History is ladened with memories from different events and moments we often go back in time to identify with. This article is, however, intended to focus on just one aspect of history – one radiating elegance, beauty, and spectacle. Succinctly, I will be beaming focus on beauty queens that have emerged as winners of the “Miss Nigeria” Beauty Pageant from 1957 through 2021.
As unity is in diversity, so is there beauty in diversity as Nigeria is concerned. By reading through this piece, you will get to see how beauty is spread across the country – as represented by different charming faces from different regions in Nigeria. So, let me shelf the long-winding introduction and move on to the primary objective, unraveling past Miss Nigeria winners for different years.
1957: Grace Atinuke Oyelude
Grace Atinuke Oyelude emerged the winner of the first Miss Nigeria beauty pageant having beating over 200 contestants to the prize. Born on November 16, 1931, Atinuke represented the Northern region in the competition – even without having prior knowledge of it. It happened that her younger brother initiation the registration by sending in her picture to the organizers. Following that, she made it to list to the top list and ended up contesting at the beauty show proper held at the Island Club in Lagos.

After her win, she faded from the glamorous limelight to pursue a degree in Nursing from the School of Nursing in Ashford, Kent, England. She has since excelled in the field and related sector as a registered nurse and hospital administrator. Her name, however, hit the airwaves again recently as she celebrated her 90th birthday back in 2021.
1958: Helen Anyamaeluna
Helen Anyamaeluna came across as one who was ready for the big stage as a beauty queen. She appeared to have an idea of the glitz, elegance and ‘work’ that comes with wearing the crown. She was quoted as saying׃ “Oh, it’s quite a job to be popular. It gives one dizziness; and it is only the realization that one is on top by the people’s choice that gives one the courage to through it without succumbing”. Of course, her win brought fame as her gorgeous face graced the pages of top-rated magazines and newspapers of that time.

But Helen was not just an embodiment of beauty; she was quite brilliant and a good polyglot in her own right. She was fluent in five different languages, including English, French, Efik, Igbo, and Yoruba. Helen died in 2012 at the age of 75 years old after a protracted illness.
1959: Nene Etule
Nene Etule walked down the history aisle of Miss Nigeria Southern and she stole a match on the Nigerian beauties in the contest. The poise of this 18-year pageant entrant, who hailed from Limbe in Cameroun, cannot be denied or neglected. Her eligibility to participate was premised on Southern Cameroun being under the Nigerian constitution back then.

Those in attendance saw and probably relished her beauty, and the judges could not but affirm as they crowned as “Miss Nigeria” – away from her home country. The record set by Nene Etule as the only non-Nigerian to have won the crown remains untouched, and the status quo is bound to be maintained as the rules are now more stringent. In the months following, Nene got married to the former United Nations’ Director of Information Services in Nigeria, Penuel Ebenezer Njeku Malafa.
1960: Rosemary Anieze-Adams (Miss Independence)
1960, being Nigeria’s Year of Independence, meant whoever emerged winner of the Miss Nigeria beauty show, received the honor to be called “Miss Independence”. That honor fell to Zaria-born Rosemary Anieze-Adams who hail from Aniocha in Delta State. Born on the 8th of August, 1940, Rosemary went into the contest as the youngest participant and did come out top. Her broad, infectious smile added some extra charm to her visage – besides the delicate eyes and pretty face.

By the way, her name was entered into the contest by someone else, and this was even without her knowledge. Rosemary’s good looks, in her youthful age, must have been very evident as she had earlier won the Miss Ibadan. She was quite fluent in English, French, and a couple of local languages. Her professional career had her working in the media sector as broadcaster, telephone operator, TV announcer, and compere. The Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), and defunct Western Nigeria Television/Western Nigeria Broadcasting Service were among her employers. Rosemary eventually got married to Mr. Peter Norman Adams in 1968.
1961: Clara Ifeoma Emefiena

As the curtain for Miss Nigeria’s pageantry drew close, all gazes were fixed on none other than Clara Ifeoma Emefiena who had emerged the winner of the coveted prize. She entered into the contest as Miss Mid-West, but walked out with the grace and paraphernalia that come with being the ‘most beautiful’ woman in the country. Her adorable face, delightful smile, and intelligence must have bedazzled the judges to look no other way – but hers.
1963: Alice Alache Akla Ad’Epe
Alice Alache Akla Ad’Epe entered into the contest on the back of winning Miss Kano pageant in 1962. She is from Otukpo in Benue State, and has fate would have it, Alice was the first woman of Idoma origin to be crowned Miss Nigeria in 1963. She has a delectable carriage about her, with the perfect silhouette to complement it. Being the winner of the pageant, she was awarded with the sum of £200 along with the crown which was held for a year.

All the buzz that came with the fame however toned down as the crown was passed to the next winner. Alice ultimately tired to her village in Otukpo. Compared to what is attainable now, (ambassadorial) opportunities were not so massive, and Alice was once reported to have lamented about how she was abandoned after the win.
1964: Edna Park
The eighth edition of Miss Nigeria beauty pageant saw Edna Park – who is of Itsekiri ethnicity – going home with the top prize in 1964. If ‘black is beautiful’, then Edna must have been that beauty; it’s no wonder she got the moniker, “Ebony Beauty”. Edna was a pace-setter of some sort, as she was the first Black African to participate in the Miss Universe contest. The experience at the event was, however, harrowing as she fainted upon not being announced among the top 15 contestants.

Not to be deterred by that, and being someone that has a thing for beauty and fashion, she moved on to pick up a career in the field. One of her notable enterprise was Sherina Hair Care, a prominent beauty hair shop in England at that time. She would later change career to become a professional social caregiver in the United Kingdom.
1968: Foluke Abosede Ogundipe
Foluke Abosede Ntukidem nee Ogundipe graced the stage of Miss Nigeria as a 21-year damsel with the aspiration to pick up the coveted crown like every other contestant. This desire was fulfilled as the judges saw no one else befitting of the crown within the space Foluke’s beauty had already charmed. She represented the Western Region, and later went on to represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageantry.

Beyond her beauty, Foluke has a profoundly generous heart as she was accommodating to children – the less privileged, in particularly. She ended adopting some of these children from different regions of the country. Foluke was reported to have died peacefully in her sleep on the December 19, 2022 at the age of 75 years old.
1977: Toyin Monney
Toyin Monney entered Miss Nigeria pageant in 1977 representing Lagos, and came out tops at the end of the rounds. Certain controversies, however, arose a couple of months after this enthronement. She was found to have been involved in age falsification while registering for the competition. Secondly, the veil over her secret child was also uncovered thereafter.

These events following the proclamation of her win marred her reputation, and consequently beclouded the beauty of this queen. It created an aura of infamy about Toyin in the eye of the public, culminating in her being deprived of the privilege to represent Nigeria at the Miss World pageantry.
1978: Irene Omagbemi

Irene Omagbemi made entry into the 1978 beauty contest representing Lagos, and was subsequently crowned “Miss Nigeria”. She was 20 years old as at the time of contesting, and went on to flag Nigeria’s flag at the Miss World pageant in the same year. Much has not been heard about Irene after her pageantry exploits as she slipped out of public eye.
1979: Helen Prest
A few beauty queens have remained prominent in beauty and other facets of life through time. One of such is Helen Prest-Ajayi who won the Miss Nigeria crown in 1979. Born 17th of September, 1959, the then Obafemi Awolowo University law undergraduate entered the competition as a 19-year old, and dazzled all comers with her splendor. Nigeria’s participation at Miss World was sustained by Helen Prest in 1979.

After being crowned “Miss Nigeria”, Helen moved to England to continue her at King’s College London acquiring her LLM therewith. She practiced as a lawyer and still an active columnist and writer. “The Complete English Guide” is one of her notable contributions to advance the study of (English) Grammar. Helen Prest-Ajayi also runs a media business company.
1980: Syster Jack

Syster Jack made it into Miss Nigeria pageant show as a representative of Rivers State, and she did make her State proud by taking the crown home. There was, however, no Miss World representation for Nigeria at the 30th edition in 1980 as Syster Jack did not participate. Like some others before her, Syster Jack seemed to have keep things on the low, choosing a rather quiet life as the ecstasy that greeted her coronation waned.
1981: Tokunbo Onanuga

Representing Lagos, Tokunbo Onanuga’s beauty melted hearts at the 17th edition of Miss Nigeria pageantry. As such, she went, saw, and conquered but then…
She drew some controversies and criticisms as the news about her involvement in result falsification broke through. It was reported that she had forged her WAEC result – an act later categorized as fraud in 2011 by WAEC. Her Miss Nigeria crown was not the only prized asset she lost, as the institution she intended to obtain a degree expelled her. The turn of events meant Nigeria did not take part in Miss World beauty contest for the third year running.
1982/3: Rita Baralaye Martins

Rita Baralaye Martins was a stunning beauty to behold. The virtues she possessed made it nearly impossible to deny her of Miss Nigeria crown in 1982, and the judges’ verdict was a testament to this. She left the stage of the event gracefully wearing the crown – as it fitted perfectly. Rita, however, stepped down from the throne before the coronation of the next Miss Nigeria in 1984. This might not have been unconnected to the fact that became an expectant mother within the time.
1984: Cynthia Oronsaye

The 1983 edition of the beauty pageant saw young Cynthia Oronsaye, who represented Bendel State, emerge victorious. She ascended the throne, taking over from where Rita Baralaye Martins left off. She was crowned by Dr. Simi Olayemi Onibuwe Johnson, the then Minister of Social Development and Culture. Cynthia went on to participate in the Miss World contest in 1984.
1985: Rosemary Nkendilim Okeke
Taking part in beauty contests was nothing but fun to Rosemary Nkendilim Okeke until she won a zonal pageant in Warri – then she started taking it more seriously. She recounted how a certain Ben Olaiya played a pivotal role in evolvement to becoming a famed beauty queen. But that aside, Rosemary’s charm is never to be denied. This coupled with her determination would have played a significant part in her ascendance to the throne as Miss Nigeria in 1984.

