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Osun Urged to Return Mission Schools to Original Owners

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Osun Urged to Return Mission Schools to Original Owners

Bishop of the Diocese of Ife, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), Reverend Olubunmi Akinlade, has asked the Osun State Government to release mission schools to their original owners.

Akinlade spoke during a press conference at Ile-Ife, Osun State, to herald the second session of the twelfth synod of the diocese.

They premised the church’s demand for the return of the mission schools on the need to stall further deterioration of the school structure.

The cleric lamented the decay in school infrastructure owing to years of abandonment.

He urged Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to emulate President Bola Tinubu who, as governor of Lagos State, approved the return of mission schools to their original owners.

“Honestly, I am appealing to the Osun State Government because it is in their hands to please release this school back to us so that we can develop the place and put in a very conducive learning environment in place, in that space. In any case, it belongs to us.”

“If you took it away from us and you can’t do anything with it, can you please give it back to us? That’s all I’m going to say on that.”

“It’s an eyesore. I have been speaking about this right from the time of the administration of Rauf Aregbesola as governor. I have been asking them to release this school back to us, but this has been done.

The roof of this school has caved in yet there are still students there. I pray that Governor Adeleke will hear us this time around.”

“There are other schools that we should ask for, for instance, Anglican Grammar School, Ile-Ife. Why is the government holding on to it? It’s our property. They should also give us that school and some other schools we founded.”

He recalled that the immediate past Diocesan Bishop, Oluranti Odubogun, made similar calls without any positive response from the government.

The two-day synod, with the theme, “The essential secrets in a noisy world: Lessons in Matthew 6:1-18,” will be held on 26 and 27 April at St Philip Anglican Church, Aiyetoro, Ile-Ife, Osun State.

Giving account of his stewardship, Akinlade said the diocese established a secondary school, named Divine Royal College, to enable young people to have access to education, paying subsidised, affordable school fees.

“Divine Royal College is a secondary school established by this diocese 10 years ago. It started just before I came to the Diocese of Ife. And it has been my job to try and make sure the school survives. It is a conventional secondary school. And everybody is welcome there. We are building it up on scholarship. The diocese has provided 50 scholarships for students who may want to go to college. Right now, we’re charging about N25,000 to N30,000 per term.

“We have two buses that we use to convey students. And they are supposed to pay. But because of the current fuel prices and everything, it’s going to be almost impossible for them to pay. The prices will be too much, so the diocese is subsidising the transportation heavily.

“More than 75 per cent of the transportation cost is being subsidised by the diocese. So, we are trying to grow this school gradually.”

He disclosed that the church was working hard to meet the WAEC and NECO requirements to be able to have external exams in the school.

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200 Beneficiaries Receive NDDC Foreign Post Graduate Scholarship

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200 Beneficiaries Receive NDDC Foreign Post Graduate Scholarship

The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has awarded Foreign Post Graduate Scholarships to 200 successful candidates for its 2025 scholarship programme.

The NDDC Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku, observed that the 200 beneficiaries underwent a qualification process that was free from political interferences or external influences.

He stated: “The panel, which was constituted to carry out this qualification process, worked hard to produce the best candidates. I want to commend the panellists for doing a great job. They raised the bar, leading to the best results”

Ogbuku announced that last year, one of the beneficiaries of the NDDC foreign scholarship programme produced the best results, which is an indication of quality in the selection process.

He added that, barring unforeseen circumstances, the Commission would consider resuming the award of scholarships for doctoral studies given the brilliant performance of the past beneficiaries.

He further described the programme as one of the NDDC’s obligations aimed at improving the successes of the Commission and exposing the people of the region to the experience and development of other civilisations.

He admonished the beneficiaries to refrain from criminality and any other act that could tarnish the image of the Commission and the country as a whole.

The programme consultant, Chief Godson Idozo, in his remarks, hinted that 30,000 persons applied for the programme, and 6,000 were shortlisted for the aptitude test. At the same time, 200 applicants hit the foreign scholarship award merit lists.

