Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) has secured approval from the National Universities Comission (NUC) to commence a full-time Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme from the 2026/2027 academic session.

The programme will be offered at the university’s Main Campus in Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

The approval was conveyed in a letter dated September 3, 2026, following a resource verification exercise conducted by an expert panel appointed by the NUC. The development adds Medicine and Surgery to AKSU’s expanding portfolio of programmes in the health sciences and comes less than a year after the university secured approval for seven other health-related degree programmes.

According to the university, the verification exercise assessed its human and material resources, including academic manpower, teaching facilities, laboratories, equipment and other infrastructure required for the proposed programme. AKSU said the satisfactory outcome paved the way for the NUC approval.

The university’s Registrar, Dr Ebi G. Eno-Ibanga, FNIM, conveyed the development in an official statement. Management expressed appreciation to the Akwa Ibom State Government and other stakeholders whose support contributed to the establishment of the programme.

What the MBBS approval means for prospective students

The NUC approval means AKSU can commence the approved full-time MBBS programme from the 2026/2027 academic session. It is, however, important for prospective students to distinguish programme approval from the opening of an application portal.

As of September 7, 2026, the university’s public announcements reviewed for this report do not provide a separate MBBS admission notice stating the programme’s specific UTME cut-off, required UTME subject combination, O’Level requirements, screening fee, application deadline or number of available places.

Prospective applicants should therefore avoid paying individuals or unofficial agents claiming to be selling an AKSU MBBS form. AKSU has previously warned applicants that it does not have individual admission sales agents and advised candidates to rely on its official website and admission channels.

The university’s official electronic portal provides an undergraduate application channel, but candidates should confirm that MBBS has been formally added to the list of programmes available for the 2026/2027 admission exercise before making any payment.

The distinction is particularly important because medical education is subject to professional regulation beyond general university programme approval. The Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) maintains standards for undergraduate medical education and operates a separate process for medical-school accreditation.

AKSU MBBS admission: what applicants should do

Until AKSU publishes its MBBS-specific admission guidelines, prospective candidates should follow these steps:

1. Monitor the official AKSU website for the MBBS admission announcement.

2. Check the undergraduate admission portal and confirm that Medicine and Surgery appears as an available programme.

3. Confirm the required UTME score published by AKSU for MBBS rather than relying on a general university benchmark.

4. Confirm the UTME subject combination and O’Level requirements before applying.

5. Ensure AKSU is the candidate’s approved JAMB choice, where this is required by the university’s admission notice.

6. Complete the Post-UTME or screening registration only through the official AKSU portal.

7. Keep the payment receipt and registration confirmation slip after completing the application.

8. Monitor JAMB CAPS and AKSU admission channels for subsequent admission updates.

JAMB’s 2026 policy meeting approved 150 as the minimum tolerable score for university admissions, but the Board has repeatedly clarified that institutions can adopt higher programme-specific thresholds. Therefore, the national benchmark should not be presented as AKSU’s MBBS cut-off.

What AKSU has already approved in the health sciences

The MBBS approval follows AKSU’s expansion into medical and health-related education.

In December 2025, the NUC approved seven full-time degree programmes in the university’s Faculty of Health Sciences. They are Nursing Science, Public Health, Community Health Science, Health Information Management, Science Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Science and Environmental Health Science.

For that earlier admission exercise, AKSU set a minimum UTME score of 290 for Nursing Science and 265 for the other listed health programmes. Those figures applied to the 2025/2026 exercise and should not be treated as the MBBS requirement for 2026/2027 unless the university subsequently publishes them for Medicine and Surgery.

The university also received NUC approval in February 2026 for another set of programmes, including Doctor of Pharmacy, Architecture, Building, Quantity Surveying, Surveying and Geoinformatics, Project Management, Urban and Regional Planning, Estate Management, Local Government and Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, Fine and Applied Arts, Music, Guidance and Counselling, Computer Engineering, Automotive Engineering and Telecommunications Engineering.

A significant expansion of AKSU’s academic profile

The approval represents another major expansion of AKSU’s academic portfolio. The university has moved rapidly in the health sciences, with Nursing Science, Public Health, Community Health Science, Health Information Management, Science Laboratory Technology, Medical Laboratory Science and Environmental Health Science approved for commencement from the 2025/2026 academic session.

The addition of Medicine and Surgery places AKSU among the growing number of Nigerian universities expanding their training capacity in the medical field. It also raises the importance of sustained investment in medical lecturers, laboratories, clinical facilities, teaching hospitals and other resources required to train doctors to professional standards.

