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What 3 new electrical engineers sacrificed to top the board exam

In pursuit of becoming topnotchers, three graduates of the Cebu Institute of Technology-University (CIT-U) had to put leisure on hold, sacrifice gaming and outings, and push through personal challenges as they prepared for the September 2026 Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination.

Their sacrifices paid off as CIT-U once again produced the national No. 1, marking the third consecutive electrical engineering licensure examination in which the university produced a first placer.

Charles Anthony S. Santillan tied for first place nationwide with Dan Joel Monte de Leon of Palompon Institute of Technology, both posting a rating of 94.25 percent.

Two other CIT-U graduates also made it to the national top 10. Kienth Vincent E. Oracion placed third with 93.55 percent and Niño Louie P. Verame ranked sixth with 93.05 percent.

The three shared their experiences during a press conference at the CIT-U Wall of Fame Library on Wednesday, September 16, where they talked about their preparation, sacrifices, motivations, and plans after obtaining their licenses.

For Santillan, the review period meant cutting back on gaming and turning down outings with family and friends to concentrate on his goal.

He said the pressure largely came from himself, particularly after being named CIT-U’s King of Engineers, but he used that pressure as motivation rather than allowing it to distract him.

Santillan, a summa cum laude graduate who studied at CIT-U from junior high school through senior high school, also developed an application to help with his studies. He had previously represented the school in regional and national quiz competitions.

He said aspiring examinees should establish a clear plan, set milestones, and list their goals. Among the goals he wrote on a whiteboard was becoming the country’s No. 1 electrical engineering examinee.

Oracion, who graduated magna cum laude and also completed his senior high school education at CIT-U, likewise sacrificed his gaming time during the review period. He also deactivated his social media accounts to maintain his focus.

He said becoming a topnotcher was something he had hoped for, although he still felt nervous while taking the examination. He advised future examinees to find people who can help them through the review process.

‘Pangita og group o circles nimo. Helpful kaayo na mag-share mo sa knowledge,’ Oracion said.

Verame’s path to the top 10 was marked by a different set of challenges. While preparing for the examination, he was working as a photographer at the Minglanilla Municipal Public Information Office, while also dealing with family concerns.

His mother was undergoing dialysis and his father had pneumonia. Because of the challenges he faced, Verame was unable to take the April 2026 licensure examination and had to stop his review before eventually returning to prepare for the September examination.

Verame said his family was among his strongest motivations to continue. He said he wanted to help provide them with a better future, particularly after seeing the sacrifices made by his parents.

He also plans to continue serving the public, with a possible return to the local government unit of Minglanilla, this time as a licensed electrical engineer.

CIT-U’s College of Engineering and Architecture Dean Dr. Evangeline C. Evangelista said the university’s performance was supported by a program that identifies and develops potential topnotchers early in their academic journey.

‘Sugod pa lang gi-enhance na sila, gipili na kung kinsa ang possible topnotchers. Most of them are topnotchers,’ Evangelista said, pointing to the combined support of the university administration, department, and faculty.

She said the college also conducts Saturday sessions and peer mentoring, while its Learning Enhancement Program brings in additional support during students’ vacant periods.

In the Electrical Engineering Department, the ‘Teenabangay’ initiative allows students to serve as peer mentors through a system where those needing assistance can seek help, reflecting the program’s ‘no classmate left behind’ approach.

CIT-U said it has produced 786 topnotchers across its various licensure examination programs, including 96 national first placers. In electrical engineering alone, the university has produced the national No. 1 for three consecutive examinations.

For the September examination, 44 of CIT-U’s 84 electrical engineering examinees passed. Evangelista said 87 percent of the university’s first-time takers passed, with repeat examinees affecting the overall passing rate.

The university’s Electrical Engineering Department is headed by Engr. Lowell Ratilla, while Engr. Roberto P. Base Jr. serves as assistant dean of the College of Engineering and Architecture.

Engr. Genry Oñate, known as ‘Coach G’ to the three topnotchers, also joined the press conference. He is a CIT-U alumnus who placed among the topnotchers in the April 2011 Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination and is now a faculty member of the Electrical Engineering Department.

The Professional Regulation Commission reported that 1,676 of 3,399 examinees passed the Registered Electrical Engineers Licensure Examination administered by the Board of Electrical Engineering in 17 testing centers nationwide.

