The Ekiti State Commissioner for Education , Dr Olabimpe Aderiye, has urged students to embrace values that promote positive development, active citizenship and responsible leadership as essential ingredients for building a better society and sustaining good governance.

Aderiye gave the charge during the 2026 Children’s Day Symposium organised by the Ekiti State Ministry of Education, where students from selected secondary schools across the state deliberated on the theme: “Child Development and Good Governance.”

The symposium featured presentations from representatives of various schools, including Adebisi Elizabeth of Corpus Christi College, Ilawe-Ekiti; John Jasper of Daglore Model College, Ikole-Ekiti; Ale Oluwademilade of Amoye Grammar School, Ikere-Ekiti; Chukwuka Favour of St. Mary’s Girls Grammar School, Ikole-Ekiti; Alayande Oreoluwa of St. Lawrence Metropolitan College, Ado-Ekiti; and Faboyede Fisayo of Alamoye Comprehensive High School, Aramoko-Ekiti.

The students, in their presentations, described child development and good governance as inseparable, noting that child development represents “good governance translated into action and policies.”

They explained that good governance entails responsible leadership that guarantees protection, quality education, healthcare, nutrition, accountability and improved living standards for citizens.

The students also acknowledged their roles in nation-building, stressing the need for children to support government efforts by protecting public property, obeying laws, maintaining order and becoming responsible citizens.

Aderiye, who monitored the competition, commended the students for their intellectual depth, confidence and understanding of governance and societal values.

She encouraged them to shun fear and self-doubt, reminding them that greatness resides in every child willing to dream, learn and lead responsibly.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Bayode Ogunmola, described children as the foundation of every progressive society.

According to him, investment in children’s education, welfare and moral upbringing remains a top priority of government.

Ogunmola said the symposium was designed to equip children with the knowledge, confidence and values required to become responsible leaders, patriotic citizens and future change-makers.

In their remarks ,the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Education and Social Inclusion, Mrs Adetoun Agboola, and the Director-General, Civic Orientation and Citizenship, also commended the administration of Gov. Biodun Oyebanji for placing children at the centre of governance through policies and programmes promoting inclusive education, improved access to quality learning and enhanced healthcare services.

The commissioner later presented cash prizes to participating speakers and other contributors in recognition of their outstanding performances at the symposium.

President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has appointed Professor Segun Aina as the new Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), following the completion of the tenure of Professor Is-haq Oloyede.

According to the announcement, Professor Oloyede’s second and final term as JAMB Registrar will officially end on July 31, 2026, paving the way for Professor Aina to assume leadership of the nation’s foremost tertiary admissions body.

Professor Aina, who will turn 40 in July, is widely recognised as a respected academic, technology expert, and specialist in digital systems and institutional reforms. His appointment is seen as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s educational and examination systems through innovation and technology-driven administration.

The new JAMB Registrar obtained a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Computer Systems Engineering from the University of Kent. He also earned a Master’s degree in Internet Computing and Network Security, alongside a PhD in Digital Signal Processing from Loughborough University. In addition, he completed the Senior Management Programme at Lagos Business School.

A Professor of Computer Engineering at Obafemi Awolowo University, Aina began his early professional journey with JAMB during his National Youth Service. His experience with the examination body reportedly gave him deep insight into Nigeria’s admission and examination processes, shaping his later contributions to digital examination reforms and systems development.

With more than 15 years of professional experience, Professor Aina has worked closely with federal and state governments on digital transformation, institutional reforms, and technology-driven policy implementation. At the age of 39, he became one of Nigeria’s youngest professors in Computer Engineering and is now set to become the youngest Registrar in JAMB’s history.

Over the years, he has also served as a consultant to several examination bodies, including the National Examinations Council (NECO), the National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB), and different State Ministries of Education, where he contributed to improving examination integrity, ICT systems, and digital administrative processes.

Professor Aina is also affiliated with several professional organisations, including the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

President Tinubu expressed confidence that the newly appointed registrar would build on the achievements of his predecessor and further reposition JAMB through innovation, efficiency, and transparent administration.

An Ekiti-born student, Owoeye Daniella Jesudunsin, has emerged as the highest-scoring candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), scoring an impressive 372 out of a possible 400 marks.

The announcement was made on Monday in Abuja during the 2026 Admission Policy Meeting convened by JAMB Registrar, Ishaq Oloyede.

According to Oloyede, Jesudunsin sat for the examination in Ogun State and selected University of Lagos as her first-choice institution, where she intends to study Medicine and Surgery.

Her remarkable performance places her at the top of the national ranking for the 2026 UTME exercise, although the score falls slightly below the 375 recorded in 2025 by Chinedu Okeke from Anambra State.

Other Top-Performing Candidates

Coming second nationwide was Enwere Kingsley Ikenna from Imo State, who scored 370 marks after sitting for the examination in Lagos State. He chose Nile University as his preferred institution to study Computer Science.

In third position was Bamisile Ayomide Emmanuel from Ondo State, who scored 369 marks and selected Federal University of Technology Akure to study Software Engineering.

Other candidates who distinguished themselves with exceptional scores include:

Olabiyisi Olanrewaju Oluwatimileyin from Oyo State — 368 marks, chose Pan-Atlantic University for Mechatronics Engineering.

Victor-Onyeka Daniel Ifeanyi from Imo State — 368 marks, selected University of Port Harcourt for Electrical/Electronic Engineering.

Osagiobare Daniel Osahenrumwen from Edo State — 368 marks, chose University of Benin for Mechanical Engineering.

Ademiluyi Adebowale Anthony from Osun State — 368 marks, selected Obafemi Awolowo University for Computer Engineering.

Azuike Kenechukwu Anthony from Anambra State — 368 marks, chose Afe Babalola University for Software Engineering.

Offorkile Michael Okechukwu from Abia State — 367 marks, applied to study Computer Science.

Adebisi Eniola Sonari from Ogun State — 367 marks, selected Covenant University for Computer Science.

Umukoro Gift Orhenevovwero from Delta State — 367 marks, chose University of Lagos for Electrical/Electronics Engineering.

JAMB Introduces “Bring Your Own Device” Policy for 2027

In another major development, Oloyede disclosed that JAMB plans to introduce a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) option beginning from the 2027 UTME exercise.

Under the proposed innovation, candidates will be permitted to use personal devices during examinations, with special flash drives inserted into the systems to prevent examination malpractice and maintain the integrity of the process.

The JAMB Registrar explained that the initiative would reduce operational costs, simplify logistics, and address complaints from candidates whose examination systems reportedly malfunction during tests.

He added that the board is working on additional technological innovations aimed at ensuring a smoother and more efficient examination process in the coming years.

Deadlines Approved for 2026 Admission Exercise

Stakeholders at the policy meeting also approved timelines for the completion of the 2026 admission process across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

According to the resolutions reached:

Public universities are expected to conclude admissions on or before October 31, 2026.

Private universities must complete admissions by November 30, 2026.

Oloyede directed all institutions to strictly adhere to the approved deadlines, warning that any institution that fails to conclude admissions within the stipulated timeframe would lose access to candidates for that admission cycle.

He further announced that all successful candidates must accept their admission offers within four weeks, stressing that failure to do so would automatically lead to withdrawal of the offer and could render such candidates ineligible for further admission consideration during the session.

The JAMB Registrar noted that the measures are part of ongoing efforts to strengthen fairness, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Nigeria’s tertiary admission system.

The performance of the top candidates in the 2026 UTME has once again sparked nationwide conversations about academic excellence, competitiveness, and the growing standard of tertiary entrance examinations in the country.