The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has backed the introduction of compulsory and random drug integrity tests for students in tertiary institutions across the country.

This decision followed a meeting in Abuja on Wednesday with the Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, Brig Gen Buba Marwa (retd), where both parties discussed measures to curb substance abuse among students.

In a statement on Wednesday by the agency’s spokesman, Femi Babafemi, the minister also approved a review of the current secondary school curriculum to incorporate updated drug education and committed to forming an inter-ministerial working group with the NDLEA.

Babafemi said the NDLEA boss had proposed a three-pronged approach: revising drug education content in schools, introducing stand-alone drug abuse prevention programmes in secondary schools, and implementing a drug testing policy for tertiary institutions, including for new students, returning students, and random testing.

Marwa described the drug scourge as a threat to national security and youth development, citing its links to criminal activities such as terrorism and banditry.

He disclosed that the agency had arrested over 40,000 drug offenders and seized more than 5,500 metric tonnes of drugs in the past two years.

“We are fighting for the souls of our children. Without drugs, many criminal activities would not be possible,” he said.

Responding, Alausa acknowledged the urgency of the problem, stating: “When the youths get into drugs, they won’t go to school, and even when they go to school, they are not getting a functional education.

“At the end of the day, what happens? Their level of critical thinking is lower.

“Their ability to make informed decisions in the later part of their life becomes significantly reduced. So, they become unemployable.

“And what happens? You now have that vicious cycle. They’re not functional.”

The minister stated that drug tests for fresh and returning students in tertiary institutions would be done.

He said, “You also said something very important about the drug test policy in tertiary institutions. We will do it.

“We have to do it. We do not have a choice. At least, we’ll start with tertiary institutions, for their fresh and returning students as well as random testing.”

He announced the creation of a Substance Use Prevention Unit within the ministry and confirmed that a revised curriculum for secondary schools was underway.

Alausa said, “I would suggest we form a technical working group, an inter-ministerial working group between our ministry and NDLEA.

“As a result, I would also like to create a Substance Use Prevention Unit in the ministry.

“We’re reviewing the curriculum now for secondary school. And that’s why I’ve asked the Director of Senior Secondary School to come, to be here and then we find a way to cascade it down to primary school.

“We need to incorporate both primary and secondary schools into their curriculum. But the one for secondary school, we can do that now. We’re currently developing their new curriculum.

“Also, on the stand-alone school programmes, I agree with you fully. We should also design ongoing programmes in our schools. That we can roll out, and cascade down.”

The minister also committed to working with the Universal Basic Education Commission and Tertiary Education Trust Fund to support the NDLEA Academy in Jos, Plateau State.

Punch

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As part of efforts to curb rising incidents of student misconduct, the Sokoto  and Jigawa State Governments have banned all forms of “sign-out” celebrations by graduating secondary school students in the areas.

The bans applies to both public and private schools.

Announcing the ban in Sokotot, the State Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Professor Ahmad Ladan Ala said the decision follows growing concerns over unruly behavior, vandalism, and public disturbances often associated with these celebrations marking the end of the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE).

According to Prof. Ala, the sign-out trend has deviated from its original celebratory purpose and now undermines the values of discipline, academic focus, and responsible conduct that the state’s education system strives to uphold.

“All principals have been directed to take immediate steps to prevent students from organizing or participating in any form of sign-out celebrations, whether within or outside school premises,” the commissioner stated.

The Ministry also called on parents and guardians to support the directive by discouraging their children from engaging in these acts, which have increasingly become a source of concern for school authorities and the wider public.

Similarly, the Jigawa State Government also placed a ban on “sign-out” parties by graduating senior secondary school students across the state.

The announcement was made by the Commissioner for Higher Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Isa Yusuf Chamo, who said the decision aims to uphold discipline, academic excellence, and responsible conduct among students.

He said schools are encouraged to adopt alternative celebrations that align with educational values and societal norms.

“This decision follows careful observation of the increasing risks and negative consequences linked to such gatherings. Recent incidents have shown that these events often result in public disturbances, jeopardise student safety, and sometimes involve inappropriate or unlawful behaviour-contrary to the Islamic values we strive to instil in our youth,” Prof. Chamo said.

