The interim National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), David Mark, has cautioned party members against engaging in anti-party activities or displaying indiscipline.
Mark emphasized that under his leadership, only dedicated and loyal members would be included in the party’s plans and activities.
The former Senate President made this known while addressing a gathering of ADC members in Abuja.
According to Mark: “There will be zero tolerance for anti-party and any form of indiscipline; you are either in ADC or not in ADC.
“No mid-way in this business and those not with us, we will not carry them along.
“Those who are not totally committed will not be carried along.
“We shall reverse our grassroot leadership structures to reflect modern realities from the polling units upwards to the national level. Every organ reenergised.
“We will open the gates for the next generations, our policies, nominations and roles will reflect such.” Mark said.
The ADC, which was recently adopted by the opposition coalition, has some eminent Nigerians who are yet to officially defect to the party.
Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, who is a key member of the coalition, has yet to officially defect to ADC.
Similarly, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has yet to officially join the party despite being a key member of the coalition.
In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, the responsibility of learning remains firmly human. Jay Graber, CEO of Bluesky Social, recently issued a grounded and timely reminder: when students rely too heavily on AI tools, they risk sacrificing the critical‑thinking skills that underpin meaningful education and lifelong success.
This article explores her warning, highlighting the risks, the underlying context, and practical guidance for students looking to engage AI responsibly.
Table of Contents
The Warning: AI Shouldn’t Replace the Thinking Process
During an interview with Business Insider, Graber delivered a clear message: AI offers convenience, but leaning on it too much can leave students disengaged from the reasoning and reflection that power real learning.
She made a striking point: when reasoning is outsourced to AI, the human brain loses the opportunity to build and exercise critical‑thinking muscles. Using AI to formulate essays or solve assignments may feel efficient, but Graber cautioned that these shortcuts can ultimately hollow out students’ ability to think and judge for themselves—skills that won’t be replaced by any algorithm.
Why It Matters: Context and Judgment Still Belong to Humans
Graber emphasised that AI, while advanced, lacks the contextual awareness and subtle intelligence essential for sound decision‑making. She explained that although AI can generate text, moderate content, or analyse data, it often lacks grounding in nuance or purpose. That’s why Bluesky applies AI only under close human supervision—no output is implemented automatically.
In her words: “If you fully outsource your own reasoning, it’s actually not good enough to run in an automated fashion.” AI may mimic correctness, but without human judgment, it can produce impressive‑looking content that is flawed or hollow in substance.
The Value of Doing the Work Yourself: Building the Muscle
To cultivate real competence, Graber offered a practical technique: write essays by hand. This low‑tech approach forces thoughtful expression and reinforces reflection in a way typing—or AI generation—does not.
By doing the writing manually, students slow down enough to deliberate and engage meaningfully with their ideas. That practice builds what she calls the “muscle for critical thinking”—a habit that AI shortcuts risk weakening over time.
Beyond Essays: Why Broad Understanding Still Matters
Graber framed her view of AI as “specialist expertise packaged up,” but insisted that real value stems from generalist judgment and flexibility. AI tools may generate text or code, but they can’t teach a person to evaluate that output—only humans can decide what’s useful, what’s true, and what matters.
Her message: don’t allow AI to supplant foundational skills like writing, reasoning, or coding. These abilities form the basis for evaluating AI-generated work—without them, output may be technically accurate but still misplaced or misleading.
The Broader Perspective: Graber’s Vision for Responsible AI Use at Bluesky
Graber’s personal philosophy maps onto Bluesky’s organisational approach. AI powers moderation and recommendation systems within the platform, but never wields autonomous control. Every suggestion undergoes human review to ensure alignment with context, community norms, and accuracy.
This reflects her broader belief: AI should enhance human ability, not replace it. That philosophy places the responsibility—and the agency—squarely with people, preserving standards of care and creativity that machines cannot replicate.
How Students Can Use AI Wisely
Taking Graber’s advice to heart, here’s how students can start using AI as an aid—not a crutch:
Use AI as a starting point, not a finished product. Let the tool generate rough ideas or outlines—but write, edit, and think through them yourself.
Practice writing by hand occasionally. Whether outlines or drafts, the slower pace forces clarity and insight.
Cross‑check AI results. Look for errors, inconsistencies, or shallow reasoning. Validate, ask why, and challenge what the tool outputs.
Learn foundational methods. Understand how logic, structure, and evidence work. You’ll be better equipped to direct AI effectively.
What Graber’s Message Means for Educators and Institutions
Graber’s caution extends beyond students to schools and universities as well. Educators face the challenge of embracing AI as a teaching tool while ensuring it doesn’t undermine core skills. Her warning suggests a balanced stance: integrate AI—but insist on methods that promote critical thinking, original expression, and genuine engagement.
By emphasising structure, oversight, and human judgment, schools can encourage students to collaborate with AI, without letting it short-circuit the learning process.
Why This Discussion Matters More Than Ever
AI tools are already ubiquitous. Chatbots like ChatGPT and Claude are being used for everything from essay drafts to coding and problem-solving.
Academic integrity is under pressure. With students leaning on AI, institutions worry about plagiarism and skill erosion.
Employers value judgment and flexibility, not just polished output. Those who can think critically remain valuable—AI can’t replace that.
