News

Adeleke Bags Award As Osun Grabs First Position in NELFUND’s Process

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Eric

Governor Ademola Adeleke has received an award of excellence from the Nigeria Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) for propelling achievement of first position by Osun state in the nationwide enrolment of beneficiary states by NELFUND.

Presenting the award to the Osun State Governor on Tuesday at Osogbo, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyer said Osun came first in terms of responsiveness and filling of requisite institutional and students data among the 36 States of the federation.

The Managing Director lauded Governor Adeleke for embracing the vision of President Bola Tinubu on the loan scheme, asserting that the Osun Governor represents an enviable model in sectoral push for good governance.

Explaining the significance of the education loan fund, Mr Sawyer said the targetted beneficiaries are indigents students, noting that the critical step to reaching each student is credible data gathering on which he said Osun is leading other states.

Responding, Governor Adeleke expressed appreciation to the NELFUND management for the award and to President Tinubu for activating the initiative.

The Governor spoke further: “I thank you for your kind words. We express our appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating this Funding initiative as a response to the many challenges facing our student population.

“We commend the President for demonstrating strong political will by fast tracking not only the establishment of the Fund but its effective take off.

“For us as a state, we have a responsibility to productively partner with the Federal Government for the benefit of our people. When it comes to bringing dividends of democracy to our people, we are blind to partisan politics. Our focus is the improvement of the lives of our people irrespective of where it is coming from.

“As a government, we see the Fund as a veritable platform to provide a lifeline for many indigents students in our various schools. The initiative promises to remove the pain and hardship experienced by many brilliant students in the area of funding. Again, we are elated by the prospects and opportunities for our students , hence our launching into the programme with all machinery of government.

“We are glad our efforts paid off with the enrolment of many Osun state owned schools in the programme. It is gratifying to hear that Osun took the lead among a comity of states in the selection and compliance process. Our next plan is to follow up by further deepening the preparedness of the selected schools for accessing opportunities available within the fund.

“Our gratitude also goes to the management of NELFUND for making the take off so efficient and for the fairness manifested during the selection process. We have strong faith in the capacity of the Fund to continue on the path of openness and equity”, the State Governor posited further.

He however urged the NELFUND management to ensure there is no debt trap in the running of the student loan system.

According to the Governor,”I must call our attention to a lesson we must learn as a nation from the operation of the loans board.

“As a long term resident of the United States, I am aware of the challenges of the student loans scheme. It has become a crisis of sorts. It has also become a subject of hot political debate. It has to do with huge student loan debts in the US

“We must as a nation avoid a similar debt trap. As we have the grace to understudy other nations operating similar funds, we must avoid the pitfalls. Our new system must integrate mechanisms to prevent similar experiences like what is happening in the US.

“I task the management of NELFUND to innovate within its mandate on how to make its operations sustainable. Debt trap must never be experienced in Nigeria’s students’ loan operations”, the Governor noted in his address.

Present at the courtesy visit were; Deputy Governor, Prince Kola Adewusi, Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adewale Egbedun, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Teslim Igbalaye, cabinet ranking and non-cabinet members, Head of Service, Mr Ayanleye Aina among others.

News

Ex-Cross River Gov Donald Duke Joins ADC

Published

2 days ago

January 30, 2026

Eric

Former Governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has resigned from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), formally pitching his tent with the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Duke registered as an ADC member in Ward 5 of Calabar Municipality, where he collected his party membership card, marking his official entry into the opposition party.

His move comes amid recent internal concerns within the ADC in Cross River State. Former ADC governorship candidate, Dr Effiong Nyong, had written to the party’s National Chairman, protesting the inclusion of some individuals from the state in the ADC’s 50 Wise Men and Women Policy Manifesto Committee.

Nyong faulted a statement by the ADC National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, which listed persons who, according to him, neither resigned from the PDP nor made contributions to the ADC, calling for their removal.

Political observers believe Duke’s swift formal registration may be linked to the controversy, as the former governor had earlier been named among prominent figures associated with the party.

Recall that Duke previously left the PDP for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), where he emerged as the party’s presidential candidate under controversial circumstances.

Meanwhile, ADC leaders in Bakassi Local Government Area have intensified calls on Cross Riverians to identify with the party, describing it as a credible alternative ahead of future elections.

Rising from a stakeholders’ meeting involving chapter executives, ward chairmen, and secretaries, party leaders accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of misrule and urged Nigerians to reclaim the country.

In a statement signed by the Bakassi Chapter Chairman, Emmanuel Asuquo, and Secretary, Eko Boco, the party reaffirmed its loyalty to the ADC national leadership, pledging support for the National Chairman, Senator David Mark, and National Secretary, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, while urging undecided citizens to join the party’s “transformative agenda.”

News

Police Nab Suspect Behind Dummy Bomb Threat to Lagos Schools

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Eric

The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 25-year-old man over alleged fake bomb threat messages to two private schools in Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA).

The suspect was tracked and arrested on January 24 in the Okota area of Lagos State following digital investigations.

According to the sources, the suspect allegedly sent WhatsApp messages threatening a fire explosion to the Human Resources Manager of AVI–CEENA School and the Chief Security Officer of Grange School, both located in Ikeja GRA.

Although the messages were sent from an unknown phone number, police said digital tracking led to the identification and arrest of the suspect, identified as Kosisochukwu Chukwuekenyem Ogbumuo.

The suspect is currently in police custody and will be charged to court on conclusion of investigations.

Police said inquiries are ongoing to determine the motive behind the threats and whether other individuals were involved.

The Lagos State Police Command reassured parents, school authorities and residents of Ikeja GRA of its commitment to maintaining security and preventing panic or disruption within the education sector.

News

Court Nullifies PDP National Convention Held in Ibadan

Published

3 days ago

January 30, 2026

Eric

The Federal High Court in Ibadan has nullified the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Convention held on November 15, 2025, in Ibadan, Oyo State. The court also barred Turaki and others from presenting themselves as national officers of the party.

Despite internal disputes, the PDP went ahead with its highly anticipated two-day 2025 Elective National Convention at Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan. Tagged #Ibadan2025, the convention drew thousands of party delegates and leaders.

The convention was expected to elect a new National Working Committee (NWC), including a National Chairman, who would steer the party ahead of the 2027 general elections. The court’s ruling casts uncertainty over the legitimacy of the leadership and raises questions about the party’s preparations for the next electoral cycle.

Party members and legal experts are now awaiting further clarification on the implications of the judgement for the PDP’s national leadership structure.