Indices have shown in recent years,how the credibility of examinations in Nigeria’s higher institutions has come under increasing scrutiny and doubts.

To a great extent, the skepticism is as a result of allegations of grading bias, and manipulations by lecturers.

Before now, all eyebrows seemed to be against students. They are perceived to be the only culprits in examination malfeasances, seeing they assume a role of the subordinates, and are mostly involved in cheating during exams, buying grades and other related malpractices.

However, as technology advances, particularly with the invention of computer-based tests (CBT) that allow for students, to write examination online and have their results uploaded via the same means, it is increasingly becoming necessary, to shift the searchlight against examination malpractices to the lecturers.

I speak today as a lecturers, who was once a student, but victimized through grading bias.

Years ago, I had reasons to join a host of others, to register our grievances about how our department handled the collation of our final result— the collations were taking longer than necessary, and many of my course mates were eager to go for NYSC deployment.

Long story made short, some of us who made that journey to school were victimized. Our grades were reduced, and as such we have continued to live with this trauma.

It is important I tell you that, there is an opportunity to ‘call for one’s papers’ in most Nigerian universities, however, such avenues are nothing but means for further frustration and victimisation of students. If anyone has ever scaled such rigour, then the percentage of those who have come out triumphant must be very infinitesimal.

In most of the cases, students who register dissatisfactions about their results or grades are humiliated and marked down during the remarking process.

Because of nativity that comes with adolescence, most students who have such issues prefer to be quite about it. They are spiraled into silence, knowing doing otherwise could spell doom.

It is not out of place, to say most of the lectures in our tertiary institution have assumed the position of the biblical principalities and powers. Many wield so much powers that, they can do and undo just anything, especially as it concerns students’ academic performances.

It is unfortunate that,an issue as mundane and irrelevant to academics as sex, is used against some unwilling students— a lecturer wants to take an undue advantage of a female student, before such student passes his course at all, or with good grade. What a sacrilege!

To address these challenges and enhance transparency and fairness,there is need for shifting from traditional pen-on-paper examinations to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) across Nigerian universities and colleges:

Curtailing lecturers’ manipulations, is paramount in the quest for academic transparency and integrity in Nigeria. The world had since moved from where most of our institutions now dwell. The days of submitting your examination scripts to a drug or alcohol-influnced lecturer are over. We must embrace the ease, speed and accuracy that technology accords.

With manual grading, the risk of biased marking, grade alterations, and even solicitation of favors (monetary or otherwise) is significantly higher. CBTs remove this vulnerability by automating the marking process for objective questions, reducing human interference, and ensuring that results are based purely on student performance.

The detection of the hitches in 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) organized recently by Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) is a testament to the fact that, our old grading patterns are indeed archaic and suppressive. Aside the technical glitches, which are easily detectable and amendable, JAMB deploying CBT method remains the best.

Furthermore,for our institutions to score high in objectivity and fairness, candidates must be scored based on definitive algorithms, leaving little to no room for subjectivity– this can only be made possible by CBT.

Here, all students are assessed under the same conditions, and the same grading standards are uniformly applied. This gives equal opportunity, or a level playing field, where students’ efforts are the sole determinants of their grades, thereby restoring faith in the integrity of academic assessments.

While computers may not necessarily be able to take over all human activities, we must accept the fact that, they enhance productivity and the management of time.

No matter how smart and proficient a lecturer could be, the sight of over a hundred booklets of students during examination sends a wave across his/her spine. It is certain s/he wouldn’t be able to mark all scripts with the same zest, objectivity and speed.

Traditional examinations require a long marking period, during which scripts are often lost, misgraded, or intentionally manipulated.

In contrast, CBTs offer instant or much faster results, giving no room for tampering after submission. This rapid turnaround not only benefits students but also reduces the administrative workload on academic departments.

Nigerian institutions must embrace a paradigm shift, if they hope to remain competitive and prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce
Moving fully to CBT is not without its challenges. Infrastructure deficits, erratic power supply, and digital divide are real issues in many Nigerian institutions.

However, these challenges are surmountable. Government investment, public-private partnerships, and phased implementation can bridge the gap.

Moreso, while objective questions are easier to grade via CBT, strategies must be developed to accommodate essay-type assessments and practicals. Hybrid models that incorporate both automated testing and supervised evaluations could serve as a balanced approach during the transition phase.

Let me close by emphasising that transitioning from pen-on-paper examinations to CBT in Nigerian higher institutions, is not just a technological upgrade — it’s a fundamental reform to restore integrity,fairness and transparency in the academic system. It is an easy avenue for the elimination of opportunities for lecturers manipulations.

CBT stands as a crucial tool in transforming Nigeria’s education sector into one that truly rewards merit and prepares students for a digital future.
What stops institutions, including JAMB from conducting CBTs where students results are displayed immediately the SUBMIT button is clicked?

Okunlegbe John T is a lecturer and a Pastor. He writes from Ilorin, Kwara state.

By Prince Bolarin Friday Ogungbemi

Dear His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, I greet you and I say well done sir.