Graber’s stance serves as a timely corrective: AI must remain a tool, not a teacher.
The Takeaway: Use AI — but don’t let it use you
Jay Graber’s message is direct and grounded: AI offers shortcuts—but shortcuts without understanding are dangerous. For students, that means preserving the habit of doing hard intellectual work: reasoning, writing, questioning, and reflecting.
AI can support that journey—help draft, refine, or explore—but it can’t replace the human act of learning. Blurring that line risks surrendering the very skills that define education and enable creativity, judgment, and adaptability.
Conclusion
In an AI‑rich future, Graber’s advice serves as a clear principle: Let AI work—but make sure your mind stays in the game.
She isn’t rejecting technology—in fact, she champions it when used responsibly. Rather, her message is that the human brain must remain the center of learning and critical thinking. After all, no algorithm can replicate the process of discovery, nuance, or meaning-making in the same way human effort does.
To students and educators alike: embrace AI’s assistance, but resist letting it take over your reasoning, your writing, or your education.
The National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, has declared that President Bola Tinubu has no reason to fear and is unbeatable in the 2027 general elections.
Yilwatda made this statement on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing members of the APC League of Professionals, who paid a solidarity visit to the party’s national secretariat.
The newly appointed chairman also pledged that the APC would work to secure victory for all its candidates vying for governorship, national, and state assembly positions across the country.
The Plateau-born politician further stated that the achievements recorded under the Renewed Hope Agenda of the Tinubu administration were the basis for his assertion.
Yilwatda also cited the students’ loan scheme and several empowerment programmes being undertaken by the current administration, which he said had positively affected the citizenry.
“The child of the poorest man in Nigeria can now go to school to the peak without borrowing from anywhere. The government has made provision for that. This is the only time we’ve had that in the history of Nigeria.
“The government has dropped N1.5 billion into the Bank of Agriculture to support young men, who want to go into agriculture,” Yilwatda said.
OpenAI has rolled out a major new feature—Study Mode—for ChatGPT, reframing the AI assistant not as a shortcut to answers, but as a thoughtful learning partner. Simultaneously, the company is forging expanded collaborations with education technology organisations in both the United States and India. These moves reflect OpenAI’s deeper commitment to evolving ChatGPT into a tool that empowers learners, supports institutions, and counters concerns over academic misuse.
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Study Mode: From Shortcut to Learning Companion
Guided Learning, Not Instant Answers
Rather than delivering instant solutions, Study Mode asks questions to guide users toward insight. For example, instead of explaining Bayes’ theorem outright, the AI may begin by asking: “What level of math do you feel comfortable with?” or “What’s your end goal—class prep, exam review, or deeper conceptual understanding?”
Following a Socratic approach, it gently nudges users to think critically, reflect on their progress, and self-assess. Step‑by‑step explanations, short quizzes, and hints are layered in to build engagement and comprehension, creating an interactive tutoring experience rather than dumping answers.
Who Can Access It—and What’s Next?
Effective July 29, 2025, Study Mode is available to all logged‑in ChatGPT users across Free, Plus, Pro, and Team tiers, with ChatGPT Edu access arriving in the weeks ahead.
Built with input from over 40 educational institutions, the feature emphasises responsibility and depth in academic use. It includes support for image‑based questions—students can upload exam paper scans for AI‑led walkthroughs. Still, OpenAI admits that inconsistencies and occasional errors may occur.
Why This Matters Now
As academic integrity concerns mount—especially with studies showing a surge in AI‑related cheating incidents—the release of Study Mode signals OpenAI’s desire to re-position ChatGPT as a learning aid, not just a shortcut. It aims to embed “friction” into problem-solving to promote engagement instead of enabling misuse.
Leah Belsky, OpenAI’s VP of Education, describes this as part of an effort to shift education toward learner-driven exploration. “When ChatGPT is prompted to teach or tutor, it can significantly improve academic performance,” she said—versus the downsides of serving as a quick answer machine. Business Insider+1WIRED+1.
Critics caution that Study Mode is easy to bypass—only a toggle click away from traditional response style—and habits built around using AI for answers may threaten long-term critical thinking skills.
Strategic Ed‑Tech Partnerships: U.S. and India
Expanding the Educational Ecosystem
Alongside Study Mode’s launch, OpenAI has moved aggressively to collaborate with key education technology companies—especially in India, where it has debuted its first global academy.
OpenAI Academy India: A Major Milestone
Through a partnership with IndiaAI Mission (under India’s Ministry of Electronics & IT), OpenAI has launched OpenAI Academy India, marking its first education platform build beyond the U.S.
The Academy is tailored to reach a wide spectrum of learners—including students, educators, civil servants, developers, nonprofits, and small business owners—with both online and offline learning formats in English and Hindi, preparing to add more regional languages soon.
As part of the MoU, OpenAI is contributing educational content to India’s FutureSkills portal and iGOT Karmayogi training system for government officials. Up to $100,000 in API credits will be granted to 50 approved startups or fellows, and hackathons and Dev Day travel opportunities are planned.
This initiative taps into India’s booming tech ecosystem and represents a strategic commitment by OpenAI to global educational inclusion.
Broader Ed‑Tech Collaborations
In addition to India, OpenAI is strengthening ties with U.S. educational platforms, notably with Canvas, the learning management system used by thousands of universities. This tighter integration surfaces AI‑powered assistance within campus systems.
