By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A framework for the administration of the Student Loan Scheme established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024 for public tertiary institutions has been released by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The organisation said the guidelines were designed for seamless implementation of the programme, ensuring transparent, inclusive, and accountable processes for Nigerian students seeking financial support for their education.

The guidelines were issued in line with Section 23(3) of the Student Loans Act 2024 and mark a significant milestone in the government’s commitment to ensuring inclusive access to higher education, reducing dropout rates, and fostering socio-economic mobility.

The federal government under President Bola Tinubu introduced the initiative to allow Nigerian students in public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education received funding support for the completion of their studies in the country.

NELFUND said students eligible for the scheme are Nigerian citizens with valid admission into an Eligible Tertiary Institution (ETI) and provide key identification such as NIN, BVN, and JAMB details.

It stated that all loan requests would be processed via the NELFUND online portal, requiring accurate personal, academic and KYC information.

The organisation disclosed that approved loans would be disbursed directly to institutions to cover tuition and institutional charges, while optional upkeep allowances may be paid directly to students.

As for repayment, beneficiaries will begin repayment two years after completing NYSC or exemption, with 10 per cent of income remitted monthly under PAYE or self-employment models.

It noted that institutions are obligated to verify applications within 20 working days, process refunds where necessary, and comply with reporting requirements. Breaches may attract sanctions, including suspension from the scheme.

“This initiative goes beyond providing loans; it is about removing financial barriers to education, fostering skills development, and building a future where every Nigerian student can achieve their potential regardless of background.

“These guidelines provide the roadmap for institutions and students to access the scheme transparently and effectively,” the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, stated.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The federal government has denied reaching an agreement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to avert the industrial action threatened by the lecturers.

The Minister of Education, Mr Tunji Alausa, told journalists in Abuja, on Thursday, that all the claimed agreements by ASUU were just a proposal contained in the draft agreement.

He said: “I read some reports in the media on Thursday indicating that we have a meeting with ASUU. That was not correct. Rather, we had an expanded meeting with relevant stakeholders to review the content of the draft agreement.

“At the end of the day, we set up a committee chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, to make a counter proposal to ASUU detailing what the government can offer.

“The committee is expected to go through the content of ASUU demands, line by line, and make a proposal to ASUU. Afterwards, the proposal will be sent to the Yayale Ahmed led committee for onward presentation to ASUU.

“But it’s important for Nigerians to know that the government has no signed agreement with ASUU. All we had over the years was a draft agreement that was not signed,” he clarified.

Earlier, ASUU stated it would not participate in the eagerly anticipated meeting with the federal government to finalise the 2009 agreement with the union.

The 2009 agreement remains the touchstone of the dispute, signed under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, which promised comprehensive reforms to Nigeria’s public universities, including sustained revitalisation funding, institutional autonomy, a negotiated salary and conditions package for academics, and a monitoring framework for implementation.

The high-stakes meeting was to make a counter offer to the university teachers in a bid to turn years of stalled renegotiations into concrete and implementable commitments.

Warnings from ASUU branches have emerged nationwide that their patience is exhausted, after a renegotiation process concluded in December 2024 and formally submitted to government in February 2025.

Union leaders insist that the draft must now be signed and implemented to avert another nationwide shutdown of public universities.

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The deadline for entries for the 2025 Maltina Teacher of the Year competition has been extended to Friday, September 5 from Friday, August 22, a statement from the organisers has revealed.

The prestigious event, organised by Nigerian Breweries Plc, is used to celebrate teachers from across the country.

Now in its 11th edition, the Maltina Teacher of the Year award has become a coveted prize for the teaching industry in Nigeria.

The Corporate Affairs Director for Nigerian Breweries, Mr Uzodinma Odenigbo, explained that the decision to extend the deadline by two weeks was in response to requests from teachers who asked for additional time to complete their submissions.

“We’ve received significant interest from teachers across the country who requested more time to prepare and submit their entries. This extension is to ensure that as many deserving teachers as possible can participate,” Mr Odenigbo said.

“The 11th edition of the Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative is open to all secondary school teachers currently teaching in Nigeria. The competition remains an effective intervention program geared towards giving pride to the teaching profession and improving the education sector in Nigeria as a whole,” he added.

Mr Odenigbo noted that eligible teachers interested in taking part in the competition are to log on to www.maltinateacheroftheyear.com to complete their application online. Alternatively, they can download the form and send the completed form via email to maltinateacheroftheyear@heineken.com.

He reiterated the commitment of the company to rewarding teachers, stating that the overall winner for the competition would receive a trophy, a total cash prize of N10 million, a capacity development training abroad, and a school infrastructure project worth N30 million in his/her school.

“The first runner-up of the competition will equally receive a trophy and a sum of N5 million, while the second runner-up receives a trophy and N3 million. All state champions will be rewarded with recognition plaques and a cash prize of N1 million each,” he added.

The Maltina Teacher of the Year initiative was established in 2015 and is funded through the Nigerian Breweries-Felix Ohiwerei Education Trust Fund, which was set up in 1994 to facilitate an active contribution to the development of the education sector in Nigeria in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 4.