Education
Ajimobi Installs Akande as Oyo Education Trust Fund Chair
By Dipo Olowookere
Oyo State Governor, Mr Abiola Ajimobi, has inaugurated the state’s Education Trust Fund, which is saddled with the responsibility of mobilizing resources to complement government efforts in its drive to address the decadence in the sector.
The board of the ETF is headed by a former Minister of Industry and current President, Lagos Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mrs Onikepo Akande, who will function as chairperson.
In an address at the occasion, the Governor said that the board was put in place to pool funds from stakeholders with a view to assisting the government to complete its intervention projects aimed at restoring the fading education glory of the state.
Mr Ajimobi said that a bill for the establishment of the ETF was passed into law in June 2016 by the State House of Assembly, as part efforts to ensure that the transformation agenda of his administration was manifest in every sector.
The Governor said that the objective behind the ETF was to put in place a conducive learning environment, improved and adequate physical facilities, as well as quality and well-motivated teachers.
The Governor who described the chairperson of the ETF as a woman of many parts, expressed optimism that Akande and other members of the board of trustees will bring their wealth of experiences to bear in the task before them.
Mr Ajimobi said, “I am convinced that by the time the board swings into full action, all our yearnings and aspirations towards the transformation of education in the state would be achieved to an appreciable level.
“In nominating you, it is my belief that your organizations have found you worthy to contribute your quota to the development of education in Oyo State and I believe that you will justify the trust reposed in you.
“By the time resources are pooled, we can then confidently be talking of a conducive learning environment, improved and adequate physical facilities as well as quality teachers.
“May I therefore charge members of the board of trustees to be dedicated and committed to the realization of the objectives behind the setting up of the fund. It is also my belief that stakeholders will support and cooperate with them in the discharge of their responsibilities.”
The Governor used the occasion to appeal to the workforce at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso ((LAUTECH), to show more understanding about the need for a forensic audit of the university as part of efforts to find a lasting solution to the crisis.
He called on the striking workers to give peace a chance and cooperate with the auditors in the interest of peace and to quicken the process of returning normalcy to the college.
On behalf of his Osun State counterpart, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Mr Ajimobi expressed appreciation to the outgoing members of the university’s Governing Council of the institution for what he called their selfless contribution towards its development.
Mr Ajimobi said, “While the two owner states of Oyo and Osun are doing everything within their powers to quickly resolve the challenges associated with the institution, it is my hope that the striking teaching and non-teaching staff will give peace a chance and cooperate with us.
“They need to end the strike and get our students back into the classrooms at the earliest date. In the meantime, let me on behalf of my brother, Governor Rauf Aregbesola, thank the outgoing members of the university’s governing council for their selfless contribution and services to LAUTECH.”
In her remark, the chairperson of the ETF board of trustees appreciated the governor for finding her and other members worthy of the appointment, which she said was a call to serve the state at a high level.
She said the quality of human capital in any country was dependent largely on investment on education, noting that funding of the sector had remained a major issue over the years.
Mrs Akande said, “On behalf of the board of trustees of Oyo State Education Trust Fund, I will like to assure you of our total commitment to the realization of the objectives and vision of this great initiative.
“Clearly, funding has become a major issue for our educational sector at both the national and state levels. It has, therefore, become imperative to engage both private organizations and individuals in corporate social responsibilities (CSR) to play a role.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has granted another extension for its Student Loan Application Portal to accommodate institutions that requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session.
According to the statement signed by NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Ms Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, on Thursday, the extension applies only to institutions that submitted formal requests, allowing eligible students extra time to complete their applications.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved an extension of its Student Loan Application Portal for institutions that have formally requested additional time for the 2025/2026 academic session,” the statement read.
Business Post reports that at the beginning of March, NELFUND announced an extension to the deadline by a week for its student loan application portal following a notable rise in nationwide interest driven by ongoing awareness campaigns.
Speaking on the development, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the Fund’s commitment to ensuring that eligible students at participating institutions can access the student loan programme.
“NELFUND remains committed to ensuring that eligible students across participating institutions have the opportunity to access the student loan programme,” he said.
The Fund urges students in affected institutions to take advantage of the extension and submit their applications through the official portal.
It also emphasised its dedication to transparency, accountability, and providing sustainable financing solutions to remove financial barriers to higher education in Nigeria.
Established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.
The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses.
Beneficiaries are required to repay the loans after completing their education and securing employment, aiming to increase access to higher education for students from low-income backgrounds.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) has inaugurated a Curriculum Review Committee aimed at strengthening taxation education in Nigerian academic institutions and improving the country’s tax administration system.
