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UNIABUJA uncovers 200 fake placements, warns parents to stop paying for admissions

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The acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Lar Manko, has warned Nigerian parents and guardians against paying money to influence the university admission process for their children, describing the practice as illegal and exploitative.

She asserted that such actions not only undermine the integrity of the admission process but also expose unsuspecting families to fraudsters and criminal syndicates.

Speaking during a media interaction on Wednesday in Abuja, the university helmswoman disclosed that over 200 fake admissions had recently been uncovered within the institution, many of which were linked to individuals who collected money under false pretences, assuring prospective students of placement into the institution.

She said investigations had revealed that some candidates had paid unscrupulous individuals to gain entry into the university, only to later find that their admissions were not recognised by the Joint Admission Matriculation Board and official records.

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The media briefing was convened to update the public on the achievements recorded, challenges encountered and addressed during her six-month tenure, which is set to conclude next month.

Speaking in her address, the acting VC said, “When I assumed office, I was confronted with a student issue of admission, where there were over 200 fake admissions. That was not easy as well.

“A committee was established, which took time to investigate the reasons, the immediate and remote causes. And that has been remedied. It was truly a challenge. We have parents who are willing to pay money. There is no need to pay money. Nigerian parents should stop paying money to get admission. I want to use this opportunity to say it clearly,” she declared.

According to the VC, many students affected by fake admission fell victim due to ignorance and desperation.

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She urged parents and guardians to ensure their children only process admission through official Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board platforms and university portals.

“Those affected should visit our academic office or even my office directly. If you didn’t go through JAMB or our system, you’re not in. Don’t let anyone deceive you.”

She added that affected individuals are being guided on how to regularise their status, but warned that such lapses damage the university’s reputation.

According to her, the fraudulent admission racket was one of the numerous administrative and governance challenges she inherited when appointed by President Bola Tinubu to stabilise the institution earlier this year.

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Beyond curbing corruption, the Vice-Chancellor also highlighted student-focused reforms, including the successful conduct of the first digital Students’ Union Government elections, in which over 5,000 students voted online.

“It was a joyful and proud moment. We now have a democratically elected union after years of student voice suppression. “There was no handing over note when I assumed office. The university was fragmented, riddled with petitions, factions, and demotivated staff. But we have worked to restore order and institutional integrity.”

She also announced that more than 12,000 students had benefited from entrepreneurial training and empowerment initiatives, including a driving school and company registration support, making graduates more employable.

“We have introduced what we call the Career Student Empowerment Centre, we have energised students and introduced measures that will make their experience on campus far enriching. And, you know, they have the opportunity to learn skills, to build entrepreneurial skills.

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“Currently, over 12,000 students have been empowered practically through those centres to enrich their academic experience. They will go out, and I can tell you the generation of students that will pass out from this period, they will be more employable because they are students who are encouraged to learn extra skills. We have a driving school that now has over 500 students subscribing to it.

“You can imagine students graduating with a driving license. You can imagine students graduating with their own companies registered. Those are some of the attributes that are making the University of Abuja a learning environment that will be the number one spot for everybody.”

Since taking office five months ago, the Acting VC said she has prioritised the restoration of merit-based systems, including academic promotions, staff welfare, and inclusive governance.

Over 40 professors and associate professors who had been delayed or denied promotion were finally elevated, bringing joy and renewed motivation to the academic community.

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“Some promotions were delayed for up to six years. We have addressed that. Over 300 petitions on promotion and staff welfare are being reviewed.”

She also lamented the state of infrastructure on campus, particularly staff housing.

“Some professors are living in unfit buildings. I saw the photos and I wept. We need serious financial investment and political will to address that.”

Similarly, funding has remained a persistent challenge for the University.

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While acknowledging government support, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Lar Patricia Manko, noted that public funding alone is no longer sufficient to meet the growing demands of quality higher education.

“The government cannot fund education entirely and efficiently,” she said. “We must begin to explore alternative sources of revenue and enhance the services we offer as a university.”

She explained that several programmes, particularly those aimed at expanding online access and digital learning, require significant investment in ICT infrastructure, including a robust internet backbone to support virtual education delivery.

Professor Manko also expressed concern over the inconsistency in capital funding, disclosing that more than 80 per cent of the 2024 budgetary allocation has not been cash-backed, with no clarity yet on disbursements for the 2025 fiscal year.

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On a brighter note, she praised the impact of the 3-megawatt solar hybrid farm delivered under the Renewed Hope Energising Education Programme, saying it had significantly reduced diesel costs and improved power supply to key university buildings.

The Vice-Chancellor said the university has signed new international collaborations with institutions from China, the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and Europe. New language programs in Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and Russian have also been introduced to broaden student skills.

“We are rebuilding a global university, one where students are equipped, staff are motivated, and diversity is respected.”

Despite the short time in office and absence of a formal handover, the VC expressed optimism that the institution is on track to become a top-tier research and innovation hub in West Africa.

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“Whether or not I remain in this position, I am proud of the work done so far. UniAbuja is now a place of hope again.”

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Just in: Dangote Refinery slashes petrol, diesel prices

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Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals has announced fresh reductions in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), commonly referred to as diesel.

Information made available to an online medium on Saturday by a source familiar with the development showed that the refinery has lowered the gantry price of petrol by N25 per litre, bringing it down from N1,275 to N1,250 per litre.

