Ahmed, who spoke on the reforms being implemented under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, said the Federal Ministry of Education, under the leadership of the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, was strengthening access, quality and human capital development across the education value chain.

She said the review of the national curriculum was aimed at reducing subject overload and shifting the focus from rote memorisation to competency-based learning, where learners are assessed on what they understand, can apply and demonstrate.

According to her, the curriculum for pre-service teachers is also being reviewed to better equip teachers for the demands of modern classrooms.

Ahmed identified teacher development as a major priority, noting that although about N20 billion was provided to states for teacher training in 2025, available data showed that only about 10 per cent of teachers benefited.

She said a baseline assessment also revealed that some teachers had spent between 25 and 30 years in service without participating in professional development.

To bridge the gap, the ministry introduced a zero-rated digital teacher development platform accessible to teachers in public and private schools through Android devices.

She said more than 60,000 teachers had participated in the first phase, while the ministry was working towards making continuous professional development more structured and eventually mandatory.

Ahmed added that the Comprehensive Teacher Policy, being developed in collaboration with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Teachers, would address recruitment, training, welfare, deployment and career progression.

On basic education funding, the minister said the Universal Basic Education Commission had revised its disbursement guidelines and funding formula to make interventions more responsive to actual needs.

She said the new approach would strengthen the link between performance and additional support, while greater attention was being given to procurement and value for money, particularly in school construction.

Ahmed also disclosed plans for a new school grading framework that would classify schools from A to D based on infrastructure, facilities, teacher qualifications and learner achievement.

At the tertiary level, she said the government was expanding capacity in medicine, pharmacy, science and engineering, adding that 10 medical institutions had been established or strengthened.

According to her, admission quotas in some institutions have also been doubled or tripled, while more than N400 billion has been invested in expanding capacity in critical fields.

She said stronger accreditation and verification processes were being introduced to ensure institutions had sustainable facilities, equipment and staffing beyond accreditation exercises.

Ahmed explained that the seven-year moratorium on the establishment of new universities and other tertiary institutions was designed to give existing institutions room to strengthen infrastructure, staffing and academic quality.

On student financing, the minister said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund had supported more than 1.6 million students from about 322 universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

She explained that participation in the scheme was voluntary and required annual application and verification, after which beneficiaries could proceed with registration based on NELFUND’s assurance for payment of approved institutional fees.

Ahmed acknowledged that there had been delays in some cases but said efforts were ongoing to improve the processes.

She also highlighted measures to tackle the challenge of out-of-school children, saying estimates currently range from about 10 million to more than 20 million.

She said the ministry was developing a national education data platform alongside a nationwide mapping exercise to establish reliable figures and identify children requiring intervention.

According to her, the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education and the National Commission for Nomadic Education had completed their respective mapping exercises, while the Agency for Mass Education was nearing completion.

Ahmed said the exercise was being linked directly to enrolment and intervention, rather than being treated solely as data collection.

She added that traditional and religious leaders were being engaged to help reach communities with large numbers of children outside the formal school system.

The minister said one of the practical responses was the establishment of bilingual schools combining religious and conventional education in eight states with some of the highest numbers of out-of-school children.

She said three schools were planned in each state, with four in two of the states, adding that the schools would have boarding capacities of between 1,500 and 2,000 learners.

According to her, the model is already operational in Maiduguri and Kano, while preparations are ongoing in other participating states.

Ahmed also highlighted the Almajiri Policy, which defines the responsibilities of the Federal, state and local governments, parents and communities in providing education for children in the Almajiri system.

She said the policy provides for the integration of religious and conventional education through an Accelerated Basic Education Curriculum, which condenses basic education into four levels while accommodating learners who enter the system at an older age.

Beyond formal education, the minister said the government was expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training as part of its human capital development strategy.

She said a national skills-gap assessment identified about 40 trades, with 25 prioritised for immediate attention.

Ahmed disclosed that the first application cycle attracted about 1.3 million applications, with more than 100,000 beneficiaries trained through public and private training centres.

She said participating centres received N30,000 per trainee, while beneficiaries received N22,500 for transportation.

The second cohort, she added, attracted about 1.8 million applications, with support increased to N50,000 per trainee for participating centres and N30,000 for beneficiaries.

Participants are expected to undergo assessment under the National Skills Qualification Framework and receive starter packs to facilitate their transition into employment or enterprise.