AKSU said it remains committed to providing the personnel, facilities and learning environment needed to sustain the MBBS programme in line with NUC requirements and the standards of relevant professional regulatory bodies.

For prospective students, the immediate priority is to rely on official admission information rather than rumours about cut-off marks, fees or registration deadlines. The safest point of reference remains AKSU’s official website, its undergraduate admission portal, JAMB and the relevant professional regulatory authorities.

Frequently asked questions about AKSU MBBS

Has AKSU been approved to offer Medicine and Surgery?

Yes. The university said the NUC approved the full-time MBBS programme in a letter dated September 3, 2026.

When will AKSU Medicine and Surgery begin?

The programme is approved to commence from the 2026/2027 academic session.

Where will AKSU Medicine and Surgery be offered?

The programme will be offered at AKSU’s Main Campus, Ikot Akpaden, Mkpat Enin Local Government Area, Akwa Ibom State.

Has AKSU released the MBBS cut-off mark?

No specific MBBS cut-off was found in the official material reviewed for this report. Candidates should wait for the university’s programme-specific admission notice.

Can candidates use the 150 JAMB national benchmark to apply for Medicine at AKSU?

Not necessarily. JAMB’s 150 score is the national minimum tolerable benchmark for universities in 2026, but universities and individual programmes may set higher requirements.

Is the AKSU MBBS admission form currently available?

The NUC approval has been announced, but a separate official AKSU notice detailing MBBS application procedures was not found in the sources reviewed. Candidates should not rely on third-party advertisements until AKSU formally publishes the application details.

Does NUC approval automatically mean the medical school is fully accredited by MDCN?

Not necessarily. NUC programme approval and professional medical-school accreditation are distinct regulatory processes. MDCN has its own standards and accreditation procedures for medical education.

Where should applicants register?

Candidates should use AKSU’s official admission channels and avoid unofficial agents. The university’s electronic portal provides access to undergraduate application services.

What should candidates do if they did not originally choose AKSU?

Candidates should wait for the specific 2026/2027 MBBS admission notice to determine whether a change of institution is required and the deadline for doing so. AKSU has required first-choice status for some of its previous programme-specific admission exercises.

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.

However, the Board warned that accessing the results does not automatically make the candidates eligible for admission. The clarification follows JAMB’s policy on candidates who are below the prescribed admission age.

In a statement issued on Saturday, JAMB’s Acting Director of Public Affairs and Protocol, Fabian Benjamin, defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise. According to him, such a candidate is anyone who will be below 16 years old as of September 30, 2026.

JAMB explains why underage results were released

The Board said the results were released mainly to allow candidates, parents and guardians to know how the candidates performed. Nevertheless, the results cannot be used for admission or other official purposes unless the candidate satisfies JAMB’s requirements for exceptional consideration.

“The Board had earlier established that only exceptionally performing underage candidates who satisfy the prescribed conditions would be considered for admission.

“Consequently, candidates who do not meet the requirements for exceptional consideration should not present their viewed results to any institution or individual for the purpose of securing admission”, the statement said in part.

Furthermore, JAMB stressed that the exceptional admission route is designed for candidates who demonstrate outstanding academic ability and maturity. The Board said the process involves several stages of assessment and verification before admission can be considered.

Candidates can check their results by sending RESULT to 55019 or 66019 through the same phone number and SIM card used during UTME registration. The Board advised candidates and their parents to rely only on the official process when checking or using the results.

320 UTME score required for exceptional admission

For underage candidates seeking exceptional consideration, JAMB has set a minimum UTME score of 320. Candidates must also obtain at least 80 per cent in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects, where applicable.

In addition, candidates must satisfy the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions. They must also undergo the final assessment prescribed by experts before they can be considered for admission.

The Board explained that the conditions are intended to distinguish genuinely exceptional candidates from those who simply performed well in the UTME. Therefore, a high UTME score alone does not guarantee admission for an underage candidate.

JAMB had earlier indicated that underage candidates who met the relevant thresholds would proceed to further assessment through their chosen institutions. Its 2026 training manual also provides for intensive evaluation of candidates below the minimum admission age.

NECO results delay final assessment

Meanwhile, JAMB said the exceptional admission process is still ongoing because some stages of assessment and verification have not been completed. The Board noted that some eligible candidates are still awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results.

“The Board noted that it would be unreasonable to conclude the process without allowing candidates who are awaiting their National Examinations Council (NECO) results to present and have their results verified.”

