CampusDialog

Irrua, Edo State  - Where all else fails for students seeking university admission, private universities have opened their gates. Just as it is done in Europe and America, where private universities fill the gap for candidates to gain university admission, so it is now in Nigeria. Mudiame University, Irrua, Edo State , founded by Prof. Sunny Eboh, has long opened its doors to prospective university candidates in the serene and quiet ancient town of Irrua, the home of Okaijesan. Irrua is a university town with a legacy. It is home to the former Vice President during the Babangida military regime, the late Admiral Augustus Aikhomu. Irrua is also home to the current Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo. Today, all roads lead to Mudiame University. A CREDIBLE PATHWAY FOR CANDIDATES Candidates who may not secure admission into their preferred public universities are strongly advised to explore accredited private university options. Mudiame University, Irrua offers approved a...

For every post-primary school leaver, getting a university place is life or death. Here’s how to win without tears. Nothing is as crucial as gaining a university place for a Nigerian post-primary school leaver. One exam. One portal. One year gone if you miss it. But most students fail before JAMB starts. They fail at strategy. The 5 Steps That Decide Your Fate Know Your Strength, Not Your Dream You want Medicine with 180 in UTME. That’s not a dream; that’s a delusion. Check last year’s cut-off for your course in that school . If you’re 40 marks below it, change your course or change your school now. Pride doesn’t give admission. Understand Catchment and ELDS Every federal university favors its catchment area and Educationally Less Developed States (ELDS). You’re from Edo applying to UNILAG for Law? You need 280+. Someone from Lagos with the same score might need only 260. Play the geography. It’s legal. Use Your Second Choice Like a First Choice Plan B is not shame. Your second-choice ...

 50 UNIVERSITIES. SOME FORMS CLOSE THIS WEEK. ACT NOW. Port Harcourt   :  CampusDialog is alerting all 2026 UTME candidates and parents that Post-UTME forms for 50 Federal and State Universities are currently on sale. Several application deadlines fall within June 2026. Delay could mean losing an entire academic year. CRITICAL: CLOSING IN JUNE 2026 As of 22nd June 2026, the following universities will close their Post-UTME application portals within days. Interested candidates are advised to apply immediately: UNIZIK  - 21st June 2026 RSU  - 21st June 2026 LASU  - 23rd June 2026 IMSU  - 25th June 2026 NMU  - 29th June 2026 AAU  - 30th June 2026 UNIDEL  - 30th June 2026 (Extended) AE-FUNAI  - 30th June 2026 DELSU  - 30th June 2026 ALREADY CLOSED UNIPORT  - Closed FUET  - Closed on 15th June 2026 NDA  - Closed on 15th May 2026 JULY 2026 DEADLINES Institution Deadline PAAU 1st July 2026 FUKASHERE 1st July 2026 FUTA ...

From Eidenu-Irrua to Europe and America: Rt. Rev. Dr. Matthew Akhaze Okpebholo has made private nursing education a global game changer. After nine parts exposing the rot, it is time to spotlight a revival. 1. Location as an Advantage St Matthew’s Royal College of Nursing Science is located in Eidenu-Irrua , a rural community in Edo State. No traffic. No chaos. Just a serene and conducive environment for learning. In an age when city campuses battle noise, congestion, and insecurity, rural education is becoming the new elite standard . 2. Facilities That Put Many City Schools to Shame The college's facilities are second to none: Spacious classrooms  : where students can breathe, think, and learn comfortably. Well-equipped laboratories  : science is not merely taught; it is practiced. State-of-the-art Nursing Practical Bay  : providing a real hospital environment for hands-on skills development. Attached Specialist Teaching Hospital  : enabling practical training a...

  SSS warned of mass kidnappings. Schools shut down. Then a mad man walked into a school in Iruekpen. If that's not complicity, what is incompetence? The facts are piling up, and they stink. 1. The Memo That Shut Schools Recently, the State Security Service (SSS) issued a memo to the Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Edo State Command. The subject was: Impending Mass Kidnapping of School Children in Edo State, Especially in Edo North. The result? Schoolchildren and teachers were directed to stay at home for now. 2. The Man from Edo North Ernest Ugbomoiko, 42, the same man the Edo State Police Command arrested for allegedly spreading false kidnapping alarms, hails from Edo North the exact zone flagged in the SSS memo. Coincidence or coordination? 3. The Mad Man in Iruekpen Shortly afterward, a "mad man" was reported to have entered a school in Iruekpen. Panic spread. Rumors of kidnappers invading schools caught fire once again. The Questio...