Cebu schools accounted for five of the national top 10. Aside from the three CIT-U graduates, Jeff Kepler Sombilon Teves of Cebu Technological University-Tuburan placed second with 94 percent, while Jeremiah Gecana Lausa of CTU-Main ranked ninth with 92.40 percent.

Santillan said he plans to join AboitizPower and render four years of service, while Oracion is considering either pursuing a career in the academe or working in a private company.

Verame said those preparing for the examination should find something that will keep them motivated, adding that his own motivation came from his desire to give his parents a better future.

He also vowed to continue doing what he loves as he moves forward as a licensed engineer

DOF adopts IMF-backed debt forecast tools

THE Department of Finance (DOF) is moving to institutionalize new macroeconomic and public-debt forecasting tools developed with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to improve its capacity to assess economic scenarios and guide fiscal policy.

In its technical assistance report for the Philippines, the IMF said the DOF will integrate the use of the Comprehensive Adaptive Expectations Model (CAEM) into its Forecast and Policy Analysis System.

The CAEM is an Excel-based macroeconomic projection tool that integrates data management, model assumptions, sectoral projections and reporting features in a comprehensive framework for macroeconomic forecasting.

Its design ensures consistency across different sectors-real, fiscal, external, and monetary-allowing for general-equilibrium feedback and consistent scenario analysis, the IMF said.

The technical assistance will also expand the DOF’s use of the IMF’s Public Debt Dynamic Tool to strengthen its capacity in forecasting and analyzing the dynamics of public debt.

The IMF recommended that the DOF’s core forecasting team publish formal analytical reports after each official projection round, given the agency’s role in setting medium-term fiscal targets with other agencies through the Development Budget Coordination Committee.

This comes after the DOF sought technical assistance from the IMF in late 2022 to develop and institutionalize a comprehensive macroeconomic forecasting tool that would complement its existing forecasting and policy-analysis capabilities.

The IMF and DOF subsequently agreed on an action plan centered on strengthening technical capacity through hands-on training and developing a user-friendly macroeconomic projection tool.

‘High staff turnover a high risk for the project’

However, the IMF flagged the high staff turnover at the DOF as a key risk to the sustainability of the project.

‘Loss of core team members due to staff rotation risks delaying the implementation of the project and eroding the institutional knowledge of operating the CAEM. The probability and impact of this risk is considered high,’ the IMF said.

To address this, the IMF recommended integrating the CAEM into the DOF’s roster of forecasting tools and developing user manuals as part of the knowledge management system of the agency.

‘The collaboration with IMF in the development of CAEM and DDT provides valuable opportunities for DOF staff to exchange views with IMF staff economists on macroeconomic forecasts and policy analysis,’ the DOF said in the report.

The DOF said implementation of the modeling tools and the IMF’s recommendations would be undertaken by individual offices based on their analytical needs, policy priorities and available institutional resources.

Oando gets shareholders approval for cross-border listings

A favourable resolution was given by shareholders at the 47th Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Oando Plc authorising the directors to effect the listing of the Company’s shares on other stock exchange(s) as they may deem fit (including cross-border listings).

The shareholders authorised the directors take all such steps, execute all such documents, and do all such things as may be necessary or expedient to give effect to and ensure full compliance with the listing requirements of any such stock exchange, subject to obtaining any regulatory approvals required under applicable law.

Also, at the meeting held on Thursday September 17, the shareholders received and approved the 2025 audited financial statements. The shareholders approved among others the amendment of the memorandum and articles of association of the company.

Oando Plc is listed on Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX) with secondary listing on Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), historically making history as the first African company to achieve a cross-border inward listing on the JSE back in 2005.

The company’s newest move is designed to enhance stock liquidity, optimise shareholder value, and provide seamless access for international investors as the energy group scales its operations.

‘Oando delivered a constructive H1 2026. The enlarged upstream asset base built around OMLs 60-63 is now converting into earnings and cash rather than simply adding volume. Revenue grew 19.9 percent year-on-year to N2.063trillion, led by a 28.7 percent rise in Exploration and Production revenue and a firmer price environment, with average realised crude at $79.22/bbl (up 19 percent) and gas at $1.78/Mscf (up 8 percent).

