Connect with us

Education

NELFUND to disburse N90bn in tuition, stipends – MD

Published

7 months ago

on

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, has announced the fund’s commitment to disbursing 90 billion naira for tuition fees and stipends.

Sawyerr said this at a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing on Wednesday in Abuja.

He noted that the fund has received over 350,000 applications and has so far disbursed more than N10 billion.

According to him, the fund is inclusive, ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location or background, has access to the education they deserve.

Sawyerr emphasised that NELFUND is an institution designed to provide relief, particularly in these challenging economic times, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

He stated that the fund offers not just immediate palliative relief but a long-term solution aimed at fostering stability and growth in Nigeria.

“Applications are coming in at an average of over 1,000 per day, and we are making special provisions for students with disabilities.

“We are also focused on addressing barriers to girl-child education, recognising that denying girls the opportunity for further education denies the nation the chance to benefit from their leadership potential.

“With 70 per cent of our population under the age of 35, failing to provide education for this segment exposes Nigeria to a future fraught with instability and violence, this intervention by President Tinubu could not have come at a better time”.

Sawyerr further stated that deliberate efforts are being made to proactively reach out to regions that feel left behind, particularly the South East.

ALSO READ:  Nigeria Yet to Bestow Befitting Honor Upon Prof. Wole Soyinka

He noted that following multiple rounds of sensitisation in local communities, there has been significant progress with a surge in applications.

He reiterated NELFUND’s commitment to working closely with the committee to achieve its goals.

“This collaboration is crucial in shaping a student loan system that truly serves the interests of all Nigerians.

“As we continue to work together, let us remember that our collective goal is the betterment of Nigeria and its youth.

“By ensuring education remains accessible and equitable, we are securing the future of millions of young Nigerians and building a stronger, more prosperous nation”.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Gboyega Isiaka (APC-Oyo), described NELFUND as a critical agency.

He noted that the fund is about creating a future where every Nigerian youth has the opportunity to realise their potential and contribute to national development.

Isiaka expressed concerns about the management’s capacity to handle the fund, given its potential.

“As we proceed with proper oversight of this institution, we will focus on several key issues. For instance, we need to be able to ask ourselves: Where will NELFUND be in the next three to five years?

“How will it achieve its goals, and what challenges need to be addressed to get there?” he said.

Isiaka reaffirmed the committee’s commitment to ensuring accountability and transparency, pledging to work within the law to meet the aspirations of Nigerians, especially the youth. (NAN)

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Education

FG upgrades 38 technical colleges to equip youths, says Minister

Published

3 days ago

on

May 6, 2025

By

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa has announced the upgrade of 38 federal and state technical colleges across Nigeria as part of comprehensive reforms aimed at equipping young Nigerians with globally competitive skills.

Speaking on Monday at the 2025 Quarterly Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative in Abuja, Alausa said the upgrades are part of a broader effort to reposition the education sector for a skill-based, knowledge-driven economy.

The engagement session focused on strategic priorities, unveiling of key initiatives, and addressing persistent challenges, particularly the high number of out-of-school children.

Alausa outlined six core priority areas under the ministry’s reform agenda, including reducing the number of out-of-school girls, enhancing quality assurance, and improving access through targeted national programs.

He also highlighted the introduction of a dual-training model in the upgraded technical colleges, where students will now spend 80% of their time on hands-on training and 20% in the classroom — a shift designed to better prepare them for real-world job markets.

NESRI, the centre piece of the reform, includes initiatives on literacy improvement, curriculum reform, and data digitisation, and is aimed at transitioning Nigeria from a resource-based to a knowledge-driven economy.

Alausa said, “Artisans will be paid to mentor trainees, establishing a new value chain in the education sector.

“Our goal is to train 5 million young Nigerians with globally relevant skills within four years.

“NESRI addresses issues of access, quality, inclusivity, research, and professional development in education.”

