Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to developing a technology-driven system aimed at enhancing easy and equitable access to student loans.

Sawyerr gave the assurance on Tuesday in Abuja while addressing representatives from Polytechnics, Monotechnics, and Institutes during a Stakeholders Engagement Session and Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

He explained that the Fund was working towards a seamless, transparent platform that allowed students to confidently access loans without unnecessary stress.

“At NELFUND, our mission goes beyond disbursing loans.

“For too long, students, especially in technical institutions, have faced significant financial barriers. Many have had to drop out, while others never even considered applying.

“That’s the gap we at NELFUND aim to close but we can’t do it alone. This is a shared mission involving government institutions and the private sector,” Sawyerr said.

Sawyerr emphasised that NELFUND was not only providing financial support but also building a technology-driven infrastructure that enabled easier application processes, institutional verification, and fast, fair disbursement.

“We’re striving for stress-free access a system students can trust.

“Transparency is key so that no applicant is left in the dark. We rely on you, our institutional partners, to help bring this vision to life,” he added.

He urged institutions to partner with NELFUND, saying the goal was to build a system that would not only be functional and sustainable but also truly transformative.

“As we integrate NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, we must remember that at the centre of all this is the student, a young Nigerian with dreams and ambition. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way forward is through collaboration, open communication, and practical solutions,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, Iyal Mustapha, Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, said that more than 320,000 students had received funding so far, with further verifications ongoing.

Mustapha clarified that discrepancies between registered students and those whose applications were successfully processed often stemmed from incomplete applications on the students’ part.

“We have 576,000 registrations on our portal, but only 516,000 completed applications. Some may have dropped out due to data issues or just wanted to test the system.

“We want to bridge this gap, and with your support, we can ensure more students access the institutional loan,” he said.

Mustapha further explained that the institutional loan, which is different from the monthly upkeep loan of N20,000, was disbursed directly to institutions.

He added that NELFUND was considering integrating directly with institutional portals to simplify the process for students.

“We’re exploring the possibility of deploying our IT teams to institutions to enable direct connection with your portals.

“Ideally, students should be able to apply via your platforms without having to come through NELFUND, making the process smoother and more accessible,” he said

 The 1.5 million candidates who scored below 200 out of the 1.9 million who sat for the 2025 UTME conducted by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) have ignited national concern.

The concerns are in relation to the quality of education and students preparedness in the examination.

Reacting to the development, Ike Onyechere, Founder, Exam Ethics Marshall International (EEMI), in an interview on Tuesday, said that the outcome was not surprising.

According to Onyechere, the examination is now being administered with ethics and professionalism hence the massive failure.

He added that the massive failure had exposed the deep-rooted problems in the nation’s education system.

”JAMB has made commendable efforts to ensure the integrity of the examination process by reducing opportunities for malpractice.

”I don’t think the JAMB statistical analysis should surprise anybody,” he said.

He emphasised that universities were increasingly alarmed by the academic quality of incoming students, noting that many of them lack basic foundational knowledge necessary for tertiary education.

Onyechere attributed the trend to systemic issues, including inadequate preparation, the inclusion of underqualified candidates, and a widespread cultural dependence on exam fraud.

”There’s moral infrastructure decadence in the system. It’s not just about the students. It involves stakeholders; schools, parents, and the government.

“Many students rely on fraudulent means to pass, and now that JAMB has blocked those avenues, their lack of preparedness is glaring,” he added.

He also noted that many candidates were not academically ready, as some were still in SS2 or underage, having not completed the syllabus.

He proposed a reform in the registration process, suggesting that only candidates with five credits in WAEC or NECO be allowed to sit in future for the UTME.

According to him, this will significantly reduce the number of applicants from nearly 2 million to about 1 million and ensure a more qualified candidate pool.

He also dismissed claims that the Computer-Based Test (CBT) format could be a barrier to performance.

”The CBT is easier in many ways. It’s mostly objective, and technology is now part of everyday life, even market women are technologically inclined. We can’t blame CBT for the poor results,” added.

Onyechere urged students to focus on talent discovery and career alignment rather than chasing certificates.

“Exams are not rocket science. It’s about working hard and understanding your strengths. Education should be a journey of self-discovery, not just certification,” he said.

He applauded government efforts to prioritise trade and vocational subjects in the curriculum, underscoring the importance of practical skills in today’s world.

He called on education stakeholders to reflect on the deeper issues in the examination failure and implement reforms to save the future of Nigeria’s academic system

President Bola Tinubu has approved the deployment of two newly appointed Federal Permanent Secretaries to key ministries.

This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Eno Olotu, Director, Public Relations, Office of the Head of the Civil Service of  the Federation (HCSF), on Monday in Abuja.

Olotu said the move aimed at enhancing governance and promoting effective service delivery.

According to him, the permanent secretaries were appointed following a competitive selection process and are expected to bring experience, professionalism and innovation to their respective roles.

Listing the names of the officials and their postings, Olotu said Mr Rafiu Adeladan  was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy,  while Dr Mukhtar Mohammed was deployed to the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy.

“The HCSF, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack congratulated the new appointees and urged them to demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and leadership in their new assignments.

“She reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring efficient policy implementation across ministries,” he said