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By Sebastine Okafor

The member representing Enugu North/South Federal Constituency, Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu, has inaugurated a seven-man education board. The board will be responsible for awarding SSCE and tertiary institution scholarships, bursaries, and other interventions in public primary and secondary schools in Enugu North and South Federal Constituency.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Enugu during the week, Hon. Atu emphasized that education is a top priority in his plans because it is the bedrock of any society. He tasked the board with developing policy documents for the award of SSCE and tertiary scholarships, bursaries, and general interventions in public primary and secondary schools in Enugu North and South Federal Constituency, ensuring proper and verifiable implementation.

Atu further urged the board to be transparent in their activities and ensure that deserving students receive the scholarships.

“I am a product of public school, and I know that there are many brilliant children out there that need our support. As the representative of the people, it is my job to help build education in Enugu North and South Federal Constituency,” the lawmaker said

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Whip of Enugu State House of Assembly and Member Representing Enugu South Rural Constituency, Hon. Obiajulu Princess Ugwu, praised Hon. Atu for his unflinching commitment and love for education. Hon. Ugwu promised to work with Hon. Atu and the board in implementing the policies. She described the idea of SSCE scholarships as laudable because there are many parents who cannot afford to enroll their children.

Responding on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the Board, Dr. Barr Chidiebere Anthony Ezinwa, promised to work within the terms of reference to develop proper, transparent, and sustainable educational intervention policies that will radically contribute to public education need in the constituency.

Other members of the Board include, Barr. Mercy Uche Igwesi, Dr. Ekwe Okwudiri Chris, Chief Emmanue Opara, Amb. Mrs Onyinye Mamah, Mr. Ebenezer Ngene, and Mr. Sebastian Okafor.

The committee has two weeks to submit a preliminary report.

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The Federal Government through the Ministry of Education has inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to investigate the activities of 107 private and foreign universities operating in the country.

The investigation became necessary following reported cases of certificate racketeering, management structure deficit, lack of adequate facilities, inadequate funding of programmes, among others by private and foreign universities.

The issue of degree mills, once again came to the centre of discussions in Nigeria, following an investigative report by Daily Nigerian reporter, Umar Audu.

In the report, Audu revealed how he obtained a degree within six weeks and even proceeded to embark on mandatory youth service under the National Youth Service Corps scheme (NYSC).

Members of the panel include the Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede; the Minister of Youths, Jamila Bio-Ibrahim; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar among others.

One of the committee’s terms of reference stated that private universities established in the last 15 years be investigated.

“Without prejudice to the periodic accreditation exercise of the NUC, examine whether or not private universities established in the last 15 years have in the place prescribed facilities, appropriate management structure, adequate funding of programmes, requisite staff (nature of staff-full time, contract, adjunct, visiting, other types),” the term of reference read.

Already, Nigeria has a total of 147 private universities as listed on the website of the NUC.

The Punch reports that analysis of the dates of establishments revealed that 107 private universities were established in the last 15 years.

In this piece, PUNCH online highlights the private universities established in the last 15 years that may fall under the searchlight of the FG’s investigative panel.

They are;

1. Adeleke University, Ede, Osun State
2. Baze University, FCT Abuja
3. Landmark University, Omu-Aran, Kwara State
4. Glorious Vision University (formerly Samuel Adegboyega University), Ogwa, Edo State
5. McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ajebo, Ogun State
6. Elizade University, Ilara-Mokin, Ondo State
7. Southwestern University, Oku Owa, Ogun State
8. Evangel University, Ebonyi State
9. Gregory University, Uturu, Abia State
10. Augustine University, Ilara, Lagos State
11. Chrisland University, Owode, Ogun State
12. Christopher University, Mowe, Ogun State
13. Hallmark University, Ijebu-Itele, Ogun State
14. Kings University Ode-Omu, Osun State
15. Michael & Cecilia Ibru University, Owhode, Delta State
16. Mountain Top University, Makogi/Oba, Ogun State
17. Ritman University, Ikot Ekpene, Akwalbom State
18. Summit University, Offa, Kwara State
19. Edwin Clark University, Kiagbodo, Delta State
20. Hezekiah University, Umudi, Imo State
21. Anchor University, Ayobo, Lagos State
22. Arthur Jarvis University, Akpabuyo, Cross River State
23. Clifford University, Abia State
24. Coal City University, Enugu state
25. Ojaja University, Ilorin, Kwara state
26. Dominican University, Ibadan, Oyo State
27. Kola Daisi University., Ibadan, Oyo State
28. Legacy University, Okija, Anambra State
29. Spiritan University, Neochi, Abia State
30. Precious Cornerstone, Ibadan, Oyo State
31. PAMO University of Medical Sciences, Port-Harcourt, Rivers State
32. Atiba University, Oyo, Oyo State
33. Eko University of Medical Sciences, Ijanikin, Lagos
34. Skyline University, Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
35. Greenfield University, Kasarami-Kaduna, Kaduna State
36. Dominion University, Ibadan, Oyo State
37. Trinity University, Laloko, Ogun State
38. Westland University, Iwo, Osun State
39. Topfaith University, Mkpatak, Akwa-Ibom State
40. Thomas Adewumi University, Oko-Irese, Kwara State
41. Maranatha University, Lekki, Lagos State
42. Ave-Maria University, Piyanko, Nasarawa State