The NDDC Director of Education, Health, and Social Services, Dr George Uzonwanne, congratulated the beneficiaries for passing through the various stages of the examination process, while urging them to remain focused and determined in their academic pursuits.

The Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Mr. Chiedu Ebie, and the Managing Director took turns to present award letters to the successful candidates.

Seledi Thompson-Wakama
Director, Corporate Affairs
June 19, 2025

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Ogun College Of Nursing Begins Sale Of 2025 Post-UTME Forms, Application Period Runs From June 16 To July 25

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Ogun College Of Nursing Begins Sale Of 2025 Post-UTME Forms, Application Period Runs From June 16 To July 25

The Ogun State College of Nursing Sciences has commenced the sale of application forms for the 2025 Post-UTME Computer-Based Screening into the 2025/2026 academic session.

According to a release signed by the Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, the application window opened on Monday, June 16 and will close on Friday, July 25, 2025.

The statement outlines that prospective candidates must be at least 16 years old by August 6, 2025, and must have selected Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, or Ilaro campus of the College as their first choice during JAMB and Post-UTME registration.

Alternatively, candidates must effect a change of institution before the screening date. A minimum JAMB score of 180 is also required for eligibility.

In addition, applicants must possess a WASSCE, NECO, or GCE result with at least five credits in no more than two sittings. The compulsory subjects include English Language, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

The application fee is Twenty Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (₦20,700) and must be paid online via the College’s official application portal at apply.ogcon.edu.ng.

The release also strongly cautioned prospective applicants against dealing with touts or fraudsters, stating that the College does not appoint admission agents, either online or in person. For further enquiries, candidates are advised to contact the College directly via [email protected].

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Arase Foundation Awards Scholarships to Outstanding Students, Honours Legacy of Service and Excellence

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Arase Foundation Awards Scholarships to Outstanding Students, Honours Legacy of Service and Excellence

The Solomon Ehigiator Arase Foundation (SEAF) has reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to education, youth empowerment, and social impact with the hosting of its Annual Scholarship Grant ceremony.

The initiative celebrates academic excellence while providing financial support to deserving Nigerian students, particularly from underserved backgrounds.

This year’s beneficiaries include high-achieving students enrolled in tertiary institutions across Nigeria, selected for their academic merit, leadership potential, and community engagement. The scholarship also specifically supports children of deceased rank-and-file police officers as well as students from the seven Local Government Areas in Edo South—a nod to Dr. Solomon Ehigiator Arase’s roots and values.

The Foundation, established on the pillars of integrity, service, and excellence—principles that have defined Dr. Arase’s illustrious career in public service—continues to expand its impact by nurturing a new generation of changemakers.

“This is more than a financial award,” a spokesperson from the Foundation noted. “It is a seed of hope, a recognition of hard work, and a call to leadership.”

This year’s grant spans a wide range of academic disciplines, underscoring the Foundation’s inclusive approach to development. The breakdown of the scholarship recipients is as follows:

the scholarship recipients is as follows:

Medicine & Surgery – 13

Dentistry – 1

Mechanical Engineering – 1

Political Science – 1

Remote Sensing & Geoscience Information System – 1

Business Administration – 1

Agricultural Economics & Extension – 1

Criminology & Security Studies – 1

Guidance & Counseling – 2

Biology Education – 1

Pharmacy – 1

History and Diplomatic Studies – 1

Language & Linguistics – 1

Microbiology – 1

Science Laboratory Technology – 1

Human Nutrition & Dietetics – 1

The scholarship grant not only eases financial burdens for the recipients but also inspires them to strive for excellence and societal impact, mirroring the values of the man in whose name the Foundation was created.

SEAF’s annual initiative remains a vital instrument in promoting equitable access to higher education, with the long-term goal of building a more inclusive and prosperous Nigeria.

“By investing in these young minds today,” the Foundation asserts, “we are building the architects of tomorrow’s Nigeria.”

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