Category: Education

NELFUND: Top 5 States with Highest Student Loan Registrations
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has provided valuable insights into the student loan registration process across the country.

Below, we explore the top five states with the highest student loan registrations, offering a detailed overview of the factors contributing to their impressive numbers.

1. Kano State
- Number of Registered Students: 20,814
- Number of Students Who Applied After Registering: 17,122
- Percentage Applied: 82.3%
Kano State tops the list with the highest number of student loan registrations. With over 20,000 students registered, the state has demonstrated a strong commitment to higher education, possibly driven by its large population and robust educational infrastructure. The high percentage of students who followed through with applications (82.3%) indicates effective awareness campaigns and support systems in place to assist students in accessing financial aid.

2. Borno State
- Number of Registered Students: 16,353
- Number of Students Who Applied After Registering: 13,798
- Percentage Applied: 84.4%
Despite the challenges posed by insecurity, Borno State ranks second, with a commendable registration figure. The state’s educational authorities and institutions have clearly worked hard to ensure that students are aware of and utilize the opportunities provided by NELFUND. The fact that 84.4% of registered students proceeded to apply for loans is a testament to the state’s resilience and focus on education as a tool for empowerment.

3. Benue State
- Number of Registered Students: 16,127
- Number of Students Who Applied After Registering: 11,754
- Percentage Applied: 72.9%
Benue State, known as the “Food Basket of the Nation,” has also made significant strides in student loan registrations. The state’s education system appears well-organized, as reflected in the high registration numbers. However, the application follow-through rate is slightly lower at 72.9%, indicating a potential area for improvement in helping students complete the loan application process.

4. Oyo State
- Number of Registered Students: 14,086
- Number of Students Who Applied After Registering: 8,990
- Percentage Applied: 63.8%
Oyo State, with its rich history in education, particularly higher education, secures the fourth position. The state’s capital, Ibadan, is home to Nigeria’s first university, and this legacy of academic excellence continues to influence student participation in programs like NELFUND. However, Oyo State has the lowest application percentage among the top five, at 63.8%, suggesting a need for more targeted efforts to ensure that registered students complete their applications.

5. Kaduna State
- Number of Registered Students: 13,873
- Number of Students Who Applied After Registering: 10,380
- Percentage Applied: 74.8%
Kaduna State rounds out the top five, with nearly 14,000 students registering for the NELFUND student loan program. The state’s commitment to education is evident in its strong application rate of 74.8%. Kaduna has long been a hub for educational development in Northern Nigeria, and its performance in the NELFUND registration process reflects this tradition.
October 30, 2024
JAMB Clarifies Role in HND Graduates’ NYSC Mobilization, Dismisses Accusations

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has issued a statement clarifying its position regarding recent accusations by some Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates who blamed the board for their inability to participate in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) program, Okay.ng reports.

JAMB firmly denied any responsibility for the issue, urging the public to disregard the claims.

In a statement released on Monday by JAMB’s spokesman, Fabian Benjamin, the board emphasized that it has no involvement, authority, or control over the admissions process for HND candidates.

The statement was issued in response to complaints from prospective NYSC candidates who suggested that JAMB was to blame for their exclusion from the mandatory one-year NYSC scheme.

“It is important to emphasize that JAMB has no involvement, authority, or control over the admissions process for HND candidates,” the statement read.

JAMB explained that the candidates in question completed their HND on a full-time basis but were not mobilized for NYSC because they had initially completed their Ordinary National Diploma (OND) on a part-time basis.

The board dismissed any connection between this issue and its mandate, stating that it does not oversee the admission or mobilization process for HND programs.

“The candidates claimed they did HND on full-time but were not mobilized because they did OND on part-time. How on earth does that concern JAMB?” the statement questioned, adding that JAMB’s responsibilities are limited to determining matriculation requirements and conducting examinations for undergraduate admissions, as well as admissions to National Diploma (ND) and Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) courses.

JAMB further clarified that most of the students involved were admitted into their institutions for ND programs without the board’s knowledge.

JAMB had previously condoned and endorsed these admissions, but it stressed that the subsequent admission of these candidates into HND programs falls outside its mandate.

