The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has advised candidates affected by the deletion of some computer-based test centres from the list of approved centres taking part in the ongoing unified tertiary matriculation examination, to print new slips containing the details of their rescheduled examinations.

A statement issued by JAMB and signed by the head of its public affairs and protocol unit, Fabian Benjamin, said the new slips have been made available on the examination body’s website since Sunday, June 20.

“Candidates, who were scheduled to take examination in delisted cantres can proceed to print their examination notification slips from Sunday, 20th, 2021 for their new schedule date and time,” the statement reads in part, adding that; “This applies only to centres delisted.”

Local media had reported the announcement of the deletion of 25 centres by JAMB due to what it described as their performance below the examination body’s “tolerable limit.”

JAMB, however, later said it regretted the inclusion of the centre at the Plateau State University, Bokkos, and said the affected centres were 24 and not the 25 as earlier claimed.

A statement announcing the body’s regret on the inclusion of the university’s centre was shared with journalists by Benjamin.

He wrote; “Correction with apology. The centres are actually 24 not 25. The inclusion of Plateau State University, Bokkos, is regrettable.”

The affected 24 centres are scattered across 11 states of the federation and the federal capital territory, FCT, Abuja.

In Lagos, the affected centres are Massino Computer CBT, Itoga, Badagry; IP Soft Technologies Ltd. Apapa, Lagos State; Institute of Criminal Justice and Criminology Administration, Festac Town; Sweet Valley Educational Services, Ikotun; Certified Institution of Shipping, Magbon, Badagry, and Al-Miyzan Schools CBT Centre, Ikotun.

The four affected centres in Kaduna State are; Bethel Baptist High School, Kujama; Zabib College, Unguwar Dosa; St. Albert Institute, Kafanchan, and Skolak Resources Ltd.

At the Federal Capital Territory, both the Government Secondary School, Garki, and GEF Systems Ltd located at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Dutse Junction, were listed.

The Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji, and King Emmanuel College ICT Centre, Ore, are affected in Ondo State while only the St Augustine’s Academy, Langtang, is listedin Plateau State.

Others include Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (Osun) Federal College on Education (Special), (Oyo); Aunty Alice Schools, Mararaba (Nasarawa); Harry Pass Polytechnic CBT Centre, Gboko, (Benue), and Izisco Obos Institute of Maritime Studies and Technology, Warri (Delta).

Meanwhile, the examination body has further announced that a total of 53 computer-based centres that are taking part in this year’s examination have been placed on a watch list.

The body said it would not hesitate to wield the big stick if the identified lapses should continue.

The affected centres include Ihechukwu Madubuike Institution of Technology, Abia State; Keme Gold Nigeria Limited, Akwa Ibom State; Bishop Evans Ibeagha Juniorate CBT Centre, Anambra State; Bauchi Institute for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Bauchi State, among others.

South Africa’s rand firmed on Monday as a rally in the dollar stalled following a surprise hawkish shift from the U.S. Federal Reserve last week.

The rand lost more than 4% against the dollar last week as the Fed brought forward its projections for interest rate increases, prompting a sell-off in emerging market currencies.

At 1500 GMT, the rand traded at 14.2425 against the dollar, 0.89% firmer than its previous close as the dollar retreated from two-month highs.

“Markets likely overreacted somewhat to the FOMC members dot plot elevation last week, and it is quite possible the rand, and other EM currencies see some further strength in (third quarter) 2021, as the US certainly is not about to hike interest rates, or taper QE, yet,” Annabel Bishop, chief economist at Investec, said in a note.

“Indeed, EM portfolio assets still offer good returns, and as such will likely remain attractive.”

In the equities market, stocks fell as investors of market heavy-weight Naspers trimmed their positions after a rally in morning trade.

The broader Johannesburg All-Share index ended the day 0.11% weaker at 65,563 points while the Top-40 index fell 0.05%.

Consumer internet company Naspers hit a session high of 3,088 rand in early trade after posting strong full-year results, but closed 0.33% weaker at 3,040 rand.

“In the afternoon it (Naspers) had a bit of some profit taking. The share has been weak for a long time so I think folks wanting to get out are selling on the bounces,” BP Bernstein Portfolio Manager Gerhard Parkiin said.

Naspers’ European tech company Prosus however held on to its gains, with the Johannesburg-listed shares up 1.22% to 1,429 rand after saying its e-commerce business grew revenues and shrank trading losses for the year that ended March 31.

Government bonds weakened, with the yield on the 2030 bond up 12.5 basis point to 9.085%.

Access Bank Plc has rewarded serving members of the Nigeria Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with over N15 million in its third edition of Access Bank Plc’s youth business challenge competition, Accesspreneur, which was held across five states of Nigeria recently.

The event, which held across five states, produced five top winners that won N1 million each while others were rewarded with consolation cash prizes totaling N10 million during the final business pitch.

The challenge took place simultaneously across five NYSC camps in Abuja, Osun, Enugu, Nassarawa and Rivers States.

Speaking on the initiative, Executive Director, Retail Banking, Access Bank Plc, Victor Etuokwu, said: “The challenge is aimed at promoting entrepreneurial aspirations among talented corp members.”

He added that so far, the competition has proven to have a great impact on youth empowerment in the country as more entries were received during the current challenge.

The pilot phase of the Accessprenuer challenge competition by Access Bank was in partnership with the NYSC Skills Acquisition & Entrepreneurship Development took place across three states (Ogun, Enugu and Abuja) in February this year.

The scheme was designed to train corps members on business plan writing, after which a competition will be held to select the top winners with bright and feasible business ideas within the mandatory 21-day Camp orientation exercise.

Board Chairman, Universal Basic education Commission (UBEC), Prof. Usman Kyuka, and the Executive Secretary of the commission, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, have commenced inspection of model schools being built nationwide by the commission.

This was contained in a statement by UBEC’s head of public relations and protocol, David Ejika Apeh, on Sunday, in Abuja.

At one of the sites in Karshi, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, the chairman noted that the commission was happy with the level of work done and “before the end of the year, majority of the schools will be delivered.”

Kyuka noted the determination of the Federal Government to bring education close to the Nigerian children with the latest technology available.

On his part, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, Dr. Hamid Bobboyi said the model schools would consist of “pre-primary, primary school, JSS, ICT training hall and sports facilities.”

He stated that “model 1”, divided amongst the geo-political zones would be sited in Imo, Bauchi, Edo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Lagos states and the FCT.

The “model 2” schools, according to him, would be sited in Benue, Adamawa, Kaduna, Niger, Borno, Kano, Sokoto, Anambra, Ebonyi, Akwa ibom, Cross River, Ekiti and Oyo states.

The National Consultant for the project, Mas’ud Abdulkarim, said going by the level of cooperation among the contractors handling the model schools, the project should be delivered before the stipulated dates.