Education
ASUU Strike: NSUK SUG Urges Students To Return To Scchool
By David Christopher, Lafia
The Students Union Government (SUG) of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK) has urged students to heed to the resumption call of the management of the institution and return on Tuesday, October 4th.
Mr Naajim Gbefwi, President of the institution’s SUG disclosed the position of the union in a press conference held in his office within the university on Saturday.
Our correspondent revealed that despite the ongoing strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) across the country since February 14, 2022, management of NSUK via a statement recently directed students of the institution to resume back to school for full academic activities from September 28, 2022.
Reacting to the statement on Friday, September 30, 2022, Dr Samuel Alu, Chairman of ASUU NSUK branch condemned the directive and vowed to continue the union’s nationwide strike action till the demands of the union are met by the federal government and the national body of the union calls off the strike action.
The NSUK SUG however at the press conference anchored by Gbefwi supported the management’s decision and urged all students of the institution to resume back to school on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 for full academic activities.
“We want to state conspicuously that our allegiance as students is to the school authority.
“Therefore, we are fully in support of the decision of the school management to reopen our school and continue academic activities seeing that our primary purpose for being here and our prime interest as a union is achieved,” he said.
Gbefwi urged students to stay focused and optimistic as regards the resumption regardless of conflicting statements and jettison every contrary notion as the state government, the school management and some lecturers are all determined to ensure activities resume fully.
“Honestly we are very sympathetic towards the plight of ASUU members at all levels as we also stand to benefit from their struggle directly or indirectly.
We hope their demands are met and education shifts up our national scale of preference,” he added.
He also pleaded with the ASUU national body not to interfere or attempt to sabotage the efforts of the Nasarawa state government, NSUK school management and stakeholders in reopening the school.
Education
NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access
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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