She was born in (old) Bendel State and represented Imo State at the competition. Rosemary had to learn how to play the piano and treated the audience to Nigeria’s national anthem on the instrument – since talent display was one of the metrics used in scoring participants. She later ventured into fashion designing, and was once a Liaison Officer under the Imo State Government.
1986: Rita Anuku
Rita Anuku hailed from Ika in Delta State, and also represented Bendel State at the Miss Nigeria pageant in 1985/6. Her beauty was fair to behold and got the crown to put a seal on that claim. Rita entered into the contest as an 18-year old, fresh out of secondary school.

Just for the mention, Rita Anuku was the younger sister of popular Nollywood star, Hanks Anuku. Unfortunately, she passed away at age of 47 years old in 2015 as she succumbed to cancer after a battle of 2 years.
1987: Stella Okoye
A dark-skinned beauty in Stella Okoye took the walk down history lane when she was announced as Miss Nigeria in 1987. She represented Imo State at the competition. Her coronation was, however, seemed not to go down with some people who felt she was too dark to be adjudged winner. The rowdiness that ensued was said to have caused the organizers to engage security guards to escort to safety.

One may not be wrong to conclude that Stella’s emergence as Miss Nigeria ultimately change or redefine the perception of people about beauty. This is particularly considerable in the face of the outcome of subsequent pageantries.
1990: Binta Sukai
Binta Sukai participated in the Miss Nigeria contest in 1990 on the back of representing Kaduna State, and ended up becoming the first Northerner to claim the crown. Her delicate eyes and charming appearance must have kept gazes fixed on her from all corners at the event.

But some might have had other musings going through their minds as they felt Binta’s skin read ‘non-Nigerian'. There was indeed clamoring in this respect, and it was later declared that she was one-quarters Scottish – through her maternal grandparents. Binta Sukai proceeded to the Paris Academy of Fashion to study Fashion History and Marketing, and currently runs her fashion outfit in Europe. She is also a fashion consultant, and often make appearances as a judge at a number of fashion shows.
1993: Olukemi Janet Fateye
Olukemi Janet Fateye (now Janet Gabriel) became the 27th Miss Nigeria when she was declared winner in 1993. She represented Lagos State at the beauty show. Janet did not only come across as beauty queen with some good charm, she also reflected some degree of intelligence.

The pageantry might have brought Janet to the limelight, but there was definitely more to her than that. The London-born queen had already started singing and writing songs since the tender age of 12, and was reported to make music in genres such as RnB, Soul, Pop, and Funk. She is a graduate of Pharmacy from the University of Ibadan, but now serves as an IT consultant.
1994: Clara Nosakhare Ojo
Lagos-born Clara Nosakhare Ojo entered the competition as a young beauty representing Edo State and came out on high as Miss Nigeria in 1994. She is the second longest-reigning Miss Nigeria – after Ene Maya Lawani – as the next edition of the pageant did not take place until 1998.

Moving on from the pageantry thrill, Clara now runs a beauty and health consultancy firm in Lagos. Now, simply known as Clara Kolawole, she is also a pastor in the Mountain of Fire and Miracles. She is noted to have published the book titled “The Incorruptible Crown”.
2000: Vien Oritsbemigho Tetsola (Millennium Queen)
The crown was Vien Tetsola’s to take home in 2000 – a feat that earned her the “Millennium Queen” designation since it was the turn of the millennial. She is yet another example of a queen that has got a good brain to match her beauty. She represented Delta at the pageant.

Having gone on some sort of hiatus for a while, Vien made a return to the limelight in 2021, as she announced the birthing of her pastoral ministry, Holy City Empire of God – Beulah Land Ministry. She now goes by the name Israel Shepherd.
2001(a): Ama Valerie Peterside
Beautiful? – Yes, and this cannot be denied as the judges had no other choice to have the crown on whose head it fits best – in Ama Valerie Peterside. Ama was, however, alleged found wanting on moral grounds after some time. This meant her reign as Miss Nigeria would short lived, with her being stripped of the crown – this explains why two winners emerged in the Year 2001.

It was claimed that Ama lied about her age and also forged her qualifications which she denied and even fought to keep her crown – but all to no avail. Ama, who had earlier won the Miss Abuja pageantry in 1997, represented Rivers State at the 2001 beauty show.
2001(b): Amina Ekpo

With Ama Valerie Ekpo being dethroned, the honor to wear the Miss Nigeria fell to Amina Ekpo, the first runner-up at the 2001 pageantry. The Akwa Ibom native, who was 23 years old then, had entered the competition as an undergraduate studying Applied Chemistry. She currently a data analyst, and she also runs an NGO known as ‘Touching Tender Hearts’.
2002: Sylvia Ansa Edem
Going into the Miss Nigeria contest, Sylvia Edem (now Sylvia Emechete) was well-armed with all the attributes a beauty queen ought to possess. The Obafemi Awolowo graduate did take up the crown and owned with a befitting poise. She is one of the Miss Nigeria pageant winners that have managed to stay in the limelight since her win – thanks to better publicity, you may say.

Well, Sylvia took acting roles in Nollywood, featured in a couple of movies even to the point of being nominated for an array of award categories. It remains to see if she will get back to Nollywood anytime soon as she is now a businesswoman and largely based in the UK. She got married to UK-based multimillionaire businessman in 2006, and the marriage is blessed with two children.
2003: Nwando Okwuosa
Nwando Okwuosa went into the Miss Nigeria pageantry as Miss Anambra, and in the end, left with the prestigious crown. The crown further opened a vista for her on the international stage as she represented the country at the Miss International Beauty Pageantry. She happened to be the last Nigerian beauty queen to fly the country’s flag at that competition.

Nwando proceeded to obtain her LLB and LLM degrees in Law from Sheffield University in the University. She was reported to have joined the British Army at some point. Much has not been heard about her as she seems to love keeping a rather low profile.
2004: Ene Maya Lawani
Benue native, Ene Maya Lawani’s radiant beauty was not to be denied the prize – the Miss Nigeria crown – that complements it as she graced the big stage. She became the 35th beauty queen to wear the crown, and she was 19 years old as at then. It is on record that Ene was the longest-reigning Miss Nigeria as she maintained the title for about 6 years since the pageantry did not hold until 2010.

Ene has since gone into fashion, with some lovely collection – the Femme de Luxe collection being one of them – to show for it. She is predominantly into the art of hat-making as a milliner and is the CEO of Enemaya Clothing. Ene was quite active on Instagram around the 2010s but she now leads a quiet life – away from public eye.
2010: Oluwadamilola Agbajor
Tall, elegant, intelligent, beautiful lady, Oluwadamilola Agbajor (now Oluwadamilola Adu) graced the Miss Nigeria pageant stage and grace and conquered. Representing Delta State, the University of Lagos Mass Communication graduate became the new Miss Nigeria after a long break in 2010. She was 19 years old when she competed and won. With the enthronement, she earned the privilege to own the designate, ‘Queen Ambassador’.

Oluwadamilola Agbajor now works as a Brand and Marketing Communication expert. She got married to her heartthrob – who happens to share the same first name as hers – Oluwadamilola Adu in 2017.
2013: Ezinne Akudo Anyaoha
Ezinne Akudo Anyaoha strode through, with grace, to mount the throne having represented Imo at the Miss Nigeria contest. She was [and still is] all shades of beauty – and she is brainy too. She was born in Imo State on the 17th of May, 1990.

Ezinne has been quite active as she is determined to significantly impart the world around her. On the heels of claiming the crown, she set out to establish an NGO called the Eight Foundation, with the aim of delivering psycho-social counselling and legal aid to survivors/victims of sexual violence. It may interest you to know that Ezinne is a Law graduate from Abia State University. She also obtained an MBA from the University of Strathclyde in the United Kingdom. Back in 2018, Ezinne Akudo Anyaoha was made the Creative Director of the Miss Nigeria pageant show.
2015: Pamela Lessi Peter-Vigboro
When Miss Nigeria pageantry came to a close in 2015, the name on every lip was Pamela Lessi Peter-Vigboro. At 22 years old, the lively and pretty-faced model with beaming smiles evidently lighted up the venue with her beauty, and the rest is history. A native of Ogoni – the first Miss Nigeria from Ogoni land, by the way – she represented Rivers State at the competition.

She is a graduate of Computer Science from the University of Port Harcourt, and currently works as a professional photographer and goes by the brand name, Monseeka. Being someone that enjoys writing, she is looking to publish some books of her own in the future. He holds a chieftaincy title – the “Gberebia Eedee Tuaka of Bodo city” – in her hometown.
2016: Chioma Stephanie Obiadi
Chioma Stephanie Obiadi emerged as the 40th Miss Nigeria having beating 36 other beauty queens to the crown in the event held at the Eko Hotel Convention & Suites in Lagos. She was 21 years old at the time. chioma was the representative of Anambra State at the competition.

The Nnamdi Azikwe University Geography and Meteorology graduate has gone on to execute some notable projects. One of such is the Green Girl Project, which would be of great interest to advancing the fight against global warming. The motive of the Project is to convert biological wastes to electricity, and it is majorly focused on women and the environment.
2017: Mildred Peace Ehiguese
Mildred Peace Ehiguese represented Adamawa at the 2017 Miss Nigeria pageantry, and left with a higher stake. Gorgeously looking with beaming smiles, Mildred ascended the throne to rapturous applause of all comers. Mildred is currently a counsellor, author and coach.

