A pressure group known as AOJOKO K’Otukpo (Special Advisers to Otukpo Kingdom Paramount ruler) has asserted that Arch. Sonny Echono, Executive Secretary (ES) of the Tertiary Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), is spearheading the revitalization of the country’s tertiary education.

Mr. Ojoko Ekwo, the Chairman of the group, revealed this during a press conference held in Makurdi on Sunday.

Ekwo, responding to media publications criticizing Echono for awarding contracts without the existence of a board, emphasized the need for support from all Nigerians for the ES to succeed.

He clarified that although TETFUND currently lacks a constituted board, there are provisions in place empowering the organization’s management to award contracts in such circumstances.

“Regardless of the absence of a board, TETFUND cannot remain idle but must continue operating in accordance with established laws,” Ekwo stated.

“The recent allegations against Arch. Echono, regarding contract awards in the absence of a board, raise significant questions: Should an organization halt its activities simply due to the absence of a board? In the absence of a board, are there no institutional regulations to follow? Were such regulations not adhered to?”

Ekwo criticized the media’s rush to incite public outcry against Echono without conducting thorough investigations. He noted that even after TETFUND responded to inquiries, the media persisted with their preconceived narrative, suggesting a potential bias.

“They failed to seek clarification from the Ministry of Education, which oversees TETFUND,” Ekwo added.

“Echono should be allowed to continue his commendable efforts in educational development, including the rejuvenation of dilapidated facilities and infrastructure in tertiary institutions, for which he is already receiving praise from well-meaning Nigerians.”

Ekwo suggested that the criticism directed at the ES was merely a backlash from those who had previously exploited TETFUND for personal gain.

He called upon the Ministry of Education and President Bola Tinubu to disregard such publications and continue supporting the ES in his endeavors to advance the educational sector.

Mr. Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), emphasized the pivotal role of oil and gas investment in driving Nigeria’s economic recovery. Speaking to journalists during the 2024 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, on Monday, Lokpobiri underscored the necessity of exploiting Nigeria’s abundant oil and gas reserves to stimulate economic growth.

“The vast oil and gas deposits of our nation hold immense potential for economic revitalization,” Lokpobiri stated. “However, their full potential can only be realized through proactive exploration and investment.”

Assuring investors of the longevity of oil’s relevance, Lokpobiri highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment conducive to attracting optimal investment. He credited President Bola Tinubu’s administration for implementing strategic initiatives that have positively impacted the sector’s trajectory, refuting claims of oil’s impending irrelevance.

Encouraging investors to capitalize on the ongoing oil bid round, Lokpobiri emphasized the enduring significance of fossil fuels in the global energy landscape. “History has shown that no energy source becomes obsolete overnight. Fossil fuels will continue to play a significant role,” he affirmed.

Lokpobiri affirmed the government’s dedication to streamlining regulatory frameworks, promoting competitiveness, and eliminating investment barriers to instill confidence among investors. “Nigeria stands ready to engage with the global community, showcasing our commitment to fostering a conducive investment climate,” he asserted.

In a significant policy announcement, Lokpobiri disclosed the abolition of signature bonus payments for new investors in the oil and gas sector. Signature bonuses, traditionally paid by license holders to the government upon obtaining petroleum exploration licenses, have often posed challenges for investors due to their substantial financial burden.

To facilitate smoother entry into exploration and production activities, Lokpobiri revealed that future signature bonus payments would be contingent upon immediate operational engagement by new entrants. “We are prioritizing active utilization of awarded fields to stimulate job creation and drive upstream oil sector growth,” he explained.

Notable attendees at the conference included Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC); Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, former Minister of State for Solid Minerals; and Dr. Gabriel Ogbechie, Group Managing Director of Rainoil Ltd.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released an additional 531 results from the recently conducted Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME), bringing the total number of released results to 1,842,897.

This announcement was made by Dr. Fabian Benjamin, the Public Communication Advisor of the Board, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

Benjamin explained that the Board had proceeded with the screening of over 64,000 withheld results due to cases of examination misconduct. “During the screening process, we identified further cases of examination misconduct, totaling 92 cases from the initial 81 discovered,” he stated.

He also addressed concerns regarding unverified candidates, mentioning that the Board is actively addressing these cases and will provide updates soon.

Benjamin emphasized the Board’s commitment to maintaining the integrity of the examination process and dispelled rumors regarding the scoring of an unknown candidate who allegedly did not sit for the 2024 UTME. He urged the public to disregard such false claims, describing them as malicious attempts to undermine the Board’s credibility.

He further explained that the Board has observed an increase in misleading publications, particularly during this period, and cautioned candidates against sharing their confidential details with third parties.

Addressing allegations of result tampering, Benjamin clarified that some individuals have been altering results obtained by other candidates and passing them off as authentic. He challenged anyone making such claims to provide concrete evidence, including details of the alleged results and the corresponding phone numbers used for communication.

To enhance result security, Benjamin announced plans to introduce additional features such as registration numbers to the UTME result checking process. He advised candidates to safeguard their information and warned of consequences for those found engaging with individuals attempting to manipulate results.

Regarding result inquiries, Benjamin reiterated that the approved method for checking 2024 UTME results is by sending “UTMERESULT” to either 55019 or 66019, cautioning against alternative methods. He clarified that the results are not currently available on the Board’s website.

In conclusion, Benjamin reassured the public that the integrity of JAMB’s systems remains intact and pledged to continue safeguarding against malicious actors seeking to disrupt the examination process.