Other collaborations are underway with organisations integrating OpenAI tech into classroom tools and adaptive learning platforms—further embedding AI across both K‑12 and higher education.
Education as the New Frontier in the AI Landscape
A Two‑Front Battle: Learning vs. Shortcut
OpenAI’s Study Mode and Academy initiative place it squarely in the middle of the intensifying competition in AI-powered education. Google has responded with Gemini for Education, integrated study tools in search, and Khan Academy continues to build its Khanmingo assistant.
Study Mode deliberately disrupts the traditional Q&A model in favour of active learning, hoping to anchor ChatGPT as a cognitive aid—especially appealing to the next generation of users. As students today become professionals in the coming years, their affinity with AI learning tools might influence corporate and educational adoption at scale.
From Pilot to Core Learning AI?
The first version of Study Mode uses custom system prompts rather than a retrained model, allowing agility and iteration based on feedback. Over time, OpenAI plans to bake educational behaviours directly into its underlying models.
Meanwhile, educational research partnerships—such as with Stanford—are in motion to assess how Study Mode and similar tools actually impact student learning outcomes in K‑12 and higher ed.
What This Means for Learners and Educators in 2025
Students: Rather than merely requesting solutions, you can now work with ChatGPT as a patient tutor that prompts reflection, reinforces concepts with quizzes, and guides exam preparation, preserving academic integrity.
Educators & institutions: With collaborations like Canvas and integration into official training platforms in India, instructors can flexibly introduce AI without sacrificing pedagogical structure.
Policy makers and parents: The combination of Study Mode plus structured platform access provides a clearer framework on responsible AI use in schools.
Global learners: OpenAI Academy India demonstrates OpenAI’s move beyond Silicon Valley—this inclusive approach may ultimately shape its global reputation as an educational AI platform.
Looking Ahead
OpenAI has firmly positioned itself in a broader narrative: AI isn’t just for efficiency; it can be a learning companion. With Study Mode now live and high‑profile partnerships in place—from local Indian classrooms to U.S. universities—the company is making good on its vision of AI as infrastructure for learning.
The coming months will reveal whether students embrace Study Mode or bypass it in search of instant answers. The academy model in India will serve as a testing ground for hybrid learning in multi‑lingual, diverse contexts. And as OpenAI iterates based on feedback and data, future versions of ChatGPT may deeply encode pedagogical reasoning at their core.
Conclusion
Through Study Mode, OpenAI is not just adding a feature—it’s reframing ChatGPT’s academic identity, demanding reflection over repetition and learning over shortcutting. Coupled with its ambitious global education expansion, the company is signalling a new era in how AI can support—not replace—the journey of education.
2027: presidency slams fmr Labour Party running mate, Datti over comments on Tinubu's candidacy
The National Secretary of the Labour Party, Umar Farouk Ibrahim, has stated that the party’s former vice-presidential candidate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, is eligible to contest for the presidency.
According to Ibrahim, Baba-Ahmed is just as qualified as the party’s previous presidential candidate, Peter Obi.
Datti made this comment during an interview with Trust TV, where he also voiced his dissatisfaction with Obi’s affiliation with the opposition coalition-backed African Democratic Congress (ADC).
Yusuf Datti Baba Ahmed
He said: “Datti is qualified to contest for the presidency as good as Peter Obi. So, the seat of that candidacy is not reserved for anybody. It is open for a competitive contest.
“If Datti is willing to aspire for presidency and he wants to do that under the Labour Party, we will open it. Come and buy the form, mobilise his support and then get elected.
“But the only thing is that if those people didn’t come back to us, they lose that opportunity because there’s no way you’ll continue to romance with other political party and then you still come back and your one leg is in the Labour Party. No, ab initio, you may be disqualified.”
In a bold, forward-thinking move to upskill young professionals and tech enthusiasts across Africa, Font Hall—one of the continent’s leading tech-training accelerators—has teamed up with The Future Project, a nonprofit committed to unleashing youth potential. Together, they hosted a two-day Virtual Tech Bootcamp titled “Re‑Imagining Your Career with Tech” on July 19–20, 2025, from 2 PM to 5 PM WAT each day.
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Bridging the Digital Divide
The initiative marks a critical response to Africa’s tech-illiteracy crisis. Today, an estimated three in four African youths lack essential digital skills necessary for thriving in the modern workforce. With McKinsey’s projection of 230 million digital jobs emerging in Sub‑Saharan Africa by 2030, the consequences of skills gaps could be profound, especially in Nigeria, where 35–45% of jobs will require digital literacy by the decade’s end.
Font Hall has set an ambitious target: to train 200,000 industry-ready tech professionals by 2030, leveraging real-world, project‑based curriculum. Through tools like their proprietary AI Career Assessment Test and modules in Data Science, Analytics, Artificial Intelligence, software engineering, and UX/UI design, Font Hall prepares participants not just for local roles but for global competition.
A Curriculum Powered by Career Relevance
This bootcamp featured facilitators from distinguished companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Deloitte, bringing practical insights into the evolving tech economy. Aimed at both technological newcomers and seasoned career professionals, the sessions emphasised hands‑on learning, project simulation, and direct mentorship to translate technical knowledge into marketable capability.