She is a graduate of Redeemers University where she obtained a BSc. degree in Psychology. Mildred has been actively involved in various humanitarian functions after her emergence as Miss Nigeria. She has championed the Green Girl Project initiated by erstwhile Miss Nigeria, Chioma Stephanie Obiadi, and others like WAR (Walk against Rape) and Campaigns Safe Schools.
2018: Chidinma Leilani Aaron
Born in Kaduna State on the 16th April, 1993, Chidinma Leilani Aaron registered and represented Enugu State at the Miss Nigeria pageantry in 2018. She did herself and her state proud by claiming the coveted crown after beating 17 others to it at the finale. She holds a BSc. degree in Business Administration – this was obtained from Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Chidinma is a ‘queen of many colours’ and this goes beyond beauty – she is highly industrious. Before entering into contest, she had worked as a chef and customer service representative in the hospitality sector in Abuja. She is an entrepreneur, and also works as a business development manager.
2019: Beauty Etsanyi Tukura
Beauty Etsanyi Tukura entered into the 2019 and 43rd edition of the Miss Nigeria pageant to represent Taraba. The beauty queen, whose charm appeals a great deal, was born to the family of Mr. & Mrs. Haruna Tukura in Port Harcourt on the 21st of October, 1997. She is the youngest of four children.

Beauty seemed fated to become a beauty queen as she was reported to have communicated her desire to win Miss Nigeria someday when she was 3 years old. She won her first pageant crown while in elementary school and went on to claim the crown for the “Most Beautiful Girl in Taraba”. So, one would not be wrong to say that she was all prepared to go the length at the Miss Nigeria pageantry when she competed in 2019.
Popular music star, Anita Osikweme Osikhena (Aniitablonde) was among the contestants, but Beauty – who being true to her name – had others on the backfoot. Anita was the first runner-up, by the way. Away from the win, Beauty has not been a stranger to the Nigerian entertainment scene as she participated in the Big Brother Naija show in 2022. Her stay there was, however, short-lived as she was evicted for breaking house rules.
Beauty is an LLB holder, and she got the degree from Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Beauty Etsanyi Tukura is currently an entrepreneur, and runs an online fashion/beauty business, StylishBeauty.
2021: Shatu Sani Garko
True beauty cannot be hidden, as it is always in the face of the beholder. Those who were at the 44th edition of the Miss Nigeria pageant – and even others – can attest to that as Shatu Sani Garko wore the crown. She is now known as the “hijab-wearing beauty queen” for her religious, but yet exquisite dressing style. With the win, she became the first Muslim and hijab-wearing model to win the prestigious prize.

Delicate eyes, unblemished appearance and striking visage are some of the strong attributes Shatu possess, and they seem to have done her justice with the crown in the bag – or on her head as maybe fitting. Plus, she is also quite eloquent and bold. She continues to hold the title until the next edition of the pageant that may likely take place in December 2023.
Shatu was born on the 23rd of November, 2003 in the city of Kano. She had completed her high school education and was billed to proceed to the University before emerging as Miss Nigeria.
Drawing the curtain…
Nigeria is a land of beautiful, bold and intelligent women. From the first winner (Grace Atinuke Oyelude) in 1957 to the latest in Shatu Sani Garko, the flow of beauty has been uninterrupted. This article is only a reflection of the many beauties springing forth from a land flowing with milk and honey. The fact that some of these beauty queens having great impacts on the society at large is yet highly commendable. Consider the sustainability cause being facilitated through the Green Girl Project, and the voices that have been lent to the fights against vices such as rape, sexual/domestic violence, and so on. The Miss Nigeria pageant franchise has proved to go beyond good looks reflected on the face alone, as the beauty on the inside – in the hearts – the queens has also been experienced. The organizer, Daily Times, indeed deserves some accolades for holding forth these 65 years.

“200 people maimed; houses burnt; families displaced”…this very line is not a scene that we are not conversant with in a nation where bloodletting has reached a climax. The major actors are of course either Fulani herdsmen or Boko Haram – and how shall we leave out the federal government and security agencies whose primary objective is to protect innocent and defenseless citizens that are victimized by these attacks?

The continual butcheries that have plagued the northern parts of the nation are nothing less than a national disaster as well as a disgrace to the agencies that have grossly failed in their responsibilities to put a stop to these killings. It is even disturbing to hear the presidential media aide, Femi Adesina compare the number of deaths from such killings [under the current administration] to the figure recorded under the previous government with some sense of pomp. When has the lives of men, women and children become a factor for gaining political advantage?

Cold reaction
There is no doubting the fact that hatred resides in the heart of the evil Fulani herdsmen who delight in dealing devastating blows to fellow human beings [like what we had in Plateau]; what is however more worrisome is the cold reaction that is being exhibited by the government of the Federation. The truth is that Nigerians are looking to the government to take more proactive security measures to smother the situation; more is needed than just lame promises that have not resulted into any real good overtime. The President, Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying: “We will not rest until all murderers and criminal elements and their sponsors are incapacitated and brought to justice” but if I may ask: “what has become of the leaders of the Miyetti Allah group that have, time and again, shown their terrorizing instincts? If an operation ‘Python dance’ or ‘Crocodile tears’ had been swiftly set up to quell crises in the south, why has there not been something similar in the north? Could it be that the resources coming out from the south are more valuable than the human lives being wasted in the north?

Arguments have ensued over the motive behind these violence – some persons believe they are some sort of religious or ethnic cleansing – but from a neutral view, one cannot blame the government for its incompetence in finding a lasting solution to this issue; this has been the reason why the ‘sons of hell’ keep tormenting the land.
It is apparent that there are loopholes in the security structure that is in place and it is quite pathetic that the Presidency has allowed the same set of service chiefs that have not been able to work out plans to prevent these carnages to continue in their respective offices. And can one disregard the near ‘northernization’ of the nation’s security architecture at this point? There is a high tendency that the imbalance observable in the security setup serves as a catalyst for the lethargic response from security agencies.

On the other hand, the government’s unwillingness to tackle this issue assertively has made some persons to raise alarm over the perceived complicit role the federal government might be playing in letting these killings fester. This kind of insinuation may continue except the federal government come up with something more convincing and effective to arrest the recurring spate of violence, and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Accidents are definitely not exclusive to Nigeria but something we get to see from time to time, are the incidences whereby little life-saving details are frequently ignored. About a week ago, a truck carrying planks fell off the bridge at Ojuelegba and just a couple of days back, a horrific inferno involving a petrol tanker and several other vehicles claiming many lives occurred the Ojodu-Berger axis. These are just a few among numerous mishaps that happen on Nigerian roads.
If one decides to take a stock of the number of accidents that have occurred in June alone, there is a high probability that the list will not come up short in any way. However, the objective of writing this piece is to minute on the lurking dangers that abound on our roads. When you take a look at the road and the ensuing traffic, it is rare not to see one or more telling sign(s) that point to imminent danger. From the recklessness of commercial bus drivers down to the error of judgment that could be exhibited by other road users and the flouting of traffic laws – not to even mention the existence of ‘road-unworthy’ vehicles plying the road, you will probably identify one thing or another pointing to disaster. And it is quite unfortunate that law enforcement agencies do not seem to have cue on how map out strategies that would help to bring a far-reaching solution to the issue.
Though I am not oblivious of the fact that some persons might have attributable the two terrifying occurrences I cited earlier to fate but the truth remains that those accidents could have been prevented had the law been enforced in the first instance – and on a consistent basis. Putting the petrol tanker into perspective; an eyewitness account has it that the driver of tanker was trying to avoid an on-rushing commercial bus that had previously parked [and dropped off a passenger] at an unaccredited bus-stop before the tanker hit a barrier and spilled its content (petrol) which eventually caused the blast. The exercise of drivers parking illegally to pick up or drop off is now commonplace on our roads today. Those (drivers) that are caught are, most of the times, left to get off the hook after the hand of the traffic regulatory official have received some ‘manna of doom’ – this, in itself, is a catalyst for disaster.
The truck that fell off Ojuelegba Bridge must have been due to overloading but it is really perplexing that the vehicle was not stopped from discontinuing the journey at any point in time. And what about the prevalence of having trucks with loose containers running up the road without being apprehended? – There is so much mess on the road that has got to be cleared, and it is important that those in the appropriate quarters squarely stand up to their responsibilities to ensure the safety of lives on the road.
What has become of the regulation regarding heavy-duty vehicles moving at night or the directive for them to stay off the bridge? How well has been enforced? Your guess is as good as mine – these (regulations) have been colossally ineffective thus far since those saddled with the responsibility do not appear to be up to the task.

I have always felt that Group D of the 2018 World Cup is more of a tricky group than a tough one. But I, like most soccer pundits, would not have imagined that going into Match Day 3, Croatia will be in pole position in a group that two-time world cup winners, Argentina with one of the best players that ever played the game. The reality is however before us all and that (reality) sees Argentina struggling with Nigeria and Iceland for the remaining second-round qualifying slot that is up for grabs.

It is now a 3-horse race with just one prize at stake – a second round berth. Croatia, having shown more grit in their opening two games, deservedly leads the pack with a second round progress already in the bag. Iceland did show some promises in their first match against Argentina but were brought back to earth in the second game against Nigeria, and Argentina’s performance at this year’s FIFA football showpiece has been rather shambolic. After the tame outing that saw them lost by two unreplied goals to Croatia, the Super Eagles got themselves a lifeline by defeating Iceland thus setting the tone for intriguing [and nervy] final round encounters in the group stage.

