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BBNaija S10: Imisi emerges winner with N150 million prize

Fatimah QUADRI
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BBNaija S10: Imisi emerges winner with N150 million prize

IMISIOLUWA Eniola Ayanwale, otherwise known as Imisi, has emerged winner of the Big Brother Naija Season 10, walking away with N150 million prize money.

She was announced the winner by Ebuka, the host of the show, at the grand finale.

In her speech, Imisi thanked God, her fans, and everyone who supported her throughout the journey.

“I am very happy, I am very excited… Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I am so shocked, I never expected it. May God bless you beyond your imagination,” she stated.

The ICIR reports that the show began with 29 housemates vying for the prize in the course of ten weeks.

In the ninth week, the top ten contenders for the prize were announced: Isabella, Sultana, Kaybobo, Imisi, Mensan, Faith, Koyin, Dede, Jason Jae, and Kola.

However, during the tenth week, on Thursday, October 2, Faith, a top contender for the prize, was disqualified from the show after a physical altercation with Sultana over a basket, bringing the number of housemates to nine.

The disqualification marked the first time a housemate would be dismissed three days before the show’s end.

Viewers and netizens had mixed reactions to the decision, while some believed it was well-deserved due to his previous altercations with other housemates, others deemed it unfair as he had received no prior warning or strike before the disqualification.

The finale saw Ebuka evicting Kaybobo, Isabella, Mensan and Jason Jae, narrowing the competition to the top five.

Following another round of evictions, with Kola, Sultana and Koyin leaving, Dede and Imisi emerged as the top two finalists, after which Imisi was declared the winner.

The duo had captured viewers’ hearts in distinctive ways, Imisi, with her funny looks and makeup, jovial charm, and street slang; and Dede, with her soft-girl aura and premium demeanour.

Imisi had surpassed the other finalists with 42.8 per cent of the votes from viewers.

How viewers voted
How viewers voted

The season came with many twists and turns introduced by its organisers, including a Head of House challenger, the Red Telephone twist that stirred up drama in the house with fake evictions, and various offers and different weekly themes.

A theme that particularly intrigued viewers was the Face Your Fears and Bare Minimum week, during which Big Brother introduced frightening elements to scare the housemates. In the following week, they were deprived of certain privileges such as using the washing machine, cooking gas, and even had to sleep on bare mats instead of mattresses.

The ICIR had earlier reported that as the show reached its tenth season, many viewers were uncertain about what to expect, following widespread complaints about the previous Season 9 concerning the quality of housemates and the game they brought.

But most viewers had applauded the performance of this season while noting that this has been one of the best seasons in recent years.

Badenoch plans mass deportation of 150,000 illegal migrants each year

Fatimah QUADRI
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Badenoch plans mass deportation of 150,000 illegal migrants each year

THE United Kingdom Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, has unveiled what she called the “toughest immigration reforms in Britain’s history,” announcing a new border strategy that targets the detention and deportation of 150,000 illegal migrants each year.

In a video shared on her X account on Sunday, October 4, Badenoch outlined the ‘Radical Borders Plan’, which includes the creation of a new Removals Force modelled after the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)  to strengthen and modernise the UK’s border enforcement system.

“My message is clear: if you’re here illegally, you will be detained and deported,” she declared in the caption.

Badenoch, who has built a reputation as a staunch immigration hardliner, strongly criticised both past Conservative and Labour administrations for their approach to the migration crisis. She accused the Labour Party of overseeing record-high illegal border crossings and misusing public funds on asylum housing.

“Today, I’m launching our Radical Borders Plan, the toughest reforms Britain has ever seen to border laws and operations.

“Successive governments have failed on immigration. Labour promised to smash the gangs,” Badenoch stated

She further revealed that within just one year, the government had recorded unprecedented small boat crossings, with over 50,000 illegal arrivals and 32,000 people housed in asylum hotels, leading to billions in public spending. She described the situation as a result of “pure weakness,” insisting that Britain needed a serious and credible plan backed by firm leadership.

Under the proposed plan, she said, all illegal arrivals would be deported within a week, with legal obstacles to mass deportations removed and visa sanctions imposed on countries refusing to take back their citizens.

She stressed that the newly proposed enforcement agency would put an end to what she called the “asylum hotel racket,” save taxpayers billions, and restore public confidence in the country’s border system.

She further said that only the Conservative Party had a credible plan to strengthen Britain’s borders, emphasising that anyone who entered the country illegally would be deported.

