Education
Law School Rejection: Open University Graduates Stage Protest
Law graduates of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) on Friday staged a peaceful protest at the university’s headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, accusing the institution of abandoning them and failing to mobilise them for admission into the Nigerian Law School despite years of completing their academic programmes.
The protesters, who carried placards and banners with various inscriptions demanding justice on Friday, called for their immediate admission into the Nigerian Law School, alleging that the university’s failure to carry out its administrative responsibilities has left hundreds of graduates stranded between 2019 and 2026.
Addressing journalists during the demonstration, the National President of the NOUN Law Graduates, Adefowora Adedeji, accused the university’s management of compromising their future and playing politics with the lives of graduates who have fulfilled all academic and administrative requirements.
According to him, the graduates had exhausted all official channels by writing several letters and complying with every administrative procedure, but the university authorities failed to perform their duty of mobilising them to the Nigerian Law School.
“We are law graduates of this university. They have abandoned us,” he said.”From 2019 to 2026, they refused to do their job. Their job is to ensure that we are mobilized to the Nigerian Law School. They abandoned us.
NOUN GRADUATES
“Professor Olufemi Peters, when he was doing his tenure, he told us that he would solve our problem. He refused to solve our problem. The new vice-chancellor, who is supposed to solve it, instead of solving it, they are playing politics with our lives.
“Many of our law graduates have died in the process, and that is why we are here to express our grievances. We are here because we want to put an end to administrative impunity and administrative arbitrariness. We want to stop this.
“We are not happy because we are not mobilised to the Nigerian Law School.”
The protesters insisted that the National Universities Commission (NUC) had accredited the university’s law programme, questioning why graduates are still being denied admission into the Nigerian Law School.
Adedeji further accused the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, Chief Emeka Ndige, of applying double standards by approving admission for previous sets of NOU law graduates while allegedly rejecting the current batch.
“I am the National President of the NOUN Law Graduates. What we are saying is that under the National Universities Commission (NUC), they have accredited our law programme,” he said.
“And then, Chief Emeka Ndige, SAN, who is the Chairman of the Council of Legal Education, said our mode of education is not recognized. The same chairman gave our seniors, about 1,200 law graduates, admission into the Nigerian Law School. The same man is now rejecting us.
“Many of us are master’s degree holders. Many of us have PhDs in law, and yet they don’t want to accept us into the Nigerian Law School.”
He said the protest was aimed at exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, citing Sections 39 and 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“We are here to express our constitutional rights. Section 40 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria says there is freedom of peaceful assembly, peaceful procession and association,” he said.
“Section 39 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees freedom of expression.”
Education
Students, Staff Foil Police Attempt To Arrest FUOYE VC
There was drama in the early hours of Wednesday in Ado-Ekiti as staff and students of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) mobilised to the residence of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, after policemen reportedly arrived there in an attempt to arrest him.
The Vice-Chancellor had raised the alarm after policemen surrounded his official residence, although the reason for their presence was initially unclear.
According to report,the development attracted members of the university community, including academic and non-academic staff as well as students, who gathered at the residence in solidarity with Ogunwole and opposed what they described as an attempt to arrest him.
Speaking to journalists at his residence, Ogunwole said the policemen arrived at about 6:10am, shortly after he had gone to bed at about 3am. He said his children woke him after noticing security personnel around the house.
The Vice-Chancellor said he initially declined to come out because he was unsure whether the men were genuine police officers and wanted to establish the reason for their presence.
He said the policemen later told him they had a warrant, but he insisted that he would not leave the residence without being properly informed of the basis of the arrest.
Ogunwole linked the development to a petition allegedly written by some individuals connected with the university, including his predecessor, Prof. Abayomi Fasina, and a former Dean of the Faculty of Law, Dr. Kehinde Adeola.
He said the dispute arose from an audio recording which he alleged had been leaked, prompting the university management to ask those involved to appear before an investigative committee to explain its contents.
According to him, the matter had subsequently gone to court, while he had also petitioned the Inspector-General of Police over what he described as threats to his life and workplace.
Ogunwole said he had instructed his lawyers to approach the police and explain that the matter was already before the court, adding that he remained available to respond to any lawful invitation.
“Somebody of my calibre would not run away anywhere. Rather than surrounding my house, there are other better approaches to invite me,” he said.
“There is no turning back. Our mission is to create a new face for FUOYE. No U-turn, no diversion. We are resolute.”
