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COVID-19: EKITI PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS REOPEN SEPT 21 ….. TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS TO RESUME OCT 2

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Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has announced September 21 date for reopening of primary and secondary schools in the state, ending months of school closure occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Dr. Fayemi who disclosed this in a state-wide broadcast on Sunday evening also directed that tertiary institutions in the state be opened to students from October 2, subject to each institution’s Governing Council decision and strict adherence to safety protocols to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The Governor stressed that the authorities of the tertiary institutions are to liaise with the Ekiti COVID-19 Task Force for guidance on the appropriate measures to be put in place before reopening.
Specifically, the Governor said students in SSS II, JSS III and Primary 6 are to resume on September 21, while students in SSS I, JSS II and Primary 5 and 4 are to resume from September 28.
Students in JSS I and Primary 1-3 are to resume on October 19, while pupils in Kindergarten and Nursery Schools are expected to resume on November 2, when more assurances of safety for their age bracket would have been established.
The Governor noted that the decision to open more classes was taken because there has been no spike traceable to students in exit classes who are writing their certificate examinations saying: “This shows that our preventive measures to safeguard them from being infected has been effective.”
On worship centres, Dr Fayemi disclosed that they can henceforth hold two services on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays while midweek services and night vigils are still prohibited.
He said: “After a careful review and advice by the experts, I am glad to announce that worship centres can now hold two services on Friday, Saturday or Sunday as the case may be but mid-week activities and night vigils remain suspended for now. Other protocols and regulations concerning worship centres reopening still subsist.”
Reprieve also came for residents of the state on social activities especially the ones taking place in halls and event centres with owners of such facilities now mandated to rent them to users on condition that they should not contain more than 50 per cent of their normal capacities.
Dr. Fayemi said: “Owners of halls and event centres may now be allowed to rent out their facilities but under no condition should such a facility contain more than 50 per cent of its normal capacity.
“This is to allow for social distancing. Events centres are expected to observe all protocols prescribed for religious centres and to obtain certificate of readiness before opening.”
The Governor, however, expressed concern on flouting of social distancing rules and non-use of face masks saying enforcement will also be scaled up to ensure compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
The Governor added: “While we have progressively responded to the initial lockdown with gradual relaxation in line with the progress made, we must remain vigilant as we cannot afford to indulge ourselves such that a spike may recur as a result of flagrant disobedience to the established protocol
“We cannot afford to go back into another round of lockdown with its attendant repercussions. This point needs to be emphasized; though, there is a national decline in number of cases, there has been a noticeable upsurge in Ekiti.
“One proof of this is the unpleasant but consistent figures that we have recorded in the last month. As at the time I addressed you on August 5, 2020, there were only 152 confirmed cases in Ekiti.
“Today we have recorded a total of 299 cases which means we recorded 147 new cases within a month. You would recall that the total recorded cases from March to August were 152. This suggests that from August to date, we have had near 100 percent new cases, even while national number has maintained a stable decline.
“It is in view of this, that I have issued a new directive to the law enforcement agencies to ramp up their enforcement activities. We should not delude ourselves that we are out of the pandemic until there is a reliable vaccine in place.
“Even as we continue to evaluate situations and act promptly, I urge you to take personal measures and responsibility by adhering to all existing protocols, as not doing so, could jeopardize our collective wellbeing”
Speaking on empowerment, the Governor said his administration was doing everything possible to support entrepreneurs, artisans and self employed residents.
He disclosed that over 200 businesses accessed the COVID loans from CBN through the Microfinance and Enterprise Development Agency (MEDA) while Ekiti residents should expect to benefit from the multiple initiatives from the Federal Government to support the economy, including the recently launched COVID Survival Fund.

The Governor thanked the state’s medical and health workers in the front line and the COVID-19 Response Resource Mobilisation Team as well as all donors to the COVID-19 Support Fund.
He urged residents to keep safe in all fronts especially with more rains coming adding that “we must not only keep safe in terms of COVID-19 prevention, we must also ensure that the drainages are kept free to forestall flooding, just as our drivers must keep safe to avoid accidents in these last quarter as we move towards the end of the year.”

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GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL JOINS GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S

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GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL JOINS GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S

 

Girau International School (GIS) has announced its participation in the worldwide celebration of Children’s Day, reaffirming its commitment to fostering and nurturing young learners.

The school emphasized that GIS is dedicated to creating a learning atmosphere that is not only educational but also filled with fun and adventure. “At Girau International School, we believe that learning should be an enjoyable experience,” the statement read. “We are committed to developing early readers and focusing on comprehensive educational development through our innovative curriculum, which is a blend of the Nigerian and British educational systems.”

As part of its dedication to academic excellence, GIS allocates specific reading times during which students engage in phonics, fluency, vocabulary development, and key reading strategies to enhance their comprehension skills. This structured approach ensures that children not only learn to read but also develop a lifelong love for reading.

Additionally, GIS offers top-notch sporting and extracurricular facilities, providing students with opportunities to explore their interests beyond the classroom. “Our motto, ‘Learn, Live, and Achieve,’ encapsulates our holistic approach to education,” the management stated.