According to Badenoch, the plan would include banning asylum claims from illegal entrants, repealing the Human Rights Act, and withdrawing the United Kingdom from the European Convention on Human Rights.

Not spared by critics, during an interview on the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Badenoch was criticised after she dismissed questions about the destinations of deported migrants. She reportedly said she was “tired of irrelevant questions” regarding where they would be sent, adding that migrants would be returned to “where they should be or another country,” but insisted “they should not be here.” When prodded further, she clarified that they would be sent “back to where they came from.”

According to Sky News, the proposed ‘Removals Force’ would replace the existing Home Office Immigration Enforcement unit and be granted extensive powers, including the authority to use facial recognition technology without prior notice to identify and remove undocumented migrants.

If implemented, Badenoch’s proposal would represent one of the most sweeping reforms of UK immigration policy in decades, further intensifying political debate around border control and human rights protections.

‘Bow and Go’: How Uche Nnaji’s certificate scandal mirrors lawmakers, SSS failures over the years

Mustapha USMAN
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‘Bow and Go’: How Uche Nnaji’s certificate scandal mirrors lawmakers, SSS failures over the years

FOLLOWING the latest revelation that Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, allegedly used forged certificates to secure his position, questions have again emerged about how the Senate and the State Security Service (SSS) repeatedly fail to detect discrepancies in the credentials of political appointees during screening processes.

The ICIR reports that the case adds to Nigeria’s shameful list of forged credential cases among public officials, as individuals with questionable qualifications or integrity slip through vetting processes put in place to uphold transparency and competence in public office.

On Saturday, October 4, Premium Times’ investigation revealed that Nnaji, who was appointed by President Bola Tinubu, presented a Bachelor of Science certificate purportedly from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), and a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate.

The report, however, quoted a response to a freedom of information request sent by the newspaper, which stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there is no record that he completed his studies or graduated in July 1985, as his certificate claims.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, UNN disowned the certificate currently being paraded by the minister.

“From every available record and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter,” the letter was quoted.

Similarly, the investigation also exposed how the NYSC certificate presented by the minister was found to have contained inconsistencies, including an invalid serial number and a forged signature of a corps official who had not yet assumed office at the stated time of issuance.

The ICIR reports that forgery is a criminal offence under Section 465 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, which defines it as the making of a false document or alteration of a genuine one with the intent to deceive. 

The offence is punishable under Section 467 of the Criminal Code Act, which states thus: “Any person who forges any document, writing, or seal, is guilty of an offence which, unless otherwise  stated, is a felony, and he is liable, if no other punishment is provided, to imprisonment for three years.”

A recurring national disgrace

Recall that then-Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun brought the Muhammadu Buhari administration into national disrepute in 2018 after a Premium Times report revealed that she presented a forged NYSC exemption certificate as part of her credentials.

The purported NYSC certificate was said to have been signed by a former director-general of the NYSC, Yusuf Bomoi, in 2009.

However, Maharazu Tsiga, former NYSC DG, who took over from Bomoi, said Adeosun’s certificate could not have been issued by the NYSC.

Although former President Buhari had referred Kemi Adeosun and other ministerial nominees to the DSS for security screening in September 2015, it was unclear how her forged NYSC exemption certificate slipped through the agency’s scrutiny.

The minister consequently resigned from office after public backlash.

Before that, in December 2017, the same Buhari administration appointed eight persons confirmed to have died sometime ago, into boards of parastatals in the country.

The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) announced the appointment of 209 board chairpersons and 1,258 board members. It was the largest single appointment made by the President since assuming office in 2015.

The ICIR, however, reported that the appointment, which was made on December 29, 2017, exposed the SSS’s failure to vet the list of appointees.

The appointed members were Reverend Christopher Utova as a member of the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research; late Senator Francis Okpozo as Chairman of the Nigerian Press Council; and late Chief Donald Ugbaja as a member of the Consumer Protection Council.

Aliyu and Alanamu’s ICPC Board Appointment 

In a similar development, in 2017, The ICIR investigations exposed how two individuals appointed by then-Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to the board of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) were themselves under corruption investigations.

The appointees, Maimuna Aliyu and Sa’ad Alanamu, were being probed for alleged multi-million-naira fraud by both the ICPC and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). 

While Alanamu was being investigated on corruption charges allegedly committed while he headed several institutions in Kwara State, Aliyu reportedly had a longstanding case of abuse of office, misappropriation and diversion of public funds against her.