Where this has left Nigeria, although with great optimism yet, is that point everyone get to do some math. So, flowing along that line in this article, we shall be looking at the different possibilities facing the Super Eagles as we strive to qualify for the next round.

While a loss to Argentina will outrightly bring an end to Nigeria’s participation in the tournament – this is certainly not something most soccer loving Nigerians will like to imagine – let’s see what could happen in the event of the outcomes:

Nigeria Wins
A win for Nigeria will ultimately see the team progressing to face either France or Denmark in the next round. But this feat will surely not come easy against an Argentine side that got its back against the wall. Every Nigerian football fan will however fancy his/her darling team going through, and it is only a matter of time before we see if the Super Eagles can draw some inspiration from their friendly match victory back in the June last year.

Nigeria Plays Out a Draw
Now, this is where the math really begins. A draw with Argentina would, to an extent, mean we would have to rely on the result elsewhere (that is, the match involving Iceland and Croatia). Playing out a goalless draw with Argentina – just to remind you; there has no game that ended scoreless in Russia 2018 – while Iceland loses to Croatia will still ensure Nigeria’s progress to the next round. On the other hand, a goalless result for Nigeria with Iceland beating Croatia by 2 or more goals will see the Super Eagles ousting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

There is definitely everything to play for, and as it stands, the Super Eagles’ destiny is n their own hand as Argentina has not looked any bit invincible thus far. Nonetheless, it is only the team that is able to take the initiative going forward that will carry the day and have the opportunity to compete for the higher stake in the days ahead as the tournament progresses.

So, will Musa, Mikel, Moses and the rest be able to compound the woes of Messi and Co.? This is surely a question only time would get to tell.

The performance/result thus far
Actions are currently ongoing across different centers in the Gold Coast city of Australia as the Commonwealth Games enter Day 7, and at this point in time, we will like to see how well the Nigerian contingent has performed thus far. The journey has been one of mixed fortunes as we have seen some disappointing runs as well as moments of glory with the team – Team Nigeria – presently occupying the 10th position on the medal table after amassing 4 gold medals and 4 silver medals.

The powerlifting event has been the most fertile ground for Nigeria as the country’s athletes have been able to claim a total of 6 medals- four gold medals and two silver medals from there. On the other hand, the D’Tigers are out of contention for a place on the podium as they have lost all their group matches thus crashing out of the basketball competition. And in the boxing event, the country’s hope of winning medals lies on the shoulders of the duo of Milicent Agboegbulem and Yetunde Odunuga as all the other boxers- 4 male boxers and 2 female boxers- have been eliminated. Milicent and Yetunde are already guaranteed a bronze medal in their respective category- 75kg and 60kg- even as they contest the semifinal bout. Milicent’s next fight is against home girl, Caitlin Parker while Yetunde slugs it out with England’s Paige Murney for a spot in the final. Athletics- particularly the track events- have not been so fruitful as our athletes keep missing out of the top three positions.

The low points recorded in those other sports cannot however take the shine off a couple of athletes who have thus far helped the nation to a ‘respectable position’ on the medal table. So, let’s take some moment to know [and celebrate] those who have ‘inked’ their names [as well as that of Nigeria] on the plaque of honour.

The Gold Medalists
Roland Ezuruike
Roland Ezuruike became the first Nigerian athlete to win a gold medal in this year’s edition of the games as he lifted 224.3kg in the men’s lightweight category of the powerlifting event. It is worth noting that this win ensured that he went a step better than what he achieved at Glasgow 2014.

Abdulazeez Ibrahim
In the men’s heavyweight division, Abdulazeez Ibrahim’s lift of 191kg was good enough to beat off Malaysia’s Yee Khie Jong’s 188kg and India’s Sachin Chaudhary’s 181kg returns.

Esther Oyema
On her way to standing shoulders above the rest [on the podium], impressive Esther Oyema was able to shatter the world record thus setting a new record of 141.6kg in the women’s lightweight category of the powerlifting event.

Ndidi Nwosu
Nigeria’s dominance in powerlifting was there for all to see as Ndidi Nwosu attained a lift of 110.4kg to claim the gold medal in the women’s heavyweight division.

The Silver Medalists
Paul Kehinde
Seasoned powerlifter, Paul Kehinde was unable to defend the title he won in Glasgow as he lost out to his compatriot, Roland Ezuruike- thus having to settle for a silver medal. He was able to achieve this with a lift of 219.9kg.

Lucy Ejike
Veteran powerlifter, Lucy Ejike could only make with a silver medal as her return of 134.1kg was not sufficient to upstage Esther Oyema’s record-smashing lift in the women’s lightweight category.

Chukwuebuka Enekwechi
In the shot put event, Chukwuebuka Enekwechi’s narrowly miss out of a gold medal finish as his throw of 21.14m came some distance short of New Zealand’s Tom Walsh’s throw of 21.41m. The throw was however enough to fetch him a silver medal.

Nigeria’s table tennis team
Nigeria got another silver medal in the men’s team table tennis event as the trio of Bode Abiodun, Segun Toriola and Olajide Omolade were defeated by the Indian team in the final.

One of the most delicate organs in the human body is the lung. An injury or disorder on the lungs can put one in great discomfort and even present a life-threatening condition in some instances. Being a critical part of the respiratory system, the lungs are responsible for the transport of oxygen to the bloodstream and also aid in getting carbon dioxide out of the body but infection or accumulation of particles within the cavity can affect the functioning. Owing to this, there is a need to pay heed to their well-being and also take care of them by carrying out (lungs) cleansing activities from time to time.

It is often erroneous concluded that smokers are the ones that ought to adherently undertake lungs cleansing exercises. However, by the reason of the particulate matter and/or harmful substances we get to inhale [from the atmosphere] on daily basis, it is expedient that everyone take the cleaning of the lungs to heart. So, let’s see some effective ways through which you can clean your lungs.

Aromatherapeutic treatment
Essential oils gotten from peppermint, eucalyptus and castor plants have tremendous expectorant capabilities. Peppermint oil which contains menthol and a good number of antioxidant can be directly applied on the chest or dropped into hot water in order to inhale the steam. Again, you can bathe with hot water that has been infused with eucalyptus oil- this helps to soothen the airways and keeps the lungs in healthy condition.

Consume gingery diet/drink
A rhizome of ginger contains two major active ingredients- gingerols and shogaols- which are highly effective in clearing up toxins from the human system. As a result, the intake of ginger tea or meals spiced with ginger can go along way in ridding the lungs of toxins and mucus. You can also eat the ginger raw.

Go herbal
Herbs like licorice, lobelia and oregano have been found to be very potent in treating respiratory disorders and maintaining a healthy pair of lungs. To clean the lungs; oregano can be added to your meal or make [and drink] a mixture of oregano oil in a cup of warm water. Licorice, on the other hand, can be mixed with honey- say 1 teaspoon of licorice powder in about half teaspoon of honey- and then take twice or thrice daily.

Lemon in warm water
Another effective way of cleaning the lungs is by drinking a preparation of lemon juice in warm water. Lemon is especially good for taking care of a number of respiratory disorders, and this is because it is a rich source of vitamin C. You can take a glass of the mixture [lemon juice + warm water] before eating in the morning. However, you may need to consider the other options [of lungs cleansing] if you have been experiencing ulcerative pains in the stomach.

Breathing exercise
Talk about saving the best for the last- for me; this is best lung cleansing activity I like to engage in. The breathing exercise is about taking deep breath and it is summarized as follow:
• Firstly, lie- face up- on the ground probably with a yoga mat already on the floor;
• Then place your palm(s) on the abdominal region, right at the bottom end of your rib cage;
• Now, start by slowly drawing in (inhaling) air counting from one to five;
• Hold your breath for about 2 – 3 seconds;
• Thereafter, slowly let out (exhale) the air counting from five to one.
The process can be repeated for as much times as you wish- provided you’ve got the time anyway. Aside aiding in the expulsion of toxins from the lungs, this (breathing) exercise also helps to increase lungs capacity thereby making you breathe more efficiently. And one more thing; the exercise is quite helpful in voice training.

Achieving a far-reaching result [in lungs cleansing] requires much more than just engaging in any of the aforementioned activities. The following tips are yet valuable:
• Clean up your environment regularly; ensuring that the area is free from dust to the barest minimum.
• Avoid regular/excessive intake of processed foods and dairy products.
• Quit smoking [if you’re one of those who indulge in the act], and try to stay away from smokes as much as you can.
• Eat vegetables/fruits that have rich supply of antioxidants. Examples of such include strawberry, oranges, spinach, cabbage, carrot, broccoli, etc.

My appetence has been spiked ever since I read about the calls [made by several prominent individuals and groups] for us to go back to the 1963 Constitution. To satisfy this appetence, I sought to know more [about this very constitution] hence the need to do some research, and some of my findings, I shall be sharing in this article.
But before I delve into the subject matter, it will not be out of context to briefly look at what a constitution really is. According to Aristotle, a constitution maybe defined as “an organization of offices in a state, by which the method of their distribution is fixed, the sovereign authority is determined, and the nature of the end to be pursued by the association and all its members is prescribed”. It then surmises that a constitution provides foundation and/or structure upon which the administration of a state ought to be set.
Now to the subject at hand; the running of the Nigerian state has been affected by many incidents, and among these, is the interference of the military at different points in time. This interference has caused a disruption in the democratic process, and as we have observed, it has also brought about some other alterations that has further driven us away from the founding constitution of the Nigerian republic. It is important to state here that the 1963 Constitution is the first constitution that really puts the Nigerian state- or nation states as one may find fitting- and its sovereignty into consideration as it, to an extent, reflects what the (Nigerian) republic was all about. Moreover, the constitution was put together by the Nigerian parliament thus ascertaining Nigeria broke away from the overarching influence of the British monarchical system.

