PEN PRESS UDUS

10/05/2026

INSIDE UDUS: SU-CTC Expands FYB Week to Six Days, Restores Cultural Day After Finalists React to its Substitution

Rufai Abdulbasit Adeyinka reports,

The Student Union Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC), through the Office of the Social Welfare Director, has issued a revised notice on its page addressing complaints from students, particularly finalists over the earlier decision to replace Cultural Day with an Owanbe-themed celebration during the 2026 Final Year Brethren (FYB) Week.

Recall that on May 5 2026, the Union released a circular announcing the substitution of the traditional Cultural Day with an Owanbe-themed event. The move drew mixed reactions from the student body, prompting the Union to release a follow-up notice on May 10 2026 clarifying its position and unveiling an updated programme schedule.

According to the revised notice, the 2026 FYB Week has been extended from five to six days in a bid to ensure finalists enjoy a more engaging and inclusive celebration. The confirmed themes for the first five days are: Corporate Day, Jersey Day, Costume Day, Cultural Day, and Arabian Day.

For the sixth day, finalists will vote to select their preferred event from three options : Owanbe Day, Denim Day, or Colour Fest, with the highest-voted theme adopted as the official closing celebration.

The circular urged finalists to participate actively in the voting process and choose an option that best reflects their collective interests, while expressing appreciation for their cooperation in making FYB 2026 memorable.

In an interview with Pen Press UDUS, the Social Welfare Director, Fatimah Zahra Muhammed, explained that the schedule adjustments were made in direct response to student feedback.

“We noticed that many students were opposed to the initial development because Cultural Day was excluded. But now it has been included. However, interested students who want to explore different programmes can participate on the sixth day,” she said.

She added that the notice was intended to de-escalate tensions surrounding the controversy, but noted that deliberations on the voting mechanism are still underway.

“We are yet to reach a conclusion on the voting procedure because if polls or the comment section are used, they may be flooded with non-qualified voters. Nonetheless, the procedure will be communicated to the public very soon,”she stated.

She encouraged finalists to remain patient, assuring them that the Union's priority remains safeguarding the interests of the majority.

07/05/2026

How a Missing Certificate Exposed What Nigeria Really Thinks of Its Graduates

By Rufai Abdulbasit Adeyinka,

Earlier this morning, while scrolling through Facebook, I came across an image where someone’s degree certificate was being used to sell beans cake popularly known as Akara among the Yorubas.

In my opinion, this act that reflects a disturbing disregard for the value of education in Nigeria.

The second-class upper certificate belongs to one Kaka Ibrahim Monisola, a 2022 graduate of Computer Science from Olabisi Onabanjo University.

Initially, I intended to write about how Nigerians are dismissing the importance of education because many graduates are without jobs. We have failed to understand the fundamental difference between education and occupation.

This lack of understanding might have caused such act, if the owner of the certificate had consented to such use. Of course, education does not guarantee employment and this differentiate it from occupation.

However, I later came across another post from an Islamic-centered page, appealing to the public to help locate a missing certificate that had been misplaced in a bus.

To my surprise, the Certificate belonged to the same woman whose certificate was used to serve akara in the earlier post. This changed my perspective on the subject.

But soon after, it struck me that my message still holds relevance, because the usage of the certificate without the owner’s knowledge paints a disturbing picture of this country.

Many Nigerian believes that education is a scam, they think schooling is a waste of time. Hustling, especially through fraudulent means has been positioned as the ultimate part to success. But such thinking is deeply flawed.

We go to school to be educated. And education goes beyond certificates, it is about understanding how things work, acquiring skills, developing the ability to adapt, improvising when necessary, and responding intelligently to the demands of society. Occupation, on the other hand, refers to employment, earning a living through a job. Where many Nigerians have gone wrong is in expecting education to automatically translate into employment.

Education equips you to create opportunities, not merely to wait and exploit existing ones. Unfortunately, many educated Nigerians focus only on seeking opportunities rather than creating them. When a few hands create opportunities for a vast population, the system becomes strained.

