Latest news with #BBCPidgin
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Blank questions, power cuts and a suicide: Nigeria's exams fiasco
The body which runs Nigeria's university-entrance exams has admitted to a "technical glitch" which compromised some results of this year's tests, after nearly 80% of students got low grades. Students have complained about not being able to log in to the computers, questions not showing up and power cuts making it impossible to take the examinations. The low pass rate has sparked widespread outrage, especially after one candidate took her own life. Faith Opesusi Timileyin, 19, who was aspiring to study microbiology at university, died after swallowing poison, her family said. Her father and elder sister told the BBC that she had sat the exam for the second time and got 146 marks out of 400, lower than the 193 she had last year. "The pain made her take her own life," her father, Oluwafemi Opesusi, told BBC Pidgin. Generally 200 or above out of 400 is enough to get a place in university in the exams run by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb). Only 400,000 of the 1.9 million students achieved that mark, one of the worst performances in recent years. One student, Favour Eke, told BBC Igbo that 10 of the 165 questions didn't appear on the screen - all she could see was the multiple choice options for the answers. "We were told to omit the blank questions and continue the exam but it was very hard to concentrate after that," she said. She has also experienced technical problems getting her results, meaning she is very unlikely to get into university this year - the third time she has taken the exams. She sat the test in the capital, Abuja, which is not one of the centres where students can retake their exams, leaving her completely distraught. Another student said he had trouble logging in to the computer before someone else's profile mysteriously appeared on the screen, showing different questions and then the machine briefly shut down completely. "I did not get to answer all the questions when they told us our time was up because a lot of my time was wasted due to those technical difficulties," he said. The exams body has apologised for the "painful damage" and "the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians". In a press conference, Jamb registrar Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears as he apologised. He announced that almost 380,000 candidates in 157 affected centres from a total of 887, would be able to retake their exams starting from Saturday. The zones that are most affected are Lagos and several states in the south-east. Jamb blamed a failure of the computer system to upload exam responses by candidates in these areas during the first days of the exams. It said an "unusual level of public concerns and loud complaints" had "prompted us to do an immediate audit or review". Ordinarily, this would have happened in June, it said. The national exam, known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is a computer-based test that is a requirement for those joining universities and other tertiary institutions. The 2025 test, which was conducted in March, was marred by disruptions due to power outages in some areas. The head of the exams body earlier this week defended the poor results, saying they reflected the "true academic abilities" of the students and were because of a clampdown on cheating. Many Nigerians on social media have been calling for accountability, with some seeking Oloyede's resignation. Opposition figure Peter Obi said that while the admission of fault was commendable, the issue raised "a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc" in critical institutions. Rights activist Rinu Oduala said it was "incompetence. It's educational sabotage. He should be arrested immediately." Additional reporting by Chukwunaeme Obiejesi, Andrew Gift, Madina Maishanu and Marvelous Obomanu in Nigeria 'I screamed': Nigerian Doctor Who fan thrilled show is coming to Lagos Husband of late Nigerian gospel singer sentenced to death Nigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them out Nigerian bandit kingpin and 100 followers killed Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Blank questions, power cuts and a suicide: Nigeria's exams fiasco
The body which runs Nigeria's university-entrance exams has admitted to a "technical glitch" which compromised some results of this year's tests, after nearly 80% of students got low grades. Students have complained about not being able to log in to the computers, questions not showing up and power cuts making it impossible to take the examinations. The low pass rate has sparked widespread outrage, especially after one candidate took her own life. Faith Opesusi Timileyin, 19, who was aspiring to study microbiology at university, died after swallowing poison, her family said. Her father and elder sister told the BBC that she had sat the exam for the second time and got 146 marks out of 400, lower than the 193 she had last year. "The pain made her take her own life," her father, Oluwafemi Opesusi, told BBC Pidgin. Generally 200 or above out of 400 is enough to get a place in university in the exams run by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (Jamb). Only 400,000 of the 1.9 million students achieved that mark, one of the worst performances in recent years. One student, Favour Eke, told BBC Igbo that 10 of the 165 questions didn't