Education
HARVARD FIGHTS TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OVER FOREIGN STUDENT BAN
Harvard University has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s latest directive to bar foreign students from entering the US, calling it “illegal retaliation” for the university’s rejection of White House demands. The lawsuit comes after Trump signed a proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals seeking to study or participate in exchange programs at Harvard University.
According to the proclamation, Trump cited concerns about Harvard’s ties to foreign governments, particularly China, and its handling of student misconduct records. The university allegedly received over $150 million from China and failed to provide sufficient information about foreign students’ misconduct.
Harvard argues that Trump’s action is an attempt to circumvent a previous court order and that targeting only Harvard students doesn’t qualify as a “class of aliens” under federal law. “The President’s actions thus are not undertaken to protect the ‘interests of the United States,’ but instead to pursue a government vendetta against Harvard,” the university wrote in its filing.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs issued a temporary restraining order against Trump’s proclamation, saying Harvard had demonstrated “it will sustain immediate and irreparable injury before there is an opportunity to hear from all parties.”
The uncertainty has left international students like Yonas Nuguse, a 21-year-old student from Ethiopia, anxiously waiting to find out if he’ll be able to attend Harvard. Nuguse was granted a visa to study at Harvard and worries it might be too late to reverse his decision and attend another university.
“I hope the situation is temporary and I can enroll on time to go on and realize my dream far from reality in Ethiopia,” Nuguse said. Harvard President Alan Garber said the university is making contingency plans to ensure students and visiting scholars can continue their work.
The standoff comes as the Trump administration tightens scrutiny of student visas nationwide. Thousands of students lost permission to be in the US this spring before the administration reversed itself. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the US would “aggressively revoke” visas for students from China.
International student interest in the US has dropped significantly, according to Mike Henniger, CEO of Illume Student Advisory Services. “It is one blow after another,” Henniger said. “At this point, international student interest in the US has basically dropped to nil.”
Craig Riggs, editor of ICEF Monitor, urges families to consult carefully with advisers and not overreact to the headlines. “The rules under which students would make this huge decision to devote years of their lives and quite a bit of money to studying at Harvard have been shown to change quite quickly,” Riggs said.
The Edo State Police Command has arrested students involved in a viral bullying incident at Igbinedion Education Centre, following widespread public outrage.
Police authorities confirmed that all individuals linked to the incident have been identified and taken into custody, with plans to charge them in a family court in line with juvenile justice and child protection laws.
The case gained national attention after disturbing videos surfaced online showing a student being physically assaulted by fellow students. In one of the clips, the victim was reportedly beaten, kicked, and humiliated while others watched and recorded the incident.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the violence stemmed from an earlier altercation between students. Authorities said a disagreement involving offensive remarks escalated into physical attacks, with a cycle of retaliation contributing to the incidents captured on video.
The Edo State Police spokesperson stated that the arrests followed a “thorough and painstaking investigation,” adding that all suspects would face legal proceedings in accordance with the law.
In response to the incident, the police have also intensified the “Operation Safe Schools” initiative across the state to address gaps in supervision and prevent similar occurrences.
The school management had earlier taken disciplinary action by expelling students directly involved, while the Edo State Ministry of Education condemned the act, describing it as unacceptable and contrary to the values of discipline and safety expected in schools.
Authorities have urged parents, guardians, and school administrators to take greater responsibility in guiding students and ensuring that grievances are handled through proper channels rather than violence.
Amnesty Programme Boosts Education: 220 Nigerians Studying in UK, 8,000 Enrolled Locally
The Federal Government has disclosed that no fewer than 220 Nigerians are currently studying in the United Kingdom under the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), while over 8,000 beneficiaries are pursuing various academic programmes within Nigeria.
Established in 2009, the Presidential Amnesty Programme was designed to address militancy in the Niger Delta by disarming and rehabilitating former agitators. Over time, the initiative has evolved into a comprehensive platform focused on education, skills acquisition, and empowerment to promote sustainable peace and development in the region.
Under the scheme, beneficiaries receive fully funded scholarships covering tuition, accommodation, monthly stipends, and book allowances for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
Participants are drawn from key Niger Delta states, including Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
In 2025 alone, the programme sponsored 161 beneficiaries for postgraduate studies in the United Kingdom, with an additional 34 deployed to various UK universities for the 2025–2026 academic session.
Administrator of the programme, Dennis Otuaro, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to expanding the initiative, with a renewed focus on critical and emerging fields such as data science, cybersecurity, and energy law.
According to him, the goal is to build a knowledge-driven Niger Delta by equipping beneficiaries with relevant global skills that can contribute to national development.
The programme continues to play a key role in transforming lives and fostering stability in the oil-rich region, while also positioning Nigerian youths for global competitiveness.
Dr. Maruf Alausa, Minister of Education, is in London alongside senior government officials to receive President Bola Tinubu ahead of high-level meetings aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s education and skills development sector.
During the visit, Dr. Alausa underscored the launch of the second phase of Nigeria’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) reform programme, emphasizing strategic partnerships with international institutions, investors, and development organizations, including Big Win Philanthropy.
The reform initiative seeks to reposition technical education as a key driver of youth employment and economic growth, addressing the country’s long-standing challenges of graduate unemployment and skills mismatch. Discussions are set to include collaboration with University of Birmingham and Coventry University, with the aim of enhancing research, faculty exchange, and the establishment of a full campus in Nigeria to improve access to international-standard higher education.
Dr. Alausa noted that strengthening global partnerships is critical to reversing the outflow of Nigerian students abroad, attracting foreign investment, and boosting local capacity in education and technical skills.
Officials say the outcomes of the London engagements are expected to shape the next phase of reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, particularly in technical training, international collaboration, and infrastructure development.