The source also disclosed that the price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) has been reduced by N100 per litre.

The product will now sell at N1,700 per litre at the gantry, down from the previous N1,800 per litre.

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The latest price reduction comes about three weeks after reports emerged that Dangote Refinery had increased the ex-gantry price of petrol.

At the time, a credible inside source disclosed that petrol continued to sell at N1,275 per litre at the refinery, hours after reports claimed that the company had raised its petrol price by N75 amid fluctuations in global crude oil prices.

Source: gistcore

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KWARA 2027: A FOOD FOR THOUGHT AND A POINT OF DECISION

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My dear people of Kwara State,
Today, I speak not merely as the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), but as a concerned son of Kwara State who believes that our future can and must be better than our present. This is not an acceptance speech; it is a food for thought and a point of decision for every Kwaran who desires genuine progress, security, and prosperity.
I begin by expressing my profound gratitude to the leadership of our great party, the ADC, and to our members and supporters across the sixteen local government areas for the confidence they have reposed in me. I am humbled by this trust and fully aware of the enormous responsibility it carries.
But beyond politics lies a fundamental question: What kind of Kwara do we want to leave behind for our children and generations yet unborn?
Kwara State is uniquely blessed. By geography and history, we are the gateway between Northern and Southern Nigeria. This strategic location places us at the crossroads of commerce, agriculture, transportation, and investment. Yet, despite these natural advantages, our state has not fully harnessed its immense economic potential.
Under purposeful leadership, Kwara can become the logistics and commercial hub connecting the North and South. We can attract industries, agro-processing facilities, warehousing hubs, transport terminals, and investments that create jobs and wealth for our people. Our fertile lands can support large-scale agriculture and agro-industrial development, while our strategic location can position Kwara as one of Nigeria’s leading destinations for business and investment.
However, no economy can thrive where insecurity persists. Investors do not invest where there is fear. Farmers cannot cultivate their lands where they feel unsafe. Communities cannot prosper when criminal elements threaten lives and property.
Security, therefore, is not merely a government responsibility; it is the foundation upon which development rests.
As a scholar and practitioner in Defence and Security Studies, I possess a deep understanding of contemporary security challenges and the strategies required to address them. My academic background, combined with practical experience in public service, has equipped me with the knowledge necessary to formulate effective security policies for our state.
If entrusted with the mandate to serve, my administration will work closely with conventional security agencies, traditional institutions, community leaders, vigilante groups, hunters’ associations, and other community-based security outfits to establish a comprehensive security architecture that protects every corner of Kwara State.
We shall strengthen intelligence gathering at the grassroots, improve coordination among security stakeholders, support lawful community policing initiatives, deploy technology where necessary, and ensure rapid response mechanisms to emerging threats. Our goal will be clear: to restore Kwara’s reputation as one of the safest and most peaceful states in Nigeria.
Kwara was once widely known for its tranquillity, harmony, and peaceful coexistence. We must not allow criminality, banditry, kidnapping, or external threats to define our future. Together with our security agencies and local communities, we shall reclaim every space threatened by insecurity and restore confidence among our people.
The ADC remains distinct because it is built on the principles of accountability, transparency, inclusion, and people-oriented governance. We believe leadership should be measured by results and service, not by propaganda and political patronage.
My candidacy represents competence, experience, independence, and a genuine commitment to the welfare of our people. I come without the burden of political Baggage, My commitment is to the people of Kwara State and to the vision of building a state where every citizen has an opportunity to succeed.
The election before us is therefore not merely a political contest. It is a defining choice between complacency and progress, between managing challenges and solving them, between unrealized potential and shared prosperity.
I firmly believe that Kwara can become a model state in Nigeria a state where security guarantees prosperity, where agriculture drives economic growth, where industries create employment, where education empowers our youth, and where government remains accountable to the people.
This vision is achievable, but it requires courage, unity, and a collective decision to embrace a new direction.
I therefore call on all Kwarans regardless of ethnicity, religion, political affiliation, or social status to reflect deeply on the future of our state. Let us rise above division and focus on competence, character, and capacity.
Let us choose leadership that understands our challenges and possesses the vision to transform them into opportunities.
Let us choose a future where Kwara’s strategic location becomes a source of wealth, where our communities are secure, where our youths are gainfully employed, and where prosperity is shared by all.
The time has come to move Kwara from potential to performance, from uncertainty to confidence, from insecurity to peace, and from promises to prosperity.
The choice is ours.
The future is ours.
The moment is now.

Hon. Zakari Mohammed
ADC Governorship Candidate, Kwara State.

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Rema finally reveals why he ended his relationship with girlfriend

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Nigerian singer Divine Ikubor, popularly known as Rema, has revealed why he ended his affairs with his ex-girlfriend, claiming that she was “quite manipulative”.

In an interview with YouTuber Korty EO, Rema said the relationship was “beautiful” but not always peaceful.

The singer lamented that sometimes when he returns home hoping to rest from the pressure of the outside world, his then girlfriend often greeted him with chaos.

He said he eventually walked away when he could no longer tolerate her excesses.

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“My romantic relationship was beautiful but a little quite manipulative. So much pressure. Knowing the world puts so much pressure on me but coming back home is where you want to feel relieved but when you come back home and you are getting more pressure, it’s a different story. For now, I’m done,” he said.

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