The 18 years entry age for university admission has been reversed by the newly appointed Minister of Education, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa.

The 18 years entry policy initiated by Professor Tahir Mamman, former Minister of Education, had generated controversy.

Addressing journalists upon assumption of office on Tuesday, Alausa said the policy was detrimental to the Federal Government.

Alausa said the reversal of the policy was aimed at reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria.

He said the policy is also not sustainable for the education sector, explaining that the 16-year-age limit would be maintained and exceptions would be granted for “gifted children”.

The new minister added that going forward, Nigeria’s education system will be 80 percent practical and 20 percent classroom/theoretical.

Alausa said practical education will help to curb the unemployment situation in Nigeria as tertiary institutions will not continue churning out graduates on a yearly basis without jobs for Nigerians.

He said the Federal Government will work with private sector operators for the training of students to unleash their potentials.

Alausa was among the 10 ministers who got new portfolios after last month’s cabinet reshuffle which led to the exit of his predecessor.

He was formerly Minister of State for Health.

Dupe Olusola has announced the launch of the Next Generation Foundation, a philanthropic fund dedicated to improving the lives of underserved and vulnerable children through education.

With this foundation, Olusola, the Managing Director/CEO of Transcorp Hotels Plc, is extending her lifelong commitment to empowering others, driven by a deep belief in the transformative power of education.

The foundation’s vision is for every child to have access to quality education, and a chance at a better life.

Reflecting on her motivation to create the foundation, Olusola shared: “Education changes lives—it opens doors to a future filled with opportunities, particularly for children who might otherwise be left behind. Nigeria faces one of the highest out-of-school populations globally. With the Next Generation Foundation, I hope we can make a meaningful difference in changing that.”

To mark her 50th birthday, Olusola has introduced the foundation’s flagship initiative, the 50 by 50 project – a multiyear scholarship program (commencing in the 2024/2025 academic session), for 50 children, between the ages of 6 to 18, from low-income families.

The 50 by 50 project will provide free tuition, books, school uniforms, nutrition programs, access to health services, and mentorship to the beneficiaries, starting in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states.

This effort will be powered by partnerships with leading social impact organizations focused on education.

Through the Next Generation Foundation, Dupe Olusola aims not only to provide access to education but also to support broader education reform initiatives across Nigeria.

More details can be found at www.dupeolusola.com.

The National Examinations Council, NECO, has released the 2024 SSCE internal results.

The Registrar/Chief Executive of NECO, Professor Dantani Wushishi, disclosed this on Thursday while briefing newsmen at the organization’s headquarters in Minna, Niger State.

Wushishi also said that NECO blacklisted 21 supervisors in 12 states and de-recognized one school in Ekiti State for mass cheating in two core subjects and one science subject.

He said the supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness, and negligence.

“Forty schools were found to have been involved in whole-school mass cheating in 17 states adding that the schools will be invited to the council for discussion after which appropriate sanctions will be applied,” he added.