As Girau International School joins the global community in celebrating Children’s Day, it remains steadfast in its mission to empower young learners, preparing them for a bright future filled with possibilities. The school remain committed in reinforcing the importance of nurturing and supporting the next generation.

GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL JOINS GLOBAL CELEBRATIONS FOR CHILDREN’S

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Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) Proposes Partnership with Beart & Gibson Group

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*Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) Proposes Partnership with Beart & Gibson Group to Empower Youth and Drive Industrial Development in Northeast Nigeria*

The Nigerian Army University Biu (NAUB) has announced a bold and strategic proposal to partner with Beart & Gibson Group, a globally recognized leader in manufacturing and engineering, to launch a large-scale empowerment and industrial development initiative targeting Nigeria’s Northeast region.
This groundbreaking collaboration was the focal point of a high-level meeting between the NAUB management and a delegation from Beart & Gibson Group, led by Dr. Shelly U. Amos, Regional Director for West Africa, and Esv. Ashem Musa Jacob, Nominee for Beart & Gibson Group.

The proposed partnership is designed to provide practical, skill-based training in several key areas crucial to modern industrial and technological development.
These include:
1. Engineering and manufacturing (including assembly and production of devices and appliances).
2. IT and digital skills Software development and cybersecurity
3. Digital marketing
4. Entrepreneurship and business planning
5. Financial literacy and startup development
6. Modern agricultural practices and agribusiness management.

Speaking on the importance of the initiative, NAUB Vice Chancellor, Professor Lawan Buratai, emphasized that the partnership represents more than just a skills program. “This partnership presents our commitment to providing students with real-world skills that align with national priorities.

It is a vital step towards the industrial realization of the Northeast,” Prof. Buratai said.

According to the proposal, the collaboration aims to enrich NAUB’s academic curriculum with industry-relevant content, enhance graduate employability, and foster sustainable economic growth across the region. The long-term vision is to transform the Northeast into a hub for industrial innovation, youth empowerment, and entrepreneurship.

If approved and implemented, the NAUB-Beart & Gibson partnership could become a model for strategic academia-industry collaboration in Nigeria, serving as a catalyst for regional development and national progress.

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Server Glitch Shatters UTME Dreams: JAMB Admits Error, 380,000 Candidates to Resit Exams 

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Server Glitch Shatters UTME Dreams: JAMB Admits Error, 380,000 Candidates to Resit Exams 

Server Glitch Shatters UTME Dreams: JAMB Admits Error, 380,000 Candidates to Resit Exams 

A devastating technical oversight and human error have forced Nigeria’s Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to invalidate the 2025 UTME results of 379,997 candidates across Lagos and the South-East, sparking public outrage, calls for resignation, and growing demand for accountability.

At an emergency technical review on Wednesday at JAMB’s Abuja headquarters, Registrar Professor Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears as he addressed the fallout from the mishap, admitting that the problem stemmed from the incomplete deployment of a critical server update—a mistake that severely distorted results for nearly 400,000 candidates in 157 exam centres.

“This incident was neither a system failure nor administrative manipulation, but an outright human error,” the board declared.

According to the report presented, JAMB’s server patch—which supported new innovations in the 2025 exam—was correctly implemented in the Kaduna (KAD) server cluster but not deployed to the Lagos (LAG) cluster, which services Lagos and the entire South-East. The result: a massive answer validation mismatch that rendered scores invalid.

A collaborative review with Educare Technical Team, JAMB’s independent IT partner, revealed that over 14,000 logs from affected centres displayed severe inconsistencies, with audit trails confirming systemic malfunction—not student failure.

The fallout is massive:

  • 65 centres (206,610 candidates) affected in Lagos

  • 92 centres (173,387 candidates) affected in the South-East

  • 379,997 total candidates to resit the UTME, starting Friday, May 16

The registrar stated affected students will receive SMS notifications to their registered numbers. He took full responsibility, stating:

“Please. Thank you. I am sorry. These are not just words—I accept full responsibility.”

Public Reactions: Resignation Calls Mount

Despite Oloyede’s emotional apology, pressure is building. On social media, Nigerians are calling for his resignation:

  • @jacobsule: “Oloyede should step aside immediately for an independent investigation.”

  • @MrGatsby: “Oloyede should please resign. This is disgraceful.”

  • @abolajijnr: “Someone has died over this. He should be in jail already.”

Parents Demand Clarity on Withheld Results

The scandal deepened as parents of under-16 candidates decried JAMB’s refusal to release their children’s results.

“Why traumatize these children? They wrote the exams, let them see their scores!” cried Mrs. Abiodun Ashimolowo.

The Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (PTA) praised JAMB’s transparency but demanded a full list of affected candidates and more clarity on the exact technical failures.

“Were these computer bugs or personnel errors? We want full transparency,” said PTA President Danjuma Haruka.

As nearly 400,000 students prepare to retake one of Nigeria’s most critical exams, the credibility of JAMB hangs in the balance. While Oloyede’s emotional apology has earned some praise for transparency, others insist only full accountability and reform will restore trust in the system.

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