Ahmed further disclosed that the ministry was promoting innovation and entrepreneurship among university students through initiatives including the Student Venture Capital Grant, which provides up to N50 million for students with scalable innovation projects.

She said the Entrepreneurship, Business and Innovation Centre programme, which began at the University of Lagos, was being expanded to 16 additional universities to provide students with entrepreneurship training, mentoring and access to funding.

The minister said data and digitalisation remained central to monitoring the reforms, with the ministry strengthening learner-level data, digitising processes and expanding electronic monitoring to improve planning and resource allocation.

She said school grading, national assessments and e-monitoring would provide evidence on learning outcomes, teacher development, access and institutional performance.

Ahmed said the reforms would ultimately be measured by improved learning outcomes, stronger teacher capacity, expanded access to education, increased skills opportunities and a reduction in the number of children excluded from the education system.

She reaffirmed her commitment to working with Alausa to sustain the reform momentum and ensure that government policies and programmes translate into tangible outcomes for learners, teachers and educational institutions.

The post Education Reforms Taking Shape Under Renewed Hope Agenda — Minister appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

Machchar, who was speaking publicly for the first time since the incident, narrated his ordeal to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from a hospital in the United Arab Emirates, where he is receiving treatment for injuries sustained during the attack.

With a bandage on his head, the pilot said he realised that he had to act despite being seriously injured because the lives of everyone aboard the aircraft depended on him.

“I feel an immense sense of pride. At that moment, I was fighting for my life, but I realised that if I didn’t get up and act—after being seriously injured and lying on the floor—no one else would,” Machchar said.

He explained that his 17 years of experience as a pilot, including 11 years as a captain, helped him understand what was happening aboard the aircraft even while he was injured.

“I’ve been flying planes for 17 years and have been a captain for the last 11 years, and I know what’s happening on the plane, even with my eyes closed,” he said.

Machchar said he knew that only one final push was required to open the cockpit door after he had been attacked by his Omani colleague.

“I knew that only one more push was needed to open the door. Despite my injuries, I opened it, and the rest of the crew came in and did their part. I knew I couldn’t let the passengers die,” he said.

The incident involved Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Israel when the co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchar and attempted to take control of the aircraft.

The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday.

Indian and Israeli leaders have commended Machchar for his actions, with Modi describing his intervention as an extraordinary act of courage.

“Captain Smit Machchar has shown the world the highest form of courage. Without fearing for his own life, he fought valiantly and prevented another 9/11-like attack from happening,” Modi said.

“One hundred and forty crore Indians salute Captain Smit and are praying for his well-being.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said on Thursday that preliminary investigations indicated that the Flydubai co-pilot who stabbed Machchar had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.”

Netanyahu said investigations were continuing to establish the motive behind the attack, which left the flight at risk of being brought down while carrying about 170 passengers.

The incident has raised fresh concerns over aviation security and the potential threat posed by individuals attempting to seize control of commercial aircraft.

The post Indian Pilot Recounts How He Foiled Flydubai Crash Attempt appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

Acting Director of the WHO Department of Antimicrobial Resistance, Dr Jean-Pierre Nyemazi, gave the warning at a press conference held to mark the exhibition, “AMR: The Human Stories Behind a Silent Pandemic,” at the European Parliament in Brussels.

The exhibition, organised by the WHO and Member of the European Parliament, Hon. Martin Häusling, runs from September 28 to October 2, 2026, and features personal accounts of people affected by antimicrobial resistance across Europe.

Nyemazi said AMR affects humans, animals, plants, food systems, economies and the environment, stressing that resistant pathogens can move across sectors and national borders.

He said, “One million people die every year due to drug-resistant bacteria alone — that is, two people every minute die of bacterial AMR.”

According to him, the economic consequences of AMR are also significant, as resistant infections increase healthcare costs, prolong hospital stays and may force family members to abandon their jobs to care for sick relatives.

He stressed the need for countries to adopt a One Health approach, describing it as essential to tackling AMR because the problem cuts across human, animal and environmental health.

Nyemazi said the WHO, together with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), was working through the Quadripartite Joint Secretariat on AMR to coordinate the global response.

He disclosed that WHO Member States approved an updated Global Action Plan on AMR at the 2026 World Health Assembly, providing a framework for the next decade.

He identified infection prevention, vaccination, infection prevention and control, water, sanitation and hygiene, improved animal husbandry, stronger surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, access to quality medicines and diagnostics, and reduction of environmental contamination as key measures against AMR.