JAMB said the NECO results are yet to be released and would therefore be considered before the final assessment is concluded. Consequently, the Board will announce a date for the final stage after the release and verification of the results.

“As soon as the NECO results are released, the Board will fix and announce a date for the final stage of the assessment of the exceptionally performing underage candidates,” it said.

The Board stressed that the exercise is not based solely on UTME performance. Instead, it is a comprehensive assessment intended to determine whether candidates genuinely satisfy the conditions for exceptional admission.

JAMB warns parents against admission agents

Consequently, JAMB urged parents, guardians and candidates to be cautious about individuals promising admission for underage candidates. The Board warned against patronising anyone who claims to have the power to bypass the prescribed admission process.

JAMB also reiterated that sitting for the UTME does not guarantee admission. Similarly, the release of a candidate’s result does not automatically confer admission eligibility, particularly where the candidate has not attained the prescribed age.

The Board assured the public that the exceptional admission process would remain transparent, rigorous and merit-based. It said only candidates who satisfy all the established requirements would ultimately be considered for admission.

The warning is particularly important because the release of the results could create the impression that all underage candidates are now eligible for admission. JAMB, however, maintained that the results are primarily for viewing until the prescribed assessment process is completed.

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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has dismissed claims that technical glitches affected the conduct or results of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), insisting that no question paper leaked before any examination was held.

Head of the WAEC National Office in Nigeria, Amos Dangut, said the council’s new measures, including computer-based testing, question randomisation and serialisation, contributed to a decline in examination malpractice. He said the changes had, however, generated resistance from some individuals and groups who previously benefited from examination fraud.

Dangut spoke on Thursday at the monthly dialogue organised by the Education Writers Association of Nigeria (EWAN), themed, “One-on-One with WAEC HNO: Addressing Concerns over WASSCE Results, Other Matters.”

His comments followed concerns raised by some school owners and other stakeholders over the 2026 WASSCE results. Some had argued that the performance of certain candidates did not reflect their academic abilities, prompting questions about the factors behind the decline in overall results.

WAEC: 2026 Examination Did Not Leak

Dangut described some of the criticisms surrounding the examination as misconceptions and misrepresentation of facts, maintaining that the integrity of the 2026 WASSCE was not compromised by question-paper leakage.

“This very year, 2026, I can confidently tell the whole world that the WAEC examination did not leak,” he said.

According to him, examination malpractice has continued to decline since 2024. He said the malpractice rate stood at 9.7 percent in 2025 but fell to 8.59 percent in 2026, representing a decline of about 1.1 percentage points.

Dangut linked the decline to the measures introduced by WAEC to make malpractice more difficult. He said cyber fraud platforms, cybercafes and other operators that previously profited from examination malpractice were among those affected by the changes.

“The cyber rogue websites, cyber cafes that engage in fraudulent activities or malpractice, they did not thrive. So they were angered,” he said.

The WAEC boss also argued that candidates who previously relied on malpractice could naturally record lower scores when such opportunities were removed. He said the introduction of more secure assessment methods had therefore contributed to the change in performance.

Late Registration, Insecurity Affected Examination

Dangut attributed some of the delays experienced during the examination to late registration by schools, saying the development disrupted WAEC’s preparations for printing examination materials and arranging other logistics.

He said schools expected to complete registration by December 2025 did not conclude the process until April 2026. According to him, the late registration meant that some examination materials had to be printed after the examination had already commenced.

“It was when the examination actually started that WAEC had to now go to the press to start printing. And that affected the logistics, the conduct of examinations,” he said.

He also identified insecurity and protests over the kidnapping of schoolchildren and teachers as factors that affected the smooth conduct of some papers.

Dangut recalled that teachers withdrew from examination duties during protests over the abduction of Oyo schoolchildren and teachers, forcing WAEC to make adjustments in some affected centres.

“On that very day, the supervisors we had down tools. They said they were not going to hold the exam. And before we could salvage situation, it was late for some of the schools,” he said.

He urged stakeholders to adapt to WAEC’s changing examination system, warning that resistance to the reforms could continue to generate unnecessary controversies.

“Unless we adapt to these changes, we will continue to have issues which are surmountable,” Dangut said.

1.2 Million Candidates Record Five Credits

WAEC released the results of the 2026 WASSCE for school candidates in August, with 1,200,514 candidates, representing 61.54 percent of the 1,950,726 candidates who sat the examination, obtaining credits and above in at least five subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.