Eventually, even those limited opportunities may collapse under pressure from the overwhelming number of people seeking them. We often blame the government for failing to provide jobs. While such criticism may be justified, it is unrealistic to expect any government to create jobs for everyone. Even in a perfect system, not everyone will be employed.

Nonetheless, going to school is different from acquiring education. Many Nigerians attend school but never truly embrace education. Being educated means understanding the realities of your environment, recognizing the limitations of the job market and preparing yourself accordingly. It means developing skills, identifying societal needs, and positioning yourself before graduation.

It also means acknowledging that some courses may no longer align with current economic demands, and making informed decisions accordingly. It is understanding that while a certificate may help secure a job, especially in the public sector, it is not the ultimate goal.

The true value of education lies in the knowledge and capacity it gives you, the ability to create, innovate, and build something meaningful, limited only by your imagination.

In conclusion, being educated also reflects in one’s conduct. It's knowing that finding someone’s lost property, especially sensitive documents like certificate demands responsibility.

The proper course of action is to report to the appropriate authorities, such as the police. Ignorance is never a defense, being in possession of someone else’s property, let alone using it improperly, can attract legal consequences.

Photo credit : Quran daily

07/05/2026

Beyond the Khaki: How Two UDUS Alumni Turned NYSC Service Into ₦2 Million Community Solutions

By Luqman Kamaldeen Oladayo

For every corp member, the goal is simple– serve Nigeria. However, for some alumni of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, the aim goes beyond service to proffering solutions to grassroot problems in their host communities.

While surviving the ups and downs that come with the National Youth Service Corps, these alumni were, in addition, committed to solving problems that matter in their respective host communities through the help of NaijaSolve.

NaijaSolve is a nongovernmental organization that began its roadmap and operation in April 2025 with the aim of transforming community challenges into funded solutions by empowering everyday Nigerians with funding, mentorship and support to solve problems ranging from: water, school fees, hospital bills, or jobs in their local community.

The initiative aims to be the Gofundme for Community Development for Nigeria, where passionate change makers propose a solution, commit to 10% of the total cost of the solution, get the local community to commit 10% while NaijaSolve mobilises the remaining 80% of funding to complete it.

For the year 2026 edition, the NaijaSolve NYSC Impacts Challenge received 268 applications across the 36 States and and the Federal Capital with only 25 selected finalists who in the next 3 months would commit to execute their ideas, tackling real challenges, while working closely with communities and building solutions that create lasting impacts.

Abdulrasheed Abdulkareem Akere, a graduate of UDUS from the department of Education Biology is one of the beneficiaries for the 2026 challenge. At first, he battled challenges of self doubt because of the population of NYSC serving corps members that are eligible to apply and feared futile efforts.

He, however, recounted how his mentor, Muhammad Adeyemi’s everlasting advice kept crossing his mind that “if you don't apply, you can't win,” which later influenced his application.

With his idea “Hope Sits in Classroom”, he aims to ensure that every student sits conveniently in the classroom to learn. This reflects his belief that young students are the future of Nigeria.

While speaking with Pen Press UDUS, Akere expressed his dissatisfaction about the situation of the students’ environment when he visited the school.

He disclosed that he saw students receiving lessons on foot, while others hung around the window side.

“ I promised myself to not be a Corp member who contributes nothing to the community where he serves. I’m also determined to leave a good impression that I can hold on to even after national service,”

Another beneficiary of the naijasolve grant, Abubakar Maje Nasir, a graduate of the department of Botany, UDUS, was inspired to apply by the challenges he observed in his host community– the lack of access to clean and safe drinking water.

Being a serving corps member of the Dorayi Masallaci community, he didn't only see but experience how this problem affects health, hygiene and even school attendance.

This prompted him to raise alarm as to the urgent need for a reliable and sustainable water supply.

“When I learned about the NaijaSolve Impact Challenge, I saw it as an opportunity to turn this challenge into a practical solution and create a lasting impact,” he recalled.

However, his encounter to solve local challenges in collaboration with NaijaSolve did not stop at the moment he developed a problem solving idea.

The main adventure, for him, came from developing a realistic and impactful plan that stood out from the crowd. He credits his eventual success to proper research, consulting experienced individuals and continuously refining his proposal.