The ICIR cited sources from the ICPC claiming that charges were being prepared against Alanamu when his name was announced as a member of the new board of the commission.

He allegedly collected bribes from contractors handling TETFUND contracts, which he approved as Chairman of the Board of Kwara State College of Education, Ilorin.

Similarly, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Nigerian Police had also investigated several corruption cases against Aliyu, a former Executive Director of the Aso Savings and Loans.

The report cited police documents at the time, which recommended Aliyu’s prosecution for the diversion of over N120 million.

Apart from the N120 million allegedly misappropriated by her, the bank also lodged several complaints of abuse of office and conversion or diversion of its funds, totalling nearly N1 billion.

The bank alleged that in 2012, Aliyu sought and got a mortgage facility of N40 million to purchase five houses – four-bedroom detached mansionettes. However, after she resigned from her appointment in September 2013, the former Executive Director said she could no longer bear the burden of the payments and requested the bank to cancel the mortgage on four units and take them over. She said she would continue to maintain the mortgage contract on just one unit.

Buhari’s aide Okoi Obono-Obla alleged forgery of certificate

In July 2018, former president Buhari’s Special Assistant on Prosecutions, Okoi Obono-Obla, was indicted by the report of a House of Representatives panel over forgery of his secondary school certificate and wrongful utilisation of public funds.

The panel also found that Obono-Obla and members of the Special Investigative Panel on the Recovery of Public Property, which he chaired, collected N17 million in excess sitting allowances and violated presidential orders by flying business class.

The probe began after the House resolved to examine the activities of the panel he chaired, following accusations that it had exceeded its mandate. 

During the inquiry, lawmakers said they received a petition alleging that Obono-Obla used a forged West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate to gain admission into the University of Jos, where he studied Law.

“..the Certified True Copy, CTC, of the result for Candidate No: 094051247 May/June 1982, showed that the candidate was absent from the exam for Literature. In the result with the University of Jos, he claimed to have credit in Literature in English in the statement of result issued to him by Mary Knoll College, Calabar.

“However, WAEC disclaimed the result in the Certified True Copy sent to the committee.  This casts doubt as to the integrity and character of the Chairman of the Panel.”

SSS and the Lawmakers’ failure

These incidents, according to critics, showed a consistent pattern of failure by vetting institutions to uphold the standards prescribed by law. 

Constitutionally, the Senate is required to screen all ministerial nominees and other political positions, while the SSS conducts background checks. 

Under Section 147(2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), ministerial nominees must be screened and confirmed by the Senate before appointment. 

Also, according to international best practices for legislative screening of nominees, the lawmakers are expected to do background checks of nominees and have access to records of asset declaration, and other relevant documents before the screening.

However, many Nigerians have said these processes are often compromised by political considerations. 

They noted that the Senate has largely turned the exercise into a ceremonial show, with many nominees asked to “take a bow and go” rather than undergo meaningful scrutiny. 

The “bow and go” tradition is an unwritten convention in the Senate that exempts former and serving lawmakers from rigorous screening when nominated for public office. 

Under this practice, such nominees are simply asked to take a bow and leave without facing any questions. Although the rationale was that legislators, past or present, should be spared the process since they are part of the body constitutionally empowered to conduct screenings. 

However, the privilege over time has been extended to some individuals who have never served in the National Assembly.

Similarly, the National Security Agencies Act of 1986 mandates the State Security Service (SSS) to provide protective and preventive security through background checks on public officials, including verifying the authenticity of their records before appointment.

According to legal expert Onikepo Braithwait,e “the scope of the SSS screening function for any position whatsoever, be it for Minister or the Judiciary or wherever, is ultra vires the functions of the SSS set out in Section 2(3)(a) -(c) of the NSA Act, which concerns matters of the internal security of Nigeria only.

“The SSS also investigates educational qualifications and credentials, financials, moral character, family, reputation, and does security and regulatory checks.”

Super Eagles’ coach adjusts squad ahead of world cup qualifiers

Fatimah QUADRI
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Super Eagles’ coach adjusts squad ahead of world cup qualifiers

SUPER Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has made two late changes to Nigeria’s 23-man squad ahead of their final 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho and Benin.

The adjustments follow injuries to Cyriel Dessers and Bright Osayi-Samuel, who have both been ruled out of the fixtures.