‘Gross profit rose 331 percent year-on-year to N101.2billion, lifting the gross margin by 354 basis points to 4.9 percent, and the Group swung from an operating loss of N158.7billion in H1 2025 to an operating profit of N127.8billion in H1 2026, the clearest evidence yet that the post-acquisition asset base is cash-generative.

‘Supply and Trading remained the Group’s dominant revenue source at N1.717 trillion, or 83.2 percent of external revenue, while Exploration and Production contributed N344.2billion, or 16.7 percent. Operating cash flow swung from an outflow of N357.5billion to an inflow of N110.0bilion over the same period,’ Coronation Research analysts said in their August 14 note on Oando’s half year (H1) performance.

While noting that financing costs are consuming most of what Oando Plc business generates, Coronation Research said, ‘Management’s N200bilion Rights Issue and $1.5billion multi-instrument issuance programme, both explicitly designed to substitute equity for debt, are the key catalysts to watch from here, and are likely to matter more to the share price over the next two quarters than the operating print itself’.

Insurance for All: Building a More Secure Future for Sri Lanka

With insurance penetration in Sri Lanka still relatively low, we have a broader responsibility that extends beyond simply growing our individual businesses. We have a duty to increase insurance awareness, expand access to insurance and strengthen financial protection for individuals and businesses. By doing so, we can contribute to the sustainable growth and resilience of the national economy.

As we mark National Insurance Month, 1 September, it is an opportune moment to reflect on a fundamental question: how can we make insurance more accessible, understandable and relevant to every Sri Lankan?

Insurance is often viewed simply as a product that protects a vehicle, property or business. Yet its purpose extends much further. At its core, insurance is about financial resilience-the ability of individuals, families and businesses to withstand unexpected events without putting their financial futures at risk.

This is particularly relevant for Sri Lanka. Economic pressures, natural disasters, changing climate-related risks and emerging threats continue to demonstrate how quickly an unexpected event can affect livelihoods and businesses. Building resilience therefore cannot begin after a crisis occurs. It must begin with preparedness.

Making insurance more inclusive

Sri Lanka’s insurance industry has continued to evolve, but there remains an important opportunity to extend meaningful insurance protection to a much broader section of society.

The ambition should not simply be to increase the number of policies sold. It should be to ensure that more Sri Lankans understand the risks they face and have access to protection that is relevant to their circumstances.

A young professional, a small business owner, a farmer and a large corporate organisation will all have very different risk profiles. Insurance inclusion therefore requires solutions that are accessible, flexible and designed around real customer needs.

Building financial

literacy and trust

Greater insurance inclusion must begin with greater financial literacy.

Insurance can sometimes appear complex, with technical terminology, conditions and different levels of cover. As an industry, we have a responsibility to communicate more simply and transparently, enabling customers to understand what they are protecting, why it matters and what their policy provides.

Importantly, our responsibility does not end when a policy is purchased. Insurance is ultimately judged when a customer experiences a loss and turns to their insurer for support. A fair, transparent and efficient claims experience is therefore fundamental to building trust in the industry.

Technology can also play an important role by making insurance easier to access, simplifying transactions and improving customer engagement. However, digital convenience must go hand in hand with human understanding and trust.

Preparing for a changing risk landscape

The risks facing Sri Lanka are evolving. Natural catastrophes, climate-related events, road accidents, business interruption, cyber threats and other emerging risks can have significant financial consequences.

This makes risk awareness increasingly important-not only for businesses, but for households and individuals as well.

The insurance industry, regulators, financial institutions, businesses and other stakeholders all have a role to play in strengthening this awareness. Creating a stronger insurance culture cannot be achieved through one campaign or one month; it requires sustained engagement throughout the year.

Ultimately, ‘Insurance for All’ should be viewed not simply as an aspiration to expand insurance coverage, but as a broader commitment to financial resilience.

If more Sri Lankans understand their risks, make informed decisions and have access to meaningful protection, we can help build stronger families, more resilient businesses and a more resilient economy.

As we begin National Insurance Month, this is an opportunity for the industry to challenge itself to listen more closely, communicate more clearly and innovate with purpose.

Because insurance is not simply about protecting what we have today. It is about giving individuals, families and businesses the confidence to face tomorrow with greater security.

MPs visit to Lubowa hospital blocked again

A parliamentary oversight visit to Lubowa International Specialised Hospital was yesterday blocked after the Leader of Opposition, Mr Joel Ssenyonyi and a team of Opposition MPs found the project’s gate locked despite clearance from the Ministry of Health.