Beyond Degree Certificates

Abdulrasheed Akere and Abubakar Nasir did not just graduate and bagged degrees from UDUS. Their disciplines and experience came handy to the exceptionality that led to their victory.

For Abdulrasheed, who studied Education Biology and had been to classrooms to teach several times. He holds that understanding classroom management is an indispensable key to effective teaching and learning process.

His discovery sparked the zeal to address the educational problem swiftly, resonating with the idea of the organization which makes his project worthy of selection.

“As an experienced journalist, the way I filled the application form would be different from others. I believe storytelling is cogent to how ideas are communicated,” he said.

Adding that his journalism experience played a significant role in the application processes and the subsequent commitments to the project.

On the other hand, Abubakar’s background in botany largely contributes to his victory. The knowledge he acquired in school helped him understand environmental sustainability and the importance of natural resources management.

To implement the projects, beneficiaries have weeks which, according to the guidelines given by the sponsor, NaijaSolve, should not exceed eight weeks.

Akere's project involves renovation of a classroom at Government Day Secondary School (GDSS) Kofai in Ardo-Kola Taraba State, provision of chairs and desks and white marker board for the classroom.

He considers the project as unique for its timely approach to solve pressing problems. Beyond the challenges he had faced with furnishing out the right information about the current situation of the school, he could still see the enthusiasm that was shown by the school management to welcome and support the project.

Abubakar’s proffered solution, on the other hand, is to embark on the journey of making a solar-powered borehole available in his host community, as such would be environmentally friendly and cost-effective in the long run.

“For implementation, I plan to work closely with professionals for drilling and installation, involve the community for support and ownership, and ensure proper monitoring to guarantee sustainability,” he stated.

Akere concluded by encouraging everyone who applied and took part in the challenge but was not selected to keep giving their best and hope for the best as rejection is not the end, but a message that strengthens future application.

“He who fears to be rejected may not be selected,”he concluded.

07/05/2026

UPDATE: Nigerian Languages Releases Second Semester Lecture Timetable, Changes Carryover Course codes

©Pen Press

The Department of Nigerian Languages in the Faculty of Arts has officially released the second semester lecture timetable and drawn the attention of students to changes affecting some carryover courses.

In the timetable signed by the examination officer, Dr. M.M Umar, it was stated that those carryover courses have the same course content but different course codes. Concerned students are advised to note those affected courses—students offering ALH 201B are required to attend HUA206 lectures; ALH 204B are required to attend UDUS-HAU212 lectures likewise ALU 205B are required to attend HAU204 lectures.

07/05/2026

Late Doku Strike Saves City, Arsenal’s Hopes Boosts

By: Rufai Abdulbasit Adeyinka

Manchester City pushed for a late 3–3 draw against Everton, a result that makes Arsenal more hopeful in the Premier League race.

Pep Guardiola’s side, it was a night of frustration and resilience, as he now sits five points behind the leaders. While City still hold a game in hand, the dropped points tighten the pressure as the campaign edges toward its climax.

The match, which could have strengthened City’s position in the title race if they had won, instead saw them settle for just one point. This also eases the pressure on Arsenal, who maintain their lead despite City’s outstanding fixture.

But the contest turned sharply after the interval.

Everton emerged with renewed intensity, flipping the script in a chaotic 15-minute spell. Thierno Barry drew the hosts level in the 68th minute before Jake O’Brien put them in front just five minutes later. Barry then struck again in the 81st minute to complete his brace, leaving City staring at a damaging defeat.

To their credit, City refused to fold.

Erling Haaland reduced the deficit almost immediately in the 83rd minute, injecting belief into the visitors. And deep into stoppage time, Doku scored his second goal of the match to complete the comeback and secure a late equaliser for the city.

Yet, for all the late heroics, the bigger picture will concern the City.

While the late equaliser showcased City’s resilience, the draw could prove costly. With Arsenal holding a five-point lead and just three matches remaining, the title race is now firmly in their hands. Even if City won all four of their remaining fixtures, Arsenal would secure the title by winning their final three games.

For Guardiola’s men, it is a result that feels more like two points dropped than one gained, one that could ultimately define their season.

