Education

Schools kidnapping: CSACEFA calls for deployment NSCDC to safeguard schools

Published

4 years ago

March 22, 2021

The Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has called on the Federal Government to deploy officers of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC)to all schools across the country to ensure the safety of students.

Mr Babatunde Omole, National Moderator of the organisation made this known in Abuja on Monday.

Omole noted that the kidnapping of students in Kaduna, Niger, and Zamfara states was avoidable if the security architecture had been effectively mobilized to protect the students.

According to him, we as civil society, advocating for quality education have reasons to worry about the toll and the psychological trauma the insecurity situation is taking on school children.

“ Within a space of five days, Nigeria and the global community witnessed the kidnapping of students in their sleep from two different states.

“In a country that has security forces and architecture and no one has been brought to book.

“This is appalling. It is very disheartening to know that the Federal and State Governments appear insensitive to the plight of these children and school vulnerabilities to insecurity and kidnapping.

“Looking at the serial attacks on school children in the last five days , it is expected that the government if the federation in strong synergy with the states and security architecture must have devised means of keeping children safe in schools.

“What we see however is failure to give hope to the Nigerian child ,that education is the key to solving the numerous challenges in the society Something drastic needs to be done to stem the tide of the menace.

“We therefore called on the federal and state governments to do the needful by deploying officers of the NSCDC to schools for the safety of students.

Omole also called for the need to train community leaders, youths and other relevant stakeholders on security and intelligence gathering.

He added that to enhance the Safe Schools Agenda of the government, be effective perimeter wall fence must be erected in all schools with fortified security posts.

He also said that there was need for investment in modern crime-fighting and crime-preventing technological equipment and hardware in stemming the tide of this menace.

“No government can solve public problems without the public. The Federal and State Governments should involve civil society organisations, especially those working in the thematic area of conflict prevention, control and management, in the generation and analysis of data, intelligence gathering, information sharing, and troubleshooting methodologies.

“We also call on the Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu and the state minister, Me Chukuemeka Nwajiuba to rise to the occasion to put an end to incessant kidnapping of students in secondary schools,” he said.

Omole, however, commiserate with the family of the child that was killed while trying to escape from the kidnappers and also felicitated with parents and guardians whose children and wards were returned safely.

NAN

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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.”

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