The figure represents a decline from the 1,239,884 candidates, or 62.96 percent, who achieved the same benchmark in the 2025 WASSCE. The difference amounts to a 2.26 percentage-point drop in the proportion of candidates meeting the requirement.

Dangut also said WAEC had processed and released the results of 1,834,695 candidates, representing 94.05 percent of those who sat the examination, while the results of 116,031 candidates, representing 5.95 percent, were still being processed.

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The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, has alleged that NECO examination questions were sold for N3,000 before candidates sat for the papers.

Alausa made the disclosure on Thursday at a meeting with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools and other education stakeholders.

He described examination malpractice in Nigeria as “mind-boggling”. He also warned stakeholders against practices that undermine public examinations.

According to him, malpractice has created an unfair system for students who prepare genuinely. Moreover, leaked questions could push honest candidates into cheating.

Alausa said, “It’s sad. Before she and I came, the acceptance of examination malpractice, cheating and examination leakages in this country was mind-boggling, and the country accepted it. It was a nightmare,” adding that the “danger was that the good students would also become bad.”

Questions Allegedly Sold Before Examinations

Alausa recalled his experience in efforts to tackle examination malpractice. He alleged that some examination questions were previously available for purchase.

He linked the alleged practice to a former NECO registrar, Ibrahim Wushishi.

The minister said, “The Registrar of NECO at the time had a name. His name was Wushishi. You would go to Wushishi… I didn’t know that Wushishi meant going to the dark website.

“They bought his question for N3,000. That was it. Before the examination. They called him Wushishi and bought the questions for N3,000 before the examination.”

He also recounted what he described as a difficult period during the 2025 examinations.

According to Alausa, examination questions were repeatedly sent to him before candidates sat for the papers. Officials then had to verify the materials with examination authorities.

In some cases, he said, the leaked questions matched papers scheduled for that day.

He said, “During that examination period, during the hardest time of my life, I was always worried, waking up. I would wake up to her text. She would send questions to me… She would say, ‘I just got this question.’

“It could be English or Chemistry. I was always waking up with trepidation every morning, doing work. I would send it to the HNO and ask, ‘HNO, is this correct?’ And the answer I got was, ‘Unfortunately, that’s the question we’re doing today.’

“So, that was a more aggressive intervention because we were seeing the question and confirming from the other side.”

Alausa: Students Are Not the Only Problem

The minister stressed that examination malpractice should not be blamed solely on students. Instead, he said parents, teachers, proprietors, principals and invigilators also have major roles to play. He argued that adults within the education system can either prevent malpractice or facilitate it.

Alausa said, “You might be in that isolated school, but the school system is also involved. In fact, I don’t blame the students that much. Any child can be bad.

“But when we have an ecosystem where parents, schools, teachers, invigilators and principals are in full connivance, the students are the smallest players. The people who should put the deterrents in place are the ones involved.”

He warned that the Federal Government would strengthen measures to protect examination integrity.

Furthermore, he said qualifications must reflect genuine learning and academic merit. Alausa said the reforms were part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector.

He said, “What are we doing? Desecrating the Nigerian system? It won’t happen. Not under the watch of this President.

“This is a country with rule of law. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is transforming this country in a way that’s never been transformed before. This is Nigeria renaissance that we’re building to be sustainable into the future.”

He added that Nigeria had tolerated practices that weakened its examination system for too long.

However, he insisted that the government was determined to reverse the trend and restore confidence in public examinations.

FG Tightens Examination Controls

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said Ahmad, urged private school proprietors to support the reforms. She warned that tighter examination controls could expose gaps in students’ actual preparation. According to Ahmad, some students perform exceptionally well internally but struggle in external examinations.

This, she explained, could happen when candidates have become accustomed to accessing leaked questions.

Consequently, the government is strengthening examination procedures to make malpractice more difficult. One key measure is the serialisation and randomisation of questions. Under the system, candidates can receive questions in different sequences.

The approach is expected to make collusion and leaked materials less useful. It should also encourage students to prepare genuinely for examinations.

The latest warning forms part of broader government efforts to secure public examinations. NECO is also moving towards computer-based examinations as part of the wider reform agenda.

Ultimately, the government says examination results must reflect what candidates actually know. It also wants academic qualifications to regain public confidence.

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A 400-level Chemistry student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Ezekiel Oluwatobi Daniel, has won a brand-new car.

Daniel emerged as the grand prize winner at MTN’s Live It 100 On Campus Tour at the university. The three-day activation ran from August 26 to 28, 2026.

