Education

EU-Funded Shs1.64Bn Project to Equip Over 3,000 Accounting Students in Uganda,Nigeria with Real-World Skills

Published

9 months ago

October 15, 2025

At least 3,000 students and academic staff across Uganda and Nigeria are set to benefit from the Developing Employability Skills in Accounting Education (DESIRED) project, a European Union-funded initiative aimed at ensuring accounting graduates are “work-ready” as they enter the labor market.

The project funded up to a tune of shs1.64billion( €400,000) was launched on Tuesday at MAT-Abacus Business School as part of the Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) Programme.

It brings together universities from Uganda, Nigeria, Portugal, and the Netherlands to integrate Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) into accounting education.

Speaking at the launch, Samuel Ssejjaaka, the project chair, highlighted the critical gap between university training and practical workplace demands.

“The idea is to ensure that when accountants finish their training, they have also acquired enough practical experience to take up jobs. We want them to be work-ready” he said.

He explained that the project will develop a framework for teaching students the real experience of the workplace.

“When we train students here, we train them on standards preparing books of accounts and so forth. But in the workplace, there are many other skills they are required to have, which are not necessarily part of the syllabus.”

Ssejjaaka also emphasized the impact of the project on employability rates among accounting graduates.

“With the funding we have received from the European Union, we can increase the employability of accountants. Right now, about 35% of graduates are not getting employed, and that all has to do with the issue of employability.”

The DESIRED Project will employ internships, case studies, and experiential learning to give students exposure to real workplace scenarios, decision-making, and practical skills.

Twaha Kawaase, a certified accountant and project partner, highlighted the international collaboration underpinning DESIRED.

“We are here to launch a project which brings together countries in Europe – Portugal, Netherlands – and countries in Africa – Uganda and Nigeria – to ensure that accountants coming out of universities are work-ready.”

Kawaase explained the importance of preparing graduates for a changing workplace shaped by technology.

“This is a century where we are talking about artificial intelligence, where machines are trying to replace human beings, but human beings are irreplaceable. Therefore, we need to ensure that accountants are relevant in terms of accounting skills, communication skills, and other soft skills required by employers.”

He also spoke about the role of competency-based training in Uganda and the project’s role in standardizing practical skills.

“Universities must be ready, the training must be ready, and institutions like MAT-Abacus and various universities must ensure that students coming out are competent to work as expected by employers.”

Ayeza Mutegeki, a student at MAT-ABACUS, welcomed the project, highlighting its potential impact on students’ careers.

“I think that it would be very beneficial to every single accounting student. Why? Because of the kind of benefits that it provides in that it integrates work and study.”

She pointed out a major challenge facing students today. “The most common problem we have among students is that we do not have jobs. And why do we not have these jobs? It is because we do not have the expertise.”

Ayeza emphasized how the program could bridge the gap between education and practical work experience.

“Yes, we have studied them. But the reality is that in the workplace, it is not exactly the same scenario. So I believe that this desired program will actually change the course of accounting students and furthermore enhance their education and work standards.”

The project consortium is led by MAT-Abacus Business School (Uganda) and includes Makerere University Business School (Uganda), Nnamdi Azikiwe University (Nigeria), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (Nigeria), Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (Netherlands), and the University of Lisbon (Portugal). Key industry partners include the Uganda Chapter for Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives (UCCSRI) and Sejjaaka, Kaawaase & Co., Certified Public Accountants.

The DESIRED Project seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical skills, strengthen university-industry linkages, and ultimately ensure that graduates are employable and ready to thrive in a competitive labor market.

Source: Nilepost

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Education

16-year-old girl emerges Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant

Published

8 hours ago

June 29, 2026

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The Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has congratulated Osasere Okundaye on emerging as Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant at the age of 16.

In a statement on Monday, Olawande described the feat as a remarkable demonstration of hard work, discipline, resilience and commitment to excellence.

“I heartily congratulate Miss Osasere Okundaye on her outstanding achievement of becoming Nigeria’s youngest Chartered Accountant at just 16 years of age.

“This remarkable milestone is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” the minister said.

He noted that Okundaye had become a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youths, saying her achievement should inspire others to pursue excellence.

“Osasere has distinguished herself as a shining example of the limitless potential of Nigerian youth. Her accomplishment reminds us that with determination, dedication, and the right support, young Nigerians can break barriers, set new records, and inspire a generation to dream bigger and strive for excellence,” he added.

The minister also congratulated her parents, family, teachers and mentors for supporting her journey.

“I also congratulate her parents, family, teachers, mentors, and everyone who has supported and guided her journey. Their encouragement, sacrifices, and belief in her abilities have undoubtedly contributed to this exceptional success,” he said.

Olawande reaffirmed the Federal Ministry of Youth Development’s commitment to empowering young Nigerians through programmes and policies aimed at helping them realise their potential.

“Osasere’s achievement reinforces our confidence that the future of Nigeria is bright in the hands of focused, determined, and talented young citizens,” he said.