What does it entail?
Time and space will not permit me to list out the entire provisions of the 1963 Constitution but I will like to look at a few highpoints.

Parliamentary system of government
The 1963 Constitution was prepared with a parliament system of government in view. Under this setting, the President was elected through voting by a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives. In the Nigerian setting as at that time, the Senate consisted of 12 senators from each of the four regions along with those selected to represent the Federal territory (4) and the President (4)- making it a total of 56 senators- while the House of Representatives had 312 members.

Regional independence
Back then in 1963 [down to 1966], Nigeria was segregated into regions- Northern region, Eastern region, Western region and Mid-Western region. These regions enjoyed a commensurate degree of independence. Each of them had its own constitution, judiciary system and electoral commission as well as some other paraphernalia that set them apart.

Allocation by derivation
Under the provisions of the 1963 Constitution, revenue allocation was by derivation wherewith a region was entitled to a certain percentage of the funds generated from the exploration carried out within its border. On the flipside, each region was to contribute a quota [to the central government] in order to take care of the cost of administration of the Nigerian republic.

You can check out the full details of the 1963 Constitution here

The 1963 Constitution may have its flaws, and could even be viewed as being redundant when one considers the context of governance within the nation today. However, for the fact that every other constitution - 1979, 1993 and 1999 - that has been adopted in the nation only came about after the incursion of the military into the administrative setup, it becomes logical that we retrace our step back to the constitution that was in place in the year we became a republic- the pre-militarized era of leadership. The 1963 Constitution ought to be the baseline for any constitutional review that is to be accomplished. From another perspective; some persons are of the opinion that adopting the constitution could go a long way in helping us fight corruption, curb the emergence of authoritarian leadership [in democratic setting] and yet positively impact the nation’s economic standing.

The Commonwealth games may not raise so much buzz as the Olympics games but there is no denying the fact that there will be no shortage of actions as 6600 athletes compete in the 21st edition of the (Commonwealth) games in the Gold Coast city of Australia- just for the mention, a couple of events will be held in some other Australian cities like Brisbane, Belmont, Cairns and Townsville.

Nigeria will be participating in the competition for the fourteenth time, and with the games beginning on the 4th of April, 2018, we have deemed it fit to look at the different events that Nigerian athletes will be taking part in. By the way; of the 18 sports that will be contested at the 2018 Commonwealth games, Nigeria will play a part in 8 different sorts and will be represented by 90 different athletes [competing across various sporting events].

Athletics
Athletics has always been one of the surest avenue through which Nigeria has been raking in medals in previous editions, and considering the strong track and field contingent, the nation will be hoping that the rain of medals [in athletics] keeps pouring down at this year’s games. Nigeria has athletes that will be competing in track events such as the 100m- and 200m- sprints, 400m, 4 X 100m- and 4 X 400m- relay races, 110m- and 400m- hurdles and 20km walk. In the field event, Nigeria will be participating in the hammer throw, javelin throw, long jump, triple jump and high. The country has a total of 39 athletes- 19 men and 20 women- in the track and field events.

Basketball
Basketball makes a return at the Commonwealth games and Nigeria [having qualified as one of the top-ranked Commonwealth nations in the FIBA ranking] will not be missing from the party. The D’Tigers have been drawn in the same group with Australia, Canada and New Zealand, and will play their first game [against New Zealand] on the 6th of April. The team list consists of Ikechukwu Diogu, Abdul Yahaya, Azuoma Dike, Eli Dung, God’sgift Achiuwa, Uchenna Iroegbu, Prince Orizu, Musa Usman, Abdulwahab Yakub, Olalekan Olatunji, Yakubu Istifanus and Uchechi Ofoegbu.

Boxing
Nigeria will be duly represented by 8 boxers in 7 different categories. The Nigerian boxing team includes:
Men: Sikiru Ojo (56kg), Adeola Soyoye (60kg), Osita Umeh (69kg) and Lukmon Lawal (81kg).
Women: Ayisat Oriyomi (51kg), Yetunde Odunuga (60kg), Itunu Oriola (69kg) and Milicent Aboegbulem (75kg).
The boxing event starts on the 5th of April.

Gymnastics
Nigeria will be participating in rhythmic gymnastics for the first time at the Commonwealth games. Representing the nation in the women’s event is Jade Faulkner who has been cleared in time [by the International Federation of Gymnastics] to don Nigeria’s color at the games- Jade represented Great Britain at the London 2012 Summer Olympics. Tayo Oke Fakiyesi will be competing in the men’s artistic gymnastic event.

Powerlifting
Nigerian athletes will yet compete in powerlifting with a total of 6 athletes- 3 men and 3 women. Esther Onyema and Ndidi Nwosu will contest in the women’s heavyweight category while Lucy Ejike vies for a place on the podium in the lightweight category. On the part of men; Paul Kehinde and Abdulazeez Ibrahim compete in the heavyweight classification while Roland Ezuruike defends the nation’s interest in the lightweight category.

Table Tennis
Nigeria’s presence will also be felt in the table tennis event as our athletes compete in the singles, doubles and para sport events. Leading the country’s charge for medals are veteran table tennis players like Segun Toriola, Quadri Aruna and Bode Abiodun. Others are Temitope ogunsanya, Olajide Omotayo, Azeez Jamiu and Faith Obazuaye.

Weightlifting
In weightlifting, Nigeria has representatives in the men’s 62kg and 85kg categories- Favour Agboro and Michael Ayalewechi in respective order- and women’s 48kg and 53kg events- Monica Uweh and Fatima Yakubu.

Wrestling
The wrestling contingent has the second largest number of athletes [for individual sporting events] that the country will be presenting at this year’s Commonwealth games. The team consists of 6 men and women that will be competing in various categories. The wrestlers are listed thus:
Women: Miesinnei Genesis (50kg), Bose Samuel (53kg), Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg), Aminat Adeniyi (62kg), Blessing Oborududu (68kg) and Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg).
Men: Ebikewenimo Welson (57kg), Amas Daniel (68kg), Assizecourt Ebimienfaghe (74kg), Melvin Bibo (86kg), Soso Tamarau (97kg) and Sinivie Boltic (125kg).

It is quite obvious that a word like servant-master has been long lost in Nigeria politics – maybe Nigerian politicians can take a cue from former Uruguayan president, José Mujica – as what we see are moneybags who get all the more enriched from the treasury of a nation that is struggling to survive. It’s not that the laborer is not worthy of wages though but eyebrows are raised when he/she [while holding a public office] starts receiving extraneous wages that are not specifically tailored for any distinctive purpose.

Not long after the story of some Canadian doctors who were protesting about their overly increased salaries flooded the internet did Nigeria get an inkling into the exact remuneration package of senators – thanks to Senator Shehu Sanni. Senator Sanni has probably drawn the ire of his colleagues who would have loved to maintain the confidentiality of their remuneration but Nigerians are glad to know and also have a man of such integrity in the house. Looking into the case of the Canadian doctors; the protest was not just about their salaries; they also made the move in order to ask for a review of the welfare packages of the nurses and the need to ease off patients from paying exorbitant bills in hospitals – talk about fighting for others in a world ruled by selfish interest. On the other side of the divide – a rather contrasting scenario – are the Nigerian senators who are receiving mega pay in a country where N 18,000 minimum wage is even hard to dole out, not to talk about the huge debts owed.

The money that has brought the contention [after Senator Shehu Sanni’s revelation] is the N 13.5 million pay received by every senator on monthly basis, and the money is paid into their accounts along with N 750,000 monthly salary and allowances which means it is certain that every senator in the house receives N 14.25 million every month. By setting aside the N 13.5 million as running cost, it does appear that the money is meant for the purpose of holding the office together but since there is no specification as to what the money is precisely meant for, there is bound to be a propensity for lavish spending. Now I wonder how many of these senators will be able to give credible account of the money [i.e. summation of the running cost] they have received thus far even with whatever receipt they might have had to tender.

Again, how about the N 200 million fund meant for the development of the respective constituency each of these senators represents? Are we really seeing any far reaching development around our state of residence? And before we get carried away in the fray, it is good to remind ourselves that the national assembly does not necessarily have to be directly involved in the development of infrastructure within their constituency. According to the Nigerian constitution, the National Assembly is saddled with the responsibilities of passing bills, making laws, checking the conduct of government officials and institutions and overseeing the appointments of personnel into top executive [governmental] .

Brief Analysis
Back to the issue of the N 13.5 million; since every penny ought to count in Nigeria today, it will not be out of place to look into the [Nation’s purse] and see how much money is being gulped by our senators.

Basing the calculation solely of the 13.5 million; at the end of each term each senator would have taken home a cumulative amount of 648 million. This means over N 70 billion – N 70.632 billion naira to be precise – would have been allocated to the entire senate after four years. It is somewhat ‘unimaginable’ that a nation submerged in debt can afford to waste funds as such, and those that are benefiting from this, are the very ones that ought to be concerned about setting the nation on the plinth of greatness. Yes, the N 70.632 billion may be a ‘drop in the ocean ‘ when one considers Nigeria’s debt [which is now over N 20 trillion] but there is no doubting the fact that this amount can go a long way in reviving some of the industries that are now in fallen state.

Well, the senate’s remuneration package is all we know about at the moment, there are definitely other public offices that need to be brought under scrutiny. But then, now that we’ve known about the remuneration package of the senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; how do we bail the cat and stop our senators [as well as other top public office holders] from milking our beloved Nation dry?

