Biodun Jeyifo, the renowned literature and culture scholar, has passed away.

Jeyifo passed away on Wednesday at the age of 80, marking the end of a remarkable intellectual journey that spanned decades and continents.

In a statement announcing his de@th, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL), Andrew Haruna, described Jeyifo’s passing as a profound loss to Nigeria and the global intellectual community.

He noted that the late scholar’s contributions to literary studies and cultural criticism earned him respect both at home and abroad.

Born on January 5, 1946, in Ibadan, Oyo State, Jeyifo, fondly known as “BJ”, distinguished himself early in life.

He obtained a first-class degree in English from the University of Ibadan, earned his master’s degree from the same institution, and later completed his doctoral studies at New York University.

Jeyifo began his academic career at the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), before taking up appointments overseas.

He later held senior academic positions at Cornell University and subsequently at Harvard University, where he served as Professor Emeritus of African and African American Studies and Comparative Literature.

Jeyifo was widely regarded as one of the leading interpreters of the works of Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka.

His scholarship deepened global understanding of African literature, postcolonial theory and comparative literary studies, earning him admiration among scholars worldwide.

Beyond the lecture hall, Jeyifo was active in university governance and academic advocacy. He once served as National President of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), where he played a visible role in the struggle for academic freedom and improved conditions for lecturers in Nigerian universities.

Earlier on January 5, the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ), alongside other intellectual bodies, organized an international symposium in Lagos to celebrate his 80th birthday and lifelong contributions to critical thought.

The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed claims that it approved the “Living History” textbook, which reportedly excluded Igbo content Officials confirmed the book was never submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) and is not on the list of approved instructional materials The Ministry urged schools and parents to disregard misinformation, stressing that only authorized textbooks reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity and national values

The Federal Ministry of Education has denied approving the “Living History” textbook, which reportedly excluded Igbo content. As reported by Dailytrust, officials clarified that the book was not authorized for use in any Nigerian school.

In a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Ministry stressed that “Living History” had never been submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).

The Council is the statutory body responsible for reviewing, evaluating, and approving instructional materials under the national curriculum.

As a result, the Ministry confirmed that the book was neither recommended by NERDC nor included on the official list of approved History textbooks.

The Ministry explained that consultations with NERDC leadership and a review of officially endorsed materials confirmed that “Living History” did not form part of the approved instructional resources for schools nationwide. Warning against misinformation Parents, teachers, school proprietors, and administrators were urged to disregard speculation, misinformation, and what the Ministry described as “emotionally charged narratives” surrounding the book. Officials warned that unapproved materials could undermine curriculum standards and negatively affect teaching and learning outcomes. “All approved textbooks strictly comply with the national curriculum and reflect Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, shared history, and core national values, while promoting inclusivity, balance, and unity,” the statement noted.

Call for responsible discourse Folasade further appealed to the public to support responsible discourse, reject divisive misinformation, and verify the approval status of educational materials through official channels before adoption.

“The public is encouraged to consult NERDC for verified information on approved textbooks. Education thrives on truth. Unity thrives on understanding,” the statement added.

Ministry urges schools and parents to reject misinformation on unapproved textbooks. Photo credit: Tunji Alausa/x Source: Twitter

FG addresses claim it abandoned Nigerian students in Morocco Legit.ng earlier reported that the Federal Government has rejected reports suggesting that Nigerian students studying in Morocco under a bilateral scholarship scheme were abandoned or denied funding. Education authorities described the circulating claims as misleading and deliberately crafted to distort public understanding.

In a post on its official social handles, the Education ministry clarified that every beneficiary admitted into the Bilateral Education Scholarship programme before 2024 received payments up to the approved 2024 budget cycle. Any outstanding delays were linked to fiscal adjustments currently being resolved through engagements between the education and finance ministries. Education Minister Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa confirmed that no fresh bilateral scholarship awards were issued from October 2025 onward. Documents circulating online claiming otherwise were described as unauthenticated and designed to discredit government policy. According to the ministry, the decision to discontinue government-funded overseas bilateral scholarships followed a policy assessment which showed that Nigerian universities, polytechnics and colleges of education now possess the capacity to deliver similar academic programmes locally. Source: Legit.ng

The Federal Government has opened applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Overseas Scholarship Scheme.

The announcement in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, said the programme offers Nigerian postgraduate students the opportunity to study abroad.

According to the post, successful applicants will pursue studies in the United Kingdom, Germany, France and Malaysia under the fully funded scholarship scheme.

“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” the post stated.

Details published on the PTDF scholarship portal show that the scheme is open to MSc and PhD candidates in disciplines relevant to the oil and gas sector. Benefits include full tuition, return air tickets, accommodation, living allowances, health insurance and bench fees where applicable.

The agency said the initiative is designed to strengthen local expertise in the energy sector.

“The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” PTDF said.

For MSc applicants, eligibility requirements include a minimum of a Second Class Lower (2.2) degree or higher, completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme, computer literacy, and at least five O’Level credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

PhD applicants are also required to submit a research proposal of no more than five pages detailing their objectives, methodology and data collection strategy.

PTDF explained that PhD candidates studying in the United Kingdom will follow a split-site arrangement, conducting research between the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and selected partner universities, including Robert Gordon University, the University of Strathclyde and the University of Portsmouth.

The agency noted that the scholarship is highly competitive and selection will be strictly merit-based.

“Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered,” the statement said.

Applicants will be assessed based on academic performance, quality of research proposals, professional memberships and the relevance of their chosen fields to the oil and gas industry.

PTDF also warned that applicants must verify their National Identity Number (NIN) before applying, adding that multiple submissions or falsified documents would lead to automatic disqualification.

Interested candidates are to apply online via scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for approved programmes at PTDF partner institutions.

The deadline for applications is February 27, 2026.