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The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has said plans are underway to introduce specialised software aimed at ensuring that students with disabilities in higher institutions can fully take advantage of its loan scheme.

Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ engagement on student loans in Benin City, Edo State, according to a statement by the Fund on Sunday.

Sawyerr emphasised that the Act establishing the loan scheme guarantees equal opportunity for all, adding that NELFUND will collaborate with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to ensure more inclusivity.

“We want to see how we can make it easier for those visually impaired so that they can actually apply for the loan. We are looking at a specific software we are going to use,” he said.

During the event, which brought together religious leaders, parents, persons with disabilities, government officials, teachers, and community representatives, Sawyerr described the initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a transformative step for education in Nigeria.

Addressing concerns about loan repayment in the event of a beneficiary’s death, he said, “The law says that if the very person dies, that loan is not transferred to the family or anyone else. The loan is wiped out.”

Sawyerr reiterated the government’s commitment to making tertiary education accessible to all Nigerians, stating that “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came up with this initiative that no Nigerian student anywhere in Nigeria should be deprived of the opportunity to gain tertiary education because of lack of money.

“In order to actualise this vision, he set up this agency, Nigeria Education Loan Fund. He has funded it, he has put political will behind it, having created a structure through an Act of Parliament that effectively says that we are to go and look for these students, those who are about to drop out, those who are considering not furthering after secondary level, that we should look for them and if money is their issue, we should try to solve it. We’ve been doing that.”

The Owu community in the Abeokuta North Local Government of Ogun State has protested what it described as an unfair allocation of electoral wards, despite its significant population and high voter registration figures.

Speaking on behalf of the community under the aegis of the Concerned Apex Citizens of Owu, in a statement on Sunday, Pastor Sola Makinde urged the Independent National Electoral Commission to create at least three additional wards to supplement the existing three, ensuring fair political representation and more effective governance.

Citing figures from INEC’s website, Makinde pointed out that while other communities in the local government—such as Oke-Ona, Gbagura, and Oke-Ogun—have between four and five wards, Owu, despite having 42,264 registered voters (the second highest in the local government), is left with only three wards and 78 polling units.

He emphasized that the current ward structure places undue strain on residents, forcing many to walk long distances to polling units during elections—a situation that discourages participation and fuels voter apathy.

“Part of our discoveries are the unfortunate imbalances in the allocation of only three wards to Owu Community despite our huge population and voter registration strength.

“There is no gainsaying the fact that delineation is long overdue in the Owu community.

“It is crucial for ensuring fair political representation, efficient governance, civic responsibility, and monumental community engagement,” Makinde said.

The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has stated that Nigeria recorded the least number of attacks within the country in 2024, even as he stated that the federal government is improving the border system.

He stated this on Prime Time, an Arise Television programme on Friday while speaking on the latest global terrorism index which placed Nigeria in the sixth position, adding that there has been significant improvement in security in the country.

“And that is why the federal government is moving up, to make sure that we have a very wonderful border management system because we have to protect our borders.

“I will not speak for West Africa; I will speak for Nigeria. In 2024, we had the least number of attacks within the country. Things are really improving. Yes, we still have isolated issues. But, I can tell you the troops are really putting in their best.

“If you move around the country, you would see that a lot of things have improved; farmers are going back to their farms, there is a lot of peace. Nigerians know that things are really improving; we need to join hands together to do more,” he stated.

According to him,  Nigeria stands to lose a lot if Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso do not return to democratic rule, saying that the three West African countries have been under military rule for the past few years.

“Like I said, we have issues of poverty in West Africa, a lot of governance issues, challenges with Niger Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They are taking a lot of heat, and that is because the areas are large, there is a lot of poverty within those areas, climate change is one major issue on the ground, and lack of political will is causing these issues,” Musa said.

“And those are the things trying to pour into Nigeria. Whatever effort we are making, as long as these things are there, it is going to be a challenge.

“The truth about it is that, especially for these three countries, they must get their leadership right, and then they can do a lot. And, that is why for us in Nigeria, we have a lot to lose if they do not get it right —they must have a democratic system that will be able to assist them in taking decisions that will help the country,” he added.

Musa said the federal government is making efforts to strengthen border management between Nigeria and the three countries to avert security threats.

