Author: Lawal AbdulSalam Olawale

Kwara State University, Malete, has announced plans to discontinue its Top-Up/HND Conversion programme from the 2025/2026 academic session in compliance with directives from the National Universities Commission.

 

The institution disclosed this in a public announcement on Monday, signed by the Registrar, Kikelomo Sallee.

 

According to the statement, the decision followed regulations issued by the National University Commission, the regulatory body for universities in Nigeria.

 

“This is to inform the public that Kwara State University, Malete, will discontinue its Top Up/HND Conversion programme from the 2025/2026 academic session.

This discontinuation is in compliance with the regulations of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the regulatory body for all universities in Nigeria,”the statement read.

 

The university added that the NUC would later provide directives regarding students already enrolled in the programme.

 

“The NUC will also give directives on the status of students already enrolled on the programme in KWASU in due course,” it added.

 

KWASU reaffirmed its commitment to regulatory compliance and academic standards.

Kwara State University, Malete, is firmly committed to ethical standards and abides by all the policies of the regulatory body,” the statement noted.

 

The development comes weeks after the university secured full accreditation for nine undergraduate programmes during the NUC’s October/November 2025 accreditation exercise.

 

In a statement issued by the Director of University Relations, Saeedat Aliyu, the university said the accreditation status was conveyed in a letter dated April 7, 2026, and signed by the NUC Director of Accreditation, Abraham Chundusu.

 

According to the notice, “the full accreditation status is valid for the statutory period of three years.”

 

The accredited programmes include Accounting, Banking and Finance, Business Administration, Environmental Health Science, English, Linguistics, Performing Arts, Computer Science and Microbiology.

 

Reacting to the development, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, described the accreditation as a reflection of the institution’s commitment to academic excellence.

 

 

 

The Federal Government on Wednesday banned recipients of honorary degrees from prefixing “Dr” to their names in official, academic, or professional usage.

 

It declared that the use of the title by such recipients constitutes a misrepresentation of academic credentials, which will henceforth be treated as academic fraud, with attendant legal and reputational consequences.

 

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while briefing State House correspondents on two Federal Executive Council approvals that had not been announced at the last cabinet meeting, which held on April 30.

 

Alausa, who appeared alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad, said the FEC approved a uniform policy for the award and use of honorary degrees by Nigerian universities.

 

The policy, he explained, is designed to end what he described as decades of indiscriminate conferral of degrees for political patronage and financial gain, and to restore public confidence in the integrity of academic titles.

 

The minister said recent developments in the award of honorary degrees have exposed widespread abuse and increasing politicisation of what should be a prestigious academic recognition.

 

He noted that such honours have been used for political patronage and financial benefits, including being conferred on serving public officials, a practice he said contradicts established ethical standards guiding honorary awards.

 

Under the new directive, recipients of honorary degrees are no longer permitted to prefix “Dr” to their names.

 

Instead, they are required to indicate the honorary nature of the award by placing the full designation after their names.

 

The minister gave examples of acceptable formats, including the use of titles such as “Chief Louis Clark, D.Lit. (Doctor of Literature, Honoris Causa)” and “Mrs Miriam Adamu, LL.D. Hons.”

 

He explained that the format is intended to clearly distinguish honorary awards from earned academic qualifications.

 

Alausa added that presenting honorary degrees as earned academic credentials will now be classified as academic fraud, with possible legal and reputational consequences.

 

The policy also limits the categories of honorary degrees that Nigerian universities can confer to four specific types: Doctor of Laws (LL.D), Doctor of Letters (D.Lit), Doctor of Science (D.Sc), and Doctor of Humanities (D.Arts).

 

It further stipulates that only universities with active PhD programmes are eligible to confer honorary degrees.

 

The minister said the measure is aimed at curbing the rising trend of relatively new institutions awarding honorary doctorates without established postgraduate research structures.

 

He added that all honorary awards must clearly include the designation “honorary” or “Honoris Causa” on certificates and in all official references.

Afrobeats star, Davido Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has inaugurated a 43-man youth committee to drive the re-election campaign of his uncle, Governor Ademola Adeleke, ahead of the August 15 Osun State governorship election.

 

At a brief event held in Ede on Tuesday, Davido also announced he would be taking a two-month break from music to focus on the campaign.

 

The committee, christened the Imole Youth Campaign Mobilisation Team, is chaired by Davido, with coordinators appointed across the three senatorial districts, nine federal constituencies, the 30 local government areas, and the Modakeke Area Office to lead grassroots mobilisation.

 

 

Speaking before unveiling the team, Davido urged members to embark on door-to-door campaigns and promote the governor’s achievements.

“I have put my musical career on hold for two months to come and work for my uncle. Not only because he is my uncle, but because he is doing a good job, and he has major things to do—the job is not done.

We are all here to support him to win the election with our influence. This is one of the most important committees because it has to do with youth.