“Their subsequent admission to HND is unknown and irrelevant to the mandate of the Board. As such, accusing the Board of issues it has no mandate over is preposterous,” the statement continued.

JAMB also warned that some of the candidates had crossed into criminal behavior and indicated that the board would take appropriate action in due course.

“The public is urged to disregard the accusations labeled against the Board as it has no mandate on such matters,” the statement concluded.

October 30, 2024
Ogun Moves to Improve School Enrollment

The Ogun State Government, led by Governor Dapo Abiodun, is working to improve school enrollment by upgrading facilities in public schools, especially for children with special needs, and conducting sensitisation campaigns across the state, being facilitated by the state Commissioner for Education, Prof Abayomi Arigbabu.

The government is emphasizing the availability of qualified teachers and a conducive learning environment in public schools.

The registration for the next academic session is free for children aged three to six, and parents are encouraged to enroll their wards in nearby public primary schools.

The government has invested in capacity building for teachers and infrastructure to enhance the teaching and learning process in schools.

Parents are urged to monitor their children’s academic and moral activities for a successful future.

October 30, 2024

NELFUND Disburses Student Loans to 40 Additional Institutions [Full List]

The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the disbursement of student loans to 40 more institutions, bringing the total number of benefiting institutions to 59.

NELFUND in a statement via their X account emphasized its ongoing mission to make quality education accessible to Nigerian students regardless of their financial circumstances.

“NELFUND is pleased to announce that it has successfully disbursed Student Loans to 40 additional institutions, bringing the total disbursements to institutions to 59,” the statement read.

“This expansion marks a significant milestone in NELFUND’s ongoing commitment to providing access to quality education for all Nigerian students, regardless of their financial circumstances.”

The disbursement amounts to over N2.1 billion, benefiting a total of 18,998 students nationwide.

Below is a table with the full list of institutions and their corresponding loan amounts:

S/N	Institution	State	Loan Amount (₦)
1	Federal Polytechnic Nekede	Imo	₦368,400.00
2	Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike	Imo	₦71,016,220.00
3	Delta State University, Abraka	Delta	₦45,973,600.00
4	Ebonyi State University	Ebonyi	₦78,313,000.00
5	Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu	Anambra	₦193,377,100.00
6	Federal University of Health Science Ila Orangun	Osun	₦7,448,000.00
7	Federal University Wukari	Taraba	₦97,398,000.00
8	Olabisi Onabanjo University	Ogun	₦7,265,000.00
9	University of Ibadan	Oyo	₦9,797,450.00
10	Osun State University	Osun	₦218,954,500.00
11	Usmanu Danfodio University	Sokoto	₦226,931,440.00
12	Zamfara State University	Zamfara	₦2,340,800.00
13	Emmanuel Alayande University of Education	Oyo	₦4,050,500.00
14	Federal Polytechnic Bali	Taraba	₦2,589,000.00
15	Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta	Ogun	₦133,995,450.00
16	Federal University of Health Science Azare	Bauchi	₦14,170,000.00
17	Federal University Gusau	Zamfara	₦218,554,000.00
18	Federal University of Technology Ikot-Abasi	Akwa Ibom	₦6,308,000.00
19	Lagos State University of Education	Lagos	₦14,378,000.00
20	Moshood Abiola Polytechnic	Ogun	₦3,485,000.00
21	Ogun State Institute of Technology	Ogun	₦5,907,998.00
22	Tai Solarin University of Education	Ogun	₦10,802,000.00
23	University of Ilesa	Osun	₦98,871,500.00
24	University of Port Harcourt	Rivers	₦66,906,030.00
25	Gombe State University	Gombe	₦3,621,000.00
26	Federal University of Technology Babura	Jigawa	₦64,565,000.00
27	Nigerian Army University, Biu	Borno	₦45,138,500.00
28	Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University	Bauchi	₦256,912,600.00
29	Yusuf Maitama Sule University	Kano	₦4,297,178.00
30	Bauchi State University	Bauchi	₦12,628,500.00
31	Yaba College of Technology	Lagos	₦733,000.00
32	Hussaini Adamu Federal Polytechnic	Jigawa	₦621,256.80
33	Ignatius Ajuru University of Education	Rivers	₦107,245,000.00
34	Federal University of Technology Akure	Ondo	₦34,428,000.00
35	Ladoke Akintola University	Oyo	₦8,670,000.00
36	Kogi State University, Kabba	Kogi	₦10,820,650.00
37	Niger State Polytechnic, Zungeru	Niger	₦4,535,000.00
38	Federal University of Health Science Otukpo	Benue	₦32,450,844.00
39	Abia State University	Abia	₦12,469,500.00
40	Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic	Ogun	₦7,846,500.00