He wished the teenager greater success in the years ahead, expressing hope that her story would inspire millions of young Nigerians.

Okundaye earned the feat after qualifying as a chartered accountant through the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, becoming the youngest person to achieve the professional qualification in the country.

Her achievement surpasses the previous record set in 2022 by Jonathan Adewale, who became Nigeria’s youngest chartered accountant at the age of 17 after completing the rigorous ICAN professional examinations.

The qualification, which is typically obtained by graduates and professionals after years of study and examinations, has been widely regarded as one of the country’s most demanding professional certifications.

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Education

Suspended FUOYE SUG president reinstated — NANS

Published

5 days ago

June 25, 2026

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The National Association of Nigerian Students has announced the reinstatement of the suspended Students’ Union Government President of the Federal University Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) , James Adio.

NANS President, Akinteye Babatunde, disclosed this in a post on X on Wednesday, after it disclosed that university’s Senate would consider Adio’s suspension following what it described as high-level engagement with the institution’s management.

“Finally, Comrade Adio, the FUOYE SUG President, has been officially reinstated,” Babatunde wrote.

PUNCH Online had earlier reported that NANS said it secured the reinstatement of some previously suspended students after discussions with the university authorities.

According to the student body, the intervention followed sustained talks with the management over disciplinary actions taken against some students.

Babatunde had said, “The University Senate will convene on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, to give Comrade James Adio fair consideration and the necessary support that will serve both the interest of justice and his academic pursuits going forward.”

He also stated that the affected students had been reinstated and allowed to sit for their examinations.

Adio was earlier suspended alongside two other students over alleged financial irregularities linked to practical fees, a decision that sparked criticism from NANS.

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Education

JAMB axes affiliated degree courses in colleges of education; read details

Published

1 week ago

June 22, 2026

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has formally ended admissions into affiliated degree programmes run by colleges of education, marking a major shift in Nigeria’s teacher education system and effectively making the Nigeria Certificate in Education the sole entry route into the institutions from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The decision is contained in JAMB’s newly released NCE/ND Agric Registration Guidelines issued by the Office of the Registrar in June 2026.

Under the new policy, the board declared that “no admission into any affiliated programme in any college of education from the 2026/2027 session.”

JAMB also ruled out direct admission into 100 and 200 levels in colleges of education, insisting that all fresh entrants must now come through the NCE programme.

“With effect from 2026/7 session, no admission into 100 or 200 Level is allowed into any college of education. All entrants are through NCE,” the board stated.

The development signals the end of an era for affiliated degree programmes, which for decades enabled colleges of education to award university degrees through partnerships with conventional universities.

The reform is expected to affect thousands of candidates who applied for degree programmes through affiliated colleges of education for the 2026 admission cycle.

To cushion the impact, JAMB outlined options for candidates who had already selected affiliated colleges of education for degree programmes through Direct Entry.

According to the board, affected candidates may apply for a change of institution at no cost, transfer to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated, or allow their second-choice institution to become their first choice for admission processing.

“A candidate may choose to be moved to the parent university to which the degree programme is affiliated,” the board said.

JAMB added that candidates wishing to switch institutions had been given up to June 22 to complete the process.

Similarly, candidates seeking 100-level admission into affiliated colleges of education through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination have been presented with three options: change institution, elevate their second-choice institution to first choice, or migrate to the NCE programme.

The board said candidates who opted for the NCE route would be required to obtain an O-Level verification code from the relevant examination body and pay only N700 as registration fee on the JAMB portal.

“The candidate may be moved to the NCE programme of the institution, on the understanding that the choice of the college of education indicates an interest in pursuing the NCE qualification,” JAMB explained.

The guidelines further stipulate that every application for NCE admission is a deliberate choice and that candidates recommended for NCE admission would have any ongoing UTME or Direct Entry admission process suspended.

“Anyone who chooses NCE and s/he is proposed/recommended would have any ongoing UTME/DE process suspended,” the board stated.

For candidates who have already applied through the 2026 UTME mode, JAMB said their details would be automatically migrated to their chosen first-choice college of education or agric-related non-technology ND programmes.

The board also introduced mandatory O-Level verification for all NCE applicants, pegging the verification fee at N1,500 for one sitting and N2,000 for two sittings.

JAMB urged colleges of education, institutional professional registration centres, accredited CBT centres and its officials across the country to study the new guidelines and ensure strict compliance.

“All PRCs, IPRCs and officers of the board are to study the guidelines and ensure strict compliance with the information contained therein,” the Registrar stated.

Affiliated degree programmes have long served as a pathway for colleges of education to offer Bachelor’s degrees in partnership with universities, allowing students to earn university degrees while studying in the colleges.

However, the new JAMB policy effectively ends that arrangement for new admissions from the 2026/2027 academic session, reinforcing the NCE as the foundational qualification for teacher education in Nigeria.

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