“We’re empowering African talents to lead the global tech revolution,” emphasised Bode Maxwell‑Akinyemi, Founder and Chief Executive of Font Hall.
Youth Empowerment at the Core
Partnering with The Future Project, known for its mission of enabling youth-led innovation, tech-forward leadership, and social entrepreneurship, significantly magnified the bootcamp’s reach. The Future Project’s platform has been instrumental in shaping a generation of young Nigerians who are impact-minded and future-ready.
This collaboration offered participants not only technical aptitude but a refreshed sense of purpose—encouraging them to engage with emerging economic opportunities, digital careers, and personal leadership beyond conventional academic pathways.
Real Stakes: Changing Africa’s Economic Trajectory
The importance of such efforts cannot be overstated. The Brookings Institution estimates that bridging digital inclusion across Africa could contribute up to $1.5 trillion to the continent’s GDP by 2030.
By equipping youth with tech fluency, projects like this can reduce unemployment, stanch brain drain, and spark homegrown innovation. In Nigeria—where youth unemployment remains a pressing threat—initiatives anchored in digital education and practical training can help curb escalating social and economic instability.
A Modern Approach to Skill Building
Font Hall’s model stands apart for its combination of automation, assessment, and adaptive skill pathways. The AI Career Assessment Test helps professionals understand their competencies while recommending personalised tracks aligned with labour market needs. Sessions blend theory with immediate application, including project simulation, case studies, and real coding and design assignments. Such a structure is designed to foster both confidence and competence.
Participants also gained exposure to networking with industry experts, which amplifies their potential for job placement or entrepreneurial ventures. The hands-on nature and mentorship-backed environment also fostered a community mindset around collaborative growth and continuous improvement.
Youth Voices: Hunger for More Than Certificates
A growing discourse among African youth reveals a shift: certificates no longer guarantee opportunity—skills do. From WhatsApp groups to professional forums, a common question now is: “What comes after that degree? Is it enough? How do I build a career that matters?”
This bootcamp sought to answer that call. It empowered attendees to move beyond token credentials toward meaningful, skill-based transformation. Topics like AI, data, and software were less abstract—they became the foundation for real-world problem-solving and opportunity creation.
Why It Works: Combining Tech, Trade, and Tenacity
The synergy between Font Hall and The Future Project reflects a broader philosophy essential to empowering African youth: the union of tech, entrepreneurial trade, and tenacity.
Tech equips them with tools to build and compete.
Trade gives them a means to monetise these skills through freelancing, startups, or structured careers.
Tenacity prepares them for the rigours of growth: rejection, setbacks, iteration,and progress.
This trio—sometimes called the skill set of tomorrow—is what today’s youth crave and what Africa’s future demands.
Looking Ahead: Scaling Impact
While the bootcamp was a short, sharp initiative, its ambition echoes broader goals. Font Hall aims to reach 200,000 tech-ready professionals by 2030, and collaborations like this serve as proof points for scalable, inclusive digital education across the continent.
Key to its impact is not just the technical training, but also its alignment with global demand. Graduates can now compete for international roles in analytics, development, and innovation in hardware or software environments. The combination of practical application, soft skills, and a global lens gives these young professionals an edge.
Conclusion
In August 2025, Africa faces a moment of unprecedented opportunity—and enormous urgency. With demographic weight, economic possibility, and digital transformation all converging, the question is not whether African youth will rise, but how—and with what preparation.
Font Hall and The Future Project have chosen to meet that moment head-on. The July bootcamp is more than a two-day course. It’s a template of mentorship-first delivery, digital-first pedagogy, and youth-first empowerment. It reframes career building from passive learning to active transformation, allowing Nigeria’s and Africa’s youth to not just enter the tech economy, but to shape it.
As Maxwell‑Akinyemi put it: “[We’re empowering African talents to lead the global tech revolution.]” With programs like this, that mission starts in earnest—and grows through every student who joins, every skill unlocked, and every future reimagined.
Popular Nigerian singer 2Baba Idibia has officially tied the knot with his new partner, Natasha Osawaru, in a private ceremony held in Abuja.
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The intimate event was reportedly attended by close family members.
The couple was captured in a now-trending video on social media, taking pictures with their traditional wedding cake.
Recall that the singer engaged Natasha, a serving Edo State lawmaker, in February 2025, a few days after he announced separation from wife, Annie Macaulay Idibia.
2baba
Reacting to the trending video of the event:
@iam_Bonex: “Who would have known that someday, 2baba will become someone’s housewife.”
@Engr_Ashile wrote: “In this life, no let your wife stop you from marrying your future wife oh.”
@shamah007: “Why my legend the rush like this??? E no fit a little break from women affairs, u just come out of one wife u just rush go marry another one. Can’t u live without women. Na wa ooo.”
@KEkeinde: “Her dressing is always weird.”
@DeyemiAdediran: “It’s a matter of time, he go still leave Natasha! Na him way!”
In a heartfelt display of commitment to youth empowerment and technological excellence, Nigerian fintech powerhouse SystemSpecs recently hosted the award ceremony for its annual Children’s Day Essay Competition (CDEC)—an initiative designed to spark interest in technology among teenagers. The event celebrated finalists whose essays thoughtfully explored how technology can be used to drive positive societal impact.