Long gone are the days when having a good JAMB score- say 280+- and ‘C’ grade in each of your five core subjects gets you into your preferred institution to study the course [of your dream] that set the tone for a glorious career. It has gotten all the more competitive as the grade [provided it falls between A to C] now carry significant weight. So, now is not the time for those who have tied down an outstanding JAMB score to rest on their oars as they sit for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination- you have got to do your uttermost best to make sure you score high grades in your WASSCE.

Notwithstanding, let us take some time out to see the points allotted for each grade and how the aggregate score is being calculated. Before, I go on, permit me to state that there are two different variations on how the points are given- we have got for institutions conducting Post-UTME and the ones that are not conducting the examination.

For institutions conducting Post-UTME

A1 => 4 points
B2 => 3.6 points
B3 => 3.4 points
C4 => 2.8 points
C5 => 2.4 points
C6 => 2.2 points

For institutions that are not conducting Post-UTME

A1 => 10 points
B2 => 9 points
B3 => 8 points
C4 => 7 points
C5 => 6 points
C6 => 5 points

In both cases; your personal JAMB score will be divided by 8.

CASE STUDY

Assuming a certain candidate scored 280 in his UTME, and was able to amass 1 A1,
3 B2’s and 1 C4 in his five core subjects in WASSCE.

The aggregate score will be calculated thus:

For the first scenario (institution conducting Post-UTME)

A1: 1 x 4 = 4
B2: 3 x 3.6 = 10.8
C4: 1 x 2.8 = 2.8

Total points: 4 + 10.8 + 2.8 = 17.6

Now, we divide the UTME by 8
i.e 280 ÷ 8 = 35

So, the aggregate score will 
be 17.6 + 35 + Post-UTME score.

For the second scenario (institutions not conducting Post-UTME)

A1: 1 x 10 = 10
B2: 3 x 9 = 27
C4: 1 x 7 = 7
Total points: 10 + 27 + 7 = 44

Therefore, the aggregate that will be considered for the admission will be JAMB score plus the grade point accumulated (i.e 35 + 44 = 79).

See How to Check your Jamb Result - 2020

See How to Check your Jamb Result with Registration Code - 2020

JAMB’s change of course/institution form has since been made available online for prospective students who are having one issue or another with their initial registration process.

The option yet avails candidates [whose score fall below the requirement of their choice institutions] the opportunity to choose another institution or course that would give them a realistic chance of gaining admission into tertiary institution this year. So, it is advisable that you effect the changes as soon as possible if you are in any way affected.

Check out the cut-off marks for several Nigerian tertiary institutions now

By the way, before you go ahead with the process; it is important to let you know that you will need to make a payment of N2500 to get this done. This amount can be made through the payment portal on the site- this means your account has got to be funded beforehand plus you must also have your ATM card readily available. You can also pay through ATM, Quickteller or make deposit at the bank.

Now, here is how to go about the process:

• Logon to JAMB’s portal here

• Enter your e-mail address and password and click on the ‘login’ tab

• You will be redirected to the landing page where you will then select ‘correction of data’ option from the side bar

• Now click on the ‘course/institution’ menu item that shows up next. Take note of the transaction ID that is generated at this point. Though it will be sent to your e-mail box but you can still write it down in your diary or save it on your mobile device as you will have a need for it later.

• Tap the ‘continue’ tab if you wish to make payment with your card. However, in case you are paying via any of the other means mentioned earlier. You can then follow the process through from the ‘My Payment’ menu item. After confirming your payment, you can go ahead and click on the ‘continue’ button.

• With payment completed, you will be required to enter your ‘Year of Exam’ and your ‘JAMB registration number’.

• Now, make the change [of either course or institution]. Be minded that changes can only be done based on the available options.

• You can then submit your application and await the approval [of your application] from the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board.

On Tuesday night, the Super Eagles were brought back to earth [after the euphoria of their 1-0 triumph over Poland] as they were defeated 2-0 by the Serbian national team in a friendly match played at the Hive Stadium in London. The loss brings to an end a six-game winning streak, and makes it the second time- the first being the 2-0 loss suffered at the hands of the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the 2019 Nations Cup qualifying match played at the Uyo Township Stadium in June 2017- coach Gernot Rohr’s team will be losing a game since he took over the reins of the Nigerian national team.
That the game was a friendly did not stop Nigerian soccer fans from having high expectations as they hoped the Eagles will build on previous victories over Argentina and Poland. The defeat did give us a reality check, and I am sure the coaches will have learnt one or two things from the game with a view of churning out a commendable performance at the World Cup which starts in about two months’ time.
But then there are some observations that can be noted from the match from the fans’ angle, and five of these, I shall discuss henceforth.

The Super Eagles is far from being a finished product
It could be posited that the reason for organizing this match is to fine-tune our preparation, and as such, one need not get obsessed with winning at all cost- that’s the truth anyway. However, what should give one concern is the lack of cohesion among the Nigerian players. This has always been an issue though the winning streak seemed to have veiled our faces, making us have some false sense of security but it is good a thing that this loss is coming at a time like this- before the World Cup. The inability of the team to play as a cohesive unit really affected our game play and the Serbs, being a side with great technical awareness, did capitalize on that as they split apart the (Nigerian) team with precision.

Bench is not strong enough
It is often said that a team is as good as its bench. Injuries- which is definitely an unfortunate occurrence for any player or team- and/or the non-availability of certain star player(s) is a test of the team’s depth, and for any team that is aiming to go far in a competition [in the magnitude of the world], having a bench that is richly supplied with talented and/or versatile players is a great gain. The Nigerian team appears to suffer much without a leader in the persona of John Obi Mikel as the team’s pivot is undone. Furthermore, not having capable replacements for players such as the team’s captain and Leon Balogun is a huge minus to the Super Eagles. But then, is it really about having the players or a matter of team selection? This takes us to the next point.

Gernot Rohr needs to fit square pegs into square holes
Although it was a preparatory match, it has to be said that now is not the time to keep experimenting with players in positions they are not accustomed with. Gernot Rohr should have known what his players are capable of and use them as appropriate, and even map out a tactical approach that will optimize the potentials of the players at his disposal. For instance; John Ogu should have been given more playing time in a deep-lying role right from the start- or immediately after the restart- in place of Joel Obi who did not contribute much to the solidity of the team’s midfield. Again, many are of the opinion that Kenneth Omeruo could have formed a better partnership with William Troost-Ekong in the central defense.

Clamor for Enyeama’s recall continues
A sizeable fraction of fans are clamoring for veteran goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama to be called back into the national team fold as they do not think either Fancis Uzoho- who, I must say, has given a good account of himself thus far- or Ikechukwu Ezenwa has what it takes to man the goalpost when Eagles eventually kickoff their World Cup campaign. It is believed that Vincent Enyeama will not only offer an assured pair of hands at the back but also help the team’s morale.

Clinical attackers needed
Another area of concern is the ‘strike force’ of the Super Eagles. Though clear-cut chances were few and far between but had the attackers been more clinical in front of goal, Nigeria would have had a brighter prospect of winning the game- or at least register a goal on the couple of occasions they made foray into the Serbian defense. Odion Ighalo remains right about the only proven out-and-out striker, and he did not even come into the fray until the 46th time. Looking ahead, the coaching crew needs to start looking out for good strikers to complement Ighalo and deliver the goals in Russia.

It is hoped that the coach would have rung the necessary changes that will set the team on a pedestal of greatness before the next rounds of friendlies against the Democratic Republic of Congo, England and Czech Republic.

JAMB Cut-off marks for Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges

With the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) having released the results of most of the candidates who sat for the recently concluded Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), prospective undergraduates have now known if they had done enough- by way of scoring good marks- to get into the tertiary institution of their choice. Notwithstanding, some [who might have not measured up to the high demand of their first choice course of study or institution] will be on the lookout to see if there is just about any institution of higher learning that could take them in with the marks they have been able to garner. Whatever the case may be, we believe you will find the next piece of information [on the cut-off marks of various tertiary institutions plus the probable cut-off marks of private institutions] quite useful.
Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University: 180
Ahmadu Bello University: 180
Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa: 180
Federal University, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina: 180
Federal University, Gashua, Yobe: 180
Federal University, Kashere, Gombe: 180
Federal University, Lafia, Nasarawa: 180
Federal University, Lokoja, Kogi: 180
Federal University, Ndifu-Alike, Ebonyi: 180
Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa: 180
Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti: 180
Federal University, Wukari, Taraba: 180
Federal University, Birnin-Kebbi: 180
Federal University, Gusau, Zamfara: 180
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Ogun State: 200
Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State: 180
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun: 180
Federal University of Technology, Akure: 180
Federal University of Technology, Minna: 180
Federal University of Technology, Owerri: 180
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture: 180
Modibbo Adama University of Technology: 180
Nnamdi Azikiwe University: 180
Nigerian Police Academy, Wudil: 180
Nigerian Defense Academy, Kaduna: 180
Obafemi Awolowo University: 200
University of Abuja: 180
University of Benin: 200
University of Calabar: 180
University of Ibadan: 200

University of Ilorin: 180
University of Jos: 180
University of Lagos: 200
University of Maiduguri: 180
University of Nigeria, Nsukka: 200
University of Port-Harcourt: 180
University of Uyo: 180
Usmanu Danfodio University: 180
Abia State University: 180
Adamawa State University: 180
Adekunle Ajasin University, Ondo State: 180
Akwa Ibom State University of Technology: 180
Ambrose Alli University: 180
Anambra State University: 180
Bauchi State University: 180
Benue State University: 180
Cross River State University of Science & Technology: 180
Delta State University: 180
Edo University: 180
Ekiti State University: 180
Enugu State University of Science & Technology: 180
Ignatius Ajuru University of Education: 180
Imo State University: 180
Kaduna State University: 180
Kano State University of Science & Technology: 180
Kebbi State University: 180
Kogi State University: 180
Ladoke Akintola University of Technology: 180
Lagos State University: 190
Nasarawa State University: 180
Niger Delta University: 180
Northwest University, Kano State: 180
Olabisi Onabanjo University: 180
Ondo State University of Science & Technology: 180