In another development, the Nigerian Army in a statement on its X handle on Friday, said it has continued the engagement with stakeholders, farmers and herders in order to ensure a successful 2025 farming season within its Joint Operations Area.

The statement posted by its Media Information Officer Operation SAFE HAVEN, Samson Zhakom after a stakeholders’ engagement held in Mangu, Plateau state, the General Officer Commanding 3 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN, Major General Folusho Oyinlola, said the engagement was crucial to prepare the minds of herders and farmers towards a successful farming season 2025.

He described the theme of the engagement which is “Consolidating on the Security Gains for a Peaceful Farming Season” as a catalyst for peace and prosperity in communities.

Oyinlola reiterated the commitment of 3 Division and OPSH to continue exploring robust non-kinetic strategies towards fostering peaceful coexistence in communities. The commander added that the people of Mangu and Pankshin LGAs must agree to live together irrespective of religion and ethnic background, to achieve stability and economic prosperity.

The commander assured that security agencies will collaborate with communities to provide timely and effective responses to security challenges, while noting that the cooperation of stakeholders is vital towards sustaining peace as the year 2025 farming season approaches. Major General Oyinlola added that security will be provided for displaced communities to enable internally displaced persons return to farming, thereby boosting their economic growth and improving the standard of living.

Stakeholders who spoke during the engagement, including the Mishkaham Mwaghavul, Ngolong Ngas, Director-General Plateau Peace Building Agency, and chairmen of Mangu and Pankshin LGAs, emphasised the need for farmers and herders to tolerate one another to achieve a successful farming season. The stakeholders advised that past agreements on farming season should be revisited, serving as guidance to the activities of both herders and farmers during the important farming season. While decrying the deep-seated mutual suspicion that exists among different ethnic groups in the LGAs when crimes are committed, the stakeholders agreed that trust must be built by allowing peace to reign.

The Governor of Plateau state, Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, represented by a former Speaker Plateau State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Titus Alams, remarked that government has made Plateau comfortable for people to come in and do businesses. He enjoined the people to support government efforts at finding a common ground for farmers and herders to operate.

Present at the event were top government officials, heads of security agencies, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders, women leaders, and youth representatives.

 

Palpable tension has enveloped Rivers State as youth groups, under the auspices of the Niger Delta Youth Council, threaten to shut down oil production across the region over the raging political impasse in Rivers.

The youth groups issued a seven-day ultimatum to President Bola Tinubu demanding, among other things, the immediate restoration of Rivers State statutory revenue allocation, the end of every impeachment plot against the Rivers State Governor, Similaye Fubara, and the public retraction of anti-Ijaw remarks purportedly attributed to the former Governor of the State, Nyesom Wike.

The group stated in an open letter to the president signed by the NDYC president, Bene Youkore Mamamu, that “Failure to comply could lead to a total shutdown of oil production across the region, a move that would have dire consequences for Nigeria’s already fragile economy.”

In the open letter, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri, Delta State on Saturday, the NDYC noted with concern that Wike’s comments in which he was quoted as describing the Ijaws as a minority group of the minorities “is provocative and inflammatory, and a declaration of economic and political War”.

The open letter partly reads, “We are ready to shock the world in seven days.

The Osemawe Ondo Kingdom, Oba Victor Kiladejo and ex-Governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko have showered praises on the outgoing Vice Chancellor of the University of Medical Sciences in Ondo, Prof. Adesegun Fatusi, describing him as “a quintessential gentleman, one given to diligence and high-level commitment to tasks.”

The honour bestowed on Fatusi held on Saturday at a well-attended valedictory event put together by the Osemawe-In-Council.

The event was an occasion to pour encomiums on Fatusi for the accomplishments that the university had witnessed while he served as the Vice Chancellor.

The Osemawe described him as a quintessential gentleman, one given to diligence and high-level commitment to tasks.

Mimiko, whose administration established the university, was full of commendations for Fatusi, describing him as an energetic administrator and a man of impeccable integrity.

Responding, Fatusi appreciated God for being with him and his family all through the trajectory of his tenure as Vice Chancellor.

He also thanked the Osemawe, the Osemawe-In-Council, and the people of Ondo Kingdom for the support he had enjoyed.

