According to The Guardian, former presidential candidate Peter Obi has voiced strong opposition to the compulsory adoption of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for all secondary schools. Obi warned that enforcing a digital-only format without providing the necessary ICT infrastructure would disenfranchise students in rural and underserved communities, further widening the educational gap in Nigeria.
Speaking at a school event in Anambra, Obi argued that while digitalization is necessary, it must be preceded by a massive investment in school laboratories and reliable electricity. He cautioned that many schools currently lack the basic facilities to register candidates under the new CBT guidelines, which could lead to a massive drop in examination enrollment.
In response to these concerns, some philanthropists have begun donating ICT centers to schools to help them meet the new requirements. However, Obi insists that private intervention alone cannot bridge a gap created by systemic government neglect.
ThisDay reported that several civil society groups have joined Obi in calling for a phased implementation of the policy. A school principal quoted in The Nation stated, “We cannot test children on computers they have never touched in a classroom.” Meanwhile, Daily Post quoted an education official who argued, “The transition to CBT is inevitable if we are to eliminate examination malpractice, but the timeline must be realistic.”
Echotitbits take: Obi is tapping into a very real anxiety among parents and educators. While CBT reduces cheating, the “digital divide” is a legitimate threat to national literacy rates. Expect this to become a major talking point in the upcoming education reform debates.
Source: The Guardian – https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/metro/peter-obi-criticises-jamb-over-unjust-clampdown-on-cbt-centres-in-anambra/, and February 15, 2026
Photo credit: The Guardian
Tag: education reform
-
Peter Obi Warns of Educational Inequality Over Mandatory CBT Policy
-
Federal Government Commences 40% Allowance Hike for University Lecturers
Reporting by Vanguard indicates that the Federal Government has officially begun the implementation of the renegotiated agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU). Central to this development is the payment of a 40% increase in peculiar allowances, a move designed to stabilize the perennially volatile higher education sector and curb the “japa” syndrome among Nigerian academics.
The disbursement follows months of back-and-forth negotiations between the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour, and union leadership. This fiscal intervention is part of a broader strategy to improve the welfare of public servants under the 2026 budget, which has been described by government officials as a “Budget of Consolidation.”
Education analysts suggest that while the 40% hike is a significant step, it only addresses one facet of the 2009 agreement that has caused decades of industrial action. The government is also reportedly looking into the release of withheld salaries for other unions within the university system to ensure a holistic peace on campuses across the country.
Further confirmation from The Nation and Daily Trust highlights the mixed reactions from the academic community. The Nation quoted a branch chairman who said, “While we acknowledge the payment, the government must also address the infrastructural decay in our labs.” Daily Trust added that “the Office of the Accountant-General has confirmed that the payroll system has been updated to reflect the new rates for all verified staff.”
Echotitbits take: This is a calculated move by the Tinubu administration to buy peace in the education sector before the 2027 election cycle heats up. Watch for whether this increase effectively stops the exodus of Nigerian professors to foreign institutions or if inflation quickly erodes these gains.
Source: The Cable – https://www.thecable.ng/asuu-agreement-fg-begins-implementation-of-40-allowance-increase-for-varsity-lecturers/, February 10, 2026
Photo credit: The Cable
-
Nigeria and World Bank roll out $500m HOPE-GOV programme for schools and PHC
Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-24 06:48:00Figures cited by Punch show Nigeria and the World Bank are implementing a $500 million programme—HOPE-Governance—targeting system improvements in basic education and primary healthcare, with emphasis on financing, transparency, and workforce management.
Officials say the design aims to strengthen budgeting and accountability in the two sectors, while also addressing staffing and performance management problems that keep outcomes weak even when funds are budgeted.
The broader pitch is that “inputs” (money, staff) must translate into measurable outcomes: better teaching coverage and stronger primary health services—especially at the state level where delivery performance varies sharply.
Government sources describe the programme as a structured, multi-year reform push rather than a one-off cash injection.
A federal ministry statement noted the facility would “increase the availability and effectiveness for financing for basic education and primary health care,” while describing the World Bank support as a “Five Hundred Million Dollar loan facility” for HOPE.
Echotitbits take: The money is the easy part; execution is the fight. Watch for state-level transparency rules, public reporting of results, and whether teacher/PHC staffing reforms survive local politics. If outcomes are tied to disbursement, states may finally take performance management seriously.
Source: The Punch — December 24, 2025 (https://punchng.com/fg-wbank-partner-on-500m-human-capital-reforms/#:~:text=The%20Federal%20Government%2C%20in%20partnership,primary%20healthcare%20across%20the%20country.)
The Punch 2025-12-24 -
Shettima Launches N1tr Dangote Education Fund, Hails Private Sector
Photo Credit:The Nation
Vice‑President Kashim Shettima has formally inaugurated the N1‑trillion Dangote Education Fund in Lagos, describing it as the largest private education support programme in Nigeria. The initiative will provide scholarships and support to 1.3 million students over 10 years, complementing government schemes such as NELFUND, UBEC and TETFUND.
Shettima said the fund shows how private capital can accelerate national development and warned that an uneducated population is a liability to the country’s future. Education officials and state governors pledged full cooperation, while experts lauded the long‑term impact of the programme on social mobility and productivity.
Source: The Nation – 12 Dec 2025
2025-12-12 10:00:00 The Nation – 12 Dec 2025 2025-12-12