Education

ASUU President Visits NSUK Shun Journalists, As NSUK Resumption Got Setback

Published

3 years ago

October 3, 2022

By David Christopher, Lafia

Efforts by the management of Nasarawa State University,Keffi (NSUK) to commence academic activities tomorrow the 4th of October 2022 as announced last week, has received a setback by the ASUU branch of the university who reaffirmed not to go back to class room due to the ongoing Union’s national strike couple with the solidarity visit of the ASUU national president Professor Victor Osodeke to NSUK.

The union President who was at the university and held 3 hours closed door meeting with the members of ASUU in the university on Monday, refused to grant audience to pressmen whom he earlier promised to address them after the meeting.

The Nsuk branch chairman Dr. Samuel Alu who later addressed journalists said, Professor Osodeke visited them to clarify an issue of Weaver which they wrote to him seeking permission to resume to class room.

“We wrote to the national union of our body concerning the resolution taken in our last Congress and that informed the reason why the national president came here to clarify the issue. The Weaver resolution we took is not part and parcel of the principals of the union. At the end of the meeting I can assure you that there was a resounding that the strike should continue”the NSUK ASUU chairman said.

Answering a question as regards NSUK management compelling academic staff to resume to class room or penalty would be meted on them Dr. Alu said,”Forcing lecturers to go back to class room is already a national issue. You will recall that Federal government dragged ASUU to an industrial court and an interlocutory injuction was passed and ASUU appealed that particular injunction
and also appealed for stay execution of order.

” If NSUK administration decide to do otherwise,I think in my own little understanding that will amount to court contempt and the management will have the law to contend with.

He called on public with special emphasis to parents and students to know that NSUK ASUU have resolved not to return to class room, saying that they will communicate same to the management of the university immediately.

Our correspondent who spoke to one of the high ranking management staff of the said university on condition of anonymity said, students were already complying their directive as regards resumption and lectures will commence tomorrow.

Our correspondent further revealed that despite the order by the management of NSUK asking students to start resumption from the 28 of last month,some students who were seen around the assembly hall of the university where the said ASUU meeting was held were arrested by security men and taken to an undisclosed location.

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Education

NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access

Published

1 month ago

May 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Mariam Abeeb

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.

This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.

“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”

The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative

“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”

NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that apart from the 320,000 students who have so far been paid, more verifications are currently ongoing.

Mustapha, who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.

He also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.

“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.

“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”

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