In their absence, right-back Zaidu Sanusi has been drafted in to replace Osayi-Samuel, while forward Uche Christantus takes Dessers’ spot in the squad.

The initial 23-man roster had been unveiled on Friday, October 3

Sanusi, who was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final, returns to the national team after recovering from a long-term injury that sidelined him for over a year. His comeback is expected to strengthen the Super Eagles’ defensive setup.

Uche, one of the promising talents among Nigeria’s new generation of players, earned his senior debut earlier in June. His latest call-up presents another chance to cement his place in the national team.

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over Werder Bremen full-back Felix Agu, who picked up an injury during a Bundesliga clash with St. Pauli. His condition will be evaluated ahead of Nigeria’s opening qualifier.

Coach Eric Chelle’s updated 23-man squad combines seasoned internationals with emerging talents as the Super Eagles aim to secure all six points from their remaining fixtures.

Nigeria will open their campaign against Lesotho on October 10 before heading to Cotonou for their second match against the Benin Republic on October 14

The back-to-back encounters are pivotal to Nigeria’s qualification hopes, as the team must claim victories to remain firmly in contention for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

US set to offer migrant teens $2,500 to voluntarily return home

Fatimah QUADRI
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US set to offer migrant teens $2,500 to voluntarily return home

THE United States Department of Homeland Security is set to launch a new programme offering unaccompanied migrant teenagers a one-time payment of $2,500 each if they agree to return to their home country voluntarily.

According to an internal memo cited by CNN, the pilot initiative will initially focus on 17-year-old migrants and will require authorisation from an immigration judge before any departure takes place.

The payment, intended to support the minors’ reintegration, would be issued only after they return to their home countries, the memo disclosed.

The proposed plan also builds on an existing voluntary return programme introduced during the Trump administration, which currently offers undocumented adults $1,000 “exit bonuses” for choosing self-deportation. Accordingly, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has defended the initiative, calling it a cost-effective alternative to lengthy detention and formal deportation proceedings.

“This programme is strictly voluntary and allows minors to make an informed decision about their future,” an ICE spokesperson was quoted as saying.

As of October 2, official data indicates that around 2,100 unaccompanied minors are currently in the custody of the Department of Health and Human Services, awaiting placement or immigration hearings.

However, the new incentive programme has sparked criticism from immigrant rights advocates, who argue that offering payments to children to leave the country could breach legal protections for vulnerable youths under U.S. immigration law.

“There is no legitimate reason for the government to incentivise voluntary departure with a financial payoff,” said Neha Desai of the National Centre for Youth Law, describing the policy as “a troubling precedent.”

Advocates further argued that the payments could pressure minors into returning to unsafe or unstable conditions, potentially undermining the humanitarian principles meant to guide the care of unaccompanied migrant children.

The proposal has also reignited the debate over how the U.S. government handles the growing influx of border arrivals, especially unaccompanied minors seeking asylum or family reunification.

While the Department of Homeland Security insists the initiative is designed to cut detention costs and streamline immigration procedures, critics argue that it raises serious ethical and legal concerns about the treatment of migrant children under federal custody.

For Nigeria, 24 Million Reasons to Fear the Future?

Editorial
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For Nigeria, 24 Million Reasons to Fear the Future?

By Chidi Anselm Odinkalu

When Olusegun Obasanjo took over in the middle of 1976 from the slain Murtala Mohammed as Nigeria’s military Head of State, the regime was already committed as a matter policy to transition power to an elected civilian administration in 1979. This was a big deal alright but not one over which he had much say as such. As military Head of State, General Obasanjo identified two issues to define his personal legacy.

One was food security. To address that, he launched “Operation Feed the Nation”, better known by the acronym (OFN). Those were the same initials of Obasanjo Farms Nigeria, the name of the company under which the General would later pursue his post-retirement vocation in agriculture. The coincidence was not lost on many.

The other issue was education. To pursue this, General Obasanjo launched the Universal Primary Education (UPE) in 1976. 40 years later, an independent study determined that the UPE had “a statistically significant impact on schooling attainment of beneficiaries” but there were questions as to its reach and coverage. Quite apart from the usual dysfunctions associated with centrally dictated government programmes, the UPE also faced opposition from traditional and religious leaders in some parts of Nigeria, who reportedly felt “that it is a Christian brainwashing which alienates their children from their own religious beliefs.” Those were also people who largely opposed the education of the girl-child.