appear on the screen - all she could see was the multiple choice options for the answers. "We were told to omit the blank questions and continue the exam but it was very hard to concentrate after that," she said. She has also experienced technical problems getting her results, meaning she is very unlikely to get into university this year - the third time she has taken the exams. She sat the test in the capital, Abuja, which is not one of the centres where students can retake their exams, leaving her completely distraught. Another student said he had trouble logging in to the computer before someone else's profile mysteriously appeared on the screen, showing different questions and then the machine briefly shut down completely. "I did not get to answer all the questions when they told us our time was up because a lot of my time was wasted due to those technical difficulties," he said. The exams body has apologised for the "painful damage" and "the trauma that it has subjected affected Nigerians". In a press conference, Jamb registrar Ishaq Oloyede broke down in tears as he apologised. He announced that almost 380,000 candidates in 157 affected centres from a total of 887, would be able to retake their exams starting from Saturday. The zones that are most affected are Lagos and several states in the south-east. Jamb blamed a failure of the computer system to upload exam responses by candidates in these areas during the first days of the exams. It said an "unusual level of public concerns and loud complaints" had "prompted us to do an immediate audit or review". Ordinarily, this would have happened in June, it said. The national exam, known as the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), is a computer-based test that is a requirement for those joining universities and other tertiary institutions. The 2025 test, which was conducted in March, was marred by disruptions due to power outages in some areas. The head of the exams body earlier this week defended the poor results, saying they reflected the "true academic abilities" of the students and were because of a clampdown on cheating. Many Nigerians on social media have been calling for accountability, with some seeking Oloyede's resignation. Opposition figure Peter Obi said that while the admission of fault was commendable, the issue raised "a very concerning issue on glitches and the grave havoc" in critical institutions. Rights activist Rinu Oduala said it was "incompetence. It's educational sabotage. He should be arrested immediately." Additional reporting by Chukwunaeme Obiejesi, Andrew Gift, Madina Maishanu and Marvelous Obomanu in Nigeria 'I screamed': Nigerian Doctor Who fan thrilled show is coming to Lagos Husband of late Nigerian gospel singer sentenced to death Nigerians fear savings lost as investment app freezes them out Nigerian bandit kingpin and 100 followers killed Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
06-05-2025
- BBC News
EFCC confirm arrest of VDM, justify BBC report on Verydarkman
EFCC confam BBC Pidgin report on VeryDarkMan arrest Wia dis foto come from, VDM/Facebook 15 minutes wey don pass Di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) don confam BBC Pidgin report on di arrest of Martins Vincent Otse aka VeryDarkMan. BBC Pidgin on Monday 5 May report say EFCC gbab di activist based on petitions by some complainants wey get grievances against VDM. However, EFCC on dia social media handles tag di report as fake news, and in response BBC Pidgin publish a statement wia we stand gidigba wit our report on di tori. "BBC stand gidigba for we journalism and di facts wey we report for dis tori. "We dey committed to impartiality, independent tori and we go kontinu to dey tok truth witout fear or favour. "Tori wey we dey tell around di world dey guided by public interest and we dey folow highest editorial standards," BBC Pidgin tok for di statement. For dia statement on Tuesday 6 May wia dem confam BBC report on VDM arrest, EFCC claim say VDM bin refuse to "show up in spite of several invitations wey dem send to am through im known addresses and medium of communication". "Di petitions pertain to grave allegations of financial malfeasance wey di Commission no fit ignore," EFCC tok. Di anti-graft agency say e dey needful to admit say dem dey aware of alleged several unguarded attacks of di suspect against dia operations. Dem add say im arrest no dey connected to VDM alleged attack on dem and add say di relevant law enforcement agency go dey allowed to look into dem. "Di EFCC get lawful right to hold Otse in custody like any oda suspect wey di Commission dey investigate. "Di appropriate Remand Order bin dey obtained in dis regard." Di anti-graft agency say dem don offer VDM administrative bail and dem go release am afta e fulfil im bail conditions. "Di Commission appreciate di interest of Nigerians in im operations. Di passion, enthusiasm and torrential reactions to all of im activities dey welcome. "However, make insinuations about im motive in carrying out im assignment no continue. Make di EFCC dey allowed to do im job witout fear or favour. As soon as investigations dey concluded, charges go dey filed," di Commission add. Who be VDM? VDM na activist wey dey controversial for di Nigeria social media space. Im dey known for confronting goment officials, corruption and pipo wey dey go against di law. Sake of im activism, im don chop arrest plenti times and get pending court cases for many Nigeria courts.
