Education
WE MUST ENTRENCH TRUE FEDERALISM TO RESCUE NIGERIA- AMBODE
…Says Current Power Structure Inhibiting National Growth
…Delivers 2017 UNILAG Convocation Lecture
Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday reiterated the need for Nigeria to implement the federal system as originally intended, saying doing so remains the right path to rescue the country from the doldrums and myriad of challenges inhibiting growth and development.
Governor Ambode, who spoke while delivering the University of Lagos Convocation Lecture and investiture of Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe as the 12th Vice Chancellor of the institution, said it was a common knowledge that the Federal Government was burdened with tasks beyond the reach of its best competencies to the detriment of States, which are the federating units.
According to him, Nigeria’s present political structure was seriously affecting the efficiency of both State and Local governments, submitting that for States to give optimal service to their citizens, the principle of inclusion as being practiced in Lagos where anybody irrespective of race or creed can rise to the pinnacle of their chosen career, first needs to be applied to the division of power between the Federal and State governments.
“There recently has been clamour for devolution of power and true federalism. While much of this talk is good intentioned, I believe it misses the crucial point. The linchpin of good governance is not found in the system deployed but in the quality of its administration.
“We must implement the federal system as it was intended to be. Heretofore, too much power has resided in the National government. This has been to the detriment of the authority and efficiency of both State and Local governments.
“This has caused a governance vacuum of sorts. The Federal government is burdened with tasks beyond the reach of its best competencies. The States and Local government are dissuaded from treating many matters of a local nature that are better left in their hands due to their greater knowledge of local conditions.
“We need to shift some functions/responsibilities from the national government to place more of it in the hands of the States. This is how we give federalism the best chance to work. Until we do this, calls to abandon the current system serve not to fix the underlying problem,” the Governor said.
Continuing, Governor Ambode said any structural reform might face the tendency of being distorted to serve the purpose of those who favour concentration of power, adding that clamour for total change to the political architecture would be time consuming and expensive.
He posited that what the nation should do was to first attempt a more equitable level of fiscal federalism before adopting drastic alternations that may likely plunge the country into uncertainty.
“Additionally, such attempts at enormous and rapid political change causes economic uncertainty and dislocation. Given our tenuous relationship to prosperity, Nigeria cannot afford this self-affliction.
“There is widespread consensus that too much power sits in the center. We can correct this imbalance by reallocating power and responsibilities between the States and Federal government by amending the list of exclusive and concurrent powers and duties of these governments to reflect current realities in the nation.
“These changes will have beneficial impact visible within a short amount of time. The impact of these changes, though political in origin, will be economic in nature and it is in our economic life where the nation needs the most help.
“Resolving the problems regarding federalism and the herdsman’s, as with so many other problems, requires us to look beyond prejudice and hatred. Exploiting fear and bias is easy and sings well in the short-run. Over the longer-term, it is a bitter cup that cures nothing but ferments greater hatred and larger problems,” he said.
Governor Ambode, who also alluded to the story of Lagos, said former Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola deserved commendation for moving the master plan of Lagos from concept to concrete reality, saying his administration was building on it to move the State to a smart city.
“In every way, our infrastructure is improved. Our roads are better, our mass transportation has expanded, hospitals give better care to the sick and afflicted, education is improving and more affordable housing is being constructed before our very eyes.
“The face of Badagry is changing. The makeover of Oshodi will cause you to marvel at the transformation that can take place even in densely populated urban space when there is the political will and determined creativity to give the people the infrastructure they deserve. We are improving and expanding the Airport Road so that a trip to and from the airport no longer takes more time than your flight itself.
“The Lekki-Epe axis was once an isolated, inactive tract of land. Now it bustles with energy, activity and prosperity due in large measure to the roads and other infrastructure our State has constructed. We have and will continue to build bridges linking parts of Lagos that have not been linked before so that commerce, transport and communication among Lagosians will be facilitated,” he said.