This year’s edition stood out not just for the quality of submissions, but also for the sheer scale. The competition drew over 5,000 entries, reflecting a robust 33% uptick in participation compared to the previous year. Many participants came from diverse backgrounds, including public schools, orphanages, and children with special needs—underscoring SystemSpecs’ inclusive reach.
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Building Skills, Confidence, and Vision
At the award ceremony, Dr. Ernest Ndukwe, Chairman of SystemSpecs Holdings Ltd, shared the deeper purpose behind CDEC: nurturing young Nigerians who can think critically, act boldly, and use innovation as a force for good. “This is not just about essays. It’s about preparing tomorrow’s leaders to face real-world challenges with creativity and resolve,” he said.
Finalists were not only celebrated but also generously rewarded. The top prize—awarded in both junior and senior categories—included:
₦1,000,000 in cash
A brand‑new laptop
An annual internet subscription and various educational tools
Second and third-place winners received ₦750,000 and ₦500,000 respectively, along with similar tech and educational rewards. Winning schools were also acknowledged—Loyola Jesuit College, Abuja, and Abesan Comprehensive Junior College, Lagos, each received additional laptops.
Voices of Impact: Winners Share Their Journeys
Among the most inspiring moments were the raw, personal reflections from the winners themselves. In the junior category, Adeomi Adesewa—who rewrote her essay multiple times—described the journey as “transformational,” adding that she “now knows that my words have power.” The senior winner, Okeke Chukwudumebi Daniel, reflected on the experience as a wake‑up call: “The future does not wait; I must aim even higher to contribute meaningfully.”
Another notable highlight: female students constituted 61% of the overall entries—a strong indicator of rising gender parity in STEM education across Nigeria. In several states, girls made up over 90% of submissions, reflecting growing empowerment and opportunity.
Setting the Stage for Youth Leadership
SystemSpecs’ Executive Director, Corporate Services, Mrs. Bukola Adeboye, reaffirmed the broader mission behind CDEC: empowering young people to become active, engaged citizens, harnessing technology for national progress. She emphasised that the children involved are not just holders of a promise—they are already shaping the future.
Following the announcement phase, the finalists joined hybrid events featuring panel discussions led by youth technologists and a keynote address from Oladiwura Oladepo, Executive Director of Tech4Dev. Sessions tackled the roles of peers, parents, and educators in nurturing innovation and civic awareness. The gathering was livestreamed globally, bridging experiences between young tech‑enthusiasts and support networks across borders.
Why This Matters: Beyond Awards
Mass participation shows early tech interest rising in youth communities.
Financial and digital rewards help bridge educational and resource gaps.
Deep, thematic prompts motivate students to reflect on technology as a civic tool.
Hybrid events expand the initiative’s reach and impact beyond physical spaces.
Looking Ahead: A Tech‑Forward Future
SystemSpecs has confirmed that the virtual Award Ceremony is scheduled for June 27, 2025, offering participants, educators, and tech enthusiasts a chance to witness and contribute to the dialogue on technology, nation‑building, and youth leadership. The company’s ongoing investment in human capital underscores its belief in young Nigerians as architects of a progressive, digitally resilient future.
By weaving opportunity with responsibility, SystemSpecs continues to position CDEC as more than a competition—it is a platform where ideas merge with action, and where teenagers are recognised as innovators, thinkers, and agents of change.
The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has released the much‑anticipated results from the 2025 technical entrance examination for admission into Federal Technical Colleges (FTCs). The figures reveal a striking outcome: out of 24,074 candidates who sat for the exam, only 9,389—or exactly 39%—scored 50% or above.
The results were officially announced on July 9, 2025, during a three‑day student selection and placement exercise held in Benin City. Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NABTEB, Dr. Mohammed Aminu Mohammed, shared the statistics and outlined the path ahead for technical education in Nigeria’s revitalised Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) framework.
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Key Performance Metrics
Total candidates registered: 29,260 students, up from 7,547 in 2024—a leap of nearly 288%
Attended exam: 24,074 candidates (others were absent)
Passed (≥50%): 9,389 candidates — 39% of attendees
High performers (≥70%): 316 candidates (1.31%)
Top scorers: Only 8 candidates—0.03% achieved the highest marks
Under 50%: A significant 61% (14,685 candidates) did not meet the pass threshold
Dr. Mohammed described this poor showing not as a failure, but as a starting point for deeper reforms in TVET education. He emphasised the importance of placing the right students into trades aligned with their aptitude and strengths during the selection process
A Surge in Enrollment & Federal TVET Push
The massive rise in candidate numbers—from just over 7,500 in 2024 to nearly 29,300 in 2025—reflects the federal government’s aggressive promotion of TVET programmes in Federal Technical Colleges. Incentives such as tuition-free education, student stipends, accommodation, and certification support have driven the uptake.
NABTEB’s Director of Research and Quality Assurance, Pius Osaigbovo, noted that digitization helped streamline the process, and the spike in candidates underlines growing public faith in skills‑based education pathways. The TVET programme’s structure—with 80% practical and 20% theoretical content—is central to its appeal
What the Numbers Mean for TVET Reform
1. Quality over quantity
With only 39% passing, there remains work to uplift the standard of applicants. The low pass rate and tiny pool of high performers indicate the urgent need for improved foundational preparation at the Junior Secondary School level.
