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Federal Govt Explains How Students Will Access Loans, Directs Inclusion of Skill Development

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The process for accessing the student loan programme of the Federal Government will be seamless, officials said yesterday.

According to them, there will be no human contact. Everything will be automated, they said.

Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Board, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, who spoke to reporters at the Aso Villa after meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explained that funds for successful students will be transferred to the schools’ accounts.

The scheme has been widened to accommodate young Nigerians interested in acquiring skills outside tertiary institutions.

Sawyerr spoke to reporters along with the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr Zacch Adedeji.

Dr. Adedeji said his involvement at yesterday’s meeting with the president was because the education tax is a major source of funding for the loan scheme.

Sawyerr explained that the loan scheme would enable every applicant to pick a career trajectory, rather than being forced to do something else because of a lack of funds to acquire the requisite education.

He believes the programme would help to stem the dangerous journey undertaken by Nigerian youths across the Sahel to Europe in search of a better life.

Sawyerr said: “This has been done with a lot of thought. So in application and in applying for this loan, there is zero human intervention. In other words, there is an App.

“Every interested Nigerian will go on to a portal and engage the App. He/she will have to put in certain pieces of information, which will make them eligible. It will include their UTME (Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination) number and of course their date of birth.

“Further pieces of information include things like their National Identification Number (NIN), which confirms that they are Nigerians.

“The fund is going to come mostly from Nigerian taxpayers. So, it’s for Nigerians.

“The NINs will help us to verify and qualify them for the loan. Their BVN will also be required.

“This scheme will at some point, be able to empower students so we need to know that they have bank accounts.

“The applicants will also have to provide their admission numbers so that we can firmly establish which institution they are going to because one of the key elements of this is that once we’ve received applications and those applications are approved, the fees or the tuition requirements will be transferred directly to their institutions.

“That in itself has benefits for the institutions. Many students are struggling to pay tuition, their parents are struggling to pay. There’s a very high dropout rate.

“It is one thing to get into a tertiary institution and another to stay there for four or more years. This scheme seeks to help people access and remain in school until they graduate.

“Nigerians are qualified to apply and clearly you know there will be sifting. We are going to highlight those who are mostly in need in the first instance. Education is something that everybody should have a right to.

“The intention of the Act establishing the scheme is to ensure that the reason for one not being able to further his/her education at tertiary level is eliminated.

“The law also seeks to bridge the gap between the desire to study and the capacity to go further.

“This intervention will affect the lives of many Nigerian youths positively. It will impact many Nigerian families because the duty to pay for education falls on parents.”

Explaining further Adedeji said: “This is one of the schemes that we will be applying the Education Tax that we will collect.

“So, this is a way of being accountable to the taxpayer because the essence of Education Tax is to consolidate and restore education integrity and quality.”

Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said in a statement that President Tinubu directed an expansion of the focus of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to include students interested in skill-development programmes.

Ngelale added that Tinubu pointed out that it was important for the scheme to be extended to such persons because skill acquisition is as important as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

Ngelale’s statement reads: “This (loan scheme) is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.

“This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

“NELFUND has been directed to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education.

“No matter how economically challenged you are, accredited and qualified students will and must have access to this loan to advance their education in higher institutions.

“There is no compromise in our commitment to the disadvantaged citizens of this nation.”

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Oyo 2027: Adelabu Quits As Power Minister To Focus On Guber Race

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The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has formally resigned from his position in the Federal Government to pursue his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

In a resignation letter dated April 22, 2026, and addressed to the President, Adelabu stated that his resignation will take effect on April 30, 2026, to enable him to focus on his governorship ambition in Oyo State.

The letter, routed through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, stated that he was stepping down with “a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude.”

He wrote, “I write with a deep sense of honour and profound gratitude to formally tender my resignation as the Honourable Minister of Power of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. This resignation is to take effect on 30th April 2026, in order to allow sufficient time for a smooth and orderly handover of responsibilities.”

Adelabu thanked the President for the opportunity to serve, describing his appointment as a privilege.

He said, “Your Excellency, I remain sincerely grateful for the privilege and confidence you reposed in me by appointing me to serve our great nation in this capacity.

“It has been a rare honour to contribute to national development under your leadership and to play a role in advancing reforms in the power sector—one of the most critical foundations of Nigeria’s industrial growth and economic transformation.”

The former minister said his resignation was to enable him focus fully on his governorship ambition in Oyo State, citing provisions of the amended electoral law.