 

“Let’s do door-to-door mobilisation across all local governments, showcasing what the governor has done and what he plans to do. Let’s engage people in our communities and connect them with the governor’s work,” he said.

According to a statement by the campaign team, the Imole Campaign Council Youth Committee has Adeshina Kayode Olododo as Vice Chairman and Gbenga Idowu as Secretary, alongside coordinators across federal constituencies.

 

The electorate in Osun State is expected to go to the polls on August 15 to elect a governor, with three major contenders in the race.

 

Governor Ademola Adeleke, seeking re-election on the platform of the Accord Party, faces challenges from Bola Oyebamiji of the All Progressives Congress and Dr Najeem Salaam of the African Democratic Congress

The Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, on Monday, read a riot act to the politicians in Oyo State, especially in the ancient city, over disrespecting the sacred stool of Olubadan of Ibadanland, warning that any attempt to denigrate the revered stool will be met with severe consequences.

 

CCII President-General, Ajeniyi Ajewole, gave this warning in a statement released by the council’s Publicity Secretary, Kola Olomide, in Ibadan, the state capital, amid growing concerns over rising reckless utterances and conducts in the state by some power-seeking politicians

 

He said recent actions by some political actors had crossed acceptable boundaries and posed a risk to the dignity of traditional institutions in Ibadanland.

 

Ajewole stressed that the council would not tolerate any form of disrespect directed at the Olubadan stool, warning further that the CCII would not sit idly by and watch the Olubadan throne desecrated for political gain.

CCII said, “The stool is sacred to the people of Ibadanland and must be treated with the highest respect at all times. Any attempt to denigrate the revered stool will be met with severe consequences.”

 

The PG added that the Olubadan remains a unifying father figure to all indigenes and residents of Ibadan, regardless of political affiliation.

 

He said, “All politicians in Oyo are sons and daughters of the Olubadan. They must conduct themselves with decorum, restraint, and absolute respect for the institution.

Any attempt at casting aspersions on the person of Olubadan and the stool and turning around to tender any apology would not be tolerated any longer. You mess up with that stool, you must be ready to face the consequence(s).

 

“The palace can never become any politician’s pawn; it is our symbol of strength and unity. This is the last time such nonsense will be condoned. Let politicians be warned, to be forewarned is to be forearmed. We will defend our tradition, our heritage, and our dignity,” the council warned.

 

It also reiterated that the institution is strictly non-partisan and has continued to maintain neutrality and respect for all political actors in the state.

 

The council expressed strong displeasure over incidents where politicians were seen raining curses on their opponents, describing such conduct as irresponsible and unacceptable

Ajewole, therefore, urged political actors to exercise restraint, warning that political differences must never be allowed to escalate into attacks on cultural and traditional institutions.

 

He called for maturity in political engagement, saying, “Politics should never be reduced to insults, curses, or hostility. We urge all political actors to rise above bitterness and act in the interest of peace and unity.”

 

The CCII reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the sanctity of the Olubadan stool and called on all stakeholders to ensure that respect, peace, and decorum remain central to political activities in the state.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and his New Nigerian Peoples Party, NNPP, counterpart, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, have formally joined the Nigeria Democratic Congress, NDC.

The duo joined the NDC after Obi earlier on Sun (more…)

The Dangote Group has denied reports making the rounds that its president, Aliko Dangote, has a purported rift with the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa, Tony Elumelu.

In a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Dangote Group, Anthony Chiejina, dismissed the claim as false.

 

The firm also rejected allegations that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals was financed through personal borrowing from friends.

The Dangote Group warned individuals peddling such falsehoods to desist or face appropriate legal action.

 

“The Dangote Group has become aware of a publication titled ‘Aliko Dangote Speaks Out on Why He Distanced Himself from Tony Elumelu,’ which is false, malicious, and baseless. At no time did the president or the Group make such statements or express such sentiments.

The Group categorically rejects claims that the development of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals was financed through personal borrowing from friends. These assertions are wholly inaccurate and constitute a deliberate misrepresentation of facts. As a matter of principle, Aliko Dangote neither finances his projects through personal borrowing from friends nor engages in lending arrangements of that nature. Any individual making such claims should provide verifiable evidence to substantiate them.

 

“Equally false are suggestions of any estrangement between Aliko Dangote and Mr. Tony Elumelu, with whom he maintains a longstanding and cordial relationship.

Furthermore, the Group notes with concern a rising pattern of fabricated statements and the unauthorized use of Aliko Dangote’s name, likeness, and image in AI-generated advertisements and other misleading content. These actions amount to reputational harm and potential fraud.

All individuals, organizations, and platforms involved in the creation, publication, or dissemination of such false content are hereby put on notice to desist immediately. The Group will take appropriate steps, including legal action where necessary, to protect its reputation and that of its leadership.

 

“Dangote Group remains committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity while continuing to drive industrialization, economic self-sufficiency, and sustainable development across Africa,” the Dangote Group stated.