The minister noted that Nigeria currently has 15 million out-of-school children and over 45 million classified as learning poor.

ALSO READ:  Yabatech to be upgraded to university – Minister

He said adolescent girls, particularly the 6 million aged 12–19 currently out of school, remained a key focus of the reforms.

To address this crisis, the minister said 25,000 children have been integrated into formal education through NESRI, while 4,000 Tsangaya teachers have been trained to support inclusive education.

Alausa announced that the National Examinations Council, and the West African Examinations Council would begin conducting computer-based tests from November 2025, with full digitisation of all national examinations, including JAMB, by 2027.

He said the move was to tackle examination fraud and enhance integrity.

Continue Reading

Education

2025 UTME: Over 1.5m Candidates Scored Below 200— JAMB Says

Published

3 days ago

on

May 6, 2025

By

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released a statistical breakdown of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), revealing that over 1.5 million of the 1.95 million candidates scored below 200/400.

In a post on its official X on Monday, JAMB highlighted that a total of 1,955,069 candidates sat for the examination, and of this number, a significant 1,534,654 candidates—representing 78.5%—scored below the 200 mark.

A breakdown of the results shows that only 4,756 candidates (0.24%) achieved scores of 320 and above, while 7,658 candidates (0.39%) scored between 300 and 319.

In total, just 12,414 candidates (0.63%) scored 300 and above.

For the 250-299 score range, 73,441 candidates (3.76%) were recorded, while a larger proportion, 334,560 candidates (17.11%), scored between 200 and 249.

The category with the highest number of candidates was the 160 and 199 range, with 983,187 candidates (50.29%).

Further down the scale, 488,197 candidates (24.97%) scored between 140 and 159, and 57,419 candidates (2.94%) scored between 120 and 139.

A percentage of candidates, 3,820 (0.20%), scored between 100 and 119, while 2,031 candidates (0.10%) fell below the 100 mark.

In addition to the overall results, JAMB also disclosed that 40,247 underage candidates were allowed to participate in the examination due to their “exceptional abilities.”

However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16%) achieved scores that meet the defined threshold for “exceptional ability.” According to JAMB, these candidates’ performances will undergo further evaluation in the next three stages.

ALSO READ:  Poetry's Transformative Power: Uniting Nations and Cultivating Global Harmony
Continue Reading

Education

JAMB releases statistical analysis of 2025 UTME results

Published

4 days ago

on

May 5, 2025

By

The Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the statistical analysis of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results.

The statistical analysis was released on Monday via the board’s official X handle.

From the statistics released, out of 1,955,069 candidates who sat for the 2025 UTME, more than 1.5 million scored less than 200 points in the examination.

The analysis also showed that only 420,415 candidates scored above 200 points, with 756 of them scoring above 320.

Up to 7,658 of the candidates scored between 300 and 319 points.

“As part of the results, 40,247 underage candidates were permitted to demonstrate their exceptional abilities.

“However, only 467 of these candidates (1.16 per cent) achieved scores that meet the threshold for exceptional ability as defined for the UTME, with their performance in the subsequent three stages still pending.

“Of the total number registered, 97 candidates were involved in examination infractions, while 2,157 others are currently undergoing investigation for suspected malpractices.

“Additionally, 71,701 candidates were absent. Those facing biometric challenges are also under investigation, and those who are cleared will be rescheduled for examination at designated centres,” JAMB said.

The analysis further indicated that a few of the results, including those of blind candidates and others belonging in the JAMB Equal Opportunity Group (JEOG) were still being processed.

The JAMB Equal Opportunity Group represents a multidisciplinary group of experts constituted by the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JAMB, Prof. Is-haq Olanrewaju Oloyede in 2017 in furtherance of his quest for excellence in the administration of UTME and improved access to higher education particularly to fellow compatriots in Nigeria having one disability or the other.

ALSO READ:  Bill To Allow Polytechnics Award Degrees Scales Second Reading
Continue Reading