06/05/2026

Blues in Freefall: Forest Punish Chelsea 3–1 to Deepen Champions League Woes

Rufai Abdulbasit Adeyinka reports,

Nottingham Forest thrashed Chelsea Football Club at Stamford Bridge, dealing a heavy blow to the Blues’ hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.

On Monday, 4 May 2026, at 3:00 p.m. (Lagos time), Chelsea hosted Forest but slumped to a 3–1 defeat, marking their sixth consecutive Premier League loss.

Chelsea, who recently parted ways with their coach Liam Rosenior following a poor run of results and are now under interim guidance, endured yet another damaging setback. Taiwo Awoniyi proved decisive, punishing the hosts with a clinical brace.

Forest opened the scoring in the 8th minute as Awoniyi rose to head home into the left corner, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance. The visitors doubled their lead 11 minutes later from the penalty spot, making it 2–0.

Chelsea had an opportunity to respond just before half-time after being awarded a penalty, but Cole Palmer failed to convert, denying the hosts a route back into the contest.

Early in the second half, Awoniyi struck again in the 58th minute with a composed finish to extend Forest’s lead to 3–0. Chelsea pulled one back late on through a stunning bicycle kick from João Pedro, but it served only as a consolation as the match ended 3–1.

The result leaves Chelsea 9th on the Premier League table, 10 points adrift of the 5th-placed side with just three matches remaining, further denting their chances of Champions League qualification.

However, according to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea could still qualify under specific conditions: if Aston Villa finish 5th and win the Europa League, and if the Blues secure at least two wins from their remaining fixtures to climb to 6th.

It is shaping up to be a long and difficult season for Chelsea.

06/05/2026

Saka the Hero as Arsenal Edge Atletico to Reach Historic Champions League Final

Aminullahi Jamiu

Bukayo Saka struck the decisive goal as Arsenal FC secured a 1–0 victory over Atlético Madrid at the Emirates Stadium, booking their place in the UEFA Champions League final for the first time in two decades.

With the semi-final finely balanced at 1–1 from the first leg in Spain, Saka delivered the breakthrough just before half-time, sealing a 2–1 aggregate triumph for Mikel Arteta’s side.

The result caps a remarkable 24 hours for Arsenal, who have also seen the Premier League title race swing back in their favour following Manchester City’s 3–3 draw with Everton FC.

With fixtures against West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace remaining, the Gunners are firmly on course for their first league title in 22 years.

Having overcome Diego Simeone’s resilient Atlético side, Arsenal now turn their attention to the Champions League final in Budapest on May 30, where either Paris Saint-Germain or Bayern Munich awaits.

For Arteta and his players, the dream of a historic double is now within reach.

05/05/2026

UDUS Students Lament Hike in Sachet Water Prices, Call for Reform

For months, students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have been grappling with a steady and troubling rise in the price of sachet water, popularly known as “pure water.” What was once considered the most affordable and accessible source of drinking water on campus is gradually slipping out of reach for many.

The increase has been sharp and, for students, largely unexpected. A bag of sachet water that previously sold for N250 now goes for between N350 and N400, while a single sachet, once sold for as low as N20 or N30, is now priced at N50 in many parts of the campus.

In this report, Shero Abbas documents how shifts in the price of pure water has disrupted daily routines, strained limited student budgets, and forced many to seek alternatives that may not always be safe.

Read the full story on what students are facing on the hike in prices, reactions from sachet water producers, and call for the university management to implement price control measures.👇👇👇

By Shero Abbas For months, students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS) have been grappling with a steady and troubling rise in the price of sachet water, popularly known as “pure water.” What was once considered the most affordable and accessible source of drinking water on campus is ...

04/05/2026

INSIDE UDUS: SU-CTC Replaces FYB Cultural Day with Owanbe, Explains Reason

By Rufai Abdulbasit Adeyinka

The Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC), through the Office of the Social/Welfare Director, has announced the replacement of the traditional Cultural Day with an “Owanbe” celebration as part of activities for the forthcoming Final Year Brethren(FYB) Week.

This development was made known in a flyer released to the university community through Students’ Union page, particularly addressing final-year students, outlining plans for what has been described as a first-of-its-kind experience.