The three and a half years of the Obasanjo military regime were too short for such an ambitious programme as the UPE to prove itself. The best he could hope for was that his civilian successors would continue with the idea.

At the launch of the UPE, the country was in the middle of what its rulers believed would be an interminable Oil Boom. In hindsight, the onset of the UPE coincided with the beginning of a bust. The programme became one of the casualties of the rampant corruption and the subsequent austerity that bedevilled the administration of Obasanjo’s chosen successor, President Shehu Shagari.

The military regime that toppled Shehu Shagari four years later paid no heed to basic education. Chronically careening from the twin crises of balance of payments and elite banditry of the Nigerian political class, the system never quite rediscovered the will to invest in basic education as a duty of the Nigerian state. By the time Obasanjo returned as civilian president 20 years after his first tour of duty, the country had begun to reap whirlwind from decades of costly omission.

President Obasanjo appeared to understand this but arguably waited too long to address it. In the fifth year of his eight year tenure, he enacted the Universal Basic Education Programme (UBE), which made basic education compulsory for all children in Nigeria. Basic education under the law was defined as nine years of formal education – six years in primary school and three years of junior secondary education. It also became a federal crime to deny a child in Nigeria access to such education. To encourage uptake by the states, the Federal Government offered generous co-financing incentives to the states. Many failed to take it up.

Two years later, in 2006, President Obasanjo launched a National Policy on Education. By this time, a diagnosis had indicated the depth of the emergency. Of 42.1 million Nigerian children eligible for primary education at the end of 2005, “only 22.3m were in the primary schools. This figure implies that about 19.8m or 47% Nigerian children that should [have] been in primary schools [were] not.”

It is no surprise that this period coincided with the onset of what would later become an Islamist insurgency founded on an ideology opposed to Western education.

As with his first tour of presidential duty, the policy measures implemented by President Obasanjo on his second coming equally relied for their durability on his successors sharing his sense of mission and urgency. It was a tall hope. In the two decades since Obasanjo’s National Policy on Education of 2006, successive administrations neglected it to a point where the country has become the most natural recruiting ground in the world for radicalisation.

On Monday, 13 November, 2017, Muhammadu Buhari, another Nigerian ruler on his second tour of presidential duty, hosted a Cabinet retreat on education. Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, himself a teacher of considerable stature, and Education Minister, Adamu Adamu, also addressed the retreat which, however, involved little deliberation and ended with an inconclusive communique.

A high point of the Buhari Cabinet retreat was the presentation of Minister Adamu Adamu’s “Education for Change: A Ministerial Strategic Plan, 2016-2019.” Launched in August 2016 and better known under the acronym MSP, its title was a play upon the “Change” mantra of the then government, and the United Nations’ Education for All campaign. If it had been launched today, the plan would probably have been called “Education for Renewed Hope”.

At over 120 pages, most Nigerians, including senior staff of the Federal Ministry of Education (FMoE), were unlikely ever to read the MSP. In his foreword, Minister Adamu promised to “welcome rigorous discussion with all levels of stakeholders to ensure a sustainable and enduring document.” It never happened.

The MSP offered the government’s vision for education in Nigeria, setting out three strategic outcomes namely: improving access, enhancing quality, and strengthening sectoral systems. The scope covered ten major areas. Under access, in particular, the MSP focused on out-of-school children (OOSC).

The MSP identified a priority in the twin challenges of OOSC and mass illiteracy. The plan estimated the number of OOSC at 10.5 million and illiteracy at 38% or 60 million Nigerians. With reference to OOSC, it proposed “a state of emergency on education in the states most affected by the (Boko Haram) insurgency.” This was an implicit recognition of the relationship of cause and effect between policy failure and national security consequence.

By 2019, the plan hoped to reduce by half the number of illiterate people in Nigeria through the deployment of 170,000 instructors, 100,000 of whom will be mobilised by the Federal Government and another 70,000 by the States. For the first time, the MSP offered a plan for a pre-primary (nursery) education curriculum. Not much has been heard of these since then.

The pivotal planning data on which the MSP was anchored was dubious and dated. On the issue of OOSC, for instance, it claimed that Nigeria had “10.5 million out-of-school children”, a figure first used by the FMoE in its planning in 2006. Contradicting the MSP, however, President Buhari informed the country at the retreat that in Nigeria “an estimated 13.2 million children are out of school.” This was one-third more than the estimate by the MSP.