He added, “My decision to step down is informed by my intention to focus fully on my gubernatorial ambition in Oyo State. This aspiration, which dates back to 2016 during my service as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, ultimately led to my voluntary resignation from the Central Bank in 2018 in order to pursue the same goal.”

“In line with the provisions of the Amended Electoral Act 2026, which preclude political office holders from contesting elections, I consider it both appropriate and necessary to resign at this time.”

Adelabu’s exit marks a major political development ahead of the next electoral cycle, particularly in Oyo State, where he is expected to contest the governorship election.

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Wale Edun, Musa Dangiwa Resigned Voluntarily, Not Sacked – Presidency

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The Presidency has clarified that Wale Edun (former Finance Minister) and Ahmed Musa Dangiwa (former Housing Minister) voluntarily resigned from their positions and were not sacked by President Tinubu.

In a statement released this evening April 22, presidential media aide, Bayo Onanuga, said that contrary to public opinions, Wale Edun resigned on health grounds while Dangiwa also tendered his resignation and thanked the President for the opportunity given him to serve in the Federal Executive Council.

Onanuga stated that Edun, who clocked 70 on Monday and has battled recent ill health, fittingly submitted his resignation letter on his birthday, thanking the President for the opportunity to serve Nigeria.

“It has been a pleasure and privilege to serve your administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, Under your leadership, Nigeria has emerged stronger, more resilient and more internationally respected. I wish you and the administration every success in the future” he wrote

Onanuga stated that on Tuesday, before the Office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation announced his departure from the Cabinet, Edun paid a valedictory visit to the President at the Villa and held an hour-long discussion with the president and then left to focus on his private businesses.

The presidential aide stated that President Tinubu has expressed deep appreciation to Edun and Dangiwa for their dedicated service and significant contributions to the administration’s economic reform programme and wished them continued success in their future endeavours.

‘’In the same vein, the President has urged the new Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, to consolidate ongoing reforms and advance the administration’s fiscal and economic objectives with renewed focus, discipline, and innovation.

President Tinubu will shortly send the ministerial nominee for housing, Muttaqha Rabe Darma, also from Katsina, like Dangiwa, to the Senate for confirmation” the statement concluded

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Unity Bank, Experts Advocate Green Investment, Climate Innovation To Drive Economic Resilience

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Nigeria’s retail lender, Unity Bank Plc, alongside leading climate innovation experts, has called for increased investment in the green economy and the adoption of frontier technologies as critical pathways to driving economic resilience and reducing the impact of climate change on vulnerable populations across Africa.

The call was made during a thought-provoking webinar hosted by the Bank to commemorate this year’s Earth Day, themed “The True Cost of Climate Change and Who Pays?”. Climate experts and stakeholders convened to examine the human, economic, and institutional costs of climate change, while spotlighting practical solutions to address its growing impact.

In his opening remarks, Unity Bank’s Head of Strategy and Innovation, Ibukun Coker, emphasised the urgency of addressing climate risks from both a societal and business perspective.

He said: “Climate change is no longer a distant or abstract challenge. It is an existential threat with direct consequences for individuals, businesses, and economies. At Unity Bank, we recognise the role institutions must play in incorporating sustainability in project financing, supporting businesses and promoting solutions that build resilience in communities where we operate.”

The webinar featured Chinwe Udo-Davis, Founder and CEO of Instollar, and Oluwatosin Ajide, Programme Manager at the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre, both of whom provided insights into the drivers of climate change and the pathways to mitigation and adaptation.

Speaking during the session, Udo-Davis highlighted the disproportionate burden which climate change places on underserved communities and the need for inclusive solutions.

“The true cost of climate change is not evenly distributed. Communities with the least resources are often the most affected, whether through energy poverty, environmental degradation, or limited access to sustainable alternatives. Addressing this imbalance requires intentional investment in clean energy solutions that are both accessible and scalable.”

Ajide underscored the importance of coordinated, system-wide approaches in tackling climate challenges, particularly through innovation and policy alignment.

“Climate change is fundamentally a structural problem, and its solution requires a paradigm shift: from innovation and policy to financing and implementation. Stakeholders must work collaboratively to drive solutions that are sustainable and inclusive.”

The session also explored emerging opportunities in climate technology, renewable energy, and ecosystem financing, reinforcing the role of innovation and cross-sector collaboration in building long-term resilience.

By hosting the webinar, Unity Bank continues to demonstrate its commitment to advancing sustainability-focused dialogue and supporting initiatives that promote responsible growth and environmental stewardship.

The initiative underscores the Bank’s broader strategic focus on environmental sustainability as well as its commitment to financial inclusion.

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