The Nigerian Education Loan Fund is set to disburse N90 billion in student loans to support education nationwide, with N10 billion already distributed.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is poised to disburse N90 billion in tuition fees and stipends to students across the country, according to its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr.

Since its inception in August 2024, the scheme has already distributed N10 billion to successful applicants, offering much-needed financial relief for Nigerian students.

Also read: NELFUND confirms receiving N50bn from EFCC to boost student loan scheme

Mr Sawyerr disclosed these developments during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing at the National Assembly Complex on Wednesday.

He highlighted the widespread demand for the loan scheme, which has attracted over 350,000 applications since its launch.

“We are receiving applications at an average of over 1,000 per day, and so far, we have disbursed over N10 billion. Our commitment to disbursing N90 billion remains strong, and we are making special provisions for students living with disabilities,” Sawyerr stated.

The NELFUND chief also emphasised the Fund’s dedication to addressing barriers to girl-child education, recognising that educating girls is essential to Nigeria’s future.

“Denying girls the opportunity for further education is denying the nation a chance to benefit from their incredible leadership potential,” he added.

Sawyerr further pointed out that the growing youth population, with 70 per cent of Nigerians under the age of 35, underscores the importance of this initiative.

“Failing to provide access to education for this segment exposes Nigeria to a future fraught with instability and violence,” he warned.

The student loan initiative, which Sawyerr described as timely, aims to reach students across the entire nation, ensuring that the scheme is inclusive and non-discriminatory.

“This policy ensures that every Nigerian, regardless of location or background, has access to the education they deserve,” he said.

He also compared the initiative to other significant education policies in Nigeria’s history, such as Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s free education programme, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) established by Gen Yakubu Gowon, and the creation of federal universities.

Sawyerr concluded that the student loan initiative represents a progressive step towards investing in Nigeria’s future.

The administration of President Bola Tinubu has introduced the student loan scheme as part of its efforts to reform education and provide opportunities for all Nigerian youths to pursue higher education.

Sawyerr praised the initiative, noting its potential to significantly shape the nation’s development, particularly in regions historically underserved in terms of educational access.

The Ogun State Government is recruiting 1,000 teachers to fill vacancies in public schools, coordinated by the Ministry of Education and other relevant bodies.

The Ogun State Government is set to recruit another batch of 1,000 teachers to address existing vacancies in public schools across the state.

This recruitment exercise is being coordinated by the State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, in collaboration with the State Teaching Service Commission, the State Universal Basic Education Board, and the Ogun State Technical and Vocational Education Board.

Also read: My administration augments federal allocations to Ogun LGs – Gov Abiodun

The initiative, named the Ogun State Teaching Experience Acquisition Channel, aims to fill vacancies in public primary, secondary, and technical colleges within the state.

In a statement issued on Friday, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, outlined the qualifications required for prospective applicants.

Candidates must hold a minimum of a National Certificate in Education (NCE) or a Bachelor’s degree in Education (B.A. (Edu)/B.Sc. (Ed)/B.Ed.) with at least a Second Class Lower division in relevant subjects.

Those with degrees in other disciplines must possess a Post-Graduate Diploma in Education from a reputable university.

Applicants seeking positions in Technical Colleges are expected to hold a B.Sc. in Technical Education, B.Sc. in Engineering, B.Eng., or an HND in Engineering fields.

Interested candidates can apply through the Ogun State Job Portal at [www.teach.ogunstate.gov.ng](http://www.teach.ogunstate.gov.ng) between Wednesday, October 16, and Wednesday, November 6, 2024.

Successful applicants, referred to as TEACH Interns, will be deployed to Local Government Areas that require their services.

They will receive a monthly stipend for two years, after which they will be assessed based on various criteria, including expertise, commitment to duty, punctuality, respect for authority, and willingness to work in assigned locations.

This recruitment round will complete the Governor Dapo Abiodun’s promise of hiring 5,000 interns, with some of the first 4,000 already offered permanent appointments and currently working as full-time teachers.

SSANU and NASU condemn the Federal Government’s renegotiation committee inauguration, accusing it of bias towards ASUU at the expense of non-teaching staff.

The Joint Action Committee of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and the Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) has fiercely criticised the Federal Government’s inauguration of a new renegotiation committee.

The committee, inaugurated on Tuesday in Abuja, is tasked with renegotiating the 2009 agreements between the government and university-based unions.

Also read: SSANU and NASU threaten indefinite strike, issue three-week ultimatum over unpaid salaries

However, SSANU and NASU described the event as a “charade,” accusing the government of favouring the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over other unions.

In a joint statement signed by SSANU President Muhammed Ibrahim and NASU’s leader Peters Adeyemi, the unions expressed their frustration, stating that the inauguration appeared heavily skewed towards ASUU, sidelining the interests of non-teaching staff.

The Federal Government’s reconstituted committee has been given a three-month timeline to conclude its renegotiations.

“The entire inauguration seemed to revolve around ASUU, with the other unions treated as an afterthought,” the statement read. “The Honourable Minister of Education’s speech focused almost exclusively on ASUU, while the other unions were barely mentioned.”

This new renegotiation committee is the fourth of its kind since 2017, following earlier efforts led by Wale Babalakin (2017), Munzali Jubril (2020), and Nimi Briggs (2022).

While these previous committees aimed to address the concerns of university staff, little progress has been made. Most notably, ASUU’s nine-month strike in 2020 resulted in the formation of the Jubril committee, which created the basis for a draft agreement in 2021. Further recommendations were submitted by the Nimi Briggs committee in 2022, but a lasting solution has remained elusive.

SSANU and NASU raised concerns over the event’s structure, pointing out that the ASUU President was given a prominent role at the inauguration, while the leaders of their unions were largely sidelined. “The President of ASUU was seated at the so-called ‘Responsibility table’ while NASU and SSANU leaders were left as mere spectators,” the statement added.

The unions are worried that the ongoing renegotiations will unfairly favour academic staff, neglecting the rights and welfare of non-teaching personnel.

They also expressed dissatisfaction that the President of ASUU was allowed to speak on behalf of all the unions without prior consultation, which they viewed as a disregard for the views of non-teaching staff.

Concluding their statement, SSANU and NASU condemned the inauguration process, calling for a more balanced and fair renegotiation.

“We reject the charade that took place in the name of an inauguration, as it signals a clear bias towards academic staff and undermines the rights of non-teaching workers,” the unions stated.

As the renegotiation committee begins its work, SSANU and NASU’s concerns over potential partiality raise questions about whether the needs of all university staff will be equitably addressed.