● GMTNewsng Staff Reporter

ABUJA, NIGERIA – Security operatives have arrested 20 individuals suspected of masterminding a cyberattack on the computer-based testing system of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), in a scandal that has sparked fresh calls for decisive action in Nigeria’s war against corruption.

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reported widespread irregularities during the conduct of this year’s UTME, which authorities now attribute to a sophisticated hacking syndicate. According to the Department of State Services (DSS), the suspects were apprehended in Abuja and are part of a broader network of over 100 hackers targeting examination bodies including JAMB and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

“These arrests mark a significant breakthrough in unmasking a criminal enterprise intent on sabotaging our education system,” said a spokesperson for the DSS. Investigators revealed that the suspects employed rogue routers and malicious software to bypass JAMB’s digital infrastructure, enabling certain candidates – who allegedly paid between ₦700,000 and ₦2 million—to illicitly access exam answers in real-time.

Education experts have decried the damage such practices inflict on national integrity and meritocracy. “When examination results are manipulated, it is not just JAMB that is compromised. The future of Nigeria’s workforce is at stake,” said Dr. Okey Nwosu, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. “We must understand that systemic corruption begins with these early compromises and spreads into other sectors of public life.”

The hacking episode also reportedly triggered a major glitch in the UTME system, causing widespread discrepancies between the questions and candidates’ answers. This distortion, according to insiders, significantly contributed to the high failure rate recorded this year. JAMB has since declared that no evidence implicates its seven officials who supervised the affected CBT centres.

Analysts argue that this scandal underscores the urgency for Nigeria to deepen its commitment to fighting corruption, especially through the integration of technology and security monitoring. “Cybercrime linked to exams is a direct attack on the nation’s development,” said Mr. Tony Adegoke, a digital forensics consultant. “We need not just arrests, but convictions and deterrent sentences to reset the moral compass of our society.”

Authorities have vowed to prosecute all culprits involved, even as the DSS and police continue their investigation. Meanwhile, citizens and stakeholders are calling on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to treat examination fraud as a national security threat and prioritize reforms that ensure fairness, accountability, and the restoration of merit in Nigeria’s education sector. GMTNewsng

● Chijioke Ogbodo

ENUGU – In a strategic move to promote youth empowerment and human capital development in the Southeast, Eastwing Aviation Institute has announced the Face of Eastwing / Aviation Summit 2025, scheduled to hold this August at the scenic Nike Lake Resort, Enugu.

Themed: “Growing Dreams: Touching Lives in Aviation through Human Development,” the two-day event aims to nurture the next generation of aviation professionals, focusing on young Nigerians aged 18 to 30. The summit will feature training workshops, a competitive selection process, and the crowning of the Face of Eastwing 2025 – an ambassadorial figure who will champion the cause of youth development within the aviation and allied industries.

Speaking at a media briefing in Enugu, Deputy Provost of Eastwing Aviation Institute, Dr. Babalola Segun Abioye, said the summit is designed as a transformative platform that blends learning, exposure, and opportunity. “This is more than an event – it is a mission to expand access, raise aspirations, and prepare young Nigerians for global relevance,” he said. “We are planting the seeds today for an aviation ecosystem led by our youths.”

Dr. Abioye noted that while Eastwing Aviation Institute is the first privately-owned and NCAA-certified aviation school in the Southeast, it was established with the goal of decentralising aviation training in Nigeria and making it accessible to regions often overlooked. He urged government institutions, development partners, and private investors to support the summit, which has a projected budget of ₦22 million.

“This is not charity,” he emphasized, “it is an investment in Nigeria’s future. The aviation sector is ripe for indigenous growth, and that begins with empowering our young people to take the lead.”

The summit’s scope also includes visa support services, mentorship, and scholarships for outstanding participants. One of the strategic partners, LoFish Global Travel & Tours Ltd, is offering free visa assistance to the top five winners of the Face of Eastwing competition, alongside mentorship opportunities in travel and logistics.