2. Data‑driven placement
NABTEB emphasises that the exam serves not only as an admission filter, but also as an aptitude test to match candidates to trades like electrical installation, tailoring, or solar maintenance, based on analytics gathered during registration and testing.
3. Aligning incentives
Free tuition, housing, feeding, and a monthly stipend (via the Nigerian Education Loan Fund) make TVET financially accessible, especially to under‑represented groups and low‑income families.
4. Expanding infrastructure
The Federal Government has upgraded 38 technical colleges and plans further expansion—including the creation of new Federal Technical Colleges in Enugu and Plateau—aiming for at least one in each state and FCT.
5. Digital transformation by 2027
NABTEB’s roadmap includes full digital administration of TVET exams by 2027 to improve efficiency and integrity, in collaboration with digital infrastructure partners.
Voices from the Sector
Dr. Mohammed emphasized a merit‑based, fair selection process to follow the exam results, aligning students’ talents with suitable vocational disciplines.
The Education Minister, Dr. Maruf Alausa, praised the initiative but urged administrators to adopt and implement policies that uplift skills‑based education nationwide.
Timeline & What’s Next
Phase
Date/Period
Description
Exam held
June 14, 2025
NABTEB conducted TVET entrance across 203 centres with 24,074 candidates attending (from 29,260 registered)
Results released
July 9, 2025
Announcement in Benin City; selection‐placement process begins
Placement exercise
July 9–11, 2025
Transparent and data‑driven placement of qualified candidates into suitable trades and colleges
Infrastructure upgrades ongoing
2025–2027
Announcement in Benin City; Selection-Placement Process Begins
Implications for Education Policy & Nigeria’s Workforce
Curriculum reform at the JSS level is vital: many students entering the TVET pipeline struggle with core academic content, affecting exam performance.
Career guidance services should be strengthened to steer students toward trades aligned with their strengths.
Private sector collaboration must increase: partnerships with industries can enhance training relevance and post‑graduation employability.
Data transparency and feedback loops: NABTEB and the Ministry should release broader performance analytics (trade by trade, region by region) to refine TVET strategies.
Continuous monitoring of pilot digital exams and infrastructure scalability ahead of full conversion by 2027.
Final Analysis: Low Pass Rate, Big Opportunity
Although it’s sobering to see only 39% of candidates achieving the pass mark, the larger story is one of hope and momentum. The Federal Government’s bold TVET reforms, characterised by free education, stipends, infrastructure upgrades, and a clear placement process, are already transforming perceptions and participation. With nearly 30,000 candidates taking part in 2025—a stark contrast to fewer than 8,000 a year earlier—the demand is clearly rising.
The challenge now is to improve quality: raising foundational academic levels, strengthening digital reach, and tailoring placements to aptitude. Dr. Mohammed’s call for a transparent, merit‑based selection process is a necessary safeguard to ensure the right students enter the right trades—a pillar on which the overall success of TVET hinges.
As the government continues to roll out infrastructure improvements and digital examination platforms, 2025 stands as a pivotal year in Nigeria’s TVET renaissance. The fresh data underscores both the potential and the areas needing urgent attention.
Nollywood actress Iyabo Ojo has delivered a heartfelt message to mothers, encouraging them to break free from harmful generational traditions and create a nurturing environment for their children.
Speaking at her daughter Priscilla’s baby shower over the weekend in Canada, Iyabo highlighted the importance of intentional parenting and the power of positive affirmations.
She urged mothers to let go of the belief that the negative experiences or patterns from their own upbringing must be passed down to the next generation.
She encouraged women to leverage faith and positive affirmations to be able to shatter negative cycles and create a better future, highlighting the significance of recognizing and overcoming ancestral curses.
The mother of two said, “Sometimes you need to sacrifice so much for your children, you have to think, for me to be here today, to have this baby I made that decision and whatever comes out of it, good or bad, it is not a burden for my children to carry and I will never deprive my children of their blessings.
“When mothers carry the pain and struggle and you extend it to your children you deprive them of certain things, there is something called ancestral curses, you cannot break it if you are leading it. For you to break you must stop it and you must end it.” Iyabo.
Governor Abiodun of Ogun State has joined forces with his Oyo State counterpart, Governor Seyi Makinde, to address food insecurity and strengthen security across both states.
The two leaders held a closed-door meeting on Tuesday at the Oyo State Government House.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Governor Abiodun emphasized the importance of the collaboration, referencing the historical ties of the old Western Region, in which Ibadan was the capital and Ogun formed a key part.
Governor Abiodun noted that both states, sharing contiguous boundaries and similar agro-ecological zones, are uniquely positioned to drive a regional agricultural strategy that prioritizes local production, food sufficiency, and market integration.
He added that the two states are committed to a “grow what we eat, eat what we grow” agenda that seeks to make the Southwest the food production nucleus of the country.
The Governor Abiodun and the other Governor also spoke on targeted interventions across their border communities, including scaling up mechanised farming, aligning policy frameworks, and investing in cross-border rural infrastructure such as irrigation systems and feeder roads to facilitate agricultural logistics.
Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun
He said: “I have come to see my brother, Governor Seyi Makinde, to discuss matters of mutual interest.
“Our discussions centred on how we can further collaborate to ensure that we eat what we grow and grow what we eat, turning our region into the breadbasket of the country.”
