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

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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.”

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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.”

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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

CBT best way to curb ‘miracle centres’, examination malpractice — WAEC official

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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.

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“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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Education

Lagos law student dies after jumping from four-storey building

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The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed the death of a 23-year-old student of the Nigerian Law School, Faith Alayande, who reportedly died after allegedly jumping from the rooftop of a four-storey hostel building at the institution’s campus in Victoria Island, Lagos.

PUNCH Metro learnt in a telephone conversation with the command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, that the incident was reported to the police after the deceased was found unresponsive in the hostel premises on Friday.

Adebisi noted that the matron of the institution reported the matter and disclosed that another student and a relative reportedly found a suicide note written by the deceased student, prompting them to search for her.

She noted that before they could locate her, she had allegedly jumped from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.

She said, “I can confirm the incident. The deceased reportedly wrote a suicide note and, before her hostel mate and a relative could locate her, she jumped from the rooftop of a four-storey building.

“The matron of the hostel reported the incident, prompting police operatives to visit the scene. Her body has been evacuated to a morgue for preservation.”

Also, a security analyst, Zagazola Makama, who shared details about the incident on X, disclosed that the deceased was found dead within the hostel premises on Friday by another student, who alerted the matron of the institution.

According to Makama, the Chief Matron of the Law School was said to have reported the incident at the Victoria Island Police Division at about 6:30am.

Makama noted that, upon receiving the report, the matron proceeded to the scene, where the deceased was found lying on the ground within the hostel premises.

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Makama wrote, “A 23-year-old student of the Nigerian Law School has died in a suspected suicide incident at the school’s hostel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

“The incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, August 7, 2026, when the deceased, identified as Alayande Faith Ajoke, was found dead within the hostel premises.

“The Chief Matron of the Law School, Mrs Igbokwe Juliana, reported the incident at about 6:30am. Preliminary observations indicated that the deceased may have jumped from the rooftop of the four-storey hostel building.”

Meanwhile, the PPRO concluded that an investigation was ongoing into the incident.

This is not the first reported case of a Nigerian Law School student dying by suicide.

PUNCH Metro reported in December 2025 that a Nigerian Law School student, Ayomiposi Ojajuni, reportedly died by suicide after he was allegedly barred from writing the Bar Final examinations at the Yola campus in Adamawa State.

Ojajuni, a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, was said to have received a series of queries from the school authorities and later discovered that he would not be allowed to sit for the professional examinations.

Source: punchng.com

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Education

Canada updates Visa processing times for Nigerians as study permit wait rises

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Nigerians applying to study or travel to Canada are facing longer estimated processing times following the latest temporary residence update released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The immigration department updated its processing-time estimates on August 5, 2026, with the latest figures showing increases across several temporary residence categories. For Nigerian applicants, the estimated processing time for study permits increased from six weeks to seven weeks between July 28 and August 5.

The wait for Canadian visitor visas also increased, rising from 64 days to 68 days. However, the estimated processing time for Nigerians applying for a work permit remained unchanged at seven weeks. There was also a slight increase in the estimated processing time for super visa applications from Nigeria, which rose from 41 days to 43 days.

With these latest figures, Nigerian applicants should now expect an estimated wait of seven weeks for a work permit, seven weeks for a study permit, 68 days for a visitor visa, and 43 days for a super visa.

The changes in Canada’s latest update were not limited to Nigerian applicants. Work permit processing for applicants from Pakistan recorded one of the biggest increases, jumping from 11 weeks to 25 weeks, a rise of 14 weeks.

Study permit processing for applicants from the Philippines also increased by one week, while super visa processing for applicants from the Philippines rose from 73 days to 100 days. Some applicants, however, saw their estimated waiting periods fall.

The biggest reduction among the featured categories was recorded for super visa applications from Pakistan, which dropped from 196 days to 185 days.

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IRCC’s processing times are estimates and do not represent a guaranteed date for when an application will be completed. The actual time required to process an application can vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the case, the volume of applications awaiting processing, available resources, and whether immigration officials require additional information or documents.

The Canadian immigration department updates temporary residence processing times weekly, meaning the estimates for Nigerian applicants could change again in the next update, which is expected around August 12, 2026.

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