Osun State University: 180
Plateau State University: 180
River State University of Science & Technology: 180
Sokoto State University: 180
Sule Lamido University: 180
Tai Solarin University of Education: 180
Taraba State University: 180
Yobe State University: 180
Achievers University: 120
Adeleke University: 120
Afe Babalola University: 180
Ajayi Crowther University: 160
Al-Hikmah University: 160
American University of Nigeria, Yola: 160
Arthur Jarvis University: 120
Augustine University: 160
Babcock University: 170
Baze University: 160
Bells University of Technology: 160
Bingham University: 170
Caleb University: 120
Caritas University: 120
Clifford University: 120
Coal City University:1 20
Covenant University: 180
Crown Hill University: 120
Edwin Clark University: 120
Evangel University: 120
Fountain University: 120
Hallmark University: 160
Hezekiah University: 120
Joseph Ayo Babalola University: 160
Kings University: 120
Kwararafa University: 160
Landmark University: 170
Lead City University: 150
Madonna University: 160
McPherson University: 120
Nile University of Nigeria, Abuja: 150
Novena University: 120
Obong University: 150
Oduduwa University: 180
Pan-Atlantic University: 180
Paul University: 160
Redeemer’s University: 170
Renaissance University: 120
Ritman University: 180
Salem University: 150
Samuel Adegboyega University: 120
Southwestern University: 120
Summit University: 120
Tansian University: 110
University of Mkar: 140
Veritas University: 180
Wellspring University: 120
Wesley University of Science & Technology: 120
Western Delta University: 120

Polytechnics and Colleges of Education
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Ebonyi State: 150
Auchi Polytechnic, Edo State: 150
College of Administrative and Business Studies, Potiskum, Yobe State: 150
Federal College of Land Resources Technology, Owerri, Imo State: 150
Federal College of Fisheries and Marine Technology, Victoria Island, Lagos State: 150
Federal College of Forestry, Jos, Plateau State: 150
Federal College of Forestry Mechanization, Afaka, Kaduna State: 150
Federal College of Forestry Technology, Ibadan, Oyo State: 150
Federal College of Horticulture, Gombe State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, Bauchi State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi, Kebbi State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Ekowe, Bayelsa State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Idah, Kogi State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Namoda, Zamfara State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Nasarawa State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State: 180
Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Oko, Anambra State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Taraba State: 150
Federal Polytechnic, Ukana, Akwa-Ibom State: 150
Federal School of Surveying, Oyo State: 150
Federal School of Dental Technology & Therapy: 150
Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic, Kazaure, Jigawa: 150
Kaduna Polytechnic: 150
Yaba College of Technology, Lagos State: 180
Abia State Polytechnic: 150
Abdul Gusau Polytechnic, Zamfara: 150
Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic: 150
Abubakar Tafari Ali Polytechnic, Bauchi State: 150
Adamawa State Polytechnic: 150
Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic: 150
Anambra State College of Health Technology: 150
College of Agriculture, Jalingo Taraba State: 150
College of Health Technology, Calabar: 150
Delta State Polytechnics: 150
Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade, Ogun State: 150
Gboko Polytechnic, Benue State: 150
Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, Katsina State: 150
Imo State Polytechnic: 150
Institute of Management Technology, Enugu state: 150
Jigawa State Institute of Information Technology: 150
Kano State Polytechnic: 150
Kogi State Polytechnic: 150
Kwara State Polytechnic: 150
Lagos State College of Health Technology: 150
Lagos State Polytechnic: 150

Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Ogun State: 150
Nasarawa State Polytechnic: 150
Niger State College of Agriculture: 150
Niger State Polytechnic: 150
Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria, Kaduna State: 150
Osun State Polytechnic: 150
Plateau State Polytechnic: 150
Port Harcourt Polytechnic: 150
Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri, Borno State: 150
The Polytechnic, Ibadan: 150
Allover Central Polytechnic, Sango-Ota, Ogun State: 130
Dorben Polytechnic, Abuja: 100
Foundation College of Technology, Akwa-Ibom State: 100
Grace Polytechnic, Lagos State: 100
Igbajo Polytechnic, Osun State: 100
Lens Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State: 120

@Olumide-Adekogbe

The Super Eagles of Nigeria ran out winners as they defeated the Polish national team by one goal to nil. The game looked evenly poised as both teams looked to sized each other up but it was the Poles who kept asking questions of the Eagles defence and it only took a goal-line clearance [by Leon Balogun] to keep them from going forward. The Poles' star man, Robert Lewandoski even hit a shot against the woodwork in the first half but it has to be said that the Eagles were yet able to hold their heads high; dominating possession at some points in time.

The second was nonetheless action-packed as the Poles [being spurred by the home crowd] push to break the deadlock, and that looked certain as Lewandoski went one-on-one against the Nigerian goalie, Francis Uzoho who was able to keep his composure to avert danger and prevent the star striker from burying the ball in the back of the net- a feat that could go a long way in boosting the confidence of the young goalkeeper who appeared jittery in the first half.

Although Nigeria might have not had so much joy in the final third but they were not to be denied the last laugh as Victor Moses won a penalty which he eventually converted in the 61st minute. The Eagles were able to hold out for their famous win against the Poles- in the first ever match between both sides- who are the 6th best football playing nation in the world.

Coach Gernot Rohr and his men will now be looking to take this form into the next game against Serbia- who lost out to Morocco by 2 goals to one in a friendly played on Friday- on Tuesday.

One of the things the Amaju Pinnick led NFF team worth receiving commendation for is making the most of the international break to set up top grade friendly matches for the Super Eagles even as they look to get the national football team in top gear for the Russia 2018 world cup starting in June. In the light of this the Super Eagles are billed to face Poland and Serbia on Friday, 23rd of March and Tuesday, 27th of March, 2018 respectively.

The game against the Polish national football team present the Eagles- especially the defense- a sterner test as they will be aiming to curtail the onslaught of Robert Lewandoski who registered a total of sixteen (16) goals on the road to Russia 2018. The team is however not about Lewandoski alone as coach Adam Nawalka also has the likes of Jakub Blaszcykowski, Lukasz Piszcek and a couple of prolific players in his arsenal. And just for the records; both teams have an untainted record against each other as this is only the first time they will be meeting.

On the other hand; the match against Serbia will be yet another quality friendly match that should afford coach Gernot Rohr the opportunity to further to assess the forms of his players, and probably try out some new formations. Going by their performances in the qualifying rounds for the world cup, one would have seen that the Serbian team is a balanced one; capable of turning in the goals and holding their lines as well- the team will no doubt put the Super Eagles in good stead for the footballing masterpiece in Russia. The game will take place at the Hive Barnet FC Stadium in London by 7pm on Tuesday.

What will you make of hearing about a repentant Boko Haram group or an insurgent group that uncharacteristically put up a friendly mien with its victims while plunging their loved ones into sorrow? That should, no doubt, make the ears of the ‘unbelieving’ tingle, I perceive. But before I proceed further, let me take some time out to rejoice with the parents who have had to stare into blank air as they anxiously anticipate being re-united with their wards, and the children who were entangled in a rather meaningless and ‘unending’ powerplay. And may God grant the loved ones of the five (5) girls [who died among those who were captured] the fortitude to bear the loss.

Now to the objective of this piece; curtailing the onslaught of an insurgent group [like Boko Haram] may be an arduous task but the manner in which the presidency handled and/or addressed the latest kidnapping [of the Dapchi Girls] subtly showed that there is an undertone of politics attached to the event- or shall one place the comparison being drawn [with the past administration in view] over and again? This seems to be one of the reasons why speculations are rife that the events leading to the capture of the students from Government Girls Secondary School in Dapchi, Yobe state was staged and scripted by some persons in the position of power. The president kept highlighting the failures of the past administration when in essence the government should have worked around the clock [with security units] to prevent the re-occurrence of an event in the magnitude of the kidnapping of over 200 Chibok girls. This makes me ask: could this really be an avenue to score some cheap political points with the elections approaching?

Furthermore, has the release of the Dapchi girls really taken place without any form of negotiations- by way of ransom paying- or offensive from security agencies? If none of these had been, why then is the government [and ruling party] claiming victory and making it look like it has got everything under control? Moreover, a report has it that the insurgent group decided to return the girls after finding out that 99% of them were Muslims.

Looking into the matter more scrutinizingly; in this ‘victory’, is a manifestation of the government’s failings in dealing with Boko Haram decidedly. How is it that the group returned the girls without any arrest being made? For the singular fact that Dapchi was just recently under siege, it ought to have been under surveillance- here is another loophole in our security setup- and this would have made it possible for security operatives to track the perpetrators.

One may not be able to get the whole truth at this very point in time but yet it is hard to rule out the fact that there is something shady about the scenarios that have been reeled out thus far, and with a good number of Nigerians being unconvinced by the government’s efforts in fighting insurgence, it will not be out of context to ask if the latest happening is not a way of toying with the intelligibility of Nigerians.