“The tools exist and the evidence is there, but the cost of inaction is rising. The longer we delay action, the higher the cost becomes,” he said.

Nyemazi also called for stronger legislation, financing and accountability to support national AMR commitments, while urging the media to play a greater role in bringing the issue into public debate.

He said the theme of this year’s World AMR Awareness Week, scheduled for November 18 to 24, is “One Health, One Action, Prevent AMR Now.”

Speaking at the event, Häusling warned against the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics, particularly in animal agriculture.

He said antibiotics were sometimes administered to entire groups of animals when only one animal was sick, describing the practice of mass treatment as dangerous.

“When one chicken becomes sick, the entire group is given antibiotics even if the others show no symptoms. We must move away from this mass treatment,” he said.

Häusling also expressed concern about the use of last-resort antibiotics in food-producing animals, stressing that such medicines should be preserved for situations where other treatment options fail.

He further called for greater attention to pharmaceutical contamination from slaughterhouses and other facilities, noting that resistant pathogens could enter the environment through wastewater.

The lawmaker said AMR should remain on the political agenda, noting that its consequences extend beyond healthcare to families, livelihoods and the wider economy.

One of the most compelling accounts at the event came from Rob Purdie, an AMR survivor and member of the WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors.

Purdie recounted how an undiagnosed fungal infection in 2012 was initially treated as a sinus infection and later as cluster headaches before he was eventually diagnosed with fungal meningitis.

He said delayed diagnosis resulted in prolonged illness, multiple failed antifungal treatments and hospital bills of about $250,000.

Purdie said he eventually required a combination of antifungal drugs, including amphotericin B, and has continued taking antifungal medication for years because the infection cannot currently be cured but can only be controlled.

He said the illness also prevented him from earning a living for about five years, leaving his family dependent on social safety nets and causing long-term financial difficulties.

Purdie said AMR cuts across socioeconomic, geographical, cultural and political boundaries, adding that addressing it would require a similarly broad global response.

“This is not a war we can win, but it is not a war we can afford to lose,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to remove the word “silent” from the description of AMR, arguing that the scale of suffering and its long-term consequences demanded greater public attention.

Responding to questions on antibiotic access and misuse, Nyemazi said some countries, including parts of sub-Saharan Africa, faced a paradox in which people could obtain medicines from pharmacies without prescriptions while access to proper diagnosis and healthcare remained limited.

He called for stronger primary healthcare systems, public education, enforcement of regulations restricting the dispensing of reserve antibiotics without prescriptions, and the use of digital technologies to track medicine dispensing.

On Nigeria, Nyemazi said limited access to veterinary services remained a challenge and stressed the need for governments, civil society, the private sector and individuals to work together.

He identified ineffective coordination among sectors as one of the major obstacles to tackling AMR, saying the updated Global Action Plan would provide practical guidance on governance and coordination at national level.

Nyemazi also said the new plan places greater emphasis on prevention, governance, measurable targets and behavioural change, including how medicines are prescribed and used.

He cited the 10 per cent reduction target adopted by UN Member States in the 2024 Political Declaration on AMR, saying the target was achievable through infection prevention and control, vaccination and improved access to quality antimicrobials.

The WHO official also called for continued investment in research into new antibiotics, antifungals, phage therapy and other technologies, but cautioned that new medicines alone would not solve the problem.

“We must invest equally in AMR stewardship — reducing inappropriate use in both agriculture and human medicine — and in diagnostics,” he said.

Purdie similarly called for greater investment in new antifungal medicines, vaccines and diagnostics, while urging immediate action to reduce unnecessary antimicrobial prescriptions.

He said people could already make a significant difference by treating antibiotics and antifungals as essential resources that must be protected.

“We need to change the discussion — from unnecessary prescriptions to vaccination, water, sanitation and hygiene, One Health, and above all people,” he said.

The post WHO Warns AMR Claims One Million Lives Annually, Urges Stronger Global Action appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

The ministry said Nigeria recorded the highest number of ranked universities among countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, describing the development as an indication of growing global visibility for the country’s tertiary institutions.

The Director, Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Mrs Folasade Boriowo, disclosed this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja.

According to her, five Nigerian universities made their debut in the global rankings, while another 32 institutions were listed under the THE Reporter category, bringing the total number of Nigerian institutions participating in the exercise to 61.

