It said it deployed observers across the 30 local government areas of the state to monitor developments ahead of the poll.

“The organisation observed an increase in registered voters following the Continuous Voter Registration exercise, describing the development as an indication of growing civic interest and participation.

“Registered voters in Osun increased from 1,954,800 to 2,339,233, representing an addition of about 384,000 registered voters,” parts of the report read.

However, the Centre said the improved mobilisation of voters is being threatened by political tension, hate speech, electoral violence and concerns over the reliability of election technology.

It said its observers monitored INEC’s mock accreditation exercise across 12 local government areas covering the three senatorial districts.

The organisation alleged that some BVAS devices experienced technical difficulties, including failures to recognise voters’ fingerprints, facial features and Permanent Voter Card details.

“These challenges, if not urgently addressed, could undermine confidence in the electoral process,” the Centre said.

The group urged the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to urgently resolve the reported technical problems and ensure that BVAS devices function effectively during Saturday’s poll.

It also called on the electoral commission to “maintain and demonstrate strict neutrality throughout the electoral process”.

The organisation claimed that about 40 people had been killed in pre-election-related violence across Osun State.

It expressed concern over what it described as increasingly inflammatory political campaigns, saying political engagements had shifted from issue-based discussions to personal attacks and insults.

The Centre also made allegations against Senator Francis Adenigba Fadahunsi, accusing him of making inflammatory statements and allegedly mobilising thugs and individuals purportedly posing as security personnel ahead of the election.

It alleged that Fadahunsi was captured in a video “inciting members of his party against Accord members and supporters in Ijeshaland”

“Thugs and individuals impersonating police officers had been brought into communities across Obokun, Oriade, Ilesa East, Ilesa West, Atakumosa East and Atakumosa West Local Government Areas and Senator Fadahunsi boasted about using federal might to intimidate opposition voters,” it added.

The Centre claimed that security personnel attached to the Police Intelligence Response Team had been used to harass opposition political actors.

It alleged that an Accord House of Representatives candidate, Alaba Popoola, had been unlawfully detained.

The organisation called on the Inspector-General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services to investigate the allegations and prosecute anyone found to have committed criminal offences.

It also demanded increased security deployment across the six local government areas in Ijeshaland and urged security agencies to investigate the alleged activities of the IRT in Osun.

The Centre urged political leaders to moderate their rhetoric and avoid statements capable of escalating tensions ahead of Saturday’s election, stressing that the poll should be determined by voters through the ballot.

“The August 15, 2026, governorship election must be a contest of ballots, not bullets. The protection of lives and property before, during and after the election remained non-negotiable,” it concluded.

‎By Jumoke Olaitan
The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, says the Federal Government is establishing 41 University Innovation Pods (UniPods) across tertiary institutions to transform research and innovation into jobs, investment and economic opportunities.

‎Alausa said this in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr Ikharo Attah, on Wednesday.

‎The minister said the initiative was part of President Bola Tinubu’s vision to use education, technology, research and innovation to transform Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-based economy.

‎He said the UniPods were designed to ensure that research conducted in Nigerian universities moved beyond academic purposes to the development of marketable products, services and solutions.

‎According to him, eight UniPods have either been commissioned or are ready for commissioning, while three are already operational at the University of Lagos, Nasarawa State University and Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike.

‎Alausa listed other specialised centres to include the Blue Economy UniPod in Akwa Ibom, AgroTech UniPod at Benue State University, Resilience Tech UniPod in Borno, GovTech UniPod at Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and Industrial Tech UniPod in Plateau.

‎He said the success of the initiative would not be measured by the buildings and equipment provided but by the solutions, businesses, jobs and economic value generated from them.

‎The minister cited the MineTech UniPod at Nasarawa State University, where researchers had developed geospatial maps showing deposits of lithium, gold and bauxite, including their locations and depths.

‎He said such innovations could create major economic opportunities if investors were connected with researchers and provided with appropriate pathways to commercialise their discoveries.

‎Alausa said the Federal Ministry of Education, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Tech4Dev, was working toward establishing about 41 UniPods in the coming years.

‎He stressed the need for the centres to become financially sustainable enterprises rather than remain dependent on grants.

‎The minister said the UniPods would operate under an appropriate governance framework being developed by the ministry and UND.

He added that eligible centres would be able to establish commercial accounts in line with existing government guidelines for university research centres.

‎He explained that part of the revenue generated by the centres could be retained for their sustainability, while another portion would support targeted technological development in their host universities.

Alausa assured that the Federal Ministry of Education would continue to work with UNDP, Tech4Dev, universities and other partners to make the UniPods sustainable centres of innovation, enterprise and economic opportunity.

‎He said the ministry would pursue effective governance and financing arrangements to enable the centres generate and responsibly manage resources, attract investment and support their host institutions.

‎The minister said the ultimate goal was to ensure that the Federal Government’s investments in education and technology translated into practical research, viable businesses, jobs and highly skilled young Nigerians capable of driving Nigeria’s transition to a knowledge-based economy

‎The Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, said the UniPods should be positioned as instruments for accelerating Nigeria’s industrialisation rather than being viewed solely as academic facilities.

‎Ahmad urged universities to expose students and researchers to industrialisation and commercialisation, stressing the need to transform innovative ideas into products, services and businesses capable of contributing to national development.

‎She also said students and researchers from universities other than those hosting the UniPods should be allowed to access the facilities, subject to appropriate procedures.

‎The UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms Elsie Attafuah, commended Alausa for positioning education as a driver of jobs, competitiveness and innovation.

‎Attafuah said the changing global development landscape required countries to generate their own wealth and competitiveness.

‎She described the UniPods as instruments for advancing Nigeria’s reform agenda, creating jobs and helping citizens realise their potential.

‎She said UNDP was ready to facilitate South-South cooperation, including possible engagement with India, while strengthening the network among the UniPods and supporting their governance, financing and sustainability.‎(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

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Edited by Funmilayo Adeyemi

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