BBC News
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Inside di judgement wey sentence gospel singer Osinachi husband to death
Court for Abuja don give judgement on di death of Gospel Singer Osinachi Nwachukwu. Justice Njideka Nwosu-Iheme of di High Court of di Federal Capital Territory, Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, sentence her husband Peter Nwachukwu, to death by hanging. Justice Nwosu-Iheme for im judgement say Peter Nwachukwu dey guilty of culpable homicide wey result to di death of Osinachi Nwachukwu on 8 April, 2022. Di judge wey sama Peter Nwachukwu wit death sentence tok say di sentence dey come afta court bin hold prosecution and dem get plenti proof by di law and di court find di defendant guilty. Wen Osinachi Nwachukwu bin die, both families raise alarm, di mama for one interview wit BBC Pidgin tok say 'Peter Nwachukwu bin tell my pikin say if she no go home alive, she go go in death' How di court mata start Afta di sudden death of di popular gospel artist Osinachi Nwachukwu bin go viral on 8 April, 2022, dem drag Mr Nwachukwu go court. Na Nigeria Goment thru di Office of di Attorney General of di Federation drag am go court. Nigeria goment sama am 23-count charge wey border on culpable homicide wey dey punishable by death, criminal intimidation, cruelty to children, criminal intimidation of children, beating of im wife, and plenti oda tins. Mr bin show face for court on 3 June 3, 2022 to stand trial and defend imsef. Di prosecution bin call 17 witnesses, wey include di two children of di late Osinachi. Tori be say dem be di fourth and fifth prosecution witnesses, and goment bring 25 documents as exhibits wey dem show di court. Di defendant Nwachukwu bin testify for im defence, im bin also call four oda witnesses and submit four exhibits to defend imsef. Death by hanging plus 5 and half years imprisonment According to tori pipo Channnels, befor di judge read di judgement to sentence di defendant, lawyer for Mr Nwachukwu, Reginald Nwali, bin beg di court make e no dey too hard wit di judgment. Di prosecuting counsel, wey dey tok for goment on behalf of di late Osinachi Nwachukwu, Mrs Aderonke Imala, tell di court to give force to di law as e suppose be. Justice Nwosu-Iheme come sentence Nwachukwu to death by hanging on Count 1, while court sama am to two years imprisonment each on Counts 2, 3, 8,9, 12, 13, and 18. Di court bin sentence Nwachukwu to six months imprisonment on Count 10, three years imprisonment on Count 11. Court also sama am a fine of N500,000 and N200,000 for Counts 6 and 7. Wetin Dr Paul Enenche bin tok Meanwhile, founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, di church wey di late singer bin dey attend bifor she death, Dr Paul Enenche bin don tok about wetin im know say dey worry Osinachi before she die. Enenche for one broadcast say im bin no know say Osinachi dey suffer domestic violence. E say im bin dey aware say di singer dey sick for some time before she well. "Na Cameroon I dey for one crusade wey I hear of di unfortunate incident. If na domestic violence wey happun during wen she dey sick or wey make am dey sick, I know dey aware," di pastor tok E say all di tins wey im hear after Osinachi die dey "strange" to am. "First I ask di twin sister if she bin know wetin say Osinachi dey pass thru all dis tins and she say she dey aware and I ask her why she no tell us. "Di sister say Osinachi dey always beg her make she no ell me. "Even di son tell me say dia father dey always monitor dem. "Di last one wey touch me pass na di music producer wey tell me how di husband slap di woman inside im studio. Di producer say Osinachi beg am to leave her husband alone. "All dis tins na wetin we just dey discover. As a pesin and as a church everybody know say we get zero degree tolerance to domestic violence." Who be Peter Nwachukwu? Tori be Peter Nwachukwu bifor all dis kasala happun, na pastor for Dunamis International Gospel church, Abuja. Na for di same church wia im wife also be one of di lead singers bifor she die. Dem born Peter for Omaboma, for Nnewi South, inside Anambra state, South East of Nigeria.. Pesin wey dey close to am, Doctor Felix Onyimadu tell BBC say na Okekenwa dem name Peter Nwachukwu wen dem born am. Dr Onyimadu add am say im no too sabi many tins about Peter becos im name no dey for dia register. But report tok say Peter dey above 50 years for age. Na for one choir ministration im meet Osinachi bifor dem two marry. Nigeria police arrest Peter Nwachukwu, afta di death of di popular gospel artiste wey be im wife, Osinachi. Na di FCT Police tok tok pesin DSP Josephine Adeh confam di arrest to BBC Pidgin. She add say dem bin dey run investigation for di mata go court and now court don give judgement. Wetin to sabi about Osinachi Nwachukwu Di singer bin dey in her forties wen nshe die for Abuja. Bifor her death, Osinachi na singer, songwriter wey becom veri popular for her song Ekwueme wey be collabo she do wit singer Prospa Ochimana. Di hit gospel song bin get ova 71 million views for Youtube. Osinachi don feature for songs like Nara Ekele by Pastor Paul Enenche and Ema You no dey use me play and also release new song wey she title God of all power. She dey usually sing for di Igbo language wey pipo from Nigeria southeast dey speak. Osinachi leave behind her husband and her four children. Some pipo bin describe her voice as angelic and say e touch dem wella.