On the back of this frightening number, President Buhari then touted the goal of the FMoE as “fostering the development of all Nigerian citizens to their full potentials, in the promotion of a strong, democratic, egalitarian, indivisible and indissoluble sovereign nation under God.”

For all its ambition, the MSP was starkly un-costed. Instead, it proposed to increase already bloated education overheads by elevating the National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies (NBAIS) to a parastatal. It is hardly any surprise that President Buhari’s goal of enlightened governance based on egalitarian civics came to naught.

These and many more flaws in the MSP highlight the reasons why Nigeria’s educational sector drifted into a zone of dangerous incoherence under President Buhari’s watch. In the period since then, the country has descended into a snarling cauldron of inter-ethnic hate.

This past week, President Obasanjo disclosed that the population of OOSC in Nigeria has nearly doubled to 24 million, which is over 10% of the country’s current population estimate. He predictably warned: “You don’t need an oracle to know they will become the recruiting ground for the Boko Haram of tomorrow.”

Education should be a national security priority for all levels of government. States need both a coherent policy environment and a committed partner at the federal level. Yet very few Nigerians can say who the Minister of Education is, what is his or her name and what is their plan for addressing Nigeria’s 24 million reasons to fear the future.

A lawyer and a teacher, Odinkalu can be reached at chidi.odinkalu@tufts.edu

Collaboration takes centre stage on world teachers day

Fatimah QUADRI
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Collaboration takes centre stage on world teachers day

AS the world marks World Teachers’ Day 2025, educators and policymakers are turning their attention to the power of collaboration in shaping the future of learning.

This year’s theme, “Recasting Teaching as a Collaborative Profession,” underscores the need for teamwork, mentorship, and shared responsibility among teachers, school leaders, and the wider education community. The focus reflects a growing recognition that collective effort, rather than isolated practice, is key to improving education quality and sustaining teacher growth.

Educators highlight that collaboration remains a key part of effective teaching, noting that no teacher is an island of knowledge while stating that collaboration could be a process of joint lesson planning, idea sharing, and collective problem-solving aimed at enhancing the learning experience.

When collaboration strengthens understanding

For Abisola Alare-Saheed, an English tutor in a secondary school, she states that teachers sometimes face challenges in delivering certain topics, and in such situations, collaborating with colleagues who have greater expertise in that area proves highly beneficial.

She recounted being assigned to teach Business Studies to junior students and encountering difficulty with the topic ‘Trial Balance’ and after seeking guidance from a colleague who specialised in Business Education, the concept became clearer, enabling her to successfully teach the topic to her learners.

“As an English Educator there was a time I was saddled with the responsibility of teaching Business Studies in the junior secondary 3, I took it perfectly until when I had the challenge of taking the topic ‘Trial Balance’.

I couldn’t understand it well enough until I met with a colleague in another school whose discipline is Business Education, she explained to me well after which I delivered several lessons to my learners,”  Alare-Saheed told The ICIR

Teaching a subject outside one’s field of expertise can hinder effective delivery, leading to challenges like lack of deep knowledge, student disengagement, and reduced academic outcomes for students but such situations often highlight the value of collaboration.

By seeking support from colleagues with deeper knowledge, teachers not only overcome content gaps but also improve lesson quality and professional competence.

Farida Saidu, a chemistry teacher noted that although she had not co-taught in the same classroom, collaborating with more experienced teachers helped her improve their approach to teaching lower primary pupils.

“I was a teacher who had less experience in teaching lower primary schools.  fellow teachers shared their ideas and practices and it made teaching-learning effective,” she stated.

She added that sharing ideas and observing others’ methods made lessons more effective, and during their teaching practice, they also gained valuable experience through team teaching.

For Saidu, collaboration involves teachers working together. Although not widely practiced in many classrooms, it helps simplify teaching and encourages greater student participation.

Barriers to teachers collaboration 

Despite its benefits, several factors continue to hinder teacher collaboration. These include lack of time, professional isolation, poor communication skills, resistance to change, and differing professional ideologies.

The factors mentioned above were identified by respondents as major barriers to effective collaboration among teachers. They noted that some educators are reluctant to move away from traditional teaching methods or lack the necessary training and awareness to adopt collaborative practices. Heavy workloads and limited time also make it difficult for teachers to plan and work together, underscoring the need for schools to create specific periods for joint planning or co-teaching.

“Teachers may be unwilling to move away from traditional teaching methods, show a lack of cooperation, or lack training and awareness on collaborative teaching,” Saidu stated.