Admonishing the 2017 graduates, Governor Ambode urged them to use their academic experience to correct the direction of the country by improving social attitudes and relying more on conscience than being canny in the conduct of their affairs.
To this end, he urged the new graduates to shun the old ways of ethnic, religious and regional bias that have plagued Nigeria’s politics over the years, adding that they must rise above ethnic pettiness and religious bigotry to overcome the enormity of common challenges facing Nigerians and Africans.
“The rest of the world sees us as Black, African and Nigerian and will deal with all of us in the same manner. That larger world cares little about the internal divisions we see as so profound. In this context, we are in the same boat and share the same fate. Unless we join in concerted effort to help each other toward a better more united Nigeria, we all shall fail in our different ways,” he said.
Earlier, in his acceptance speech, Ogundipe lauded Governor Ambode for his commitment to the education sector, saying the institution (UNILAG), where the Governor himself graduated from, was proud to associate with his achievements.
He particularly thanked the Governor for granting 75 per cent waiver on revenue payable by the institution to the State Government, saying the gesture, among other laudable initiatives, were worth commending and shows his passion for the development of the education sector.
Dignitaries who graced the event include Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Senator representing Lagos Central, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu; UNILAG Pro Chancellor, Dr Wale Babalakin; Vice Chancellor of Lagos State University (LASU), Professor Olanrewaju Fagbohun; former UNILAG Vice Chancellors – Professors Oye Ibidapo-Obe and Rahman Bello; foremost educationist, Professor Anya O. Anya, among others.
Education
GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION
*GIRAU INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL, MILLENNIUM CITY KADUNA, OPENS ADMISSION FOR THE 2025/2026 ACADEMIC SESSION
Girau International School (GIS), a premier educational institution located in the heart of Millennium City, Kaduna, has officially announced the commencement of admissions for the forthcoming academic year. The school invites applications for its comprehensive educational streams: *Early Years, Primary, Secondary, and Islamiyya*.
Renowned for its unwavering commitment to academic excellence and holistic development, GIS stands as a beacon of learning in Northern Nigeria. The institution is built on a foundational philosophy dedicated to providing *world-class education* that meets international standards while being firmly rooted in positive cultural and moral values.
The school’s mission extends beyond conventional academics. With a dedicated focus on *nurturing young minds and shaping future leaders* of tomorrow, GIS employs a curated blend of innovative teaching methodologies, a blended curriculum, and state-of-the-art facilities. The environment is meticulously designed to ensure that every student excels *academically, socially, and morally*, preparing them to thrive in a dynamic global landscape.
*A CAPACITY FOR EXCELLENCE*
GIS boasts significant capacity to deliver on its promises:
* *Modern Infrastructure:* The campus features purpose-built, technologically integrated classrooms, advanced science and computer laboratories, expansive sports facilities, and dedicated learning spaces for creative and performing arts.
* *Qualified Faculty:* The school employs a team of highly trained, experienced, and passionate educators who are specialists in child-centered and participatory learning.
* *Blended Curriculum:* The academic programme seamlessly integrates the Nigerian/British curriculum ensuring international best practices, complemented by a strong emphasis on character building, leadership skills, and Islamic ethical teachings in its Islamiyya section.
* *Secure and Conducive Environment:* Situated within the serene and secure Millennium City layout, the school provides a safe, inclusive, and stimulating atmosphere ideal for learning and personal growth.
Prospective parents and guardians seeking an educational partnership that prioritizes excellence, discipline, and comprehensive development for their wards are encouraged to secure a place.
Admission forms are available at the school’s administration office. Early application is advised due to limited vacancies across all classes.
Education
NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa
NIGERIA’S EDUCATION STRIDES, GLOBAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT: When Evidence Travels from Jigawa
…as President Tinubu set to commission Africa’s largest schools complex in Lagos
By O’tega Ogra
There is a quiet shift happening in Nigeria’s education system. You will not find it in speeches neither will you find it in long policy documents. But if you look closely, you will see it in something far more difficult to dismiss. Evidence.