BBC News
25-04-2025
- BBC News
Why Catholic priests don become top targets for kidnappers?
Betwin di month of March and April 2025, at least six Catholic priests and seminarians don fall victim of kidnapping across Nigeria. At least two of dem don kpai from di attacks. Di latest incident happen on Thursday, April 24, wen jaguda pipo attack St Gerald Quasi Parish for Kurmin Risga community, Kauru Local Goment Area of Kaduna State, and kidnap Rev Fr Ibrahim Amos wey be di priest in charge. Di attack happen around 12.15 am on Thursday. However, by Friday morning, di Chancellor of Kafanchan Diocese, Fr Jacob Shanet, announce say Fr Amos don regain im freedom. While dis na good news, Fr Syvester Okechukwu, anoda priest wey bandits bin kidnap for Kaduna State on Ash Wednesday, bin no dey dat lucky. Police recover im deadi bodi di following day, March 5. Also, on March 3, for Edo State, jaguda pipo bin attack St. Peter Catholic Church Iviukhua-Agenebode, Etsako East Local Goment Area, and kidnap di priest Philip Ekweli and di seminarian wey dey live wit am, Andrew Peter. Ten days later, dem release di priest afta dem kpai di seminarian. March 23, kidnappers snatch Fr. John Ubaechu wey dey in charge of Holy Family Catholic Church for Oguta, Imo State, as e dey attend one priests retreat. Fortunately dem release am afta three days. On dat same March 23, police announce say dem rescue anoda Catholic Priest, Fr Stephen Echezona wey be parish priest of St. Augustine's Catholic Church Ichida, Anambra State, who jaguda pipo bin kidnap as e dey buy fuel for petrol station on March 22. Di Anambra Police say dem rescue di priest for Ihiala, wey be one of di hot spots for insecurity for di State. One report by di Vatican news say about 145 Catholic priests don dey kidnapped for Nigeria between 2015 and 2025. 11 of dem die. So wetin dey ginger dis rising attack on Catholic priests in Nigeria? Oga Aliyu Umar, wey be sabi pesin on top security matter, tell BBC Pidgin say dis trend na reflection of "wider societal breakdown". "Religious leaders dey often perceived as soft targets: unarmed, deeply respected, and sometimes pipo dey think say dem get access to institutional resources wey make them valuable for ransom demands," Umar tok. Again be say di presence of state security operatives dey more focused on di urban areas than di rural communities wia dis attacks dey happen more. "Di centralization of security efforts for state capitals no longer dey sufficient. Rural and peri-urban areas wia many of dis incidents dey occur remain dangerously under-policed," oga Umar tok. Di Catholic church for Nigeria get policy say dem no go pay any ransom to secure di release of any of dia priest wey dem kidnap. Bishop John Namawzah Niyring of Kano Diocese bin explain dis for one interview in 2018. "If we start to dey pay money bicos dis priest or dat sister don dey kidnapped, di Church no go fit handle am bicos our Church workers dey for evri community. If you redeem di first person, den dem take di second pesin and den anoda pesin, wia you go get di money? Dat na di reason." However, one Father wey tok to BBC Pidgin unda anonymity say sometimes di family of di priest dey engage wit di abductors and dem go pay di ransom. "Even though di priest belong to di church and di church dey responsible for im welfare, na still somebody pikin e be, and you no go blame im parents and family members if dem run around to raise money to pay di kidnappers," di Fada tok. For Aliyu Umar, di security expert wey tok to BBC Pidgin on top dis matter, di solution to dis na di same solution to improve security generally for di kontri. E say di goment suppose adopt "a more decentralized and proactive security framework". "One key step na to establish local security alert and response teams for evri local goment area, no be just for di state capitals. Dis teams go dey embedded within di communities wia dem dey serve, and dem go dey better equipped to identify threats early, respond fast-fast, and build trust wit local populations," Umar tok. "Church authorities and community leaders must to also invest in early warning systems, more discreet travel protocols, and beta communication channels." But di ogbonge long-term solution according to oga Umar "na to address di root causes: poverty, unemployment, and systemic governance failures, wey dey continue to fuel desperation and crime".
