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Varsity Don Highlights Opportunities for Benue Economic Growth

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By David Torough, Abuja

Dean of the School of Postgraduate Studies at the University of Abuja, Professor Ukertor Gabriel Moti, has said Benue State’s economy remains a paradox of vast potential and persistent poverty.

Speaking at the maiden reunion and award ceremony of Club De Pals held in Abuja, Prof.
Moti outlined key issues affecting the state’s economic performance and suggested pathways for growth.
“Benue is rich in agricultural produce and natural resources, yet it struggles with poverty, unemployment, and weak fiscal performance,” he stated, adding that the state’s reliance on federal allocations was unsustainable.
Moti added that the state’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at N4.
27 trillion, ranking 12th in the country, but its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) averages just N1.59 billion per month, making Benue heavily dependent on Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) funds.“In 2022, Benue was the fourth most FAAC-dependent state in Nigeria, which is a dangerous position for poverty reduction efforts,” Prof. Moti said. He noted that 75% of the population is classified as dimensionally poor, with inadequate access to essential services such as health, education, and decent living conditions.Insecurity was identified as a major factor hindering economic development in the state, affecting agriculture and discouraging investments. “Insecurity has cast a long shadow over Benue, forcing the closure of markets like the Zaki Biam international yam market,” he remarked.Prof. Moti highlighted several strategies to rebuild the Benue economy, including prioritizing infrastructure development, creating favourable tax policies, and improving electricity supply through public-private partnerships.“The government must focus on agro-processing, industrialization, and creating a conducive environment for businesses. A strong partnership between the government, private sector, and civil society is essential for sustainable growth,” he said.He also urged civil society organizations like Club De Pals and local entrepreneurs to invest in small-scale ventures, noting that collective efforts were critical to achieving economic recovery.“Rebuilding the Benue economy requires deliberate and sustained action. It is a shared responsibility that must involve everyone,” Prof. Moti stated.

Education

UBEC Boss Meets Ribadu on School Safety, Access

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The Executive Secretary, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Aisha Garba, has met with the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to discuss initiatives aimed at enhancing the country’s educational access and security.

A statement on Sunday in Abuja by David Apeh, UBEC’s Head of Public Relations and Protocol,said the meeting focused on strategies to address challenges in the education sector.

Apeh quoted Garba to have said that the meeting was aimed at addressing the safety of schools, particularly in vulnerable regions and the promotion of equitable education for all children.

According to her, the meeting highlighted the critical intersection between education and national security and the need for collaboration between UBEC and Office of the National Security Adviser.

This, she said, was geared toward improving access to basic education and safety of schools across the nation.

“This collaboration underscores the government’s commitment to fostering a secure and inclusive learning environment as part of its broader agenda to strengthen the nation’s educational framework,” she said.

The UBEC boss pledged to engage critical stakeholders to break down barriers to education and create inclusive learning opportunities for children across the six geopolitical regions of the country.

“My goal is to deliver on this mandate which includes strengthening collaboration, partnerships and institutional learning for effective service delivery.

“Together, we will work to increase access, improve quality, provide conducive and safe learning environments, supply adequate teaching and learning materials” she said.

She added that the commission was determined to adopt the concept of ‘best fit’ in addressing specific basic education challenges across the country. (NAN)

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Education

FG Allocates N940bn to TETfund in 2025 Budget -Tinubu

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The Federal Government says it has allocated N940.5 billion to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) in the 2025 fiscal year, to enhance manpower and infrastructure development in the education sector.

President Bola Tinubu stated this on Saturday at the 42nd Founders’ Day and 33rd Convocation of the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
Represented by Rakiya Iliyasu, Director of Tertiary Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Tinubu said the gesture was demonstrating his administration commitment towards improving educational infrastructure and manpower.
He said the federal government had disbursed over N104 billion loans to more than 600,000 students across tertiary institutions under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to fostering a knowledge-driven society, prioritising education in its policies and funding initiatives.He urged universities to deepen collaborations with industries, aligning research with societal needs to contribute meaningfully to national development.The president congratulated the graduates for their resilience and determination, and enjoined them to embrace their new chapter with confidence and purpose.The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Faruk Adamu-Kuta described the institution’s 42nd Founders’ Day and 33rd Convocation Ceremony as historical.He said the university had grown to become a leading institution in technological education in the country, ranking 8th on the index of best universities in Nigeria and 2nd among specialised universities.Gov. Umaru Bago of Niger, expressed gratitude to the university for confering on him a Doctorate Degree in Agriculture, saying that it served as a call to do more in the sector.He reiterated commitment to collaborate with individuals to make education accessible to every citizen of the state, and urged the university to continue to take the lead in training and innovative research.Bago advocated for stronger ties with the state government to ensure the institution’s sustainability through agriculture.The governor donated N100 million to the endowment fund established by Sen. Muhammad Sani-Musa, who also donated N200 million.The university produced 5,816 graduates for the 2023/2024 academic session, comprising 4,955 undergraduates, 632 Master’s degree, 105 postgraduate diploma, and 124 PhD holders. (NAN)

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Education

FUNAAB Students Received N133m Loans from NELFUND in 2024 — VC

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More than 1,300 students of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB) received loans totaling N133 million from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in 2024, the institution’s Vice-Chancellor says.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Olusola Kehinde, said at a news conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday that more funds were still being awaited for another batch of students numbering 1,638.

Report says that NELFUND’s establishment was part of the attention being paid to education in the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s government.

The loan scheme is aiming to help Nigerian students achieve sustainable higher education and functional skills development.

Kehinde said the funding being awaited for the additional 1,638 students would take the total number of students who have benefitted from NELFUND to over 3,000.

“We got N133 million from NELFUND for the school fees of about 1,300 students for 2024.

“So, we encourage our students, we give them information and we are expecting more even in this session.

“We are encouraging the students through our Information Communication Technology (ICT) centre. We let them know that NELFUND is available and what to do to assess it,” he said.

The Vice-Chancellor said the institution was assisting the students to apply through the use of the ICT centre.

“NELFUND will also send us a list of the students and ask us to confirm and within 48 hours we do our confirmation and send back to them.

“So, now we can say that in FUNAAB,  NELFUND is working, and we are happy about that,” he added.(NAN)

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