According to the flyer, the Owanbe event is designed to offer a unique and memorable celebration, and participants encouraged to begin early preparations in anticipation of the day.

It further specifes the dress code: Male finalists are expected to appear in black senator attire complemented with maroon caps, while their females are to adorn maroon lace fabrics paired with black head tie(gele).

Final-year students have also been advised to make adequate arrangements for their outfits and accessories ahead of the event.

The flyer added that details regarding other activities scheduled for the FYB Week will be communicated in due course.

In an interview with Pen Press correspondent, the Social and Welfare Director, Fatimah Zahra Muhammed explained that the “Owanbe” event is replacing the traditional Cultural Day because a larger cultural festival has been scheduled to take place shortly after the conclusion of the FYB Week. To avoid a repetition of similar events while leaving other creative options unexplored, it was decided to substitute the usual FYB Cultural Day with a different yet equally captivating celebration.

She assured students that the efforts and preparations made for the FYB Cultural Day would not go to waste, as participants can showcase their outfits during the Grand Cultural Day slated to hold immediately after the FYB Week.

“As I mentioned earlier, there is a scheduled Grand Cultural Day after the FYB Week, where anyone who prepared for the FYB Cultural Day can wear their outfits. Therefore, their preparations are not in vain.” she concluded.

03/05/2026

FACT-CHECK: Claim That Okon Shampson Scored 394 in 2026 UTME is False

By Shero Abbas

Claim:

An image of the jamb result has been circulating across social media platforms, originating from X (formerly Twitter). It claims that a 2026 UTME candidate, Okon Shampson, scored 394, with the following subject breakdown:Use of English: 96,Biology: 99, Physics: 99, Chemistry: 98

Verdict:

False! There is no evidence that Okon Shampson scored 394 in the 2026 UTME.

Full-Text:

On Saturday, April 25, 2026, an X user (formerly Twitter) identified as Okezie James shared a purported UTME result slip, claiming it belonged to Okon Shampson and celebrating her for allegedly achieving a remarkable score of 394 out of 400 in the 2026 UTME.

Okon Shampson is said to be an indigene of Cross River State in Nigeria’s South-South region and a candidate in the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). She was alleged to have scored 394 in the exam.

Verification:

Findings show that the claim is false and misleading. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially debunked the result, confirming that it is fabricated.

Reacting to the viral post, the spokesperson of JAMB, Dr. Fabian Benjamin, in a statement issued on Sunday, April 26, 2026, described the result as fake and urged members of the public to disregard it.

“A purported result slip currently being circulated, claiming that a candidate scored 394 in the 2026 UTME, is entirely fake. It is surprising that such a fabrication is being shared by otherwise well-informed Nigerians,” Dr. Fabian noted.

Conclusion:

The claim that Okon Shampson scored 394 in the 2026 UTME is false. An official response from JAMB confirms that the circulated result slip is fabricated and should be disregarded. This incident highlights the growing prevalence of fake UTME results circulating online.

03/05/2026

INSIDE UDUS: Students’ Union CTC Raises Concern Over Power Outage, Assures Immediate Restoration

Zainab Ismail reports,

The Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (CTC) of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), led by Comrade Tasiu Amimu, has addressed the persistent electricity challenges affecting students across the campus.

In a statement released to the student community, the Union acknowledged the widespread frustration caused by the unstable power supply, particularly during the recently concluded semester.

It noted that the outages have significantly disrupted students’ daily routines and academic activities, describing the situation as a serious concern.

The Union disclosed that it has been in continuous engagement with the university management and other relevant authorities since the issue began.

According to the statement, these discussions are focused on securing a prompt and sustainable solution to the problem.
It further revealed that efforts are already underway, with measures being implemented to restore stable electricity to the campus.

While no specific timeline was provided, the Union expressed confidence that normal power supply will be reinstated soon.

Reaffirming its commitment to student welfare, the leadership assured that the concerns of students remain a top priority. It also called on students to remain calm, peaceful, and law-abiding as work continues to resolve the situation.

The Union concluded by appreciating students for their patience, understanding, and cooperation during the period of disruption.