Also speaking, the FUOYE branch chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Dr Ojo Fagbuagun, said the union mobilised to the residence to oppose what he described as an attempt to intimidate the Vice-Chancellor.
Fagbuagun alleged that some individuals associated with the university’s previous administration were opposed to changes being introduced by Ogunwole.
He also alleged that there had been irregularities, including “illegal promotion, abnormal promotion” and “mismanagement of funds,” but did not provide evidence to support the allegations during the interview.
Fagbuagun further accused the former Vice-Chancellor, Fasina, of resorting to police petitions rather than internal mechanisms to resolve disputes within the university.
The Chairman of the National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), FUOYE branch, Comrade Oluwashola Babafemi, said members of the association were at the residence to protect what he described as the peace and progress being experienced under the current administration.
Babafemi said Ogunwole had made himself accessible to staff and paid attention to their welfare, adding that the association did not want anything capable of disrupting the university’s current direction.
Similarly, the branch secretary of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), Comrade Emmanuel Adegun, said members were alerted that police officers had arrived at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence and might attempt to take him away.
He said the union decided to mobilise to the residence to show solidarity with Ogunwole.
Also reacting, the Director of Public Affairs and Communication of the university, Dr Sunday Saanu, described the police action as “mischievous,” claiming that the Vice-Chancellor had earlier honoured a police invitation.
“Thereafter, the Vice-Chancellor instructed his lawyers to represent him. It was therefore shocking to see the police at the Vice-Chancellor’s residence, saying they needed him,” Saanu said.
Addressing workers on Wednesday, Ogunwole said his administration would not be distracted by what he described as “noise in the marketplace.”
“This is a passing phase. FUOYE will rise beyond the current resistance of the forces of darkness,” he added.
Education
Best Primary School Teacher In Katsina Gets Car Reward
The Katsina State Government has rewarded the state’s best-performing primary school teacher for 2026 with a brand-new Peugeot 206.
The awardee, Hadiza Nazifi of Bayajidda Memorial Primary School, Daura, received the vehicle from the Executive Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr Kabir Magaji, at the board’s headquarters.
Presenting the vehicle to the awardee, Magaji said she was recognised as the “Best Primary School Teacher” in the state for her dedication to duty, diligence, resilience, punctuality and outstanding commitment to teaching and learning.
He explained that her selection was endorsed by the award committee as well as internal and external evaluators who assessed her performance.
He added that the initiative was part of Governor Dikko Umaru Radda-led government to recognise and reward outstanding civil servants, while promoting excellence and professionalism in the state’s public service.
Magaji congratulated the primary school teacher for her achievement and urged her to sustain the standard that earned her the state-wide recognition.
He also called on teachers across the state to rededicate themselves to their duties and contribute to improving the quality of basic education in the state.
Describing teachers as indispensable partners in the development of the education sector and the overall progress of Katsina State, the SUBEB boss warned them against absenteeism
Education
Ondo: ASUU, Varsity Workers Suspend Strike
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has suspended its strike in Ondo State-owned universities following the intervention of the state government in the lingering industrial dispute that disrupted academic activities for several weeks.
The Chairman of ASUU at Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Prof. Boluwaji Oshodi, confirmed the development according to report.
Oshodi said the Ondo State Government had made financial interventions to address issues that led to the industrial action, prompting the union to suspend the over two-month strike.
He disclosed that a congress had been scheduled to formally direct members to resume academic activities.
“The government of Ondo State has intervened financially, and a congress to direct all our members to resume academic activities has been scheduled,” he said.
The development came as the Joint Action Committee of Ondo State-Owned Tertiary Institutions (JAC-ODSTI), comprising the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT), also announced the suspension of its indefinite strike.
In a brief jointly signed by the Secretary of JAC-ODSTI, Comrade Kunle Akinwonmi, and its Chairman, Comrade Tayo Ogungbeni, the committee said the industrial action, which began on September 2, 2026, had been suspended with effect from Tuesday, September 29, 2026.
The brief attributed the decision to the financial intervention of Governor Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa in resolving the crisis that affected Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA), Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa (OAUSTECH) and the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED), Ondo.
“We wish to inform the general public that the indefinite strike is hereby suspended with effect from Tuesday, 29th September, 2026.”
The committee expressed appreciation to Governor Ayedatiwa, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Igbekele Amos Ajibefun, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Union Matters, Comrade Bola Taiwo, for their roles in resolving the impasse.
The committee subsequently directed all affected members across the universities to resume duties on Tuesday, bringing an end to weeks of disruption of academic and administrative activities in the state-owned institutions.
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