By Our Correspondent 

The stage is set for one of Nigeria’s most anticipated intellectual events of the year; the ACJ National Essay Competition, happening in just seven days at the prestigious Musa Yar’Adua Event Centre, Abuja.

Organized by the renowned Abuja City Journal (ACJ), an Abuja-based online platform and monthly magazine publication owned by Mr Ojo Sylvanus Foluso, the competition is already sparking excitement among participants and observers.

Designed to promote education and intellectual growth among young Nigerians, the initiative promises an enriching experience for all involved.

In a commendable show of support, ACJ has extended an open call to corporate giants like Unilever, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Nestlé, Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia Foundation, and First Bank to sponsor this impactful event.

Such partnerships could amplify the competition’s reach and ensure its sustainability in fostering creativity and critical thinking in the nation’s youth.

The ACJ National Essay Competition is more than a contest; it’s a celebration of ideas, innovation, and the boundless potential of young Nigerians.

With the countdown now officially underway, all eyes turn to Abuja for a showcase of talent, intellect, and the spirit of excellence.

By Emmanuel Ogbodo

Junior Secondary School Gurfata, located in Ibwa Ward, Gwagwalada Area Council, Abuja, is facing a dire crisis as over 1,500 pupils are left stranded due to the school’s deteriorating infrastructure.

The civic technology group, MonITNg, raised concerns about the alarming state of the school on Saturday via its X handle.

The group highlighted structural failures, including leaking roofs and collapsing ceilings, and called for urgent government intervention.

“Here’s the current state of Junior Secondary School Gurfata, the only school in town, now on the brink of collapse.

“Poor living conditions have driven teachers away, leaving over 1,500 students without access to education.

“We urge @GovWike and Sen @IretiKingibe to take immediate action,” the group wrote.

MonITNg’s founder, Ilevbaoje Uadamen, condemned the neglect, urging government officials to prioritize education over less critical expenditures.

“Education is the foundation of any thriving society. Our government must invest in education, ensuring resources are channeled where they matter most,” Uadamen stated.

Junior Secondary School Gurfata, reportedly the only educational institution in the area, is emblematic of broader infrastructural challenges faced by schools across the Gwagwalada Area Council.

The lack of maintenance has forced teachers to abandon their roles, leaving students without adequate learning opportunities.

The Gwagwalada Area Council, established to drive rural development, is now facing criticism for failing to fulfill this mandate.

Advocacy groups are urging the Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board to act swiftly to rehabilitate the school and ensure continued access to education for the affected pupils.

This urgent call for intervention emphasizes the critical need for a sustainable plan to address the decay in educational infrastructure across rural Abuja communities.

By Njoku Chijioke

The President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, has voiced concerns about the escalating number of first-class degrees awarded by private universities in Nigeria.

Speaking at Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, Osodeke labeled the trend “worrisome” and raised questions about its implications for academic credibility and integrity.

Osodeke warned that this pattern might pressure public universities into similar practices, thereby diluting academic standards across the nation.

He called for stringent regulations to safeguard the quality and credibility of degrees in the country.

Reflecting on the state of foundational education, the ASUU president attributed a decline in standards to the subpar performance of primary and secondary schools, which, he argued, often produce students with inflated grades but inadequate knowledge.

“The obsession with first-class degrees could undermine the integrity of higher education, especially if the awards are not backed by rigorous academic merit,” Osodeke remarked.

His comments have reignited discussions on education reforms in Nigeria, with stakeholders emphasizing the need for robust oversight to preserve the integrity of the nation’s educational system.

Policymakers are now tasked with addressing these concerns to ensure that the quality of Nigerian university graduates remains globally competitive.