The confusion experienced by candidates of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations UTME, last week over dates for the examination heightened on Monday as students who were earlier informed by JAMB that the examination would start on March 9 got to their examination centres to realise it had been shifted till the next day. JAMB’s Public Relations Office, Mr Benjamin Fabian had last week informed candidates through the media that the examination would commences on 9 March, 2014.

The issue of the Almajiri has remained worrisome to Nigerians; it has been a source of embarrassment since independence. The Almajiri, as it is, has no place in modern society. Reports show that they are about 10 million children roaming the streets of Northern Nigeria. Mr. President sees these children as Nigeria’s responsibility and as is common with politicians’ lip-service, Jonathan has chosen to be different as he feels sincerely obligated to the less-privileged young Nigerians.

“…60 percent of those who are in the university system are not university materials; 60 percent of those who are called lecturers and professors in the university system today are not university materials…The survey I want people to do is to look at at the university graduates, First class and Second Class Upper, 2.1, from 1990, where will you find 60 percent of them?

“It is a simple formula but now, people around the world, from Syria to those dealing with ISIS, are asking how we have handled these vulnerable youths.”The API members are mostly community leaders who know members of the community and those that need help. So they identified those vulnerable youths and AUN rolled out some programs for them, including the Peace through Education program. The AUN-API education component has three programs: primary school – literacy and math; secondary school- science, technology, engineering and math, (STEM) and a principals and teacher training institute.

Monthly allocation to state owned tertiary institutions in Delta State has been reduced by twenty-five percent even the release of the allocation has not been regular. Speaking during the familiarization visit of the new Commissioner for Higher Education, Hon. Charles Emetulu to the polytechnic, the Rector of Delta State Polytechnic, Otefe-Oghara, Dr Clara Sogbaike said: “ monthly overhead cost from the state government has been reduced by 25 per cent from four million naira to three million naira”.