I feel highly obligated to write this open letter to warmly address you as a brother and leader whom I cherish. Your Excellency, your one year in office has been one of the most peaceful time in the Kogi State in recent past, no labour crisis, no political crisis and our people could go to bed without much fears in their hearts. We give kudos to your style and pattern of administration these are resounding successes sir.

I am not unaware of the enormous demands of your office but as a concerned citizen, I feel like sharing my thoughts and reasoning with you knowingly that the task of governing people entails a lot of intricacies that cannot be imagined sometimes, the assignment of piloting the affairs of the state.

The people of the State are wonderful people to have entrusted you with their socio-economic cum political fate.

Your Excellency, your initial steps and actions so far taken have endeared you to the people of the state. Don’t lose focus, but be prepared, be determined, be resolute, be honest and please try to jettison solidarity campaigners who are after money or other largesse and are greed.

My dear brother and friend, God has given you a golden opportunity to distinguish yourself and write your name in gold on the sand of time.

Your Excellency, I join your numerous supporters, admirers who collectively and individually put in their best to ensure you succeed, I urge you not to lose focus sir.

Your Excellency, you are widely acknowledged as an amiable and kind-hearted personality who is determined to change the narrative of the state positively.

Your emergence as governor in January, 2024 was divinely ordained by God perhaps to come and right the wrongs of the past and correct the mistakes of previous administrations.

I pray for you that may God give you the grace, the heart, the courage and the opportunity to fix Kogi State in no distant time.

Suffice to say, expectations are very high today, hope are rising, and tension induced as there is a ray of light of hope showing over the state.

My leader, you are a man of history and destiny, I crave your indulgence not to change your current policy on the timely payment of salary to all sectors in the state as you are currently setting a record now that may be very difficult to beat in the nearest future.

Your Excellency, my main point of discussion in this letter is the issue of Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan’s attempt recall exercise, I want to advise that it would have been an unnecessary and avoidable challenges and a burden to your administration as your government and the people from the Kogi Central Senatorial District where incidentally you are from are not having any issues against her. I, therefore view it as a needless effort to begin to think of recalling her from the Senate today sir.

The republican nature of the Kogi State people is not just what anybody will ignore just like that, the large number of unheard voices will stand up against your position without minding the consequences of their actions.

I therefore urge you not to go into any contest to test your popularity now against Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, the people from Kogi Central may do otherwise to your disadvantage should the recall exercise continued, which can eventually provoke the other side of you as a human being, sir this is needless and avoidable.

First and foremost, is Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan having any issues against your government or your person? Secondly, has she been hard on your government, I mean critical of your administration policies and programmes?

Thirdly, is she having a very friendly posture towards your person and affairs?

Your Excellency, the provisions in the Constitution and in INEC regulations and guidelines for recall exercise is so cumbersome to accomplish for recall exercise, therefore, I am using this opportunity to appeal you to never to get involved in such an exercise.

Your Excellency, I personally would encourage you to continually to build on the goodwill you are already having with the people so that it gets strong and stronger by the day sir.
My Governor, leadership is the ability to influence people towards the accomplishment of goals.

His Excellency sir, a school of thought opines that leadership is everyone’s business, it is an issue that affects all of us. Not only are we affected by it, but also we are all called upon to exercise it. Whether we are involved in leading in government or business, guiding young minds, leading a family, we must standup for what is right at all times. Everyone has a leadership role to play, as we are each entrusted into many different leadership roles time and again throughout our lives.

We are each called upon to be custodians of what is right and good; for things lasting and of value for those in our care. This is because a true leader does not tamper with individual freedom, choice, accountability and responsibility.

My brother, as an ideal leader, you must practice self-restraint, develop character, integrate discipline and practice love and respect for other people. This will promote self-leadership at all levels of the society. This will equally enhance -leadership environment where all are empowered and working towards the good of the whole, because it is in the best interest of all.

My dear governor, there is no doubt about it that you will made your marks in the sand of time, the journey has just started, you will serve the people well enough to some reasonable extent and by your human capacity. I implore you to still improve on your performance for prosperity’s sake.

Your Excellency, I make bold to say that I have friends in your administration who I have a lot of respect for and I equally admire them and in their interests I will do their biddings in your interests.

Few among them is the Deputy Governor His Excellency Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu, Comrade Onuh Edoka, the Special Adviser on Labour Matters, Comrade Dr. Ojo Ranti, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, my brother Comrade Tade Adeyemi the former NULGE President and even the current NULGE President Comrade Sanusi Salawu Inyanya who are all your great lovers and supporters. Therefore your success becomes paramount to me.

Your Excellency, it will be a disservice to you and your administration if I do not bring this to your notice. Your administration does not have a good working relationship with Media Practitioners in Kogi State.

Fourteen months into your administration’s forty-eight months first tenure, you are yet to meet the media professionals covering the state for a chat or personal interaction as was the tradition with previous administrations.

The interaction with journalists in Kogi State guarantees and enables you to feel the pulse of the polity as feedback for the policies and programmes of your administration while at the same time providing you insights into the popularity of your leadership’s effort to develop the state distinctively.