Meanwhile, the state helmsman acknowledged the contributions of the Southwest Security Network, also known as Amotekun, to the security architecture of the region through the provision of required intelligence and other security functions.
Cry for help: 150 abducted Zamfara residents beg for freedom (video)
Ibrahim Musa, a prominent bandit leader, tweeted a video on his TikTok account, @Ibrahim.Musa99, showing 150 kidnapped residents of Zamfara State begging for their lives and urging the state government to start a conversation with their abductors.
Among the abductees were men, women, and children who lived in different localities in the problematic state, such as Cogon Daji, Danabuce, Kuliya, Bayawa, Magulu, and Gidan Garduwa.
One of the victims, speaking in Hausa, bemoaned in the film that SaharaReporters was able to obtain the government and community leaders’ desertion of them as they endured fear and famine in the terrorists’ woodland refuge.
Zamfara state governor, Dauda Lawal
Speaking in Hausa, one of the victims cried out, in the video obtained by SaharaReporters, the abandonment they had suffered from both the government and their community leaders, while enduring starvation and fear in the forest hideout of the terrorists.
“We are people from Cogon Daji, Danabuce, Kuliya, Bayawa, Magulu, Gidan Garduwa and other areas in Zamfara State. We have been here for weeks. Our leaders are flying around with their families, while we are dying here of hunger,” the abductee said.
“Please, the Zamfara State Government should consider our situation and come to dialogue with our abductors. We are suffering. We are starving. And we are human beings too.”
In what seems to be a well-planned public relations ploy by the terrorists, a victim said that the gunmen who are holding them have stated that they are open to negotiating a peaceful resolution, but that the government is treating them with disdain and inequality.
“We want to tell the Zamfara State Government that what we’ve seen here is that this insecurity is mainly due to a lack of understanding between government and these gunmen,” the victim said.
“The bandits are saying the government looks down on them, like they don’t know anything or have any rights. But they are saying they’re ready for dialogue. In our camp alone, we are over 150 people. Other camps have over 200. Some are uncountable.”
Similarly, reports also revealed how a terrorist operating in Kwara State took over the TikTok account of one of his abducted victims and is now using it to brazenly post videos from their forest hideout.
The victim, Yman, a well-known Point of Sale (POS) agent, was kidnapped in late June 2025 together with several other people in several Kwara North towns.
His kidnappers have since been using his WhatsApp account to send family members unsettling updates and demanding payment, according to information obtained by correspondents.
“He has been using Yman’s phone number to call us,” a family member revealed.
“He even used the WhatsApp line to send us a video of Yman crying and begging for help due to hunger and torture. Now, they’ve hijacked his TikTok and the kidnapper is confidently uploading videos from their hideout,” the family source added.
2027: PDP in deep mess as prominent members dump party in N/E
The Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), is facing an increasing number of defections in the Northeast, which development analysts say might erode the party’s long-standing clout in the area as the 2027 election countdown gets underway.
Recall that in recent times, the PDP has seen a widespread wave of defection ahead of 2027 election across different regions.
Prominent individuals were seen leaving the party in protest from Taraba to Adamawa, Yobe to Borno, and Gombe to Bauchi States, alleging internal conflicts, a lack of inclusivity, and dissatisfaction with the leadership according to reports.
The PDP’s established control in Taraba and other areas of the region is undoubtedly under danger due to this new trend, which experts have dubbed a “game of resignations.”
One of the most striking exits came recently from Professor Jerome Nyameh, a governorship aspirant in Taraba during the 2023 elections.
Nyameh, who bemoaned unsolved internal conflicts and a widening gap between party leadership and grassroots followers, announced his departure from the PDP with immediate effect in a letter to the chairman of Zing AII Ward.
“I have been a committed and devoted member since 1999, but I can no longer pretend that all is well. My supporters are increasingly disillusioned, and the leadership has failed to provide a credible direction,” Nyameh wrote.
PDP acting national chairman , Damagun
His departure comes after that of a number of other party members, some of whom have charged that the PDP has a closed-door system that silences competent voices.
Although the PDP is still in power under Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, it is also dealing with internal strife in adjacent Adamawa State.
Due to what they refer to as “a lack of recognition” and “continued sidelining of grassroots mobilisers,” a number of ward executives and youth leaders have either threatened to resign or have already started to affiliate with alternative political movements.
According to party insiders, tensions are high in Adamawa despite the fact that no top officials have openly left. A number of local power brokers are apparently having backroom discussions with opposition parties, including as the All Progressives Congress (APC) and new third-force groups.
Although there haven’t been any notable resignations in Gombe or Bauchi States yet, party observers claim that unhappiness is growing. Supporters of the PDP in Gombe, where the APC controls the state administration, are angry over what they see as the opposition’s ineffective leadership and lack of strategic direction.
In Bauchi, the PDP holds the governorship under Bala Mohammed, but internal crisis between the governor’s facton and the state working committee has been growing. Party leaders continue to downplay the disagreements, but insiders say defections are likely if reconciliation efforts fail.
Speaking with reporters, political analysts identified a number of root factors for the wave of resignations that swept the region.
2027: PDP in deep mess as prominent members dump party in N/E
Many party dissidents accuse state and local leaders of being dictatorial and contemptuous of internal democracy.
