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Tinubu Directs Student Loan Expansion To Skill Dev’t

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1 year ago

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President Bola Tinubu has directed the management of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to expand its focus area by extending interest-free loans to students interested in skill-development programmes.

The President issued this directive on Monday after a briefing from Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, Executive Secretary of NELFUND, on the build-up to the launch of the programme later in the month.

The President said it was important for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue university education, noting that skill acquisition is as important as obtaining academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas. This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants.

“It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation. In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he said.

Tinubu emphasised the need for equity and inclusivity in the management of the programme, saying all economically challenged students must not be denied education at any level.

“No matter how economically challenged you are, accredited and qualified students will and must have access to this loan to advance their education in higher institutions. There is no compromise in our commitment to the disadvantaged citizens of this nation.”

In his presentation to the President, Sawyerr said the loan application process would be technology-driven, limiting human interface and “eliminating any possibility of maladministration in the programme.

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“By design, this is a perpetual programme and will not terminate. The funds, earmarked for bona-fide Nigerian students, will be disbursed directly to the institutions in the initial phase through electronic transfer.

“Our students will be catered to in a way that bypasses human interference through the full utilization of available technological platforms,” he said.

Sawyerr also said that NELFUND has developed a robust risk-mitigation mechanism to address potential risks that may arise from the programme.

Speaking on the funding of the programme, Dr Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), said sources have been made available to ensure the smooth take-off and sustenance of the programme.

“By the directive of the President, the Education Tax Fund is being reviewed to additionally cater to the needs of our university students across all local government areas in the country as they seek to access vocational and traditional university education.

“Funding for the programme will be adequately covered,” he said.

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Education

JAMB: 585 Fake A-Levels Uncovered In Q1 Sweep

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2 days ago

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April 8, 2025

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) says it has uncovered at least 585 forged A-Level certificates so far in 2025.

Is-haq Oloyede, the registrar, was at a virtual meeting with JAMB staff on April 2.

The meeting was to discuss operational procedures ahead of the 2025 mock Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) and the main UTME.

Oloyede said JAMB discovered 585 forged A-Level certificates, 13 of which originated from the Interim Joint Matriculation Board (IJMB).

He said the professional registration centres (PRCs) that uploaded the results are now under investigation.

Of those 13 cases, Oloyede said four suspects have so far been arrested.

He said the forgeries were among the reasons for the creation of the Nigeria Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (NIPED).

NIPED is a platform designed to collect and manage data related to post-secondary education in Nigeria.

Oloyede alleged that some institutions may have internal collaborators aiding the syndicates behind the forgeries.

He said the board is working closely with police and other authorities to apprehend the ringleaders.

In 2023, JAMB also uncovered 1,665 fake A-level results during a DE registration season.

The board said its NIPEDS lagged multiple cases of forgery, with 13 additional A-level certificates recently identified as fake.

JAMB said some institutions had already processed admissions for candidates using these forged documents before they were detected.

It urged its staff to remain committed to their duties and to avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the board.

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Education

INEC: Petition for Natasha’s recall yet to meet constitutional requirement

Published

7 days ago

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April 3, 2025

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Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has said the petition to recall Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate has yet to meet constitutional requirement.

The commission stated this in a short notice posted on its X platform.

“The petition for the recall of the Senator representing the Kogi Central Senatorial District has not met the requirement of Section 69(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended),” the notice said.

The commission, however, said that details of why the petition had not met the constitutional requirement would be made available shortly.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a group of registered voters from Akpoti-Uduaghan’s senatorial district had, on March 24, submitted a petition to INEC, urging it to commence her recall process from the senate.

The constituents, in the letter signed by the Lead Petitioner, Salihu Habib, and submitted at INEC headquarters, said they no longer had confidence in Akpoti-Uduaghan as their senator and representative in the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, INEC had, on March 25, confirmed the receipt of the petition, accompanied by six bags of documents said to be signatures collected from more than half of the 474,554 registered voters from the senatorial district.

The commission also said that it had notified the suspended senator about the receipt of the petition to recall her from the national assembly. (NAN)

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Education

NBM Donates Educational Materials To Schools In Ogun State

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1 week ago

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March 30, 2025

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In a bid to contribute to educational advancement and development, the Neo-Black Movement (NBM) of Africa, Obafemi Owode Sub Zone, under the Ogun Region, has donated educational materials to selected government primary schools in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

The initiative aligns with the Support-A-School-Child Project, spearheaded by the national leadership of NBM, aimed at bolstering education across Nigeria.

The donation was presented by Ambassador Tehinse Olanrewaju Ayoola on behalf of the Obafemi Owode Sub Zone.

Speaking at the event, Ayoola emphasised that the gesture would be an ongoing effort, particularly considering that Obafemi Owode is the largest local government area in Ogun State.

He urged students to remain focused on their studies while steering clear of cultism, drug abuse, and other social vices.

According to him, guiding young students in the right direction is crucial in preventing them from straying onto the wrong path.

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to NBM of Africa, Obafemi Owode Sub Zone, for their support and prayed for the continued growth of the movement.

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