For the records Sir, the Special Adviser on Media Mr. Ismaila Isah has been very fair and friendly and forthcoming in bridging communication gaps between the government and the Media and in most cases, pleading for understanding among media practitioners in the state for obvious and perceived inadequacies.

The former Media Consultant under your predecessor, Former Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello’s administration, Dr (Mrs) Yemi Kolapo played a great role in resuscitating the once cold relationship and normalcy was restored but in the last five months, there’s been a relapse to morbid state.

Your Excellency, efforts will be made by these fair-weather friends to polarize your leadership and to create schism among your group and lieutenants in the state. They should ordinarily help to reconcile people with your esteemed self. But because of their selfishness and self centeredness they will not want you to be reconciled with those known leaders in the State.

My dear brother and leader, as the governor of the state you must begin to re-design the objectives of your administration to make more friends.

Your Excellency, your success is our pride. Please always think about when you will be out of office at the expiration of your tenure in office in 2028 or in 2032 as the case may be, how many of them will be with you thereafter?

Oliver Wendell Holmes once said that, “there are three types of people: the people who make things happen, the people who watch what’s happening and the people who haven’t the slightest idea of what’s happening.

The state has never before, been in dire or pressing need for good leadership than now. God has brought you out to rewrite the history of Kogi State for good.

Your Excellency, leadership is not obtained just for position sake, or for money or authority alone but from what you provide for the people. It is what we call or ascribe as leadership, this occurs when people decide for themselves that they are going to follow the direction, the guidance and the vision of someone’s else, they emulate, admire and think about. Do not let the sycophants to deter you of your earlier vision and mission for the state.

Your Excellency, governance is a serious business and only the serious minded ones should venture near it.

God does not impose responsibility without granting commensurate wherewithal to discharge it.

To my compatriots, we all therefore must not cease in praying for God’s guidance and direction so that you will not trample your feet against the numerous stones or traps the enemies have strewn on your pathway.

Before I conclude, my dear leader, I think you should see this opportunity as a chance to right the wrongs of the past not by marginalizing others or groups of people or ethnic groups but to do justice to all manners of people in the state.

The import of this write-up is to implore you to quickly intervene where it is necessary before it is too late. This masterpiece is put together in good fate.

Your Excellency, I wish to crave your indulgence to listen to the various voices of reasoning and jettison those with self-seeking interest and parochial thinking. Sir, I do not know if there will be another opportunity for me like this to have the luxury of time to once again write you so long a letter on this issue of good governance.

Finally, Your Excellency, we cannot but commend your wisdom and efforts in piloting Kogi State to the promised land, while we wish you a crisis free tenure ahead. We equally wish to encourage you to articulate the challenges and prospects of the state as an entity and constitute necessary committees to face those challenges headlong and to tackle them frantically when it is necessary. I use this medium to express my sincere appreciation for all the positive decisions thus far taken by your administration.

Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo sir, you are a man who has chosen the path of honour, a man of character, the hero of our time, I am proud of your personality and charisma, a kind hearted leader among leaders, wishing you more success in the onerous assignment that you have committed yourself to do.

To our compatriots – Kogites, I urge you all to support Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, because he means well and he his doing well, I am also encouraging you the governor to continue this good work and become the pride of his generations.

Your Excellency Sir, wishing you success in your efforts to take Kogi State to higher heights.

Thanks for taking your time patiently to read through this lengthy letter, I wish that God should give you the special grace and enablement to be able to read between the lines and take the right steps.

My regards Sir.

Prince Bolarin Friday Ogungbemi
Publisher, The Policy & Lawmakers Magazine
08036797363, 08053125911

The celebration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s one-year anniversary in office was a memorable event that brought together high-profile dignitaries, including Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello.

This gathering was a testament to Governor Ododo’s widespread popularity and acceptance among the people of Kogi State.

In his address, Governor Ododo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the development of Kogi State, highlighting key policies designed to propel his vision for advanced New Direction of Continuity, Consolidation, and Accelerated Strategic Development of the State.

The Governor’s people-oriented policies and visionary leadership have earned him the love and admiration of the people, who are eager to see the continued transformation of Kogi State.

Over the past year, Governor Ododo’s administration has made significant strides in various sectors, including infrastructure development, healthcare, education, and economic empowerment.

The Governor’s focus on grassroots development and inclusive governance has fostered a sense of unity and progress among the people of Kogi State.

One of the key areas where Governor Ododo’s administration has excelled is in the area of security. The Governor has prioritized the safety and security of citizens, collaborating with law enforcement agencies, community engagement, and technology-driven solutions to reduce crime rates and create a safer environment.

As Governor Ododo’s administration continues to drive progress and development in Kogi State, it is essential for the people to rally behind his vision. With the Governor’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of Kogi citizens and his dedication to excellence, the state is poised for even greater heights.

As we look forward to more shared prosperity for Kogi State, let us join hands to support Governor Ododo’s people-oriented policies and visionary leadership. Together, we can build a brighter future for our dear state.

Yahaya Shehu Ahmed is the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Digital Media to the Governor.