The Lagos State Government has reacted to an alleged viral video of some students presumed to be from Excel College, Ejigbo, smoking and consuming alcohol within the school’s dormitory. 

The Lagos Voice reports that the video recently went viral online sparking reactions from social media users and stakeholders in the education sector.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Jamiu Tolani Alli-Balogun, in a statement released on the state’s official X (formerly Twitter) page, frowned at such acts, saying “it goes against the core values and behavioural standards expected within the educational system of Lagos State.”

“We wish to inform the public that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MBSE), via the relevant agency, Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), is fully aware of the content of the video and has commenced a thorough investigation into the matter. Our Monitoring and Investigation team has been dispatched to verify the authenticity of the video, confirm the identities of those involved, and determine the level of institutional oversight.”

He also promised that the government is already liaising with the school authorities to gather all the facts, and any school found culpable will be dealt with in accordance with Lagos State’s education policies and regulations.

The Commissioner added, “The safety, well-being, and moral values of all students remain paramount to the Lagos State Government. We are committed to ensuring that all learning environments are safe, disciplined, and conducive to the academic and moral growth of every learner.

Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has blamed poor funding of the education sector by governments as reason for students’ failure in West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) exams. Peter Obi said government investment in education remains poor. He argued that the 2024 WAEC result which showed a 7.69 percent decrease in Nigeria students’ performance confirms the worrying lack of investment in the critical areas of development in the country.

In a statement on Monday, Obi said, “The recent announcement by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) that it recorded a 7.69 percent decrease in the performance of candidates who sat for the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Nigeria reaffirms the worrying lack of investment in the critical areas of development, education, health and pulling people out of poverty.

“This constant decline in our educational performance and other critical areas demands urgent attention and action. “With our claimed literacy rate of over 50%, we are still ranked 187 on the global scale of literacy, reflecting a visible lack of commitment to education in the country. Our investment in education, as with other critical areas, remains poor.

“A total capital expenditure for the entire education sector, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was allocated N330.3 billion. For a country with about 81,520 schools at the primary level and 23,550 schools at the secondary level, such an amount is visibly poor.” The former governor of Anambra State urged governments to emulate his investment in education during his time as governor. He further congratulated students who performed well in the 2024 WAEC exam. Obi called on government to put more resources in the education sector.

“The aggressive investment in education we made in Anambra State under my administration greatly transformed education in the State, and still bears fruits to this day. “I sincerely congratulate all the students who sat for the 2024 WASSCE, especially those who made impressive results. I applaud their efforts, hard work, and dedication to their studies, which paid off. “And to their respective schools, management, staff, and teachers – I especially celebrate you all. Your contributions to the educational growth and overall development of our society remain laudable,” he added.

According to PUNCH around 12:30 am, suspected armed robbers invaded the students’ apartments, forcibly taking the survivors’ personal belongings.

A source at the school, requesting anonymity for fear of victimisation, disclosed that the suspects, armed with guns, forced the students to surrender their phones and other belongings before leading them to an uncompleted building where they took turns raping them.

The spokesperson for the State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident to our correspondent via a WhatsApp message on Monday, stating that efforts to apprehend the suspects were ongoing.

She said,

“The incident was reported at the Igbeba Police Division at about 10:00 am. Our operatives immediately combed the area in search of the suspects. Efforts are in top gear to arrest everyone involved in the crime.

“In the meantime, the survivors have been taken to the school clinic for treatment.”

Dr. Adeleke, who is also the chairman of Pacific Energy Company, stated that these top graduates are invited to serve at Pacific Energy’s plants in Ondo or Ogun State during their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.

Additionally, Dr. Adeleke assured that these graduates would be offered jobs at the company upon completing their service year.

He said,

“Try as much as possible to get NYSC to post you to either Ogun State or Ondo State, where we have our power plant. You are welcome to serve at the plant, and after your service year, you have an automatic job.”

See photos and video below:

The prestigious higher institution won the award prize with an aggregate of 12 points in the overall category comprising all 5 elements of the Mega Award that made it leave Abuja event with N500 million.

Other winners across the various categories included the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, which came next to UNILORIN with N75 million, and Borno State University, Maiduguri, emerging third with N25 million, among others.

Four individuals, who were also honoured for their contributions to education, Infornation and Commmunication Technology (ICT) and psychometrics included Professor Peter Okebukola, Professor Muhammad Yahusa Bello, Professor Bashir Galadanci and Professor Boniface Nworgu, respectively.

Darelasisionline.com gathered that the award prize was initiated by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) under the leadership of Professor Is-haq Oloyede, to encourage quality performance among Nigerian Tertiary institutions.

Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jubril, while giving his remarks at the occasion, said Professor Oloyede deserves to be commended.

“We are sensitising the public to prevail on the government so that we don’t go on strike. If nothing significant comes out after all these protests, we will decide to go on strike at our next NEC meeting,” said Prof. Kayode Adebayo, Chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, during a protest on Thursday in Lagos.

The protests, ongoing for weeks, highlight ASUU’s frustration over unmet promises from the government. Dr. Dele Ashiru, a former chairman of ASUU-UNILAG, emphasized the dire financial situation faced by lecturers and accused the government of neglecting its responsibilities in the education sector.

“We have been receiving the same salary since 2009. Despite several appeals and consultations to get the government to renegotiate, the government turned deaf ears,” Dr. Ashiru lamented.

Students joined their lecturers in solidarity, echoing demands for improved funding and better conditions for university education in Nigeria. They carried placards with messages such as “Stop establishing universities you cannot fund” and “Education is life; proper funding of university education is non-negotiable.”

The grievances listed by ASUU-UNILAG include the conclusion of renegotiations on the FGN/ASUU agreement, release of withheld salaries due to strike actions, and funding for the revitalisation of public universities, among others.

“We love our classrooms. We love our students. It is the Nigerian government that is striking against you, not ASUU,” Prof. Adebayo emphasized, underscoring the union’s commitment to its members and the broader academic community.

As the standoff continues to escalate, ASUU awaits a concrete response from the government, with the threat of strike action looming large in the near future.

A delegation led by a representative of the Nigerian Embassy in the UK, Ambassador Christian Okeke, along with leaders of the Nigerian Students Union in the UK, will meet with the university’s management to seek a resolution.

This decision follows a virtual meeting chaired by the Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, and attended by Okeke, the President of the Nigerian Students Union UK, Yemi Soile, and several affected students.

The meeting was held on Sunday.

The NiDCOM spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, confirmed the planned intervention in a statement on Wednesday.

Some Nigerian students who were unable to pay their tuition fees on time have been thrown off university courses in the UK due to a currency crisis and ordered to leave the country.