Education

Barrow lauds NTAC’s efforts in advancing Gambian educational standard

Published

1 month ago

April 27, 2025

Joel Ajayi

Adama Barrow, the President, Republic of Gambia, has lauded the Nigerian Government’s efforts in advancing his country’s educational standard.
He said the impact was evident through the scholarship and the Technical Aid Corps (TAC) volunteers competence who were sent by the Nigerian Technical Aid Corps (NTAC) to his country.
Barrow said this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday and signed by Nkem Anyata-Lafia, the Special Assistant to the NTAC Director-General on Media and Publicity.

Anyata-Lafia quoted Barrow as saying this at the 17th Convocation Ceremony, University of the Gambia in Banjul.

The Gambian President lauded the giant strides being made by Nigerian professors deployed to serve in his country as volunteers.

He disclosed that the volunteers had completely changed the narratives in the entire education sector of the country.

The President, who is also the Chancellor of the University of the Gambia, noted that the support by NTAC’s continuous deployment of highly qualified professors in diverse fields has shown that Nigeria is truly a blessing to the African continent and beyond.

Responding, Dr Yusuf Yakub, the Director-General, NTAC, expressed delight that the great mandate of the Corps was being appreciated from far and wide.

He also noted the selfless sacrifice the Federal Government of Nigeria was making to sustain the flagship foreign policy tool.

The NTAC boss conveyed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his 4-D Foreign Policy Initiative, which ensures that Nigeria would continue to remain visible in the comity of the nations of the world through its diverse laudable commitments to global advancement and progress.

“Thanks to our dear President for his broad-minded vision for global progress our nation has shown the world that we can selflessly apply ourselves to making our world better.

“From Africa to the Caribbean and Pacific countries, our footprints continue to tell the story that Nigeria is always prepared to give a shoulder to our black brothers and sisters to lean upon no matter where they may be on the face of the earth.

“I am happy today about the progress we are making in the Gambia. You all may recall that a TAC volunteer was the first Vice Chancellor here at this University and, as I speak to you, another set of volunteers are heading the University of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology (USET).

“So, our partnership with the Gambia did not start today. For many years running this partnership has continued to be a progressive one and we will be glad to continue to engage further.

“I thank the President, my friend, the Honourable Minister of Higher Education as well as the authorities of this University for inviting me here as a Special Guest of Honour.

“We, at the Corps as an institution, will always be there for their collaboration and progressive partnership,”the NTAC D-G emphasised.

The reports have it that Nigeria and the Republic of the Gambia have maintained bilateral relations since the country got her independence In 1965.

Share on Facebook

Education

NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access

Published

4 weeks 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.”

Share on Facebook