Mr Ssenyonyi, accompanied by members of his shadow Cabinet and other MPs, had gone to the construction site to inspect the progress of the long-delayed 264-bed specialised referral, teaching and research hospital.

The MPs said they had notified the project contractor, Finasi-Ishu Construction SPV Limited, on September 9, of their intention to visit the site.

The project management sought guidance from the Ministry of Health, which directed that the legislators be given a guided tour.

In a September 15 letter, Health minister Dr Chris Baryomunsi directed the project manager to facilitate the MPs’ visit.

However, when the legislators arrived yesterday, they found the main gate locked and were unable to gain access to the construction site.

‘We arrived here with colleagues, shadow ministers and as you can see, the gate is locked. We were able to peep through the openings and we saw security officers pacing around on the phone,’ Mr Ssenyonyi said.

‘We thought maybe they would get guidance and clearance to open for us to access the facility, but that has not happened.’

The latest incident has revived concerns about Parliament’s ability to scrutinise the project, which has consumed substantial public resources since construction began in 2019.

Mr Ssenyonyi said this was not the first time MPs had been denied access to the facility, recalling that former Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng and other legislators also faced restrictions during the 11th Parliament.

He said the repeated denial of access raises questions about accountability for money allocated to the project.

According to Mr Ssenyonyi, government has so far injected about Shs1.5 trillion into the project, which was initially scheduled for completion in 2021, but has since suffered several delays.

‘When we made a lot of noise then and we came and they denied us access, they decided to put up some shell of a structure. When we came the other time, there was nothing. Now there is a bit of a shell, brick and mortar,’ he said.

He added: ‘Putting bricks and cement together cannot account for the trillion shillings invested. What is supposed to be here is a fully equipped specialised hospital.’

Mr Ssenyonyi said Parliament would continue demanding accountability for the funds committed to the project.

‘The challenge is this project is not accountable at all. You cannot be spending Shs1.5 trillion of taxpayers’ money, and you do not want to account for it,’ he said.

Wakiso District Woman MP Betty Ethel Naluyima said blocking legislators from accessing the facility undermines Parliament’s constitutional responsibility to monitor the utilisation of public resources.

Ms Naluyima said MPs are mandated to physically inspect government projects to establish whether public funds are being put to their intended use.

The shadow Minister for Internal Affairs, Mr Denis Sekabira, said continued delays in completing the hospital were costly to the country and could affect access to specialised healthcare.

The Lubowa hospital is intended to provide specialised services including cancer treatment, organ transplantation, cardiac, lung and kidney surgery and reduce the number of Ugandans travelling abroad for advanced medical treatment.

The hospital project has missed several completion deadlines. It was initially expected to be completed in June 2021, but the deadline was subsequently moved to 2022, then 2024, June 2026 and, most recently, December 2026.

Palace denies politics behind ?500-M Naga fund

MALACAÑANG slammed the alleged attempt of Caloocan 2nd District Rep. Edgar R. Erice to politicize the allocation of P500 million from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF) for the upgrading of the Naga City Stadium.

Erice had implied that the release of the funds for the project was an attempt by the Marcos administration to win over Naga City Mayor Maria Leonor ‘Leni’ Robredo as an ally.

Robredo ran against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in the 2022 presidential election but lost.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro called Erice’s statements ‘irresponsible,’ saying they were a ‘malicious’ attempt to twist the facts.

‘Let us not misinterpret the positive relationship being fostered between the national and local governments; not everything the national government does is driven by politics, unlike what they do,’ Castro said.

The Presidential Communications Office official stressed that Naga City was not the only local government unit that benefited from the LGSF.

‘Providing assistance to the local government should not be based on political affiliation; whatever the local government needs, that is what we can address, provided it is within our capacity,’ Castro said.

Zikoko Citizen’s Health Compendium: If health is political, whose survival counts?

Nigeria records over 127,000 new cancer cases and roughly 79,000 cancer-related deaths every year. To treat that burden properly, the country needs about 280 radiotherapy machines. It has fewer than 10, for over 200 million people.

That gap is not an accident of nature but the outcome of choices about where public money goes, whose voices shape policy, and whether commitments outlive the announcements. Making those choices visible is the purpose of The Nigerian Life Compendium, a research-driven editorial series from Zikoko Citizen whose first edition is devoted to health.