The National Association of Nigerian Students has commended the Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, for appointing two indigenes of the state who emerged as the best-graduating students of the University of Lagos during the institution’s 55th convocation as the Education Ambassadors of the state.

NANS equally showered encomium on the governor for giving the sum of N10m each to the duo in appreciation for their adroit and sterling achievements.

Governor Dapo Abiodun announced the appointment of Samuel Badekale and Haroun Adebakin as Education Ambassadors for making the state proud by emerging the best-graduating students of the University of Lagos during the institution’s 55th convocation.

The governor also presented them with cheques of N10m each to appreciate their efforts.

Adebakin and Badekale scored a Grade Point Average of 5.0 and announced the best-graduating students during the convocation.

NANS, however, in a statement signed by its Vice President, Inter-Campus and Gender Affairs, Akinbodunse Sileola , described the action of Governor Abiodun on Saturday as “unprecedented and noble”.

Akinbodunse said that the governor had not only rewarded academic excellence and hard work by the honour done on Adebakin and Badekale, but he had also encouraged other students of the state’s origin to aim for enviable excellence in their respective education pursuits.

She added that the governor’s gesture has clearly shown the high premium and value his administration placed on education, noting that no previous administration in the state had rewarded academic brilliance and motivated students as well as the youth to aim for the best as his administration has done.

The Kano State Government has made clarification on the recent Court of Appeal judgment concerning the ongoing emirship dispute, addressing widespread misinterpretations and speculative reports in the media.

This was contained in a statement issued on Saturday by the Governor’s spokesman, Sunusi Dawakin-Tofa.

Speaking at a press briefing held at the NUJ Secretariat in Kano, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Dederi, emphasised the need for accurate information regarding the legal proceedings.

Dederi explained that the Court of Appeal, in its judgment delivered on January 10, 2025, upheld the repeal of the Kano Emirate Council Law, 2019, and overturned the judgment of the Federal High Court, Kano.

However, he noted that Alhaji Aminu Dan’agundi, dissatisfied with the verdict, has since filed an appeal before the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

A viral video featuring a man, Fatai Odunsi, who claims to be the father of popular artist, Asake, has stirred controversy on social media since the early hours of Friday, March 14. In the video, Odunsi claimed he had not seen Asake since 2022, when his health began to deteriorate, and he now felt the need to speak help publicly. He pleaded with Nigerians for financial assistance, revealing that he has been battling a stroke since 2022. He further alleged that despite Asake’s fame and success, the singer has not been financially supportive of him.

“I am Asake’s father. I gave birth to him. I gave birth to Asake, Ahmed, the singer. Babatunde Ololade Odunsin, Mr. Money. Since I had a stroke, I haven’t seen him. The last time I saw him was March 29, 2022. He doesn’t pick my calls when I call him. Please, I only need your help,” Odunsi said.

Responding in a video, Asake was seen singing in Yoruba, seemingly addressing the controversy. The lyrics of his song conveyed a message about staying true to himself despite external pressures. He sang, “You can’t please the world. Whatever you do, do it for God and always remember the day you’ll die and meet your God. My people, can you see how it’s going? Even my father wants to cajole me, but I stand firm and they can’t off my light. I used to press money for him and I do it with one mind. If you strike, I will move on. No one can quench my fire. God is the one that is taking me ahead in life.”

Meanwhile, a prominent showbiz personality who spoke to Saturday Beats anonymously on Friday, alleged that Asake had not been caring for his father, whom he referred to as “Malo.” The source also claimed that Asake has a child who has been under Malo’s care since birth, and the child recently turned a year older on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. The source further stated that the only things Asake had ever given his father were a Lexus car and an apartment on Lagos Island, with the rent set to expire in December 2025.

Also reacting to the viral post, Asake’s ex-manager, Tunde Phoenix, criticised the singer’s alleged abandonment of his father, writing, “Operation GoFundMe for your favorite’s Papa. Please help us find that old man, his seed won’t listen. He abandons people who have helped him. Even if they left you, should you act like them when God has blessed you beyond your wildest dreams? A heart of a man reveals all you need to know. Please find Papa, let’s get him the help he needs. These children have the audacity.”