1980 AFCON CHAMPION CHARLES BASSEY DIES AT 71.(PHOTO)..

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 1980 AFCON Champion Charles Bassey Dies at 71 Charles Bassey, a member of Nigeria’s historic 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning squad, has died at the age of 71 after a prolonged illness. He passed away on Saturday in his hometown, Eket, Akwa Ibom State. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed his death in a statement released on Monday by its General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, describing the loss as part of a “day of double tragedy” following the earlier death of team captain Christian Chukwu. Bassey was part of the Green Eagles team that secured Nigeria’s first AFCON title with a 3-0 victory over Algeria at the National Stadium in Lagos on March 22, 1980. After retiring as a player, he transitioned into coaching and managed several clubs, including Calabar Rovers, Mobil Pegasus, BCC Lions, Flash Flamingoes, Akwa United, and Wikki Tourists. His passing brings the number of deceased members of the 1980 squad to nine.

REPS BACK BAN ON UNDER-18 SSCE, UTME CANDIDATES. (PHOTO).


 Reps back ban on under-18 SSCE, UTME candidates


The recent decision by the Federal Government to peg the minimum age for candidates sitting for the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination may have come to stay, the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education has said.


The Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, had in July stated that with effect from 2025, any candidate below the age of 18 will not be allowed to sit the SSSCE and without which such students cannot secure admission to higher institutions of learning.


The announcement has generated heated debate among parents and education stakeholders.


In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH on Thursday, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Basic Education, Mark Useni,  gave reasons the Federal Government might not likely reverse the decision.


He said, “The Committees on Basic Education and Examination Boards took this matter to the leadership of the House of Representatives. The Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, promptly appointed the House Leader, Prof Julius Ihonvere, to moderate a meeting between the two committees and the Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman.


“The meeting was held on Wednesday, September 4, and the minister attended together with the Minister of State for Education, Dr Tanko Sununu, as well as the heads of basic education examination bodies.


“The minister explained that the policy that relates to the 18 years age requirement for entry into the university is a policy that was developed before the adoption of the 6-3-3-4 system. He explained that the policy also has a root in the Universal Basic Education Act.


“Prof Tahir said the policy is not peculiar to Nigeria, while also making reference to military and paramilitary institutions which place the entry age at 18 years. He also said that the voting age in Nigeria is pegged at 18 years.”


Useni, a member of the All Progressives Congress representing Takum/Donga/Ussa Federal Constituency, Taraba State, frowned on the situation where children not older than 12 “are being made to seek admission into universities.”


 “While the policy is meant to ensure that children pursue their education alongside their cognitive and physical development and maturity, the Ministry of Education should develop a framework for proper transition into a full policy implementation.


“The Ministry of Education must ensure that students who are already progressing in the senior classes in secondary schools are not left stranded after completion of that level of education.


“We mandated the minister and his team to work out ways of handling the policy based on data available to the ministry and ensure that the policy does not jeopardise public interest,” he added.

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