October 30, 2024

Ondo Varsity, AAUA Begins 9 New Programmes as NUC Approves
In a recent development, the National Universities Commission, (NUC) has given Ondo State owned varsity, Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, (AAUA) consideration and approval to commence nine new academic programmes beginning from 2024/2025 Academic Session.

The information was relayed in a letter issued to the University’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Olugbenga Ige by NUC acting executive secretary, Chris J. Maiyaki dated September 6, 2024.

In the letter, NUC executive secretary highlighted that the programmes are to be run in AAUA main campus.

The NUC Newly approved programmes for AAUA are listed below;
1. B.NSc. Nursing Science
2. B.Sc Public Health
3. B. Medical Laboratory Science (BMLS)
4. B.Sc Cyber Security
5. B.Sc Data Science
6. B.Sc Software Engineering
7. B.Sc Information and Communication Technology
8. B.Sc Information Systems
9. B.Sc Food Science and Technology
However, the approval is restricted to full time on campus study not for part-time, the university’s Vice Chancellor is expected to seek new approval for part-time study of the programmes from NUC.
October 30, 2024
NELFUND Approves Loans for 3,283 University of Ibadan Students

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved the loan applications of 3,283 students from the University of Ibadan, Okay.ng reports.

This was confirmed by the university’s management in a circular issued on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.

While the loans have been approved, the disbursement of funds remains pending, according to an internal memorandum released by the varsity administration.

The memo, signed by the university’s Registrar, G.O. Salisu, directed that students whose loans have been approved should be allowed to sit for their 2023/2024 first-semester examinations despite the pending release of funds.

“Further to our circular number REG/13/I.26 of 13 September 2024, I write to inform the University of Ibadan community that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has provided a list of 3,283 students whose loan applications have been approved,” the memo stated.

It continued, “Although the funds have not yet been received by the university, the list of the affected students has been sent to the departments. All Heads of Departments have been instructed to allow these students to sit for the 2023/2024 first-semester examinations.”

This announcement comes in the wake of recent protests by University of Ibadan students following a hike in tuition fees endorsed by the university’s governing council.

The protests were triggered after a circular issued last Thursday by G.O. Saliu, the council’s secretary, informed students about the new fee structure for both newly admitted and returning undergraduate students.

The university administration had previously instructed students to complete their registration and fee payments by Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to participate in the first-semester examinations.

However, the approval of the loans offers financial relief for the 3,283 students, allowing them to move forward with their academic obligations.

October 30, 2024
NELFUND Resolves BVN Verification Issue for Student Loan Applicants

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the resolution of a technical issue that disrupted the Bank Verification Number (BVN) verification process for students applying for loans, Okay.ng reports.

The issue, which began over the weekend and extended through the public holiday, caused significant delays for many students attempting to complete their loan applications.

In a statement posted on Wednesday via NELFUND’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, the organization confirmed that the problem had been fully resolved by Tuesday morning.

NELFUND encouraged all affected students to log back into the application portal, complete their BVN verification, and proceed with their applications.

“We are pleased to inform you that the issue has been addressed and fully resolved as of yesterday morning. We kindly advise all affected students to log back into the portal, complete the BVN verification process, and proceed with your loan application,” the statement read in part.

The organization also expressed gratitude to students for their patience during the disruption, assuring them that the application process would now proceed without further interruptions.