According to a statement, the committee was inaugurated on February 24, at the NRS Academy in Durumi as part of the agency’s broader efforts to modernise tax education and align academic training with the evolving demands of contemporary tax administration.
Speaking during the inauguration, the Director of the NRS Academy, Mr Adeolu Akinyemi, said the review exercise would involve collaboration with the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria (CITN) to develop a more structured and relevant curriculum for the academy.
He emphasised that the initiative seeks to ensure that taxation programmes taught in Nigerian institutions reflect current developments in tax policy and practice, while also equipping students with the practical knowledge required in today’s tax administration environment.
The committee has been tasked with examining existing taxation curricula across Nigerian institutions and proposing updates that incorporate modern tax policies, recent legislative changes, and emerging areas such as digital taxation and global tax practices.
Officials say the review is also designed to close the gap between theoretical classroom instruction and the practical realities of tax administration.
By strengthening the link between academic learning and professional practice, the revised curriculum is expected to better prepare graduates for careers in the tax sector.
The effort is further expected to enhance tax awareness among citizens, encourage voluntary tax compliance, and support the development of skilled tax professionals who can contribute to national revenue generation and economic growth.
The committee is chaired by Mrs Aisha Hamman Mahmoud, Special Adviser to the Executive Chairman of the NRS on Research and Statistics. Its membership includes representatives from the service as well as academic experts in taxation and fiscal policy, alongside professionals with experience in tax administration, policy formulation, and tax education.
The committee will work with relevant educational regulatory agencies and professional bodies to ensure that the proposed curriculum aligns with national academic standards while addressing the practical needs of Nigeria’s tax system.
The NRS stated that the initiative forms part of its ongoing commitment to expanding tax knowledge, strengthening professional capacity, and promoting responsible tax practices across the country.
The curriculum review exercise is expected to be completed within 60 days, after which the Service plans to provide further updates on the implementation of the revised programme.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The first batch of Nigerian undergraduates to enjoy fully paid scholarships for studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) courses across the continent has been chosen by Airtel Africa Foundation.
Business Post gathered that 70 students from universities across Nigeria were selected from thousands of applicants through an independently managed process, which took nearly six months.
It was learned that most of the undergraduates were from the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Ile-Ife, the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), the University of Ilorin, Ahmadu Bello University (ABU Zaria), and the University of Nigeria (UNN).
The scholarship covers tuition, laptop computers, living expenses, and essential learning resources, a statement from Airtel Africa Foundation disclosed.
The chairman of the foundation, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, speaking at the presentation of the scholarships to the beneficiaries at the Lagos headquarters of Airtel Nigeria, emphasised the need for initiatives such as the Airtel Africa Foundation’s undergraduate tech scholarship for the future of the continent.
“True legacy is not measured by the awards we win or the volume of SIM cards we sell; it is measured by the lives we save, the people we feed, and the students we support when the line between success and failure is at its thinnest.
“At the Airtel Africa Foundation, we believe that lifting people out of poverty is the ultimate benchmark of a great company. Today, we are writing that legacy by tilting the balance in favour of the brilliant but underserved, ensuring that the fourth industrial revolution, driven by AI and Data Science, is built by African talent for the African continent,” he stated.
Mr Ogunsanya further revealed that this fellowship, executed through Airtel Nigeria, is designed to bridge the gap where funding, skills, and opportunity often fail to meet.
In addition to the N500,000 yearly budget for the fellows’ four-year or five-year courses, each fellow would be integrated into a structured support system for academic guidance and career mentorship, intended to ultimately transition students from the classroom to the global tech workforce.
Addressing the students, the chief executive of Airtel Nigeria, Mr Dinesh Balsingh, stressed that youth development is a strategic imperative for Airtel.
“At Airtel Nigeria, we view youth development as essential nation-building. When young people succeed, innovation accelerates, and social stability improves.
“By connecting these brilliant scholars to knowledge, skills, and confidence, we are fulfilling our core mission to connect people to opportunity. To our recipients: you earned your place here through merit and discipline. You are now ambassadors of excellence, and we expect your leadership to be defined by your conduct as you help shape a more inclusive digital future for Nigeria,” the Airtel Nigeria chief said.
The Nigerian cohort joins a prestigious network of Airtel Africa Foundation fellows currently studying in Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and India.
The initiative underscores a broader commitment to technology education, youth development, and Nigeria’s digital economy.
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