  When insecurity lasts more than 24 hours, ask who benefits. A quote widely attributed to General Sani Abacha already points us toward the question. The Edo State Police Command's press release says a lot, perhaps without intending to. The police arrested Ernest Ugbomoiko, 42, for allegedly spreading false reports of the kidnapping of students in Afuze, Ehor, Otuo, Agbede, and Igueben. Commissioner of Police Monday Agbonika insists that no child was abducted and that schools remain safe. But here is the question nobody seems to be asking: Why did people believe him? Inaction Breeds Rumour When security agencies and government fail to curb the kidnapping of schoolchildren, a vacuum is created. Into that vacuum flow rumours, speculation, and misinformation. False alarms spread faster than official statements. Kidnapping is real. Rumour-mongering is real. Attempts to exploit insecurity for political, economic, or criminal gain are even more dangerous. The Chibok Precedent The Chibok ...

  Professor Gbenga Ibileye of the Federal University Lokoja has just given every Nigerian university the one rule that can kill bureaucracy. I watched the Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Lokoja, Professor Gbenga Solomon Ibileye , speak. No big grammar. Just a simple principle that should be framed in every Vice-Chancellor’s office. His admonition to his management team was direct and clear: “Registrar, Bursar, University Librarian, DVCs if a memo stays on your table for more than 24 hours, consider yourself a failure.” The same applies to Deans, Heads of Department, Directors, and every officer down the line. No Face, Just File No one should look at faces when considering and processing a memo. Whether the answer is yes or no, the memo must move promptly. The staff member waiting on a promotion file, the student pursuing a transcript, and the contractor awaiting payment their faith in the system lives or dies on that table. A delayed memo is a delayed life. Why Memos Bury Men...

The real philanthropists raising kids from the streets to the classroom aren’t millionaires. They’re ordinary people who decided to act. We talk about “philanthropists” and picture billionaires writing huge cheques. Wrong picture. The real heroes pulling children off the streets and into classrooms are often not wealthy in the conventional sense. They are teachers who pay a child’s WAEC fee from a ₦70,000 salary; market women who sell wrappers and fund a neighbor's JAMB registration; retired civil servants who house and support three “non-biological” children through university. They choose to make helpless children hopeful. From Street Child to School Graduate to Society Changer Ask around, and you’ll hear stories: The boy who hawked sachet water in Upper Sakponba now runs a tech hub in Lagos because a retired headmistress paid his way through UNIBEN. The girl who washed plates in a buka in Ekpoma is now a nurse in Canada because a church usher funded her School of Nursing educati...

When Vice-Chancellor and HOD positions become gold mines, the Ivory Tower starts to rust. There is no doubt that financial sleaze exists in our universities and other higher institutions. That is why the race to become a Vice-Chancellor (VC), Rector, Provost, or even a Head of Department (HOD) is often so fierce. These positions are no longer viewed solely as opportunities for service; they are increasingly seen as channels to influence and resources. HOD positions now breed envy, jealousy, and avarice. Those on the outside often believe that those on the inside are “making a fortune.” Sometimes, they are right. Where Merit Died Merit often plays little role in the appointment of Vice-Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts, Deans, or Heads of Department today. Godfatherism, ethnicity, religion, and expectations of “returns” frequently determine who gets the chair. When leadership is compromised, the system learns to steal. From admission rackets and inflated TETFund contracts to the diversion ...

The money didn’t vanish. The priority did. And the numbers prove it. In 1980, Ahmadu Bello University and University of the Witwatersrand were peers. Today, they are no longer in the same league. ABU vs. Wits: Per-Student Spending Institution 1980 Spending per Student 2026 Spending per Student Change Ahmadu Bello University $4,385 $566 Down 87% University of the Witwatersrand $5,370 $15,889 Up 196% Funding Gap: Wits spent 1.2 times more per student than ABU in 1980. By 2026, it spends 28 times more. For every $1 Nigeria now invests in an ABU student or, indeed, any university student South Africa invests $28 in a Wits student. The collapse was not limited to the federal level. In 1980, Lagos State and the former Anambra State spent about $200 per pupil annually. By the late 1990s, that figure had fallen to just $22 a decline of nearly 90%. But Something Is Shifting The decline is receiving government attention, albeit slowly. Federal reforms are now targeting data quality, learning ou...