October 30, 2024
BREAKING: NECO Releases 2024 SSCE Results

The results of the June/July 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, (SSCE) has been released by the National Examinations Council, (NECO) with 60.55 per cent of candidates securing five credits and above in English Language and Mathematics.

This was made known by the Registrar of NECO, Professor Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, while addressing newsmen at the NECO headquarters on Thursday in Minna, Niger State.

The NECO Registrar highlighted details of the results: “The number of candidates that sat for the exam is 1,367,736, comprising 702,112 males and 665,624 females.

“The number of candidates with five credits and above, including English and Mathematics, is 828,284, representing 60.55%.

“The number of candidates with five credits and above, irrespective of English and Mathematics, is 1,147,597, representing 83.90%.”

As Regards to examination malpractice, Wushishi emphasized that this year’s figures showed a significant reduction compared to last year.

He stated: “The number of candidates involved in various forms of malpractice in 2024 is 8,437, compared to 12,030 in 2023, indicating a reduction of 30.1%.”

“During the conduct of the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination, 40 schools were found to have engaged in whole-school (mass) cheating in 17 states. They will be invited to the Council for discussion, after which appropriate sanctions will be applied. One school in Ekiti has been recommended for de-recognition for mass cheating in two core subjects and one Science subject.

“Similarly, 21 supervisors were recommended for blacklisting due to poor supervision, aiding and abetting, abscondment, extortion, drunkenness, and negligence in 12 states.”

Candidates who sat for the examination are advised to visit NECO website to access their results.

“At this juncture, I wish to formally declare that the 2024 Senior School Certificate Examination results are hereby released to the public. By this release, candidates can now access their results on the NECO website: www.neco.gov.ng using their examination registration number,” Wushishi stated.

October 30, 2024
Kwara Gov Appoints Vice Chancellor for New Varsity

Professor Medinat Folorunsho Salman has made history as the pioneer Acting Vice-Chancellor of the newly established Kwara State University of Education in Ilorin, appointed by Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

As a renowned professor of mathematics education, Salman brings a wealth of experience to her new role, having served as a lecturer at the University of Ilorin’s Department of Science Education and coordinator of the Educational Technology Centre.

Her impressive educational background includes a Bachelor of Education from Ahmadu Bello University (1985), a Master’s degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Ilorin (1990), and a doctoral degree in Mathematics Education from the University of Ilorin (1998).

Notably, Salman is the first female professor from the Ilorin Emirate, paving the way for future generations.

Her appointment takes immediate effect, as announced by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye.

This development comes after the state government established the University of Education, Ilorin in May this year.

October 30, 2024
ASUU Issues 14-Day Strike Ultimatum to FG Over Lingering Issues
The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to address several unresolved issues, some of which date back as far as 2009, or face a potential strike, Okay.ng reports.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Emmanuel Osodeke, ASUU President, outlined the union’s demands, including the conclusion of the renegotiation of the 2009 FGN/ASUU Agreement based on the Nimi Briggs Committee’s Draft Agreement of 2021.

The union also called for the release of withheld salaries following the 2022 strike action and expressed frustration over what it termed as the government’s delay tactics.

ASUU warned that the government’s inaction was worsening the crisis in Nigeria’s public university system.

“In view of the foregoing, ASUU resolves to give the Nigerian Government another 14 days, in addition to the earlier 21 days, beginning from Monday, September 23, 2024, during which all the lingering issues must have been concretely addressed to the satisfaction of the membership of the union,” the statement read.

ASUU made it clear that the union should not be blamed for any industrial action that could arise if the government fails to meet its demands.

Among ASUU’s key demands are:

Payment of withheld salaries for staff on sabbatical, part-time, and adjunct appointments affected by the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

The release of third-party deductions, including check-off dues and cooperative contributions.

Funding for the revitalization of public universities, as partly captured in the 2023 Federal Government Budget.

The payment of Earned Academic Allowances.

Addressing the proliferation of universities by federal and state governments.

Implementing the recommendations of visitation panels to universities.

Reversing the illegal dissolution of Governing Councils.

Adopting the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS) as a replacement for the controversial IPPIS system.
October 30, 2024