Education
CSO urges government to improve security in schools
CSO urges government to improve security in schools
A civil society organisation (CSO), Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, has called on the government at all levels to take more measures to improve security within and around schools, especially schools in isolated and vulnerable areas where attackers could get away easily.
The Executive Director of the organisation, Olasupo Abideen, made the call in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Wednesday while speaking at a forum to commemorate the 2022 Global Action Week for Education.
The programme was co-sponsored by the development Research and Project Centre, Ford Foundation, and the Kwara State Government.
According to him, the governments need to provide safe and accessible learning environments for children in emergency situations and ensure that teachers are protected and adequately trained and remunerated.
He further stated that government must increase funding for education and also create security plans and surveys for schools.
Speaking on this year’s Global Action Week for Education themed ‘Funding the Future’, Olasupo revealed that the Brain Builder Development Youths Initiative had lined up a series of programmes to protect education in emergency situations and keep schools and students safe.
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He said, “As an organisation that has a significant interest in matters of education and young people, we, at the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, join the rest of the world to mark this year’s Global Action Week for Education. While this year’s event takes education financing as its theme under the banner ‘Funding the Future’, our organization’s focus is on the protection of education in emergency situations and keeping our schools and students safe.
“As a result, we have lined up a series of programmes to be carried out under our ‘Safe School Initiative’. The programmes are targeted at driving the domestication and implementation of the ‘Safe School Declaration’ SSD outcomes in Kwara State.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Safe School Declaration Nigeria was ratified at the fourth International Conference on the Safe Schools Declaration which was held in Abuja in October 2021. The Declaration was a commitment from governments around the world to keep schools, students, and teachers safe in times of conflict. It is also to ensure that learning activities continue to take place during armed conflicts. This is in response to deliberate attacks on schools and students in different parts of the world including Nigeria.
“The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attacks reported that between 2015 and 2019, there were more than 11,000 reported attacks on educational facilities the Sustainable Development Goal 4 focuses on ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong opportunities for all.
“It is against this background that our organization, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative, is embarking on different advocacy programmes to drive the implementation of the ‘Safe School Declaration SSD outcomes in Kwara State. As part of our programmes, we will hold an awareness programme on ‘Safe Schools’ in 50 schools across the three senatorial districts of Kwara State. We shall also hold a Community Townhall meeting involving relevant stakeholders to discuss how to keep our schools safe.”
He added we will organise workshops for teachers and Community champions on the process of implementing minimum standards for safe schools, the roles of teachers and community members in safeguarding students, school emergency preparedness and response and evacuation drills. We will also distribute safety kits to schools in the State.
He concluded, “It is pertinent to note that we are doing these programmes in collaboration with the Kwara State Ministry of Education, Global Campaign for Education and with funding from the Development Research and Projects Centre and the Ford Foundation. Without the support of the DRPC, we would not be able to embark on this project. The DPRC has, through its Safe School CSO Movement, supported 24 CSOs across the six geo-political zones with funding from Ford Foundation to conduct Safe School Declaration step-down activities and workshops.”
Education
Breaking News: Less Than 48 Hours After ₦100 Million Endowment, Summit University Secures Full ICAN Accreditation for Accounting Programme
Breaking News: Less Than 48 Hours After ₦100 Million Endowment, Summit University Secures Full ICAN Accreditation for Accounting Programme
By: Michael Mike
In a momentous week for Summit University, Offa, the institution has recorded a double milestone that cements its position as a rising star in Nigeria’s higher education landscape. Less than 48 hours after receiving a transformative ₦100 million endowment from the Isiaq Family Foundation (IFF) to boost accounting education, the University has secured full accreditation for its Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Accounting programme from the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN).
This landmark accreditation follows the recommendation of the Students’ Affairs Committee and was formally approved by the Council of the Institute, having confirmed that the University met all stipulated criteria for assessment. The next accreditation visit by ICAN is scheduled for the 2027/2028 academic session.
