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CSOs Accuse Media Houses of Misleading, Mischievous Report on Hon. Obasa

Published

5 years ago

July 15, 2020

Joel Ajayi

A coalition of Civil Society groups comprising of Competent Governance for Accountability and Civic Trust, South-South Youth Peace Mission and other Civil Society groups in the country have accused some section of media houses of a mischievous story to destroy the reputation of Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa built over the year

The groups in a press release jointly signed under the leadership of Amb. Omoba Micheal and Comrade Godwin Erheriene, as the conveners on Tuesday in Abuja, asked those media houses to stop misleading the public.

According to the release, unarguably religion plays a major role in the life of the people. To some it is their candlelight; it gives them insight, wisdom, and knowledge. Therefore, it is expected that the teaching of religion should reflect in the lives of the people.

“Fake news stories can not only polarize different groups within a state but can also affect international relations and for political intrigues whereby causing conflict to undermine people faith in the Democratic process and people ability to work together.

“While it is right to encourage outstanding actions and condemn mediocre deeds, the intent and manner have done matters. In recent years, social media has been hijacked by those who are stock in trade of fake news and seek the downfall of persons, organization or Nations perceived to be excelling in their chosen endeavors.

“Based on fact findings, is not possible for anyone to have more than one account in one bank with two different dates of birth and different names in with one BVN.

“Officials of Ecobank, Wema Bank and Polaris has denied that Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa is operating multiple bank accounts with them.

“Some representatives of the banks spoke before the 9-man House Adhoc Committee on fact-finding and investigation on the corruption allegations against Speaker Mudashiru Obasa being circulated on social media recently.”

“The bank officials stated that it was not possible for an individual to operate multiple accounts with one Bank Verification Number (BVN). The Committee is headed by Hon. Victor Akande (Ojo Constituency 1).” The statement said.

Present during the meeting were Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Hon. Yinka Ogundimu, Hon. Lukmon Olumoh and Hon. Mojisola Alli-Macaulay.

A Business Development Officer with Wema Bank, Mr. Adekunle Adeleke said that the BVN server did not reserve with any bank, and that it is with the CBN.

“The BVN and the accounts stated in the story is not correct and they don’t belong to the Speaker of the Assembly.

“It is not possible for a BVN to have two dates of births. If they do so, it would be rejected in another bank, they would have to swear to an affidavit so that it would be the same.

“If it should be changed, it would be backed up by marriage certificate or sworn affidavit,” he stated.

Adeleke stressed that the companies stated by those media houses in their reports had no linkage with Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

He added that the name, signature, and other details in the story has no relationship with Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa

“BVN is a different server, it does not belong to any bank. You cannot punch BVN and get any financial details. It is only the regulator or the anti-corrupion agency that can do so through the CBN,” he said.

Polaris Bank was represented by Mr. Charles Osho and Mr. Rotimi Omotayo, Chief Internal Auditor of the bank.

“Mr. Adebayo Adeyemi David is different from Mr. Ajayi Mudashiru Obasa and there is no linkage between the two personalities.

“Rt. Hon. Ajayi Mudashiru Obasa has one account with our bank and the BVN quoted for Obasa is correct. The other person has a separate BVN for the two accounts.

General Manager of the Lagos State Public Procurement Agency (PPA), Mr. Onafowote Fati Idowu, who was also invited by the Committee, revealed that the 40 Toyota Corolla back-up cars bought for the 8th Assembly was with the notice of his office and that the purchase followed the due process.

He said that Certificate of Compliance was issued for the procurement of the vehicles on 30th April 2019.

“The purchase of the vehicles was approved by the Management Committee of the House, led by the Speaker Mudashiru Obasa and the relevant documents were provided.

“Members of the Committee were Hon. Wahab Olumuyiwa Jimoh, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Hon. Dayo Saka-Fafunmi, and Hon. Setonji David. The purchase was budgeted for and It is in tandem with the appropriate Procurement Law,” he said.

We, therefore encourage those organizations behind those publications against the impracticable character and numerous achievement of the Speaker, to have a rethink and do a rejoinder of their allegation, as is now obvious that they goofed based on the publication made against the innocent man. Reject invitation to support lies against the innocent. Very common in politics; blackmails will come but stick to the truth and right fact.

Hon. MUDASHIRU AJAYI OBASA has won so many awards based on his outstanding performance over time. As a young man of his age to have achieved a lot within this short period of time, I think he deserves an accolade from us, Nigerians.

Leadership Training, Cambridge University, UK, Certificate on Legislation, UK parliament, Nigerian Law School, (2007)

Legislator of the Year, Podium Recognition Awards 2016 by Podium International, 10th Anniversary, Evergreen Lawmaker of the Year 2016 by APC Volunteers Lagos Award of Excellence, Omoluabi/Ambassador Ile Asofin Rere (OAIAR) by the Yoruba Community (Egbe Omo Oduduwa), Naples, Italy. True Son of Islam Award 2016 by CITINET international, Best House of Assembly Speaker 2016 by Global Excellence, Speaker of the Year 2016 by City People Magazine, Outstanding Leaders Award by Christian Coalition Against Corruption, Award of Landmark for Community Support Initiative by Orchard Media, Man of the Year Award by Agege Awards Organization, Mentorship/Leadership Award by R&A City Hotel: Ikeja Committee of Friends, Certificate of Excellence by the State of Georgia, USA. His awards and achievement will be too numerous to mention here on this platform. May we at this juncture call on well-meaning Nigerians to always support hard work instead of this, “let bring him down syndrome” for the Development and interest of this Nation is more paramount than our individual interest.

