By Tony Obiechina Abuja 

The federal government on Monday reaffirmed it’s committment to the education of the girl-child in the country.

Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad  gave the assurance in her welcome address at the Validation Workshop on the situational analysis and baseline assessment of the Japan-funded UNESCO-IICBA project titled “Capacity Building of Teachers to Promote Continuous and Inclusive Access to Safe and Quality Education for Girls in West Africa.

Professor Suwaiba noted that the project aligns with the Nigeria Education Sector Renewal Initiative (NESRI), which prioritizes girl-child education, STEMM, TVET, teacher development, and quality assurance in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda for Education.

She urged stakeholders to critically examine the consultant’s findings, identify key gaps, and propose strategic and cost-effective interventions to strengthen teacher capacity and female leadership in schools. She appreciated the Government and Embassy of Japan, UNESCO, and development partners for supporting Nigeria’s inclusion in the regional project. 

The Minister who officially declared the workshop open  thanked all the participants for their commitment to transforming Nigeria’s educational landscape.

Earlier, Dr. Tanko Sununu, Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, described the teaching profession as highly rewarding, drawing from personal experience. He commended teachers as nation-builders whose contributions leave lasting legacies. 

Dr. Sununu also praised the ongoing partnership with UNESCO IICBA and the Government of Japan, highlighting the significance of investing in human capital, particularly through girl-child education, as a catalyst for national development and societal progress.

In her remarks, Dr. Uchenna C. Uba, Director of Colleges of Education and Chairperson of the Project Technical Working Group, highlighted girl-child education as a national priority and fundamental human right. 

She noted that the validation workshop was designed to review the findings of the situational analysis, gather stakeholder input, and refine strategies for empowering teachers with inclusive, ICT-driven, and gender-responsive tools. She appreciated the Government of Japan and all development partners, and encouraged participants to contribute actively to ensuring the project’s success and sustainability.

Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Japan, the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Kozaki Hitoshi, reaffirmed Japan’s strong commitment to promoting inclusive, safe, and quality education. He underscored the role of empowered teachers in driving access to education for girls and highlighted Japan’s broader contributions through the TICAD framework, including a $5 billion pledge for peace and development in the Sahel and Gulf of Guinea. 

Mr. Hitoshi praised the efforts of UNESCO IICBA, the African Union, and the Federal Ministry of Education, urging all stakeholders to invest boldly in teachers and girls’ education to achieve lasting transformation.

Also speaking, Dr. Quentin Wodon, Director at UNESCO IICBA, emphasized the importance of the project in strengthening pre-service education for girls in Nigeria. While acknowledging that the project is relatively small in scale, he noted its potential for far-reaching impact. 

He commended the collaborative efforts of the project team, especially with AU/CIEFFA and the KIX initiative. Dr. Wodon also spoke about upcoming opportunities, including a new e-learning initiative funded by the Japanese government to support female school leadership. 

He was hopeful that Nigeria would continue to participate in such proposals and stressed the value of planning and empirical discussions during the workshop to benefit teachers and girls alike.

In a statement by the  Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Folashade Boriowo, “The Federal Ministry of Education is committed to sustaining partnerships that drive inclusive and equitable education, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our valued partners, including the Government of Japan, UNESCO IICBA, AU/CIEFFA, and all stakeholders, in empowering Nigerian girls for a brighter future”.

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 President Bola Tinubu has lauded Chief Emeka Anyaoku, a diplomat and former Commonwealth Secretary-General for his contributions to good governance, democracy and world peace.

Tinubu made the commendation while inaugurating the Emeka Anyaoku Institute for International Studies and Diplomacy, located inside the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Awka.

He described Anyaoku as a “great Nigerian and a patriotic man with commitment to values and nation building”.

According to him, Anyaoku should be commended for promoting democracy, good governance and world peace in the course of his service.

“We must invest in education as it is the greatest weapon against poverty.

“Here is a man who helped tremendously to bring about constitutional democracy, freedom and stability.

“His patriotism is boundless. His commitment to values and nation building is invaluable. I’m glad he is alive.