In Eidenu, Irrua, a new nursing college is showing what private investment and serious intent can achieve. History was made in Eidenu, Irrua, as St Matthew’s College of Nursing Sciences matriculated 103 students in its first-ever matriculation ceremony. For a private, mono-disciplinary institution to attract such a number at inception is rare. Most new nursing colleges begin with 30 or 40 students. St Matthew’s started with a full house. The Weight Behind the College There is no doubt that the founder, Rt. Rev. Dr. Matthew Akhaze Okpebholo, leveraged his network and goodwill to support the institution's launch. The guest list read like a “who’s who” of Edo State’s education and health sectors. Dr. Mrs. Onomen Briggs, President of the institution and Edo State Chairman of the Vocational and Technical Education Board, declared the ceremony open. Also in attendance were Engr. Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, former Vice-Chancellor of Edo University, Iyamho, and current Vice-Chancellor of Mudiam...

  Editor's Note This week, CampusDialog brings you two schools, two stories, and one urgent truth. Ekulu Primary School, Enugu : Founded in 1956, it was once a colonial-era model where commissioners’ children and drivers’ children learned side by side. At 70, its alumni called it what it is: “a metaphor for Nigeria itself.” The buildings decayed. Standards dropped. The warning is clear. Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua : Founded in 1955 by the Catholic Mission, it once ran like clockwork under the leadership of a Rev. Father. Then came the public takeover, and ACCI followed the same path of decline. But ACCI’s story does not end there. Its Old Boys Association, ACCIOBA, chose a different ending. Hostels were rebuilt. A medical center and ambulance were provided. Roads were constructed. An ultra-modern examination hall and a Computer-Based Examination (CBE) center were established. Today, ACCI is once again a destination school, and the Edo State Government has taken notice, ...

  The Kidnapping Epidemic: Students and Teachers Are Now Targets. A Government That Cares Would Act Like It Does During Elections. While politicians are busy scheming to remain in power and engaging in their usual political games, schoolchildren and their teachers are languishing in captivity. Tragically, one teacher has already been beheaded. Leadership is about responsibility, compassion, and humanity not an endless struggle for power and political dominance. The safety and welfare of citizens should always come before political ambition. That is not rhetoric. That is the reality in far too many communities today. From SS3 Exam Halls to Kidnappers’ Forests Years ago, we fought against " special centers " that exploited students by helping them obtain fake examination results. Today, the traffickers have new faces—and guns. The target remains the same: students. The difference is that before, they stole your results. Now, they steal your life. The pattern is now painfully fa...

  "Annunciation Catholic College went from mission-school excellence to public-sector decline. Its old boys brought it back." Founded in 1955 by the Catholic Mission, Annunciation Catholic College (ACCI), Irrua, began as a boarding school under the leadership of Rev. Fr. O'Connor as its pioneer Principal. Discipline was strict. Standards were high. ACCI produced generations of leaders, with Catholic values serving as the foundation of both character and learning. Then came the government takeover of mission schools. Like many institutions across the country, ACCI gradually became a shadow of its former self. Hostels fell into disrepair. Infrastructure deteriorated. Systems broke down. The culture of excellence that once defined the school began to fade. The difference, however, was that ACCI's alumni refused to accept the decline. ACCIOBA: Old Boys, New ACCI The Annunciation Catholic College Old Boys Association (ACCIOBA) chose action over lamentation. Rather than mer...

"Seventy years after it trained some of Nigeria’s finest minds, Ekulu Primary School alumni say the solution cannot wait for government alone." On May 30, 2026, Ekulu Primary School in Enugu GRA turned 70. Founded in 1956, Ekulu was a colonial-era model school. Its standards matched those of schools in Europe. Children of British officers learned alongside the children of African clerks, drivers, and cooks. For a time, Nigeria’s public education system worked for everyone. At the 70th Anniversary Gala Night, members of the Alumni Association saw a different Ekulu: dilapidated buildings, decaying classrooms, and the same neglect swallowing public schools across the nation. Then they voiced a hard truth: “Ekulu is not simply a school in decline. It is a metaphor for Nigeria itself.” The Problem We All See Leaking roofs. Broken chairs. Laboratories without equipment. When a school’s infrastructure fails, students begin to believe they do not matter. That is the real damage. Gove...

