The Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) has taken a major step in its internationalisation drive following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with SGH Warsaw School of Economics, one of Europe’s leading business institutions.

In a statement on Thursday by LASUSTECH communication unit, the university said the agreement, signed at the SGH campus in Warsaw, Poland, would open up new opportunities for students, faculty, and the wider academic community.

Vice-Chancellor, Olumuyiwa Odusanya, who signed on behalf of LASUSTECH, described the partnership as a milestone in the institution’s global engagement efforts.

“This partnership positions LASUSTECH within an elite global academic network and creates pathways for our students and faculty to benefit from international exposure and collaboration,” Odusanya said.

The SGH Rector, Piotr Wachowiak, signed on behalf of the Polish institution.

According to the statement, the LASUSTECH delegation included the Dean of the College of Applied Social Sciences, Olumuyiwa Olamade, and Ayo Eso, who also worked on establishing implementation plans during the visit.

The university noted that the collaboration would grant LASUSTECH access to SGH’s “Triple Crown accreditation standards and elite global networks,” enabling student exchange programmes with credit transfer, faculty exchange initiatives, and joint research.

“The partnership will also facilitate collaborative research in critical areas such as financial inclusion and the digital economy, while providing access to extensive academic resources,” the statement read.

It added that the visit created opportunities for engagement with Polish funding agencies and innovation platforms, including the CIC Innovation Hub.

Odusanya further explained that the agreement aligns with the university’s IMPACT model and the Lagos State Government’s development agenda.

“This collaboration strengthens our curriculum, enhances faculty development, and improves student mobility, while also connecting us to European research funding opportunities such as Horizon Europe programmes,” he said.

The university emphasised that the MOU represents a concrete step in its vision to contribute meaningfully to global academic discourse.

“We remain committed to building a university that is globally relevant and locally impactful. This agreement marks another important milestone in our internationalisation journey,” the statement added.

President Bola Tinubu on Thursday appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, succeeding Professor Is-haq Oloyede, whose two-term tenure expires on July 31, 2026.

Aina’s appointment has drawn attention partly because of his age, he turns 40 in July, and his rise through Nigeria’s academic, technology, and public policy sectors.

Here are things to know about him:

He trained entirely in the United Kingdom

Aina built his academic foundation across two British universities.

He obtained a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent in 2008, then proceeded to Loughborough University, where he earned an MSc in Internet Computing and Network Security in 2009.

He later completed a PhD in Digital Signal Processing at the same institution.

Back in Nigeria, he added a Senior Management Programme certificate from Lagos Business School.

He began his career at the very board he now leads

Long before his appointment as registrar, Aina had a firsthand encounter with JAMB.

He began his professional journey with the board during his National Youth Service Corps posting, gaining early experience in national admissions processes and data-driven institutional management.

The State House said those foundational insights have since shaped his contributions to examination reform and systems optimisation.

He became one of Nigeria’s youngest Computer Engineering professors at 39

Aina was appointed Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, at the age of 39, making him one of the youngest professors in his field in Nigeria.

His promotion was based on strong research output, leadership roles, and efforts to link academic knowledge with real-world solutions.

He will now become JAMB’s youngest-ever registrar.

He has advised the presidency and state governments

With over 15 years of post-graduation experience, Aina has worked beyond the lecture hall.

His consultancy assignments have spanned public and private sector institutions, including the Job Creation Unit in the Office of the Vice President and several state governments.

His advisory work has focused on system design, digital transition, and operational reform, areas the State House said it expects him to bring to bear at JAMB.

He has consulted for Nigeria’s major examination bodies

Aina’s familiarity with Nigeria’s examination ecosystem goes beyond JAMB.

He has served as a consultant to NECO and NABTEB, as well as various State Ministries of Education, providing expertise on ICT systems, examination integrity, and digital process optimisation.

He co-founded a technology company

In 2010, Aina co-founded Fluid Click Solutions Ltd, an IT services and engineering project management company, with professional interests spanning education technology, agriculture, hospitality, capacity building, and technical and vocational education.

He belongs to several professional engineering bodies

Aina is a member of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, the Nigerian Society of Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

He has also authored about 30 peer-reviewed journal and conference papers.

The Federal Government has begun the disbursement of outstanding 2025 allowances to beneficiaries of the Bilateral Education Agreement Scholarship Programme studying in partner countries abroad.

This was announced in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on Wednesday and signed by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.

According to the statement, “the Central Bank of Nigeria has successfully remitted the approved funds to Nigerian embassies and missions for immediate disbursement to eligible scholars.”

In the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the released funds represent 50 per cent of the approved outstanding obligations for 2025, noting that efforts were ongoing to ensure payment of the remaining balance.

Alausa explained that the funds had already been received in embassy accounts, adding that the affected missions were expected to commence payment to beneficiaries immediately.

He also urged scholars to monitor their accounts as the payments begin to reflect.

The BEA scholarship programme supports Nigerian students studying in partner countries with financial assistance from the Federal Government.

Although the programme has been discontinued, several beneficiaries have complained about delays in the payment of allowances, citing the financial difficulties caused by the situation.

The latest disbursement is expected to provide relief for the affected scholars.

Alausa said the move reflects President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and academic success of Nigerian students abroad under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

FG also reaffirmed its commitment to meeting its obligations to Nigerian scholars and sustaining policies that promote quality education, student welfare and national human capital development.