There is tension at Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, following reports that some staff were invited by the Department of State Services, DSS, over an alleged plan to stage a protest.

The protest was reportedly intended to demand transparency in the ongoing process for appointing a new Vice Chancellor, expected to be concluded next month.

Some of the affected staff, who spoke under anonymity, claimed they were warned by the DSS to desist from any actions that could threaten peace and order on campus.

They had also reportedly advocated for the appointment of an Abia indigene as the next Vice Chancellor, citing similar trends in other federal institutions.

Reacting, the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ubadire Agua, denied any arrests but confirmed that security operatives invited a few staff for questioning.

He stressed that the University has duly advertised the position of Vice Chancellor and encouraged all qualified persons to apply.

Dr. Agua assured that the process remains open, fair, and guided by due process.

The Abia State Government has rolled out new education policies aimed at easing the financial burden on parents and strengthening standards across schools.

Briefing journalists after this week’s Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, announced that graduation ceremonies will now be restricted to only terminal classes—Primary 6 and SS3—in both public and private schools.

The Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, explained that it was unnecessary for nursery and lower-class pupils to hold graduation ceremonies that compel parents to spend heavily.

Another major decision is the separation of textbooks from workbooks. According to Ubochi, this will enable younger siblings to reuse textbooks while workbooks remain unique to each child.

The government also directed parents to ensure they collect their children’s basic education certificates, lamenting that many First School Leaving Certificates are often abandoned. To tackle this, schools have been instructed not to charge more than ₦2,000 for Primary 6 certificates.

In addition, the state has made it compulsory for candidates enrolling for WAEC, NECO, or JAMB to present their basic education certificates. No student will be admitted into SS3 without passing a state-organized mandatory promotion exam in SS2.

Ubochi further stressed that all schools—public and private—must participate in the promotion exam, while switching schools between SS2 and SS3 will no longer be permitted. This move, he said, is aimed at curbing examination malpractice and strengthening accountability.

“These measures are designed to reduce financial pressure on parents, promote accountability, and ensure integrity in the education system,” Ubochi stated.

Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri, on Tuesday, approved an interest-free loan of N740 million for two young entrepreneurs.

Diri approved the sum of N240 million for the Chief Executive Officer of ECO FIP Nigeria Limited, Mrs. Tare Korumene, and N500 million for Winsome Dan-Adere after an impressive visual presentation of their work during the launch of the Bayelsa E-Commerce Entrepreneurship Programme with the theme, “Made in Bayelsa, Sold To The World: Driving Prosperity Through Local Commerce,” in Yenagoa.

While Korumene produces hair extensions under the brand “Bayelsa Dunaly Hair” and uses organic materials from plantain stems, Dan-Adere recycles plastic wastes to produce interlocked blocks.

Addressing 500 young participants at the event, the Bayelsa governor said the programme would be held annually.

He explained that the government would support the two beneficiaries with the credit facility through a financial institution, Premium Trust Bank, while the Commissioner for Finance would work out the modalities of the loan.

According to the governor, the facility will serve as motivation to young business owners in the state and encourage self-reliance towards creating jobs, reducing poverty as well as contributing significantly to wealth creation.

He also said the government would partner with the National Information Technology Development Agency to enable Bayelsa entrepreneurs to engage in online trading of their goods and services.

“Let us have a paradigm shift from depending solely on revenues generated from crude oil. This is the time for us to move towards where the world is going.

“We have hair extensions such as Brazilian hair made with chemicals. But now we have the Bayelsa hair using organic materials from plantain stem, thereby utilising the full value chain of plantain.

“We will support you (Tariere Korumene) through Premium Trust Bank with the sum of N240 million interest-free loan as a way of encouraging our entrepreneurs. The state government will also support Dan-Adere with the sum of N500 million through the same process. We need to change the narrative of youth dependence by creating empowerment schemes for them.

“The state government has prioritised artificial intelligence and I have directed the Commissioner for Education to include it in our schools curriculum. We have also completed all the buildings in a new ICT hub in Yenagoa. I will appoint a technical focal person to manage the hub. We want to see a new Bayelsa,” he said.

According to him, information technology is ruling the world, emphasising the need for Nigeria to catch up with the rest of the world in terms of online business

“We know that you will require electricity. Our government has therefore procured gas turbines, which by the end of this year enable Bayelsa to have uninterrupted power supply. This is our vision for our youths and this is a legacy we want to leave,” he stressed.

Director General/Chief Executive Officer of NITDA, Kashifu Abdullahi, in a keynote address, said the BEEP aims to redefine the state’s economic narrative by fostering innovation-driven entrepreneurship, which include identifying customer needs, leveraging technology for market expansion, and ensuring profitability.

Abdullahi noted that the programme places emphasis on digital literacy, with a target of 95 per cent digital literacy by 2030 by partnering with the Federal Government and other initiatives like the three million tech talent programme.

He stated that the goal is to create a hub for innovation, attract global investors, and position Bayelsa as a leading centre for technology and business process outsourcing.

The Special Adviser to the governor on Trade and Investment, Owanari Harry, said the BEEP is a commitment to support 500 nano, micro, and small businesses in the state by providing capital, training, mentorship, and market access.

Harry said the initiative seeks to leverage global partnerships and resources to foster sustainable growth.