Additionally, weak leadership support was highlighted as a challenge, as some school heads do not actively promote teamwork or shared instructional practices among their staff.

“Another reason might be poor leadership support, some school heads may not support team teaching or collaboration. School leaders should be trained to model and encourage team-based approaches and shared decision-making,” Alare-Saheed noted.

Breaking the barriers 

While these barriers pose real challenges, they are not insurmountable. Educators explained that with proper guidance, administrative support, and a shift in mindset, teachers can embrace collaboration as an essential part of their professional growth.

“To overcome these barriers, more training should be provided on collaborative teaching while encouraging an interactive environment among teachers. Professional training for teachers on collaborative practices, government policies that promote collaboration in education, and improved access to digital tools would greatly enhance teaching and learning outcomes,” Saidu stated

Also, creating a supportive culture where educators feel valued and empowered to share ideas is seen as a vital step toward overcoming these obstacles.

“As a teacher, I would like to see more time set aside for teachers to plan lessons together and share ideas. I also hope schools can provide regular training that encourages teamwork and create a supportive environment where teachers feel free to learn from one another. Having strong leadership that values collaboration would also make a big difference.” Alare-Saheed concluded

Report exposes how Tinubu’s minister forges UNN, NYSC certificates

Mustapha USMAN
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Report exposes how Tinubu’s minister forges UNN, NYSC certificates

FRESH controversy has hit President Bola Tinubu’s administration after an investigation revealed that the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, forged his university degree.

This exposè is the outcome of a two-year investigation by Premium Times, which found that both Nnaji’s university certificate and his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) discharge certificate were forged.

The report quoted a response to a freedom of information sent by the newspaper, which stated that while Nnaji was admitted in 1981, there is no record that he completed his studies or graduated in July 1985, as his certificate claims.

In a letter dated October 2, 2025, and signed by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, UNN disowned the certificate being currently paraded by the minister.

“From every available records and information from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, we are unable to confirm that Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology, graduated from the University of Nigeria in July 1985, as there are no records of his completion of study in the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

“Flowing from above, the University of Nigeria, Nsukka DID NOT and consequently, COULD NOT have issued the purported certificate, or at all, in July 1985 to Mr Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji, the current Minister of Science and Technology. This conclusion is also in consonance with an earlier letter dated May 13, 2025, ref. No, RUN/SR/R/V, issued by the University to the Public Complaints Commission in respect of the same subject matter,” the letter was quoted.

Further checks by the paper showed that although Nnaji was admitted to study biological sciences, he failed several courses, before he was advised to  withdraw.

In 1986, he reportedly wrote to the university seeking another opportunity to retake an examination, one year after claiming to have already graduated.

Premium Times reported that forensic analysis of the minister’s NYSC certificate also revealed glaring inconsistencies. 

The certificate bore the signature of a corps official who only assumed office 18 months after the date it was supposedly issued. 

The report also noted that the certificate carried an invalid numbering system and suggested that Nnaji served for 13 months, contrary to the statutory 12-month programme.

The newspaper, said despite repeated requests for clarification, the minister failed to respond to the findings of its investigation.

Jonathan dismisses linking Buhari to Boko Haram, says comments misrepresented

Mustapha USMAN
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Jonathan dismisses linking Buhari to Boko Haram, says comments misrepresented

FORMER President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed claims suggesting he accused the late President Muhammadu Buhari of having ties to Boko Haram.

The clarification followed his earlier claims that Boko Haram once chose the late Buhari to represent the group in negotiations, during the book launch of former Chief of Defence Staff, Lucky Irabor, on Friday, October 3.

A statement signed by his spokesman, Ikechukwu Eze, on Saturday, October 4, noted that Jonathan’s remarks were taken out of context.

The ICIR reported that Jonathan, at the public presentation of Scars, had said that his administration set up several committees to explore dialogue with the sect, and in one such attempt, the insurgents nominated Buhari as their preferred negotiator.

“One of the committees we set up then, the Boko Haram nominated Buhari to lead their team to negotiate with the government,” Jonathan said. “So I was feeling that, oh, if they nominated Buhari to represent them and have a discussion with the government committee, then when Buhari took over, it could have been an easy way to negotiate with them and they would have handed over their guns. But it was still there till today.”

His comments, however, generated mixed reactions, including backlashes from Buhari’s loyalists.