Last week in San Francisco, at the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) conference, data from classrooms in Jigawa State was presented before a global audience. Not projections. Not estimates. A record of what is happening inside a public system in Nigeria. 
That distinction matters. For years, much of what the world has understood about education in countries like ours has been assembled from a distance. National averages. Modelled estimates and reports written long after the fact. What was presented this time came from within. Attendance tracked daily. Teachers reassigned based on need. Classrooms observed as they function. All under a digitalised ecosystem.
In Jigawa, under the JigawaUNITE foundational learning digital programme, the numbers tell a simple story. Within roughly 150 days of implementation which commenced at the end of 2024, 95 previously understaffed schools were fully staffed. Pupil teacher ratio moved from 114:1 to 70:1. Daily attendance rose from 39 per cent to 77 per cent. This remarkable improvement was not achieved by expanding the workforce. It came from reorganising what already existed under a digital umbrella.
There is something instructive in that. Nigeria has never lacked policy. What we have often lacked is the discipline of execution. The ability to take what already exists and make it work as intended. That is where the real shift is beginning to show.
But it would be too convenient to reduce this to one programme.
At the federal level, the direction has also been adjusting. The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has placed measurable outcomes, foundational learning, and teacher quality back at the centre of policy. UBEC, the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education body, continues to drive national interventions around school improvement and teacher development, even as it insists that reform must remain system-led and not fragmented.
The First Lady’s education interventions, through the Renewed Hope Initiative, have reinforced education as a national priority, particularly around access, learning materials, and inclusion. These are different levers, but they are part of the same ecosystem.
And then there is the fiscal reality.
Recent reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu have increased allocations to subnational governments, creating more room for states to act. In a federation like Nigeria, that matters. Because education is not delivered from Abuja. It is delivered in states. In schools. In classrooms.
What Jigawa has done is to use that room and the Executive Governor of the state, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and their partners on the JigawaUNITE project, New Globe, must be given kudos.
However, Jigawa is not alone in this journey.
In Kwara, efforts to align teaching with actual learning levels are beginning to correct a structural mismatch in classrooms. In Lagos and Edo, structured pedagogy and closer monitoring are improving consistency in teaching. Across the entire ecosystem, state governments, federal institutions like UBEC, and delivery partners like NewGlobe are pushing at the same question from different angles.
How do children actually learn better?
In a prior reflection, Ifeyinwa Ugochukwu, VP at NewGlobe, captured the urgency clearly. With the right tools, training, and use of data, foundational learning outcomes can improve at scale. The real risk, she noted, is delay, allowing learning gaps to become permanent.
That warning should not be ignored because the context remains difficult. Nigeria still carries one of the largest out of school populations in the world. Learning gaps remain. Progress in one state does not resolve a national challenge, but it does something else.
It proves that movement is possible.
What was presented in Washington did not claim success. It demonstrated function. It showed that a Nigerian sub-national can generate evidence that holds up in a global room. That reform does not always require something new. Sometimes it requires using what already exists more honestly and more efficiently.
The real question now is whether this remains an exception.
Or whether it becomes a pattern.
Because reform at scale is never built on isolated wins. It is built on systems that can reproduce them.
And perhaps that is why the timing matters.
This week, another subnational, Lagos State, is expected to commission the Tolu Schools Complex in Ajegunle, a sprawling 36-school integrated facility spread across 11.7 hectares, designed to serve over 20,000 students, and described as the largest school community in Africa. 
There is a connection here that should not be missed.
On one hand, a classroom system in Jigawa is learning how to organise itself better. On the other, a state like Lagos is building the physical scale required to carry thousands of learners at once.
One is structure. The other is capacity.
Real progress sits where both meet because education reform is not only about what we build, it is about how well what we build actually works.
For once, the data was not explaining Nigeria from the outside.
It was coming from within.
And it carried weight.
Education
FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa
FAB Luxury Court Sets A Rare Benchmark For Excellence In Africa
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