, 2026, and will close at 4pm BST on August 25, 2026.

Applicants will be required to provide their educational qualifications, employment history, relevant work experience, publications and prizes, references and statements explaining the relevance and development impact of their proposed fellowship.

They will also be required to submit a development impact statement explaining how the fellowship relates to one of the CSC’s six development themes, how they intend to apply their skills after returning home and the expected outcomes and beneficiaries of their work.

Applicants must also provide a personal statement, details of voluntary activities and leadership experience, and a scanned copy of their passport or national identity card.

What the fellowship covers

The CSC said each fellowship provides approved return airfare from the fellow’s home country to the UK and reimbursement of the standard visa application fee.

Fellows will also receive a monthly stipend of £2,218, or £2,753 for those hosted by organisations in the London metropolitan area, based on the 2025/26 rates.

The package also includes an arrival allowance of up to £1,247.09, with additional funding potentially available for eligible short courses, conferences and travel to other UK organisations where such activities form part of the fellowship programme.

Source: punchng.com

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The West African Examination Council, has called for “strict computer-based testing to curb examination malpractice in some centres,” popularly known as “miracle centres.”

An official with WAEC office in Makurdi, Timothy Manga gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria, on the growing concerns over examination malpractice and its impact on the credibility of public examinations and educational certificates.

NAN on Monday reported that Manga said allegations of the existence of “miracle” examination centres in Benue had become worrisome, though there had not been any official confirmation of the existence of such centres in the state.

In Nigerian education context, PUNCH Online reports that a “miracle centre” is an examination centre where organised examination malpractice is allegedly facilitated, allowing candidates to obtain unauthorised assistance or answers during exams.

He described the development as a threat to the education system, saying schools should be known for quality teaching rather than their ability to facilitate examination malpractice.

“Any system that rewards students for cheating undermines those who have worked hard to prepare for examinations.

“We need an examination system where success is determined by knowledge, preparation, and competence, not by the ability to access assistance during examinations.

” Though WAEC has not gotten any information on any school being a “miracle centre”, we would continue to put our ears to the ground in case we hear of any that we can set an example with,” he said.

Mrs Rebecca Ezekiel, a teacher with NKST Secondary School Makurd, however, said the establishment of independent examination centres could reduce the influence of schools and teachers over examinations such as WAEC and the National Examination Council (NECO).

Ezekiel said the CBT would enable examination bodies to exercise greater control over examination venues, personnel, and security arrangements.

“Candidates should be examined under conditions that are independent of the schools where they receive instructions,” she said.

The teacher also recommended the deployment of biometric verification, Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, and other technologies to strengthen examination monitoring.

However, Mr Jude Odeh, a school proprietor in Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA), said admitting sudents in final year in secondary schools did not qualify a school to be labelled as a “miracle” examination centre.

Odeh said he had heard allegations about the existence of such centres in the state but was yet to identify any specific school operating as a miracle examination centre.

He said some parents changed their children’s schools for various reasons such as the high cost of examination registration, school fees, and others.

According to him, some schools charge examination fees arbitrarily, and when combined with school fees, the total cost becomes too high for some parents to bear.

Odeh, however, said he knew some schools in Benue that did not admit new students into SS3, insisting that only students promoted from SS2 were registered for external examinations.
(NAN)

Source: punchng.com

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