“I’m glad my friend, Gov. Charles Soludo, his team and many of you are here to honor him, immortalise him and ensure he remains a fulcrum of our learning and intellectual development and diplomacy,” he said.

The president urged the management of the institution to ensure adequate maintenance of the building and its facilities.

Tinubu reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to advancing the education sector.

He said that significant resources had consistently been allocated, especially toward tertiary education.

“Let me divert attention to the Governing Council and Management of the university.

“In recent times, we have had cause to intervene in the affairs of this university and a few others, to arrest what could be described as administrative rascalities.

“My government is committing lots of resources to the education sector and shall not allow wrong use of autonomy to derail us,” he said.

Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor of NAU, Prof. Joseph Ikechebelu, expressed gratitude for the President’s visit to the university.

Ikechebelu praised the President for his intervention to what he described as ‘Administrative rascality’ in 2024.

He also expressed gratitude at the decision to establish the world-class institute within the institution.

“This facility is built by contributions from friends of Anyaoku to immortalise and internalise his diplomatic activities.

“We will ensure the efficient operation of the institute to achieve its primary goal of equipping prospective students with globally recognised principles of peace and conflict resolution.

The Emeka Anyaoku Institute for International Studies and Diplomacy was established to offer degree and certificate programmes in International Relations, Diplomacy, and Peace and Conflict Resolution. (NAN)

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged student leaders across various tertiary institutions to take full ownership of the new interest-free education loan scheme.

This call was made by the Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, Iyal Mustapha, during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Session and Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes in Abuja.

The fourth day of the stakeholders’ engagement was dedicated to a session with Student Union Presidents of tertiary institutions.

Mustapha cautioned institutions against delays in verifying students’ applications.

He explained that once applications are verified, they are forwarded to the respective institutions for confirmation, a step that has sometimes delayed disbursement due to slow institutional responses.

“We need your schools to respond promptly. If they don’t confirm your status, we cannot release the funds. You must play a role in ensuring your institutions fulfill their responsibilities.

“This is your opportunity. We are the youth, and we are here to support you. This loan is about removing financial barriers so you can focus on your education.

“There is no interest, no guarantor, and no harassment, only a commitment to learning,” he stated.

Mustapha explained that the NELFUND scheme was developed to address dropout rates linked to financial hardship.

According to him, it provides Nigerian students with access to loans that cover institutional charges and include a monthly upkeep allowance.

He emphasised that any student enrolled in a recognised tertiary institution in Nigeria is eligible, regardless of background or geographical location.

“There is no reason for anyone to drop out of school,” he added.

Addressing concerns about loan repayment, Mustapha assured students that repayment would only commence two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and only if the graduate is employed.

“In the event of death or a medically verified permanent disability, the loan would be written off.

“No one is pursuing you. This is your loan, your government, and your repayment supports the next generation,” he said.

He also advised students who had received upkeep allowances without corresponding institutional fee payments to approach their institutions, noting that upkeep funds cannot be disbursed unless institutional charges are settled.

“One of the issues we have identified is that some institutions are failing to notify students when payments have been made.

“Anyone who has received upkeep should understand that their institutional charges have already been paid to their institution,” he clarified.

The President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Olushola Oladoja, warned institutions and individuals allegedly undermining the federal government’s student loan scheme.

Speaking on the allegations of sabotage by some institutions, Oladoja revealed that the association had set up a five-member investigative committee to examine growing concerns about loan disbursement and accountability.

According to him, NANS took swift action following intelligence from the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which reported irregularities in how some institutions handled student loan payments.

“We received information indicating that there are issues within NELFUND, including cases where the Fund claims to have paid institutions, but the schools failed to notify the students.

“This cannot be allowed to persist. Our committee will engage directly with NELFUND, visit the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to verify findings, and get to the root of the matter,” he stated.

Also speaking, Umar Lawal, a final-year student of Bayero University, Kano, commended President Bola Tinubu’s administration for delivering on its promise of a student loan scheme aimed at transforming tertiary education in Nigeria.

While expressing appreciation for the initiative, Lawal also raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in some tertiary institutions, saying it must be addressed. (NAN)