While reacting to this, Jonathan, in a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze, clarified that he was not accusing Buhari of complicity with the insurgents, adding that his reference was to the confusing internal rifts within Boko Haram in 2012.

“We wish to make it abundantly clear that the former President’s comments were grossly misrepresented. At no time did Dr Jonathan suggest, imply, or insinuate that President Buhari had any connection with Boko Haram or that he supported the group in any form.”

The statement added that “Jonathan’s remarks, made in the course of a broader discussion on Nigeria’s security challenges, were meant to illustrate the deviousness and manipulative strategies employed by Boko Haram in their early years.”

The statement further said his reference was to a documented episode in the early days of the insurgency when factions claiming to represent Boko Haram falsely listed prominent Nigerians, including Buhari, as possible mediators, often without their knowledge or consent.

“The point Dr Jonathan sought to make was that Boko Haram, in its characteristic deceit, often invoked the names of respected public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public confidence in government,” the statement continued.

He further argued that if Buhari had indeed been a preferred negotiator for the group, the insurgency should have ended when he became president in 2015.

Jonathan stressed that both he and Buhari were committed to fighting terrorism during their tenures and that the former president himself was also a target of Boko Haram attacks.

“The point Dr Jonathan sought to make was that Boko Haram, in its characteristic deceit, often invoked the names of respected public figures to sow confusion, exploit political divisions, and undermine public confidence in government. His comments were therefore an illustration of the group’s duplicity, not an accusation against the late former president or any individual for that matter.”

Recall that Garba Shehu, former presidential spokesperson under Buhari, had earlier dismissed Jonathan’s remarks as false and politically motivated. 

Shehu argued that Jonathan was reviving a discredited claim to deflect attention, adding that Buhari himself was a target of Boko Haram attacks, including a bomb attempt on his convoy in Kaduna in 2014.

Super Falcons forward, Ifeoma Onumonu retires from football

Fatimah QUADRI
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Super Falcons forward, Ifeoma Onumonu retires from football

SUPER Falcons striker Ifeoma Onumonu has announced her retirement from football, ending a professional career that spanned over a decade, which took her across the United States, France, and Nigeria.

In a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday, October 4, the 31-year-old expressed appreciation for her football journey, describing her retirement as a “natural conclusion” to a passion she discovered at just eight years old.

“It is with a heart full of gratitude that I bid farewell to my playing career on the pitch.

“We played in white, black, and green jerseys at the AYSO fields near my house. I remember how vast I thought the field was. I don’t remember if I played an actual position or if I even passed the ball,” he stated.

Onumonu noted that her passion for football drove her for 22 years, leading to remarkable experiences at both club and international levels.

She recalled the highlights of her career, including winning the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) championship, representing Nigeria at the Olympics and World Cup, and helping the Super Falcons secure a record 10th African Cup of Nations title.

Onumonu said her love for football began with a simple desire to run and score goals, adding that winning or losing mattered little to her because she simply enjoyed playing the game.

She explained that this passion sustained her for 22 years, leading to memorable moments at both club and international levels.

She recounted winning an NWSL championship, representing Nigeria at the Olympics and World Cup, and helping the Super Falcons clinch a historic 10th African Cup of Nations title.

The American-born forward, who earned her first senior cap for Nigeria in 2021, was a member of the Super Falcons squad at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and also competed at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

She was part of the team that clinched the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title in July 2025, marking Nigeria’s record 10th continental victory.

Early career development

Born in California to a Nigerian father, Onumonu grew up in the United States and launched her professional career in the National Women’s Soccer League with the Boston Breakers.

She later played for Portland Thorns, Seattle Reign FC, Utah Royals, and NJ/NY Gotham FC before moving to France to join Montpellier HSC.

A graduate of the California Golden Bears collegiate program, she initially represented the United States at the U-23 level before switching allegiance to Nigeria, where she gained recognition for her intelligent play, calm finishing, and strong work ethic.

Reflecting on her decision, Onumonu noted that her retirement does not signify the end of her connection to football.

“This is not a goodbye to football, but a new beginning.

“I am excited to explore opportunities off the pitch, using the skills and lessons learned from my time on it,” she stated.

She expressed heartfelt gratitude to everyone who had supported her throughout her career, including staff, teammates, coaches, medical personnel, fans, friends, and family.

Onumonu said their unwavering encouragement meant a great deal to her, adding that although her playing days were over, her love and commitment to the game would remain constant.

 

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