According to some people who told the Daily Post that they have decided to leave the PDP, complaints are frequently disregarded or handled inadequately, which causes resentment to build up.
Disgruntled PDP members in the Northeast are being courted by the APC, which is still enjoying its national domination. Meanwhile, many who are fed up with the status quo are looking to the Labour Party, the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), and other up-and-coming political organisations as alternatives.
Speaking anonymously, a top APC official in Taraba revealed that discussions were still going on with a number of PDP mainstays. “They are aware of the direction the momentum is taking. The game will change by 2027.
Meanwhile, at the national and zonal levels, the PDP leadership has mostly been defensive or silent. There is no crisis, according to some party leaders, who characterise the resignations as “normal political movements.” Others maintain that the party is already implementing reconciliation strategies, such as holding talks with members who have been wronged.
The PDP’s ability to weather the storm, reunite, and provide a compelling vision, or to continue losing members in what may be a gradual but persistent process, may be determined in the upcoming months in Taraba and the Northeast.
Nigeria's Drug War Heats Up: Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills Seized in 18 Months!
Nigeria’s Drug War Heats Up: Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills Seized in 18 Months!
Nigeria’s fight against drug abuse is reaching unprecedented levels. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced a massive haul: 1.3 billion pills of Tramadol and 4.4 million bottles of Codeine seized in just the last 18 months. This record-breaking capture highlights both the enormous scale of Nigeria’s drug problem and the government’s strong commitment to tackling it head-on.
Nigeria’s Drug War Heats Up: Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills Seized in 18 Months!
Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retired), the head of the NDLEA, revealed these astonishing figures at a recent forum in Kaduna. He described the seizures as “unprecedented” and issued a stark warning that the illegal drug trade continues to pose grave threats to public health and national security.
To put the numbers into perspective, Marwa explained that a single pill of Tramadol now sells for about N1,000 on the streets. This means the street value of one billion pills alone could be a staggering N1 trillion! He painted a grim picture, saying, “Imagine the kind of weapons terrorists or bandits could buy with that amount of money or the devastation if such quantities were on our streets.”
Nigeria’s Drug War Heats Up: Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills Seized in 18 Months!
Since President Bola Tinubu took office in May 2023, the NDLEA has confiscated an astounding 5,555 tons of illicit substances – that’s equivalent to about 200 fully loaded trailer trucks! Beyond the seizures, the agency has also made significant strides in arrests and rehabilitation:
2,000 suspected drug traffickers arrested.
8,682 convictions secured in court.
Over 24,000 individuals struggling with addiction have received rehabilitation.
Marwa credited President Tinubu’s “unwavering support” for these achievements. The NDLEA has also stepped up its awareness campaigns, reaching out to schools, motor parks, churches, mosques, and marketplaces to reduce the demand for drugs.
Expanding Help for Those Struggling with Addiction:
Recognizing that fighting drug abuse isn’t just about arrests, the NDLEA has also expanded its rehabilitation services.The agency currently runs 30 centers nationwide, but Marwa announced that President Tinubu has approved the construction of seven new ones, ensuring that at least one rehabilitation center will be available in every state. There are also plans to build a modern rehabilitation facility in each of Nigeria’s six major geographical zones, with the aim of starting this year.
Marwa linked these efforts to the administration’s broader “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which aims to address the root causes of substance abuse, such as poverty, unemployment, and idleness. “This fight is not only about confiscating drugs,” he stated. “It is also about addressing the conditions that make young people vulnerable to addiction in the first place.”
Nigeria’s Drug War Heats Up: Over 1 Billion Tramadol Pills Seized in 18 Months!
While praising Kwara and Kaduna States for their proactive efforts against drug abuse, Marwa stressed that the government cannot win this fight alone. He called for a collective effort from parents, families, communities, traditional rulers, churches, and mosques. He even suggested that drug education should be introduced into the primary school curriculum so that children grow up informed and resilient.
As drug seizures continue to mount, the NDLEA firmly believes that drug abuse is not just a health issue but a serious threat to Nigeria’s society and national security, a battle that truly requires everyone to get involved.
The World Economic Outlook, or WEO, July 2025 edition, which also included an upward assessment of the prediction for global economic growth to 3.0 percent for 2025 and 3.1 percent for 2026, was where the IMF published the updated forecast.
Compared to the reference prediction in the April 2025 WEO, the updated forecast for global economic growth for 2025 is up 0.2 percentage points, while the prognosis for 2026 is up 0.1 percentage points.
In a similar spirit, the IMF increased its projection for the Sub-Saharan African region from 3.8% and 4.2% in the April 2025 WEO to 4.0% for 2025 and 4.3% for 2026, respectively, which is a 0.2 and 0.1 percentage point rise.
“Growth is expected to be relatively stable in 2025 in sub-Saharan Africa at 4.0 per cent, before picking up to 4.3 per cent in 2026,” it said.
Commenting on the new forecast for Nigeria’s economic growth, Tunde Abidoye, Head of Equity Research, FBNQuest Merchant Bank, said: “The IMF’s forecast of 3.4% is precisely in line with our in-house view based on the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics, NBS data points.
“I believe the upward revision likely reflects improved oil production and the strong performance of services. That said, the range-bound single-digit growth rate forecast still portends cautious optimism, as the growth is still too modest to tackle the poverty problem.”
