Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has said that Nigerian students must not pay for system failures.

Obi said this in a statement posted on his verified X handle on Monday.

He was reacting to the concerns raised about the hardship students face at various centers across the country.

The former Anambra state governor was particular about the experience of students at the Amawbia, Anambra State, office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, following the proscription of several CBT centres over alleged infractions.

He said, “The expectation was that corrective measures would follow.

“Sadly, as I passed there again last Friday, I met the same crowd and confusion. Upon further inquiry, I was informed that similar situations exist in some other states across Nigeria.

“While authorities may have valid reasons for sanctioning centres, a more balanced and humane approach is possible.

“Centers under investigation could be allowed to continue offering limited services under strict monitoring to prevent further lapses.

“If it is difficult to approve new centres quickly, the authorities could still make temporary use of previously approved centres under close supervision to ease the pressure on state offices.

“With registration ending on the 26th, the consequences are serious. Many candidates travel from distant villages, some even sleeping in Awka to secure access. If nothing urgent is done, some will miss the examination — not for lack of preparation, but because the system failed them.

“Students cannot be made to suffer the failings of a system to which we have all, in one way or another, contributed.

“What is required now is not blame, but swift and compassionate intervention to ensure that no young person’s future is jeopardized by avoidable administrative bottlenecks.”

The Federal Ministry of Education has launched a one-year strategic ministerial intervention to recruit Technical Facilitators for Federal Technical Colleges nationwide, reinforcing reforms to reposition Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

The initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and aims to bridge Nigeria’s critical skills gap by engaging qualified, industry-oriented professionals to deliver modern, competency-based training.

The Ministry stated that the recruitment drive seeks experienced technical experts with strong pedagogical capacity to strengthen both practical and theoretical instruction across Federal Technical Colleges. The intervention forms part of broader reforms to enhance the quality, relevance, and responsiveness of technical education to evolving labour market demands.

Interested applicants are required to complete the official online application form via the Ministry’s designated portal. All submissions will undergo a transparent, rigorous, and merit-based evaluation process. Submission does not guarantee selection.

The application portal will close at 11:59 PM on Monday, 16 March 2026.

The Ministry reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Federal Technical Colleges as centers of excellence for skills development, innovation, and workforce readiness.

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.