Connect with us

Education

USAID partners FG on accountable financial system for quality education, others

Published

on

Share

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Accountability, Transparency and Effectiveness (State2State) project, is partnering with the Federal Government for a transparent financial management system in 36 states in Nigeria.

Mr John Onyeukwu, Deputy Chief of Party of the State2State project, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday, at the sideline of a three day workshop for six focal states.

The focal states are Akwa Ibom, Adamawa, Bauchi, Ebonyi, Gombe, Sokoto.

Onyeukwu said that part of the focus of the project was to enable states of the federation to run accountable financial systems that would provide quality service in basic education, health and other priority sectors.

He further said that State2State, a five year project, meant to run from 2020 to 2025, was to ensure that public finance management was not only transparent but inclusive.

“When there is public finance management and citizens are involved, there is less conflict, there will be development and states will be able to make the right investments.

“Also, citizens will be able to have quality services in basic education, primary healthcare as well as Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH).

“We know states have their priority projects but in the hierarchy of human needs, you will realise that education, health and WaSH are things that can pull us out of poverty,” he said.

The chief of party noted that the project was designed to ensure that states were major stakeholders.

He added that governors of the six focal states had been briefed on the project and had registered their commitment to making it achieve its aim.

While explaining the activities of the project, Onyeukwu said one of the major focuses was helping states develop the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) of between 2022 and 2025.

“In this project, the budget cycle is an important factor, where there has to be a Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which is a three year plan, from which budget is derived every year.

“So, all our benefitting states are in the process of initiating their budget for the year 2022.

“What USAID is doing is to help the states prepare the MTEF so that it will be an easy ride for them,” he said.

He disclosed that besides State2State, there was a 750 million dollars World Bank project called State Financial Transparency Programme, which states could benefit from.

He said, “our ambition is to ensure that the states we are working with will be the top six states in that process in the next programme.

“The project is designed in a way that states, which base their performance on certain indices like publishing their budget, will have access to the fund.

“This is another source of resources for states to pay bills, particularly now that federal revenue share is reducing.

“So states are very anxious to have additional revenue and manage what they have very well as well as make the citizens happy.”

NAN reports some of the focal points of the workshop are, identifying fiscal risks and mitigation actions as well as sector and MDAs allocations and explanations.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Education

Bamidele Urges Academic Integrity at FUTES Iyin Ekiti Matriculation, Pledges N200m Annual Research Grant

Published

on

Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele
Share

The Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, has urged pioneer students of the Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences (FUTES), Iyin Ekiti, to uphold academic integrity and discipline as they begin their academic journey.

Bamidele gave the charge  during the maiden matriculation ceremony of the institution, where over 1,500 students were formally admitted into various programmes.

Addressing the students, the lawmaker stressed the importance of education in national development and called on them to key into the vision behind the establishment of the specialised university.

He recalled that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the establishment of FUTES on February 20, 2025, to advance agricultural, technological and environmental studies, with the goal of producing job creators and problem solvers.

Bamidele expressed optimism that the take-off of the institution would contribute significantly to Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a leader in specialised technology and production in Africa and on the global stage.

As part of his support for the institution’s growth, the Senate Leader pledged an annual N200 million research grant to boost its academic development, in addition to other supports he had previously extended to the university.

He commended the Governing Council and Management of FUTES for ensuring the smooth and timely take-off of the institution.

Bamidele also expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji, for his support for the project. He thanked traditional rulers, including Oba Adeola Adeniyi Ajakaiye, the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, as well as clergymen and other stakeholders for their contributions to the successful launch of the university.

Continue Reading

Education

UNIBEN Bans Sign-Out Celebrations, Warns of Severe Sanctions for Violators

Published

on

UNIBEN Gate
Share

The management of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, has banned all forms of sign-out celebrations by graduating students.

The announcement was contained in a circular issued on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, by the university’s Registrar, Ademola Bobola.

According to the statement, the decision followed a management meeting held on Monday, where the institution reaffirmed an earlier Senate resolution prohibiting such activities on campus.

“The management declared that no sign-out celebration of any kind, including signing on T-shirts and playing of music, will be tolerated,” the circular read.

Bobola warned that any student found violating the directive would face severe disciplinary actions, including rustication, expulsion, or withdrawal of certificate.

He added that the university would not condone any form of disorderly conduct, unauthorised gatherings, or parading of vehicles during or after examinations.

The Registrar also announced that unauthorised vehicles would be barred from entering the campuses during the last week of the second-semester examination.

In addition, the management prohibited large gatherings around faculties, schools, or institutes after examinations and directed photographers not to set up photo stands or galleries for such purposes.

Bobola further advised parents and guardians of final-year students to stay away from campus premises, particularly on the last day of examinations, to avoid any breach of the directive.

He urged members of the university community to adhere strictly to the management’s position, warning that violations would attract “severe disciplinary sanctions, including withdrawal of certificate, rustication, and expulsion.”

 

Continue Reading

Education

OAU Medical Student Dies by Suicide After Failing Exam Twice

Published

on

OAU logo
Share

The Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State, has been thrown into mourning following the death of a part-two medical student, Ajibola Ibitayo, who reportedly took his own life after failing an examination for the second time.

In a statement on Thursday, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Abiodun Olarewaju, said Ibitayo, with matriculation number DEN/2021/023, was a student in the Faculty of Dentistry. The results of the last semester examinations, released on Wednesday, indicated that he would have to repeat Part Two for another academic year, having already repeated the class once.

According to the statement, the student, whose father is a medical doctor, allegedly injected himself at his parents’ home in Ejigbo, Osun State.

Saddened by the incident, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simeon Bamire, appealed to parents and guardians to help young people understand that setbacks are a natural part of life and not the end of their aspirations. He urged students to see failure as a redirection toward greater achievements.

Bamire prayed for comfort for the bereaved family, the Faculty of Dentistry, the College of Health Sciences, and the entire university community over the tragic loss.

 

Continue Reading