The ministry attributed the development to ongoing reforms in the education sector, particularly measures aimed at improving research, innovation, institutional performance and the international competitiveness of Nigerian universities.

It identified research quality as the strongest performance area for Nigerian institutions, while research environment and teaching remained areas requiring further improvement.

Boriowo said sustained progress would depend on improvements in academic reputation, research output, doctoral programmes, international collaboration and institutional data reporting.

She noted that federal universities recorded particularly strong performances, with five of the seven Nigerian universities ranked among the global top 1,200 being federal institutions.

The University of Ibadan and the University of Lagos retained their positions in the 801–1000 band, while Ahmadu Bello University and the University of Ilorin moved into the 1001–1200 band.

Bayero University also retained its position in the 1001–1200 band, while Covenant University was placed in the 801–1000 band.

The ministry further disclosed that federal universities occupied all six Nigerian positions in the 1401–1600 band.

Boriowo said five of the seven Nigerian universities that recorded clear upward movement were federal institutions. They are Ahmadu Bello University, University of Ilorin, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Obafemi Awolowo University and University of Benin.

She said the development indicated that the Federal Government’s ongoing education reforms were beginning to yield measurable results.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Tertiary Education Ranking Advisory Committee (NiTERAC), led by Prof. Peter Okebukola, has been directed to commence the 2026 national ranking of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

According to the ministry, the national ranking is expected to promote healthy competition, improve institutional visibility and strengthen the capacity of Nigerian tertiary institutions to compete internationally.

The proposed ranking framework, which is being developed in consultation with stakeholders, will assess institutions using 22 indicators.

The ministry said the rankings would serve as a tool for measuring institutional performance, identifying gaps and driving continuous improvement across Nigeria’s tertiary education sector.

It reaffirmed its commitment to reforms focused on research, teaching quality, innovation, international collaboration and the overall competitiveness of Nigerian tertiary institutions.

The post 29 Nigerian Universities Enter 2027 THE World University Rankings appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

Ikpeazu stated this in Madrid while delivering his speech to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The ambassador said the anniversary provided an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s independence while reaffirming the country’s commitment to freedom, unity, progress and dignity.

He congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians, particularly those resident in Spain, on the national celebration, while paying tribute to Nigeria’s nationalists and patriots whose sacrifices secured the country’s independence in 1960.

According to him, nation-building remains a continuous process requiring resilience, innovation and collective responsibility.

Ikpeazu described Nigeria as Africa’s most populous country and one of its largest economies, with significant human talent, cultural diversity and natural resources.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s democratic institutions, youthful population and contributions to regional peace, security and development.

On Nigeria-Spain relations, the ambassador said the two countries had continued to build their partnership on mutual respect, dialogue and expanding cooperation.

He noted that Spanish companies, including GB Foods, continued to explore opportunities in Nigeria’s market, while Nigerians in Spain were contributing to the country’s social and economic development.

Ikpeazu expressed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Spain in renewable energy, infrastructure, agriculture, technology and the creative industries.

He particularly commended the Nigerian community in Spain, describing students, professionals and entrepreneurs as valuable ambassadors of the country.

He urged them to remain united and law-abiding while projecting the Nigerian spirit of enterprise, innovation and resilience.

The ambassador further said the Federal Government was pursuing reforms aimed at economic diversification, improved governance and inclusive growth.

“Government is determined to harness the energy of our youth, the creativity of our people, and the strength of our diversity to build a more prosperous and secure future,” he said.

Ikpeazu acknowledged the challenges facing the Nigerian economy but said the country was making progress and remained committed to creating opportunities for investment and business-to-business partnerships.

He called for stronger support from Spain, stressing that such partnerships would contribute to Nigeria’s development.

The ambassador urged Nigerians to renew their commitment to building a peaceful and prosperous nation as the country marked 66 years of independence.

He concluded by raising a toast to Nigeria and Spain and wishing both countries continued progress and prosperity.

The post Nigeria, Spain Relations Growing, Says Ikpeazu appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

CAN made the call in a statement issued on Wednesday by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

The association congratulated Nigerians on the anniversary and said the country needed to move into a new phase where the promise of prosperity would be reflected in the daily lives of citizens.

According to CAN, the true measure of progress should go beyond economic statistics to whether families can afford food, young people can secure decent jobs, communities can live safely and children have equal opportunities to build their future.