The announcement comes as a proud validation of the University’s commitment to academic and professional excellence. It confirms that the Accounting programme at Summit University has not only achieved national benchmarks but is poised to produce graduates who are fully equipped for global relevance in the dynamic world of finance and accounting.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Abiodun Musa Aibinu, praised the timing and significance of the dual developments. “This is divine alignment. The recognition by ICAN, coming so soon after the extraordinary endowment by the Isiaq Family Foundation, sends a clear message that Summit University is on the path of greatness. These back-to-back milestones reinforce our resolve to deliver top-tier education and nurture future leaders in the accounting profession.”
Earlier this week, during the 11th Triennial Conference of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria held in Abeokuta, the Isiaq Family Foundation, led by Alhaji Kola Isiaq-Balogun, announced a ₦100 million endowment continue aimed at transforming accounting education at Summit University. The endowment includes annual scholarships for students, the establishment of a Professorial Chair in Accounting, a dedicated research grant, the development of an Accounting Technology Laboratory (AccTech Lab), and awards for the best graduating students. Provisions were also made for solar-powered energy and internet connectivity to support uninterrupted digital access for learning.
The dual developments have been hailed by the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, founders of the University, as a testament to their vision of academic and moral excellence. They reflect not only the growing confidence in the University’s academic direction but also the power of collaboration between philanthropic vision and institutional ambition.
Summit University stands proud in this historic moment—propelled by a generous endowment and fortified by national accreditation—ready to shape the future of accounting education in Nigeria and beyond. As part of its unwavering commitment to producing industry- and community-fitted graduates, the University prioritises the acquisition of seven transformative skills that define its unique educational model.
These include proficiency in ICT and Artificial Intelligence, deep understanding of Financial Literacy, and the nurturing of Acadopreneurship—an innovative blend of academic excellence and entrepreneurial thinking. Students are also grounded in history, heritage, and storytelling skills, empowered with knowledge in Clean and Renewable Energy, and cultivated to become responsible Global Citizens. Through this holistic approach, Summit University is not only building capable professionals but also shaping visionary leaders for national development and global relevance.
Breaking News: Less Than 48 Hours After ₦100 Million Endowment, Summit University Secures Full ICAN Accreditation for Accounting Programme
UNIMAID Student Drowns in Gwange River, Another Rescued
By: Zagazola Makama
A tragic drowning incident has claimed the life of a University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) student, while another was rescued after they went swimming at the Gwange River Bank in Maiduguri.
Intelligence sources told Zagazola Makama that the incident occurred on March 14, 2025, around 7:00 p.m., when two UNIMAID students, identified as Abafras Abdiel from the Department of Forestry and Silas Sule from the Department of Geology, went to the Gwange River Bank behind ECWA Church for a swim.
While diving, both students drowned in the river, prompting an emergency response. A combined rescue team, including the police, divers, and fire service personnel, was immediately mobilized to the scene.
The rescue team managed to retrieve both victims and rushed them to the State Specialist Hospital, Maiduguri. While Abafras Abdiel was admitted for treatment, Silas Sule was unfortunately certified dead by doctors. His body has since been deposited at the hospital for autopsy and further investigations.
The authorities have urged students and residents to exercise caution when engaging in activities near water bodies, especially during the dry season, when river currents can be unpredictable.
UNIMAID Student Drowns in Gwange River, Another Rescued
Federal University Gusau: A 300-level student died in a bandit’s den in Zamfara
By: Our Reporter
This is truly heartbreaking. Zarah Abubakar Shehu, a 21-year-old 300-level student at Federal University Gusau, was abducted along with her two siblings by bandits in the early hours of Sunday, November 3, 2024, from their home in the Damba area of Gusau, Zamfara State.
The kidnappers initially demanded a ransom of ₦35 million for their release. After much struggle, the family managed to gather ₦10 million, which the kidnappers agreed to accept. However, even after receiving the money, they still refused to release Zarah. Instead, they demanded four motorcycles (Boza) and four cartons of engine oil.
Zarah and her siblings spent four months in captivity. When all the items were finally gathered, the kidnappers’ leader was informed. He then called his men to check on the captives. To everyone’s horror, his men responded that only two children remained; one of them, Zarah, had passed away and had already been buried two days earlier.
Zarah was the only daughter of her mother, making her loss even more devastating. Her passing is not just a tragedy for her family but a heartbreaking reflection of the ongoing insecurity in Zamfara State and the pain that countless families endure.
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