The event combined entertainment, technology, entrepreneurship and student engagement. It also gave students opportunities to compete for prizes and explore MTN’s digital offerings.

Daniel Wins Grand Prize at ABU

The ABU activation marked the third stop on MTN’s seven-campus tour across Nigeria. The tour had earlier visited Delta State University (DELSU) and Ekiti State University (EKSU).

Meanwhile, Daniel said he never expected to emerge as the overall winner. He described the experience as a dream and thanked MTN for the opportunity.

“Everything is happening like a dream to me right now because I didn’t believe I was going to win. I feel good. I’m very happy. It just feels like a dream right now. I want to say thank you to MTN for this great opportunity.”

In addition to the car, four other ABU students received prizes in different categories. Iyiola Oyeleke, a 100-level Mass Communication student, won a laptop.

Victoria Adeleke, a 400-level English and Literature Studies student, emerged second. She received a refrigerator, while Edeh Godswill Ogbada also won a refrigerator for finishing third.

Moses John, a 200-level Quantity Survey student, took fourth place. He received a microwave as his prize.

MTN Explains Purpose of Campus Initiative

Speaking during the activation, Temilolu Salako, Senior Manager, Segment Marketing, MTN Nigeria, explained the purpose of Live It 100.

He said the initiative was designed to inspire young people to pursue their ambitions. It also encourages them to maximise their potential.

“Live It 100 is about encouraging young people to bring their best to whatever they choose to pursue. Whether it is academics, entrepreneurship, entertainment or their personal passions, we want them to approach it with confidence, commitment and the belief that they can achieve more,” Salako said.

Furthermore, Salako said the campus experience was designed to offer more than entertainment. According to him, students also had opportunities to learn and explore digital experiences.

He added that the programme allowed students to showcase their entrepreneurial ventures. The initiative, therefore, combines recreation with opportunities for personal and career development.

MTN’s official programme describes the 2026 campus tour as a three-day experience across seven tertiary institutions. Activities include gaming, entertainment, empowerment sessions and digital experiences.

Students Praise Entertainment and Transparency

At ABU, the programme featured a Digital Game Village with video and board games. There were also immersive photo experiences, product demonstrations and device displays.

In addition, students had access to an SME showcase. The wider Live It 100 format also includes cinema and music experiences as part of its campus engagement activities.

Dennis Ukume, Public Relations Officer of the ABU Postgraduate Representative Council, praised the programme. He particularly highlighted the transparency of the prize selection process.

“What impressed me most was the fairness and openness of the process, which gave students confidence that everyone had an equal opportunity to participate and win. I believe initiatives like this can go a long way towards encouraging students, boosting their confidence and creating memorable campus experiences,” he said.

Similarly, students described the activation as both entertaining and informative. Amira Rukayya Bashir said the programme allowed students to relax while learning about MTN’s services.

Another student, Ezinne Odumegwu, said the activation came at an appropriate time. According to her, students needed a break from their academic routines.

The ABU event is part of MTN’s broader youth engagement strategy. The company has said the seven-campus tour is designed to connect students with learning, creativity, entertainment and digital opportunities.

The tour is expected to continue to other tertiary institutions across Nigeria. As a result, more students will have opportunities to participate in the programme and compete for rewards.

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The Rivers State Police Command has dismissed police personnel linked to the fatal shooting of University of Port Harcourt graduate, Anthony Obodo. The command also announced the arrest of five suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating in Port Harcourt and its environs.

Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju, disclosed both developments during a press briefing at the command headquarters in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Obodo, a 22-year-old fresh UNIPORT graduate, was shot during a police pursuit at the Ada George-Agip Junction in Port Harcourt on August 27, 2026. The incident later triggered protests and widespread demands for justice.

Police Dismiss Officers Over Fatal Shooting

Adepoju said the officers involved were subjected to disciplinary proceedings after a comprehensive investigation into the incident. He said the investigation established the culpability of the officers involved in Obodo’s death.

The commissioner said “the command would not shield any personnel found to have acted outside the law”, stressing that professionalism, accountability, respect for human rights, and the protection of lives and property remained priorities of the command.

According to the police, the incident began when a patrol team attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Obodo.

Adepoju said the driver allegedly failed to stop, prompting the patrol team to pursue the vehicle. During the pursuit, Corporal Alfred Louis, who was attached to the patrol team, allegedly opened fire at the vehicle. A bullet reportedly struck Obodo, who sustained a gunshot injury during the incident.