The association urged the government to make reductions in the cost of food, transportation and energy measurable priorities, stressing that Nigerians who had endured years of economic hardship deserved meaningful relief.

It also called for stronger social protection programmes for vulnerable Nigerians, including improved access to education, healthcare and affordable credit.

CAN said such interventions must be transparently administered and protected from diversion, noting that prosperity that failed to reach ordinary households remained incomplete.

On security, the association urged sustained efforts to protect lives and communities, saying Nigerians must be able to farm, trade, travel and sleep peacefully without fear.

The association also cautioned political actors ahead of the 2027 elections against using Christianity and the name of Jesus Christ as instruments of partisan rivalry.

“Christians are free to support or criticise any candidate, but the name of Jesus Christ must not be dragged into partisan rivalry or used as a political weapon,” CAN said.

The association reaffirmed its commitment to remaining a non-partisan moral voice by commending what is right and speaking out when citizens are hurting.

It said it would continue to hold leaders to the values of justice, accountability and compassion as Nigeria progresses.

The post CAN: Prosperity Must Be Felt in Every Nigerian Home appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

Musa made the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the Commander of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), Major General Matthew Brown, who was on an official working visit to the Ministry of Defence.

The visit focused on reviewing ongoing joint security initiatives and developing a more result-oriented framework for future defence collaboration between both countries.

The minister expressed appreciation to the U.S. government for its sustained support, noting that collaborative security operations in the North-East, particularly around the Lake Chad Basin, had contributed to boosting the morale of Nigerian troops.

Musa identified specialised joint training for Special Forces, intelligence sharing and capacity building, enhanced border surveillance, counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) support and the modernisation of defence infrastructure as priority areas for increased cooperation.

He said strengthening these areas would enhance Nigeria’s operational capabilities and build greater local capacity to address emerging security threats.

In his remarks, Brown congratulated Nigeria ahead of its Independence Day anniversary and expressed appreciation for the decades-long military-to-military relationship between the two countries.

He highlighted successful counter-terrorism engagements against ISIS-affiliated groups in Africa and commended the troops involved in the operations.

Brown also clarified that U.S. military activities in Nigeria following the departure of soldiers who formed part of the Combined Special Task Force that operated in the Bauchi area remain temporary and are focused on institutional support and collaboration.

Describing the Nigeria-U.S. defence relationship as strategic and founded on mutual trust, the U.S. commander said his visit was primarily aimed at gaining a direct understanding of Nigeria’s defence priorities.

He said the information would help the United States align its support with Nigeria’s needs while strengthening ongoing bilateral intelligence-sharing efforts.

The engagement underscores the continued focus by both countries on strengthening joint efforts against terrorism and other security threats in the region.

The post Nigeria, US Deepen Defence Cooperation on Counter-Terrorism appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

The Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr Aisha Garba, disclosed this in Abuja while commissioning renovated facilities at Nyanya-Hausawa Basic and Secondary School.

Garba said the commission was moving away from interventions focused solely on constructing or renovating individual classrooms to a “whole-school” approach that addresses the broader needs of learners and teachers.

She said the new approach would cover classrooms, toilets, water supply, electricity, administrative facilities, security infrastructure and learning resources.

According to her, the objective is to ensure that schools benefiting from government intervention have the essential facilities required to provide a safe and conducive environment for teaching and learning.

The UBEC boss said the initiative aligned with the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda and its commitment to ensuring that Nigerian children have access to quality basic education in safe and conducive learning environments.

She added that new UBEC school projects would now include perimeter fencing, security infrastructure, solar power, boreholes, adequate toilets and classrooms, administrative blocks and playgrounds.

Garba said the commission was also integrating ICT laboratories and smart boards into school projects to expose pupils to digital learning and equip them with skills required for the 21st-century economy.

Beyond physical infrastructure, she said UBEC had expanded its digital learning programme, with 74 digital learning centres commissioned at Model Girls’ Junior Secondary School, AMAC Estate.

She disclosed that more than 2,000 digital learning centres had been established under the current administration.

According to her, the centres are equipped with computers, smart boards, solar power systems, printers, scanners, internet connectivity and security features, while providing online and offline learning content for teachers and pupils.

She added that teachers were also being trained to effectively use the equipment and digital learning resources.

At Nyanya-Hausawa School, which accommodates early childhood, primary, junior secondary and senior secondary sections, UBEC intervened after an assessment found the facilities in a dilapidated condition.

