Green Bridge Weekly Education News Digest (2 - 9 October 2026)

This Week's Highlights: Expanding Horizons, Rising Costs, and Student Voices

This past week in Nigerian education brought a mix of groundbreaking expansions, escalating financial concerns, and crucial discussions on student welfare and academic success. Major headlines focused on the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board's (JAMB) bold move to establish an overseas examination centre, the Lagos State Government's ambitious plan to significantly boost medical student intake, and the contentious issue of tuition fee hikes in public universities. Amidst these developments, student discipline, practical academic guidance, and community support for learning also garnered significant attention.

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Admissions and Access for a Growing Student Population

The landscape of tertiary education is undergoing significant changes, aimed at increasing access and capacity both domestically and for Nigerians abroad. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) announced a significant step towards globalizing access to Nigerian tertiary education, unveiling plans to establish a Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) centre in Ottawa, Canada, starting from 2027. This initiative, championed by JAMB Registrar Professor Segun Aina during a visit to the Nigerian High Commission, will allow eligible Nigerians in Canada and other North American regions to sit for the UTME without returning to Nigeria. JAMB sees this as a way to strengthen ties between Nigerians in the diaspora and the local education system while showcasing Nigerian tertiary education internationally. Closer to home, the Lagos State Government revealed ambitious plans to dramatically increase the annual student admission capacity of the Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM). The intake is projected to rise fivefold from approximately 500 to 2,500 students per year by 2028. This expansion is supported by the repurposing of the former Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) isolation centre at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, which will now serve as an additional clinical teaching and training facility. The move is a strategic part of Lagos State's efforts to transform LASUCOM into a standalone University of Medicine and Health Sciences, combating the "Japa" syndrome (emigration of medical professionals) by expanding domestic training.

"The proposed [UTME Canada] centre will make it easier for Nigerians in the diaspora to sit for the UTME without travelling to Nigeria solely for the examination," JAMB stated.

In further efforts to expand educational opportunities, Akwa Ibom State saw the appointment of Professor Philip Afaha as the pioneer Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Akwa Ibom State University of Education, Afaha Nsit. This marks a new phase for the institution, transforming the former College of Education into a degree-awarding university focused on teacher education and professional development. Meanwhile, Lagos State University (LASU) extended its 2026/2027 Direct Entry (DE) screening deadline to Sunday, October 11, 2026, providing more time for eligible candidates, including those from its JUPEB programme, to complete their applications. Similarly, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, opened applications for its 2026/2027 postgraduate admission, setting a November 2, 2026, deadline for prospective candidates.

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The Tumult of University Fees and Financial Accessibility

A major point of contention this week was the escalating cost of public university education, stirring widespread concern among students and stakeholders. Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, announced a sharp increase in registration charges for the 2026/2027 academic session, with students now expected to pay between N143,000 and N298,000, a significant jump from the previous N62,000 to N84,000 range. This hike, particularly steep for professional, medical, and science-based programs—some seeing increases of over 300%—has ignited fears of similar actions across other public universities.

"The series of increments are not just surprising but outrageous. There’s no education for the common man anymore," lamented ABU student Bisallah Abuhaneefah.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), through its President Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, vehemently rejected these "arbitrary increases," emphasizing that the burden of financing public education should not be shifted to students. While NANS supports the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Afeez cautioned that it is a loan, not a grant, and should not be used as an excuse for universities to continuously raise fees. This sentiment echoes concerns following widespread fee increases after the 2022 ASUU strike and a recent federal government directive for universities to generate internal revenue for lecturers' allowances. In response to these fears, several institutions moved to reassure their communities: Bayero University Kano (BUK) denied any tuition fee increases for the current academic session. University of Abuja (Yakubu Gowon University) stated it had no plans to increase tuition fees. The University of Benin (UNIBEN) confirmed that its tuition fees remain unchanged for the new academic session. The University of Jos (UniJos) reported no formal or informal communication from the National Universities Commission (NUC) regarding a proposed tuition fee increase.