He was subsequently rushed to Palmer’s Hospital in Port Harcourt, where doctors confirmed his death.

The police said the officers involved were arrested and detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department for investigation. Meanwhile, Inspector Solomon Nworgu, who allegedly absconded after the incident, has been declared a deserter and remains the subject of a police manhunt.

The command has also indicated that the dismissed personnel will face criminal prosecution over the incident. Adepoju said the disciplinary action was intended to demonstrate that police officers would be held accountable when they act outside the law.

Protests Follow Obodo’s Death

The killing sparked protests around the Ada George area, with youths and other residents demanding justice for the deceased. Family members and protesters accused the police of using excessive force and called for the officers involved to be prosecuted.

The protests reportedly affected traffic around Agip Junction and parts of the East-West Road as demonstrators called for accountability. Obodo’s family has also rejected suggestions that the deceased was involved in wrongdoing before his death.

His father, Princewill Obodo, separately alleged that the officers involved had been deployed for security duties before the incident. However, that claim remains an allegation by the family and has not been independently established.

With the disciplinary action now announced, attention is expected to shift to the promised prosecution of the officers found culpable.

Five Suspected ‘One-Chance’ Robbers Arrested

Meanwhile, the commissioner announced the arrest of five suspected members of a one-chance robbery syndicate operating across Port Harcourt.

The suspects were identified as Nelson Idakiniseleg, 30, also known as Mandela; Michael Matthew, 29, aka Pilot; Kelly Edison, 30, aka BTC; Daniel Obodo, 18, aka Mazi; and Chisom Unegbu, 28, aka Favour.

Adepoju said the arrests followed sustained intelligence-led operations by the command’s Violent Crime Response Unit.

The operations were launched in response to reports of one-chance robberies across the Port Harcourt metropolis.

According to the police, the suspects were linked to robbery activities around Aba Road, East-West Road, Choba, NTA Road, Garrison, Rumuola, Air Force and Rumuokwurusi. The command said it recovered a black-and-white mini-bus and 16 mobile phones suspected to have been stolen from victims.

Police also alleged that one of the suspects specialised in removing SIM cards from victims and using them to facilitate unauthorised withdrawals from their bank accounts.

Adepoju said investigations were still ongoing to identify other members of the syndicates and locate additional victims. He also urged residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to the police.

CP Reaffirms Commitment to Accountability

The commissioner assured residents that the command would continue to pursue violent criminals across the state. At the same time, he maintained that police personnel who violate the law would not be protected. The command’s position comes amid growing public scrutiny of police conduct following Obodo’s death.

Adepoju said the Rivers State Police Command would continue to uphold professionalism, accountability and respect for human rights. He also urged residents to avoid taking the law into their own hands and instead report suspected criminal activities through appropriate channels.

The latest developments have therefore placed two issues at the centre of the command’s activities: accountability over Obodo’s death and the ongoing crackdown on criminal syndicates in Port Harcourt.

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The Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences (AKSCONS), Ikot Ekpene, has commenced applications for admission into its National Diploma (ND) Nursing Programme for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The College opened its online application portal on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, and prospective candidates have until Friday, October 2, 2026, to complete their applications. The admission exercise is open to candidates who meet the stated UTME, O’Level and age requirements.

AKSCONS is a multi-campus nursing institution with its main campus in Ikot Ekpene and other campuses in Anua, Eket, Ituk Mbang and Oron. The College says its Nursing programme combines classroom teaching, laboratory practice and supervised clinical training. Its official website also states that the institution has accreditation from the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN).

AKSCONS ND Nursing Admission Requirements

According to the admission information released for the 2026/2027 exercise, applicants must have scored at least 190 in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

Candidates must also possess at least five O’Level credit passes in the required subjects. These include English Language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

The required credits must be obtained in not more than two sittings. Candidates combining results may use WASSCE and NECO results, while NABTEB results cannot be combined with another examination body’s result, according to the admission requirements.

Applicants must also be at least 16 years old by September 2026. In addition, they must have selected Akwa Ibom State College of Nursing Sciences as their first-choice institution during the 2026 JAMB registration exercise.

The first-choice requirement is particularly important for candidates who initially selected another institution. JAMB provides an official process for changing an institution through its correction-of-data service, although candidates should ensure that any change is completed and reflected before relying on it for an institutional admission exercise.

Candidates can also use JAMB’s official Eligibility Checker to verify programme-specific requirements before completing their application.