The intervention covered three blocks containing about 30 classrooms and 48 toilets, as well as solar-powered boreholes to provide water for sanitation facilities.

Garba said additional work, including the construction of an administrative block, would be undertaken at the school.

Earlier, UBEC Director of Physical Planning, Ibrahim Nura, said the commission conducted a condition assessment of the school before commencing the project.

He explained that the assessment enabled UBEC to identify the specific needs of the school and tailor the intervention accordingly.

The school principal, Gideon Isah, commended UBEC for the renovation, provision of furniture and installation of the solar-powered water system.

Isah recalled that some pupils previously had to sit on bare floors, saying the improvements had boosted the morale of teachers and students.

He, however, appealed to UBEC to construct an administrative block, noting that the different sections of the school currently operate without one.

The principal disclosed that the community, in partnership with the Parent-Teacher Association, had engaged three security personnel to protect the newly renovated facilities against vandalism.

He pledged that the school community would continue to maintain the facilities and safeguard the investment made in the school.

The post UBEC renovates 287 schools, over 4,000 classrooms nationwide appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

Alausa, in an Independence Day message issued in Abuja on Thursday, said education remained fundamental to human capital development, social mobility, innovation and sustainable national development.

He congratulated Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, describing the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s journey, celebrate its shared identity and strengthen the collective resolve to build a peaceful, united and prosperous country.

The minister expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his leadership and continued support for the education sector and human capital development.

He said the administration’s Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative, NESRI, was advancing reforms and investments to expand access to education, strengthen institutions, support learners, improve teacher quality and promote technical and vocational education.

According to him, the initiative also seeks to equip young Nigerians with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to national development.

Alausa, however, acknowledged that more work remained to be done, particularly in strengthening foundational learning, improving teacher development, expanding skills and technical education, promoting research and innovation, and providing safe and conducive learning environments.

He pledged to continue working with governments at all levels, teachers, parents, students, education stakeholders and development partners to build an education system that is accessible, equitable, innovative and responsive to the changing needs of society.

The minister also charged Nigerian youths to remain hopeful, disciplined and committed to excellence, stressing that their knowledge, character, creativity and skills were essential to building the country.

” You are not only the leaders of tomorrow; you are important participants in shaping the Nigeria of today,” he said.

Alausa called on Nigerians to uphold unity, patriotism, service and a shared sense of responsibility, noting that building the Nigeria they desire was a collective responsibility, with education serving as one of its strongest foundations.

He saluted Nigerians for their courage and resilience and wished the country continued peace, progress and prosperity.

“Happy Independence Day, Nigeria!” the minister said, while praying for God’s continued blessings upon the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Tinubu and all Nigerians.

The post Alausa urges Nigerians to renew commitment to education, national development appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.

In a statement signed by its Media and Communications Officer, Robert Egbe, CAPPA said the anniversary should provide an opportunity for the country to reflect honestly on the gap between the promises of independence and the realities confronting millions of Nigerians.

The organisation acknowledged Nigeria’s resilience and democratic progress, including the return to civilian rule in 1999 and more than two decades of uninterrupted democratic governance.

It, however, said the country’s democratic journey should be measured by whether citizens can live safely, participate meaningfully in governance, afford basic necessities and trust public institutions to work in their interest.

CAPPA expressed concern over the economic difficulties facing households, citing poverty, food insecurity and declining purchasing power as major challenges.

It said the International Monetary Fund reported in June that 63 per cent of Nigerians were living below the national poverty line, while an estimated 27 million Nigerians faced food insecurity in late 2025.

The group urged the Federal Government to make citizens’ welfare a central measure of its economic policies, with emphasis on affordable food, a living wage, decent jobs, accessible healthcare, quality education, reliable electricity, public water supply and social protection.

“Beyond statistics and policy announcements, Nigerians need to feel the difference in their pockets, homes, communities, workplaces and markets,” CAPPA said.

It argued that economic reforms should not be judged solely by increased government revenues, investment flows or improved macroeconomic indicators, but by their impact on household incomes, poverty and opportunities.

On the 2027 general elections, CAPPA called on the Federal Government, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), political parties, security agencies and other stakeholders to ensure

The post 66th Independence Anniversary: CAPPA Tasks Nigeria on Security, Welfare & Accountable Governance appeared first on TV360 Nigeria.