43.AL-Istigama University, Sumaila, Kano State

44. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State
45. Havilla University, Nde-Ikom, Cross River State
46. Claretian University of Nigeria, Nekede, Imo State
47. Karl-Kumm University, Vom, Plateau State
48. Nok University, Kachia, Kaduna State
49. James Hope University, Lekki, Lagos state
50. Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, Kano, Kano State
51. Capital City University, Kano, Kano State
52. Ahman Pategi University, Patigi, Kwara State
53. University of Offa, Offa, Kwara State
54. Mewar University, Masaka, Nasarawa State
55. Edusoko University, Bida, Niger State
56. Philomath University, Kuje, Abuja
57. Khadija University, Majia, Jigawa State
58. ANAN University, Kwall, Plateau State
59. Pen Resource University, Gombe, Gombe State

60.Al-Ansar University, Maiduguri, Borno

61. Margaret Lawrence University, Galilee, Delta State
62. Khalifa Isiyaku Rabiu University, Kano, Kano State
63. Sports University, Idumuje, Ugboko, Delta State
64. Baba-Ahmed University, Kano, Kano State
65. Salsa University Of Medical Sciences and Technology, Sokoto, Sokoto State
66. Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State
67. Peter University, Achina-Onneh, Anambra State
68. Newgate University, Minna, Niger State
69. European University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
70. Northwest University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
71. Rayhaan University, Kebbi State
72. Muhammad Kamalud-Deen University, Ilorin, Kwara State
73. Sam Maris University, Supare, Ondo State
74. Aletheia University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State
75. Lux Mundi University, Umuahia, Abia State
76. Maduka University, Ekwegbe, Enugu State
77. Peaceland University, Enugu, Enugu State
78. Amadeus University, Amizi, Abia State
79. Vision University, Ikogbo, Ogun State
80. Azman University, Kano, Kano State
81. Huda University, Gusau, Zamfara State
82. Franco British International University, Kaduna, Kaduna State
83. Canadian University of Nigeria, Abuja, FCT
84. Miva Open University, Abuja, FCT
85. Gerar University of Medical Sciences, Imope-ljebu, Ogun State
86. British Canadian University, Obudu, Cross River State
87. Hensard University, Toru-Orua, Bayelsa State

88.Phoenix University, Agwada, Nasarawa State

89. Wigwe University, Isiokpo, Rivers State
90. Hillside University of Science and Technology, Okemesi Ekiti, Ekiti State
91. University on the Niger, Umunya, Anambra State
92. Elrazi University of Medical Sciences, Kano Kano State
93. Venite University, Iloro-Ekiti, Ekiti State

94 Shanahan University, Onitsha, Anambra State

95. Duke Medical University, Calabar, Cross River State
96. Mercy Medical University, Iwara, Iwo, Osun State

97.Cosmopolitan University, Abuja, FCT

98. Iconic Open University, Sokoto, Sokoto State
99. West Midland Open University, Ibadan, Oyo State
100. Amaj University, Abuja, FCT
101. Prime University, Abuja, FCT
102. El-Amin University, Niger State
103. College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna, Kaduna State
104. Jewel University, Gombe, Gombe State
105. Nigerian University of Technology and Management, Apapa, Lagos State
106. Al-Muhibbah Open University, Abuja, FCT
107. Al-Bayan University, Kogi state

Additional report by Punch

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