Speaking at the press conference, Ms. Ifunanya Okonkwo, the Admin/Marketing Team Lead of LoFish, explained that their collaboration with Eastwing reflects a shared vision of inclusive development. “LoFish is a proud partner with Eastwing Aviation. We have our own airline yet to be launched, and we’ll need cabin crew, staff, and technical hands from the aviation sector. This will open more doors for youth employment,” she said.

She added that LoFish is working closely with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council to provide one-on-one guidance for young Nigerians interested in import-export opportunities. “We’re here to make it easier for you. Aviation is a gateway, not just for flights, but for business, innovation, and enterprise,” she concluded.

In a show of endorsement from the aviation industry, Mr. Chinedu Abugu, President of the Airfreight Stakeholders’ Forum at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, noted the strategic relevance of Eastwing’s expansion in the Southeast. “There is a strong possibility of Eastwing establishing a maintenance hangar here in Enugu. This will drastically reduce the cost incurred by airline operators who currently fly aircraft abroad for C-checks,” he said.

Abugu maintained that a functional hangar would not only improve turnaround time for aircraft but would also create skilled technical jobs for engineers, technicians, and logistics staff in the region. “It’s a move that makes economic sense, and it puts Enugu on the map as a serious aviation hub,” he said.

The summit is expected to attract over 5,000 participants, including students, aviation professionals, government representatives, and private stakeholders. Activities lined up include panel sessions, soft skills training, mock interviews, and a glamorous award ceremony.

Dr. Abioye reaffirmed Eastwing’s commitment to sustaining the summit as an annual event that will continue to inspire and uplift the aspirations of Southeast youths. “Together with our partners, we are building a runway to the future. And this time, the youth are the pilots,” he said. GMTNewsng

● Ferdy Agu 

Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Peter Mbah, Thursday, inaugurated the Enugu State Ease-of-Doing-Business Council, saying it was in tandem with his electoral promise to grow the state into a $30bn economy from $4.4bn by repositioning it as the premier destination for business, investment, tourism and living.

Inaugurating the 25-man Council at the Government House, Enugu, Mbah, who is also the Chairman of the Council, stressed that investors were not Father Christmas and would naturally tilt to where there is conducive environment and higher return on investment, RoI.

“Recall that one of the first activities that I performed after my swearing was to sign Executive Order 005, which speaks to Ease of Doing Business. It largely tells us that we cannot achieve the ambitious economic growth plan that we have given ourselves if we do not attract private investments.

“Therefore, for us as a state government, this Ease-of- Doing-Business Council is consistent with our objectives to ensure that we create an environment for businesses to thrive.

“If you look at all the key indicators of Ease of Doing Business, you would notice that we have aggressively intervened across those various indicators,” he stated.

Among others, he listed ease of access to land through the establishment of the Enugu State Geographic Information Systems, ENGIS, and establishment of a one-stop shop for processing of permits, the investments in ultramodern security infrastructure, building of transport infrastructure, digital infrastructure, and skilled manpower as some of the strategic steps taken to ease up the business in Enugu State.

“So, as the chairman of the council, we will all work hard to ensure that we come close as a state to become frontiers of the Ease of Doing Business,” he concluded.

Speaking to newsmen, the 2ND Deputy President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Eric Chime, who represented the president and the body, described the council as another great leap for Enugu State under Governor Mbah’s leadership.

“The Chairman, who is the Governor, has stated all he has done to make Enugu State attract investment. What we are going to do is to be the wagon that will carry this message and let investors come. Enugu is the safest place to invest.

“Any investor that you want to tell to come, they will ask you about security first. If you are talking about security, the governor has taken care of it. If you talk about technology, the governor has taken care of it; infrastructure, the governor has taken care of it. So, our job is to take the good message and attract investors to the state because Enugu is a safe haven,” he enthused.

Also, fielding questions from Government House correspondents, the President of the Nsukka Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Barr. Sam Otobueze, commended Mbah for efforts to align Enugu State with global standards to attract businesses.

“This is a very wonderful initiative. The world economy is changing, and the best way to get into it and be recognised is what we are doing because the more we attract businesses and investments into the state, the better for us. The more we get to the world map as one of those states you can go and invest in business, the better for us,” he stated. GMTNewsng