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Campus Life, Student Conduct, and Community Support

Issues of student discipline, the learning environment, and community engagement also made headlines. Madonna University faced strong criticism from Amnesty International, NANS, and the Nigerian Universities Nursing Students’ Association (NUNSA) following the expulsion of a final-year nursing student and the suspension of 14 others. The disciplinary action stemmed from a viral TikTok video showing the students dancing in a hospital setting. Amnesty International called the sanctions "disproportionate," citing concerns over freedom of expression, academic freedom, and education rights, urging the university to opt for dialogue and mediation. The university has yet to announce a reversal of the sanctions, keeping the debate on student conduct and social media use in higher education alive. In a separate incident, Ugya community in Nasarawa State was reportedly gripped by tension following allegations that a Junior Secondary School Two (JSS 2) student was beaten by his principal for failing to participate in manual labor. The student's father was allegedly taken to a police station after confronting the principal, prompting residents to call for a full investigation by the Nasarawa State Ministry of Education. On a more positive note for basic education, Ladi-Lak Nursery and Primary School in Apapa, Lagos, received a significant donation of classroom furniture and learning materials from Dangote Cement Plc. This initiative, part of the company's Social Investment Programme, aims to improve the learning environment for pupils in its host community, drawing praise from the school management for its impact on student excitement and staff morale. The academic prowess of young learners was also celebrated as Lagos State Model Nursery and Primary School, Ikeja GRA, emerged victorious in the 2026 inter-school debate competition organized by Lions International, District 404B5, for World Literacy Day. The debate, focusing on the negative impacts of social media on children, highlighted the importance of early guidance in the digital age.

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Strategies for Academic Success and Institutional Growth

Several articles this week offered invaluable advice for students navigating their academic journeys and highlighted institutional advancements. Students grappling with challenging academic concepts can benefit from insights into "10 Signs You Are Studying Without Truly Understanding What You Learn."This guide differentiates between mere familiarity and true comprehension, emphasizing active recall, explanation in one's own words, and metacognition—planning, monitoring, and evaluating one's learning—as key to effective study. For final year students, choosing a project topic is a critical hurdle. A practical guide on "How to Choose a Final Year Project Topic Your Supervisor Will Approve" advised students to focus on problems they can observe, ensure data accessibility, narrow their scope, and check against previous departmental projects, emphasizing that a manageable topic is preferable to an impressive but unfeasible one. Similarly, "SIWES Report on Building Construction: What to Write and How" provided essential guidance for students on industrial attachment, urging them to detail their on-site experiences, material understanding, and safety observations rather than merely copying textbook content. A crucial academic policy for university students was demystified in "Carryover in University: What It Does to Your CGPA and How to Clear It." The article explained that a failed course (carryover) remains on the transcript and can significantly impact CGPA, even after being retaken and passed. It stressed the importance of timely registration for carryover courses, attending lectures, and understanding specific university rules on how repeated courses are computed. In news of institutional milestones, Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, commenced its 18th convocation ceremony, celebrating the graduation of 2,471 students, including 200 First Class honours undergraduates. The event also showcased the university's new facilities aimed at supporting students and fostering entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) announced the promotion of 13 academic staff members to the rank of Professor across various disciplines, further strengthening its academic leadership.

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Looking Ahead: Key Deadlines and Academic Progression

As the academic year progresses, several important deadlines and developments are on the horizon for students: LASU Direct Entry (DE) Screening: Candidates must complete their applications by midnight, Sunday, October 11, 2026. No further extensions are expected. UNIMAID Student Profile Update: Undergraduate students at the University of Maiduguri have until Tuesday, October 20, 2026, to update their profiles, upload credentials, and complete course registration to avoid withdrawal from the university. ABU Postgraduate Admission: Prospective postgraduate students at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, must complete their applications by November 2, 2026. Students are strongly advised to take note of these deadlines and proactive steps to ensure their academic progress and secure their future educational opportunities.