A smooth-running automobile can make your day as fulfilling as you might have imagined- barring any traffic congestion though. However, what would you make of having your car suddenly stop in the middle of the road while you are looking to meet up with an appointment? – Frustrating, I guess. I have seen [on a number of occasions] car owners/drivers become discomfited as their externally good looking cars just refused to move. But, as events are often preceded by a number of factors so does every problem developed by any car traceable to one or more component parts. And it is in the light of this that we shall be looking into some maintenance tips.

Taking care of your car’s engine
The engine being the ‘heart’ of an automobile requires a great deal of attention. First of all, you should make it a point of duty to check the oil at regular intervals; seeing to it that the oil level falls between the 2 notches on the dipstick- remember that your car has to be parked on a leveled surface in order to get accurate reading- and you should also change the oil when need be- oil that has become murky or dark overtime, is not good for the functioning of your car.

Again, considering the possible accumulation of debris- which could be made to stick due to oil leaks- in some delicate parts of your car’s engine, it is advisable that you judiciously inspect the engine from time to time. Whenever you notice debris clogging up; you should make use of a soft cotton cloth and detergent [mixed in water] to degrease and properly clean up the engine [while it is cool]. Then, gently rinse off the lather and dry up the engine as much as you can with a towel. While cleaning up the engine, you should be careful with the cables in order not ruin your car’s electrical system.
Additionally, dirty air filters should be replaced with new ones, and you should always pay attention to the condition of the car’s drive belt. One more thing; never allow your car to run when the engine coolant is below the normal level to avoid overheating.

Spark plugs
A good spark plug is highly beneficial to your car’s health and also boosts fuel economy. On the contrary, a worn spark plug or one that has deposits on it, will not only make the fuel to burn relatively faster but could also affect the car’s acceleration and even make it to break down suddenly. So, you should give the spark plugs a check before hitting the road, and have it changed as at when due- in most cases, spark plugs are to be replaced after covering a mileage of about 48,000 kilometers or 30,000 miles.

Battery
Though there isn’t much to be done when it comes to battery maintenance but paying heed to little details is yet essential. You may need to check the battery’s terminals to ensure that they are not loose and also see if there is any mineral buildup around them. You should clean up the deposits [with wire brush] once you notice them. But you should always remember the golden rule when disconnecting the car’s battery: you should disconnect the negative terminal first and then the positive; the reverse is however the case when reconnecting- positive first and then negative.
You should use distilled water to top off the electrolyte should it fall short of the normal level. One more piece of advice: try as much as you can not to run your car’s electrical system while the engine is off- this will help to preserve the life of the battery.

Brake
To ensure that the braking system is functioning at optimal level; you should make sure the brake fluid is full, and that worn out brakes are replaced as soon as possible. When it is time to change the brake fluid, see to it that the recommended type is used.

That is how much we can go for now but it is important to leave you with this: that you are well informed about some DIY tips on car maintenance, does not mean you should not take the automobile [to an accredited or trusted auto-mechanic shop] for routine check- say once every 6 months.

After months of working your socks off, shuttling between your home and workspace; it pays to take a break and enjoy some good times with your family and friends- this, you have got to do in grand style probably by visiting a couple of tourist attraction spots. In view of this, I have elected to talk about seven (7) beautiful places you can spend that ‘hard-earned’ vacation with your loved ones.

Obudu Mountain Resort, Cross River
Since its revamp in 2005, the Obudu Mountain Resort has become a tourist’s haven where delight and quietude are never hard to come by. The resort is known for its beautiful and picturesque landscapes [with undulating topography brought about by the interspersed mountains- a feature that would satisfy your sightseeing pleasure- and an ambience that brings calmness to the soul. Here is a great place for every camper who wishes to make the most of his/her holiday.

Cross River National Park
Cross River is not called ‘the people’s paradise’ for no just cause; the state is no doubt, a choice destination for tourists. While holidaying at Obudu Mountain Resort, you may also take a trip to the Cross River National Park; there, you will have a firsthand view of an array of flora and fauna- that includes baboons, gorillas, buffaloes, elephants, chimpanzees and drills. Another wonderful sight within the park is the Kwa waterfalls- but there are yet other fascinating sceneries.

Gashaka Gumti National Park, Taraba/Adamawa
And if your desire for more of what nature has got to offer is somewhat insatiable then, you can set a date to visit the Gahaka Gumti National Park- which happens to be Nigeria’s largest game reserve. At the park, you will see the West African wild dog, the African golden cat, the African buffalo, birds, different species of antelope (like the Oribi antelope, the kob antelope, the roan antelope, the klispringer, the yellow-backed duiker, the hartebeest and the mountain reedbuck) and a host of other animals. The park is also blessed with rich vegetations and climate that will make your visit all the more pleasurable.

Yankari Game Reserve, Bauchi
Yankari Game Reserve is one of Nigeria's foremost national parks. It is a vibrant ecosystem that houses a diversity of wildlife and several species of plants. The West African lion, Tantalus monkey, African bush elephant, hippopotamus, leopard and olive baboon are some of the animals you will find in the reserve. Other distinctive features in the park include the Dukkey wells, Tunga Dutse, Tonlong gorge, four different warm water springs- the Wikki, Nawulgo, Dimmil and Gwan warm springs- and one cool water spring.

Kajuru Castle, Kaduna

Away from the game reserves to something more exquisite- so, do you wish to have a feel of royalty in a medieval-styled architectural edifice? Then, the Kajuru Castle is the very place you would want to spend your next vacation. The castle is located on a hill [in Kajuru village]; that means you will get to have some scenic views of the ensuing landscape nature has got to offer. The facilities around the castle- from the pools to the rooms as well as some other admirable features- make it some sort of paradise worth checking out. While logging at the castle, you can take some time out to visit the Ancient Nok settlement at Jaba.

Port Harcourt Tourist Beach

If you are planning to spend the holiday in the city of Port Harcourt, you should make it good by visiting the man-made sand beach situated along the Kolabi creek line. You can go on hiking or sit and just feel the cool sea breeze as you listen to some cool music and watch the sun sets over the beach- an experience you will cherish for a long time to come. The Isaac Boro Garden Park is another place to check while you are in 'the garden city'.

Lekki Conservation Centre

Lagos state is known for its hustling and bustling but somewhere in the serene enclave of Lekki, is a place of escape. The Lekki Conservation Centre is the place to be should you desire to enjoy nature’s tranquility in the city of Lagos. The range of wildlife and flora on display at the centre makes for a gratifying sightseeing delight.

Nigeria is a beautiful land with many appealing features to behold [as a tourist] but I have been constrained by some factors to hold the list down to seven. How shall one forget Ikogosi warm water spring, the Borgu National Park, Idanre hills, Okomu National Park, Ibeno beach and many other tourist attractions of great significance?

We have heard of how certain dubious persons are out to lure unsuspecting students into upgrading their JAMB score and the discovery of candidates who indulge in malpractice while sitting for the recently concluded examination. Besides these, the news of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board wanting to cancel some previously released results [which were said to be fake] has also rent the air- a similar scenario played out last year when JAMB recalled some results in order to make corrections.

On the current results; the media has been abuzz with the news of 311 [scored by a candidate from Gombe State] being the highest score thus far. But then, there has been a candidate who scored 337, and even before that, I have personally gotten to know about a lad [in Lagos State] who had 330 as his JAMB score and he got a printout of the result from JAMB’s website. The reason why their names did not get a mention in the media remains unknown.

Furthermore, there have been rumblings over the continual delay of the results of over 1.3 million candidates who have been earnestly [and anxiously] navigating the Board’s website to know their fate. It was expected that since the examination was a computer based test, the results should have been ready in good time. The delay however may not be unconnected with the fact that the Board is trying to do some checks and balances in order not to allow examination cheats go scot free- which is quite understandable though.

Notwithstanding, since the Board was aware of the possibility of examination malpractice beforehand, it ought not to have assured candidates of getting their results three (3) days sitting for the examination. The time needed for proper assessment should have been duly considered, and as such, a specific and certain time-frame would have been set for candidates to get their results without any delay. This could have helped curtail the incident of having to release and then recall students’ results.

As I bring this to a conclusion; I will like to say here that the computer based JAMB examination is far from perfect- the delay in giving out is just a testament. There were a number of candidates who had it rough on the system they were presented with- this is not necessarily due to the fact that they did not adhere to instructions but because the systems were malfunctioning- and in some scenarios, the servers were having issues. All these do not create a conducive setting for an examination as such could make a candidate to be unsettled and yet ‘bite’ into the time allotted for the examination. So, as we aim to measure up with the dynamics of a technology-inclined world, it is necessary that things be done in the right order to achieve a credible result- as saying goes; what is worth doing is worth doing well. The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board have got to look into all these issues and ensure that they are properly resolved before the next examinations.

Except you are one of those who solely run deals in hard currencies or maybe you get supplied with new notes [fresh from the minting press], would you not have come across a naira note that you wish to part with as quickly as you lay a hand on it. Though there is no denomination that is not affected but the note in view here is the N100 note; the state of the N100 notes will have out there is so pathetic and irritating that one can only wonder if those responsible for the circulation [of the notes] are really in tune with what is going on. New N100 notes are just one ‘scarce commodity’ to come by nowadays as all we see are tattered and dirty notes, and in some instances, they are only hanging by the thread or held in place with cello tape or some other forms of adhesive- something that has now become a custom of some sort.

Putting the sorry state of the N100 notes in further perspective; one may be quick to conclude that the way poor handling of the naira notes by most Nigerians has been the major reason why our naira notes appear the way they are. Inasmuch as this very notion cannot be waived aside, there is yet no gainsaying that the N100 notes [we have had to make do with] are long overdue for a change. Most of these notes should be taken out of circulation and replaced with new ones even as Nigerians need to start treating [and/or handling] naira notes with some respect.