  INTRODUCTION What happens when you believe your grade does not reflect your work? For Mr. Adebayo Victor, a Mechanical Engineering graduate of FUTA Akure, that question led to a 17-year legal battle from the Federal High Court to the Supreme Court. Awarded a Second Class Lower (2.2) degree in 2007, Victor believed the result did not accurately reflect his academic performance. He requested that his examination scripts be remarked, but the university declined. What followed was a fight that most students would not dare to undertake. The Journey to Justice Federal High Court, Akure (2007): The case was dismissed for lack of evidence. Court of Appeal (2011): The court ruled that Victor had a valid case and ordered that his examination scripts be remarked. The result? His degree was upgraded from a 2.2 to a 2.1. Compensation Claim: The Court of Appeal awarded him ₦500,000 for the years he had lost. However, Victor was not satisfied and pursued the matter further. Supreme Court Vic...

INTRODUCTION A recent security alert from Edo State has put many parents and students on edge. The Edo State Security Service reportedly issued a red flag to the NSCDC State Commandant, warning of uncovered plans by criminal groups to target schools for kidnapping. The reported motive is ransom. This news is disturbing because it turns places of learning into potential targets. For students, even a security alert can shake the sense of safety needed for effective learning. The Bigger Picture Kidnapping around schools is not new in Nigeria, but every alert serves as a reminder that education is under threat when fear takes over. Attendance drops, parents keep their children at home, and mental health suffers. We do not yet have all the details, as investigations are ongoing. And that is okay. Our job as students is not to investigate it is to stay informed, stay alert, and stay safe. What We Can Do Right Now Know your school's safety plan: Where are the emergency exits? Who are the...

  “Group Project Math” 5 people in the group. 1 person does the work. 2 people send “I’m around” . 1 person disappears till presentation day. 1 person asks “When is the deadline again?” at 11:59pm. But somehow, we still get A  Ambrose Odiase, FIPMA, MANUPA, MAUA (UK). #CampusGist #GroupWorkThings

We’ve all been there. You send, “Good morning, Sir/Ma, please sir…” by 7:15 a.m. and keep refreshing your phone until 3:00 p.m. When the blue ticks remain blue, we start writing speeches in our heads: “Most lecturers don’t care about students.” But here’s what your message is competing with: 1. The Script Mountain 400 exam scripts. Senate deadline is Friday. Each script represents someone’s future. They can’t afford to rush through them. 2. The Meeting Marathon Department meeting at 9:00 a.m. Faculty Board at 12:00 p.m. College Committee at 3:00 p.m. Between meetings? Poor network coverage in the administrative block. 3. Administrative Firefighting HOD: “Submit your course outline now.” Bursary: “There’s an issue with this receipt.” External Examiner: “I need the moderation report.” 4. NEPA and Other Nigerian Realities They finally sit down to reply → Dum! → Power goes out. Phone battery at 7%. Generator noise everywhere. 5. Humanity They’re parents, spouses, and people too. Sometime...

  “Must Be a Doctor”: The 4-Year JAMB Trap Stealing Futures She wrote JAMB four times. Four whole years. Four sets of sleepless nights, form fees, tutorials, and post-UTME stress. All for Medicine. Year 1: Cut-off missed by 3 points. Year 2: Post-UTME flopped. Year 3: “Next year is my year.” Year 4: She finally got admission not for Medicine, but for a different course entirely. The four years were already gone. She graduated eventually. The question CampusDialog is asking is: Was it worth it? The Hard Truth We Don't Say Out Loud 1. Medicine Isn't Just “Marketable”; It's Demanding If Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology make your heart race for the wrong reasons, six years of medical school plus residency will break you. Not because you're dull, but because aptitude matters. You can't build a skyscraper on sand. 2. Parental Pressure Equals Student Prison “Doctor or nothing in this house.” We've heard it before. Parents often mean well. They want stat...