How to Apply for AKSCONS ND Nursing Admission

Interested candidates should begin by visiting the official AKSCONS website and navigating to the admission/application section.

The College’s official website provides an application gateway for prospective students, while previous AKSCONS admission instructions have directed candidates to complete the process online and print their acknowledgement or screening slip after successful registration.

Candidates should follow these steps:

1. Visit the official AKSCONS website

Go to the College’s official website and select the application/admission option for the 2026/2027 ND Nursing exercise.

2. Create or access your application account

Provide the personal information requested by the portal. Candidates should use an active email address and phone number that they can access throughout the admission process.

3. Enter your JAMB and O’Level details

Candidates should carefully provide their 2026 UTME information and enter their O’Level results exactly as they appear on their certificates or result documents.

4. Upload the required documents

Where requested by the portal, upload clear copies of the required credentials and other supporting documents. Candidates should ensure that names, dates of birth and examination details are consistent across their documents.

5. Complete the application and make payment through the approved channel

Applicants should follow the payment instructions displayed on the official portal. They should not transfer money to private accounts or individuals claiming to be admission agents.

The College’s previous admission notices have warned candidates against unofficial payments and stressed that admission should not be pursued through agents or third parties.

6. Review and submit the form

Before submitting, candidates should carefully check their personal information, JAMB details, O’Level results and other entries. Errors in admission applications can create problems during screening.

7. Print the acknowledgement/screening slip

After successful registration, candidates should print and safely keep their coloured acknowledgement slip. The slip is required for identification during the screening examination.

Candidates should also retain copies of their application details and payment evidence until the admission exercise is concluded.

Important: The College’s currently accessible official webpages do not publish a reliable 2026/2027 application-fee figure or a more detailed step-by-step payment workflow. Candidates should therefore rely on the amount and payment instructions displayed inside the official application portal rather than figures circulating on third-party websites.

AKSCONS Post-UTME Screening Date and Venue

The College has scheduled the 2026/2027 Post-UTME Screening Examination for Saturday, October 10, 2026.

The examination will take place at Aka Community Secondary School, Aka Offot, Uyo, beginning at 7:00 a.m.

Candidates are expected to arrive early at the venue and present their coloured printed acknowledgement slip for identification before being allowed to participate in the screening exercise.

Applicants should also continue checking the College’s official communication channels for any subsequent instructions concerning the screening exercise, including possible updates to venue arrangements or documentation.

Candidates Warned Against Admission Fraud

AKSCONS has warned prospective applicants against fraudsters and individuals who claim they can secure admission in exchange for money.

Candidates should treat any promise of guaranteed admission, special consideration or an opportunity to bypass the screening process as a major warning sign.

Admission should be pursued through the College’s official application process. Applicants should make payments only through channels authorised by the institution and should keep evidence of every legitimate transaction.

The warning is particularly relevant during admission periods, when unofficial agents often target applicants and parents with claims of having access to school officials.

Candidates should therefore avoid sharing sensitive JAMB or application credentials with third parties. JAMB itself cautions candidates about giving their profile information and security codes to other people because such access can expose them to unauthorised alterations.

What Applicants Should Do Before the Deadline

Candidates who meet the requirements should avoid waiting until the final days of the application window before registering.

Applicants should first confirm that AKSCONS appears as their first-choice institution on their JAMB profile. They should also confirm that their O’Level results contain the five required credits and fall within the permitted number of sittings.

Those who have not yet organised their documents should prepare their 2026 JAMB result details, O’Level results, birth or age documentation and other credentials ahead of the application.

Most importantly, candidates should print and keep their acknowledgement slip after completing the registration because it will be required for the screening exercise.

The application window closes on Friday, October 2, 2026, while the Post-UTME screening is scheduled for Saturday, October 10, 2026, at 7:00 a.m.

Prospective applicants are advised to rely on the College’s official website for subsequent announcements and avoid information from individuals claiming to represent the institution without official confirmation.

The post AKSCONS Opens 2026/2027 ND Nursing Admission, Sets October 10 for Post-UTME Screening appeared first on Schoolnews.

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has dismissed allegations of financial misappropriation within the agency. Sawyerr said there was no evidence to support claims that the Fund had mismanaged its finances. He spoke during an interview with ARISE NEWS on Monday, while defending NELFUND’s funding model and disbursement process.