The Health edition brings together eight contributors on crises that shape millions of Nigerians lives but rarely enter political conversation. A patient in Ibadan spent 13 hours being shuttled between hospitals in search of antivenom that should have been in stock. Twenty-eight of Nigeria’s 36 states have zero federal psychiatric presence, meaning a mental health crisis means a bus fare to another state, or nothing at all. The failures fall hardest on women, young people, low-income families, rural communities, and those whose conditions remain stigmatised.

‘When we started working on this compendium, the issues dominating Nigerian commentary concerned which parties would produce which candidates for which elections. Several months on, that conversation has barely moved,’ said Afolabi Adekaiyaoja, Coordinating Editor of the Compendium. ‘Nigerians have lived through an unresolved fuel subsidy hangover, rising food prices, and a federal health ministry that received ?36 million of a ?218 billion capital budget. The opportunity cost is not the political activities that will inevitably happen as we trudge towards 2027, but the actual welfare systems millions of Nigerians depend on to survive.’

‘Nigerians are constantly told to wait for institutions to explain the country to them,’ said Anita Eboigbe, COO of Big Cabal Media. ‘They deserve evidence they can point to and demand action on. The Compendium is our attempt to build that evidence base, in the open, for anyone to use.’

Chigozie Victor, Senior Editor at Zikoko Citizen, puts it plainly: ‘You send this to someone when they ask you to prove it’s that bad.’

In the health edition, contributors are asking critical questions. Chime Asonye examines the gap between mental health law and the experience of seeking care. Hassana Maina asks who truly holds power over women’s bodies. Temie Giwa-Tubosun shows that emergency survival depends on systems that coordinate in time, not individual courage. Adam Abdullahi asks whether Nigeria is preparing before the next epidemic. Oyeronke Oyebanji weighs repeated false starts on vaccine manufacturing. Luke Alade examines two decades of donor-funded projects and local ownership. Omei Bongos links fiscal policy to unequal access. Vivianne Ihekweazu closes on the central question: if health is a political choice, is Nigeria prepared to choose differently?

We praise Nigerians for resilience but resilience should never excuse institutional failure. People should not have to be extraordinary to receive ordinary care, and survival should not depend on where you live or who you know.

Shettima clarifies statement on Northern governors’ support for Tinubu

Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Thursday clarified his recent statement on the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors during the 2023 elections.

Shettima clarified the statement in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha.

Nkwocha, in the statement also affirmed that Shettima holds northern governors in high regard.

He added that Shettima also recognised the individual and collective contributions of northern governors and other APC leaders to the party’s success and Tinubu’s emergence in 2023.

The presidential aide explained further that Shettima’s reference to six northern governors who supported Tinubu concerned political consultations and alignments before the APC presidential primary in June 2022.

‘The Office of the Vice President wishes to clarify remarks by Vice President Kashim Shettima concerning the support President Bola Tinubu received from northern governors in the build-up to his emergence as the APC presidential candidate.

‘It was not a comment on the position of northern APC governors following President Tinubu’s emergence as the party’s candidate, nor was it intended to question their support during the 2023 presidential election,’ he said

The presidential aide said that after the presidential primary, APC governors in the North rallied around the party’s candidate.

He added that the northern governors played important roles in the campaign and electoral efforts that culminated in Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 general election.

‘Indeed, it is worthy of note that it was after the declaration of President Tinubu as winner of the 2023 presidential primary that all other governors across the country rallied round and followed suit.

‘That declaration by the northern governors hence became the aligning moment across all political divides in the quest for power shift,’ he said.

Nkwocha said Shettima regretted any interpretation of his remarks that may have suggested otherwise and hoped the clarification would place the comments in proper context.

‘VP Shettima also appreciates the Nigerian media for its longstanding professionalism and constructive engagement with his office.

‘He urges continued accuracy and context in the reporting of public remarks as the country approaches another political season,’ he said.

Gong Yoo looks forward to meeting Filipino fans

Korean actor Gong Yoo expressed his excitement to meet his Filipino supporters at his first fan meeting in the Philippines to be held on Nov. 21.

The actor, who is best known for his hit dramas ‘Coffee Prince,’ ‘Goblin,’ and ‘Train to Busan,’ looked forward to the event through a video shared by concert production company Pulp Live World on Tuesday, Sept. 15.

