Nigeria's Unity Colleges Set To Reopen From Monday, Oct. 12

The One hundred and four Unity Colleges set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria, including Queens and Kings Colleges, are set to reopen from Monday, October 12, 2020 after an official directive was given last week.

A statement by Nigeria’s Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu announced the reopening of the schools during a news conference on Friday in Abuja, saying that the COVID-19 curve has been flattened.

The Minister urged states and private schools to fix their resumption date in line with the COVID-19 protocols saying any schools that failed to comply with the guidelines would be risking closure of their schools.

The Minister said the decision to reopen the schools was taken after wide consultation with stakeholders in the sectors including rectors and vice chancellors of tertiary institutions.

” Having taken that painful but necessary decision, government has not rested on its oars in the areas of consultation with stakeholders, putting together guidelines for reopening of schools and preparations required of school owners to reopen", adding ”We have consulted widely with stakeholders in the sector, including the Association of Private School Owners, (APSON), National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Provosts of Colleges of Education, Rectors of Polytechnics, Vice Chancellors of Universities, State governors, our development partners, Honourably Commissioners of Education and relevant international organizations."

” Consequently, after due consultation with the Presidential Committee on COVID-19 ,we have decided that at our 104 Unity Colleges should reopen on the 12th of October 12th, 2020", he said, adding ”State and Private School owners will work out the modalities for the re-opening of schools under their purview.’