According to him, the student loan scheme requires substantial capital to meet the needs of beneficiaries. He explained that the Federal Government’s decision to redirect resources towards welfare programmes was linked to the establishment of NELFUND. Sawyerr said the policy followed the removal of subsidy by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

NELFUND Requires Capital to Fund Student Loans

“There is no evidence of any financial misappropriation by NELFUND. The reality of it is that in order for people to take a loan, there has to be some capital they can draw on.

“The link is that the President, His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has removed subsidy on the one hand and is reassigning the funds that would ordinarily have gone to the top 1% of the 1% and pushing it into welfarist programs, of which NELFUND is one,” Sawyerr said.

The NELFUND boss argued that funding the scheme should not be confused with financial misappropriation. Rather, he said, money must first be made available before students can access loans. The scheme is designed to provide financial support to eligible students who may otherwise struggle to fund their education.

Meanwhile, concerns have continued to emerge over the transparency of NELFUND’s operations and the management of funds released under the scheme. Sawyerr, however, rejected the suggestion that the Fund’s financial activities were difficult to track. He maintained that its electronic payment system provides a clear trail for disbursements.

Sawyerr Defends NELFUND’s Disbursement Process

Sawyerr particularly pointed to payments made to institutions and students as evidence of the Fund’s transparency. He said NELFUND recently transferred more than N1 billion to the University of Ibadan. According to him, the money was sent directly to the institution, while upkeep payments were transferred directly to students.

“Again, concluding that 57% of people didn’t find it to the level of transparency that they would like, describing that as opaque, I think is a little bit extreme. But let’s go back and try to understand where we’re coming from with this.

“The University of Ibadan students, before NELFUND, probably had a very high dropout rate because they just didn’t have access to capital to go to school.

“Now, the President introduced NELFUND; we paid, I believe, over a billion naira to the University of Ibadan recently. And those funds are transferred directly to the institution. So, where is the opacity in that?

“We transferred the funds directly to the institution and asked the institution to give the students access to classes. We’ve also paid upkeep to the students directly,” he said.

Furthermore, Sawyerr explained that NELFUND does not rely on cash payments for its disbursements. Instead, funds are transferred electronically to institutions or beneficiaries. He said the process makes it possible to trace the movement of money from its source to the final recipient.

“Now, in those two actions, the transfers of money are done electronically. It’s entirely traceable.

“The money leaves the Central Bank of Nigeria and goes either to the institution, the University of Ibadan, or in the case of upkeep, goes directly to the students in their bank accounts.

“So, I’m struggling to understand where the lack of transparency is. It sounds a little bit like mischief to me. But again, I’d need to interrogate this research that was done,” he said.

Sawyerr’s comments come amid wider discussions about accountability within the student loan scheme. NELFUND has increasingly come under public scrutiny as its disbursements expand across Nigerian tertiary institutions. However, the Managing Director maintained that the electronic nature of the transactions provides a basis for tracking the movement of funds.

System Does Not Recognise Ethnicity, Connections

Sawyerr also addressed concerns about whether beneficiary selection under the scheme is fair and impartial. He said applications are submitted electronically, with the system relying on specific eligibility requirements. According to him, the process does not consider an applicant’s gender, ethnicity or personal connections.

“We receive applications electronically. The system doesn’t recognize whether you’re male, female, whether you’re Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani, Ibibio, or Ogoja.

“As long as you have an NIN, it’s in your favor because it means you’re Nigerian. If you have a JAMB registration number, it means that you’re properly qualified to access the tertiary institution that we deal with,” Sawyerr said.

He explained that applicants must also provide relevant admission or registration details. In addition, beneficiaries are required to have bank accounts because NELFUND does not make cash payments. These requirements, he said, help the Fund process applications and make payments through its electronic system.

“If you’ve got a matriculation number or registration number, it means that you’ve been given admission. If you’ve got a bank account—because we don’t do cash, everything goes through the system—again, it means you qualify, and you’ve got admission in a proper institution,” he said.

The NELFUND boss further insisted that personal relationships cannot determine who benefits from the scheme. He said the system is designed to process applications without considering whether an applicant has links to senior officials of the agency.

“From our perspective, it’s completely agnostic as far as how people are chosen or concerned. It doesn’t care. The system doesn’t care whether you’re friends with the Managing Director or in-laws with the Executive Director. It doesn’t care,” Sawyerr added.

He therefore maintained that NELFUND’s application and payment processes are designed to minimise human interference. As the scheme expands, the agency is expected to continue facing questions about accountability, eligibility and the management of public funds. Sawyerr’s latest defence, however, centres on the Fund’s electronic systems and the traceability of its financial transactions.

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