‘To my fans in the Philippines, I sincerely thank you for loving my dramas and movies and for your unwavering support. I’m truly delighted to finally have this special opportunity to meet you in person and repay that love,’ he said in Korean.

‘I’m already very excited to meet you all at my fan meeting at Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 21. I sincerely hope to create precious memories with all of you,’ he continued.

Concluding his message, Gong Yoo further delighted fans by saying, ‘Magkikita na tayo.’

The upcoming Manila fan meet is part of Gong Yoo’s first-ever Asia fan meeting tour ‘The Long Take,’ which will kick off in Yokohama, Japan on Oct. 4.

After the Japan event, the actor is set to stage his fan meet in Bangkok on Oct. 10, Jakarta on Oct. 17, in Macau on Nov. 7, then in the Philippines on Nov. 21. Gong Yoo will conclude his tour in Seoul on Nov. 28.

President moves to end child labour

President Tinubu also yesterday requested the 36 state governments and the Federal Capital Territory Administration to fully implement the new national action plan aimed at ending child labour in the country.

Besides, he directed Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) of the Federal Government to toe the same line, declaring child labour a national development challenge with implications for education, economic growth and national security.

He assured during a National Dialogue on Advancing the Implementation of Nigeria’s National Child Labour Policy and National Action Plan (2026-2030) in Abuja, that the Federal Government would intensify measures to tackle poverty, unemployment, inadequate access to quality education and social exclusion, which he identified among the factors forcing children into exploitative labour.

Tinubu launched the National Child Labour Survey (Labour Force Survey) 2024 Report as well as the National Policy and National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030) during the event.

Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, the President said the fight against child labour can no longer be treated merely as a labour matter because of its wider consequences for national development.

‘Every nation is judged by how well it protects its children. A child who is forced into labour instead of attending school loses more than an education. That child loses opportunities, confidence, health and the chance to fully contribute to national development,” Tinubu said in a statement by the Special Adviser to the SGF on Media and Publicity, Yomi Odunuga.

The statement quoted the president as also stressing that ”the Federal Government considers the elimination of child labour not merely as a labour issue, but as a national development priority.

It is linked to education, social protection, economic growth, poverty reduction, food security, human capital development and national security.’

Tinubu said his administration would continue strengthening labour administration and inspection systems as well as child protection mechanisms while expanding interventions targeted at the economic and social conditions that expose children to exploitation.

According to him, the theme of the 2026 commemoration, ‘Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults’, reflects Nigeria’s determination to reject every form of exploitation of children.

Tinubu described education as one of the strongest safeguards against child labour, saying his administration is implementing reforms targeted at reducing the number of out-of-school children, improving education data, developing teachers and expanding skills acquisition.

He said the Renewed Hope National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme would also help improve school attendance while tackling hunger and nutritional challenges among children from vulnerable households.

The President added that his government is strengthening social protection and household resilience through programmes including the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme and the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) Programme.

He explained that the interventions were intended to expand economic opportunities and enable parents and caregivers to earn decent livelihoods, thereby reducing circumstances in which children are compelled to work for their families’ survival.

Tinubu recalled that his administration launched the National Plan of Action on Ending Violence Against Children in Nigeria (2024-2030) in 2025 and had continued to advocate stronger enforcement of the Child Rights Act and other child protection laws.

He added that the government was taking steps to improve safety in schools, particularly those located in vulnerable and high-risk areas.

‘As an Alliance 8.7 Pathfinder Country, Nigeria accepts both the responsibility and the opportunity to lead by example. I am pleased that the National Child Labour Policy and the National Action Plan for the Elimination of Child Labour (2026-2030), which we are launching today, provide a practical roadmap for translating our international commitments into measurable national action’, the President said.

Tinubu specifically called on state governments to give full support to the implementation of the National Action Plan and urged the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum to champion child protection initiatives across the country.

He also charged employers to ensure their supply chains remain free of child labour, while calling on workers’ organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, communities, parents and guardians to support the campaign.

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, International Labour Organisation (ILO), ECOWAS, the European Union, Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, United States Department of Labour, World Bank, National Bureau of Statistics and members of the National Steering Committee on the Elimination of Child Labour for supporting the country’s efforts.

He said Nigeria must now move ‘beyond commitment to action’ to guarantee every Nigerian child access to education, protection and a childhood free from exploitation.