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NELFUND: The Renewed Hope Engine Propelling Nigeria’s Youth into Tomorrow

Published

3 days ago

November 28, 2025

The Gleamer

By Dayo Israel, National Youth Leader, APC

As the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress, I have spent most of my tenure fighting for a Nigeria where every young person, regardless of their ward or local government, family income, or circumstance, can chase dreams without the chains of financial despair.

Today, that fight feels like victory, thanks to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Launched as a cornerstone of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, this initiative isn’t just a policy tweak; it’s a revolution. And under the steady, visionary hand of Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND has transformed from a bold promise into a roaring engine of opportunity, disbursing over ₦116 billion to more than 396,000 students and shattering barriers for over a million applicants.

Let’s be clear: NELFUND was always destined to be a game-changer. Signed into law by President Tinubu on April 3, 2024, it repealed the outdated 2023 Student Loan Act, replacing it with a modern, inclusive framework that covers tuition, upkeep allowances, and even vocational training—ensuring no Nigerian youth is left on the sidelines of progress.

But what elevates it from groundbreaking to generational? Leadership. Enter Akintunde Sawyerr, the diplomat-turned-executioner whose career reads like a blueprint for results-driven governance. From co-founding the Agricultural Fresh Produce Growers and Exporters Association of Nigeria (AFGEAN) in 2012—backed by icons like former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr. Akinwumi Adesina—to steering global logistics at DHL across 21 countries, Sawyerr brings a rare alchemy: strategic foresight fused with unyielding accountability.

As NELFUND’s pioneer MD, he’s turned a fledgling fund into a finely tuned machine, processing over 1 million applications since May 2024 and disbursing ₦116 billion—₦61.33 billion in institutional fees and ₦46.35 billion in upkeep—to students in 231 tertiary institutions nationwide. That’s not bureaucracy; that’s brilliance.

Sawyerr’s touch is everywhere in NELFUND’s ascent. Since the portal’s launch, he’s overseen a digital ecosystem that’s as transparent as it is efficient—seamless verification, BVN-linked tracking, and real-time dashboards that have quashed misinformation and built trust. In just 18 months, the fund has empowered 396,252 students with interest-free loans, many first-generation learners who might otherwise have dropped out.

Sensitization drives in places like Ekiti and Ogun have spiked applications — 12,000 in a single day in one instance, while expansions to vocational centers in Enugu pilot the next wave of skills-based funding. And amid challenges like data mismatches and fee hikes, Sawyerr’s team has iterated relentlessly: aligning disbursements with academic calendars, resuming backlogged upkeep payments for over 3,600 students, and even probing institutional compliance to safeguard every kobo. This isn’t management; it’s mastery—a man who doesn’t just lead but launches futures.

Yet, none of this happens in a vacuum. President Tinubu’s alliance with trailblazers like Sawyerr is the secret sauce securing Nigeria’s tomorrow. The President’s Renewed Hope Agenda isn’t rhetoric; it’s resources—₦100 billion seed capital channeled into a system that prioritizes equity over elitism. Together, they’ve forged a partnership where vision meets velocity: Tinubu’s bold repeal of barriers meets Sawyerr’s boots-on-the-ground execution, turning abstract policy into tangible triumphs. It’s a synergy that’s non-discriminatory by design—Christians, Muslims, every tribe and tongue united in access—fostering national cohesion through classrooms, not courtrooms.

As Sawyerr himself notes, this is “visionary leadership” in action, where the President’s political will ignites reforms that ripple across generations.

Why does this matter to us, Nigeria’s youth? Because NELFUND isn’t handing out handouts—it’s handing out horizons. In a country where 53% of us grapple with unemployment, these loans aren’t just funds; they’re fuel for innovation, entrepreneurship, and endurance.

Picture it: A first-generation polytechnic student in Maiduguri, once sidelined by fees, now graduates debt-free (repayments start two years post-NYSC, employer-deducted for ease) and launches a tech startup. Or a vocational trainee in Enugu, equipped with skills funding, revolutionizing local agriculture. This is quality education that endures—not fleeting certificates, but lifelong launchpads. Sawyerr’s focus on human-centered design ensures loans cover not just books, but bread—upkeep stipends of ₦20,000 monthly keeping hunger at bay so minds can soar. Under his watch, NELFUND has debunked doubts, refuted fraud claims, and delivered results that scream sustainability: Over ₦99.5 billion to 510,000 students by September, with 228 institutions on board.

As youth leaders, we see NELFUND for what it is: A covenant with our future. President Tinubu and MD Sawyerr aren’t just allies; they’re architects of an educated, empowered Nigeria—one where poverty’s grip loosens with every approved application, and innovation blooms from every funded desk. This isn’t charity; it’s an investment in the 70 million of us who will lead tomorrow.

We’ve crossed one million applications not because of luck, but leadership—a duo that’s turning “access denied” into “future unlocked.”

To President Tinubu: Thank you for daring to dream big and backing it with action.

To Akintunde Sawyerr: You’re the executor we needed, proving that one steady hand can steady a nation.

And to every Nigerian youth: Apply. Graduate. Conquer.

Because with NELFUND, your generation isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving, enduring, and eternal.

The Renewed Hope isn’t a slogan; it’s our story, now written in scholarships and success. Let’s keep turning the page.

Dayo Israel is the National Youth Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

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