The University of Lagos Senate has approved the academic calendar for the 2024/2025 academic session. It made the decision at its meeting on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.

The calendar is as follows:

The Federal Government (FG) through the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proposed a bill demanding that 30 per cent of allocations received by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) will go to the Student Loan Scheme.

The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga announced the proposed bill on Wednesday during his address to the State House Correspondents at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.

The bill, according to Onanuga is aimed at amending Section 3 of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Act No. 16, 2011, labelled ‘Establishment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund.’

“This former part of the omnibus Economic Stabilisation Bills (2024) was considered and approved at the Council meeting on Monday for onward transmission to the National Assembly,” Onanuga said.

“If approved by the National Assembly, TETFund will set aside 30 per cent of its initial allocation from the Federation Account to support the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

“The Fund shall, before disbursement of the amount in the Fund, set aside in each year (a) one-third of the amount to be transferred to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established under the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act. The bill also puts a five per cent cap on TETFund’s annual administration.

“An amount not exceeding five per cent of the total monies accruing to the Fund in the preceding year which shall be applied for – (i) the cost of administration and management of the Fund, necessary for the due administration and implementation of the purpose of this Act, (ii) the maintenance of any property acquired by or vested in the Fund and generally to pay for services rendered to the Fund, and (iv) any other expenditure as may be approved by the Fund, from time to time, in connection with all or any of its functions and powers under this Act.”

Onanuga further told the state house correspondents that the proposed legislation would be used as a sustainable resource stream for student loans.

“Some of us may have wondered how we are going to fund the loans we are giving to Nigerian students. Most of the funding will now come from the money going to TETFund,” he said.

“So, there is an amendment to the TETFund Act that was made in 2011 that now says that the fund shall before disbursement of the amount in the fund set aside an initial one-third of the amount to be transferred to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

“That is 30 per cent of whatever TETFund gets from the federation account will now be passed on to NELFund which will provide a ready funding source to NELFund.

“Also, TETFund has been pegged to spending only five per cent of its income on its administration.

“That is whether it wants to do capital projects in its office or wants to pay salaries, it cannot spend more than five per cent of whatever accrues to it from the Federation Account.

“That’s the maximum it can get according to the fund. So, 30 per cent of TETFund is now going to fund the NELFund, and five per cent to fund its own operations.

“The FG is proposing the changes to the law because “TETFund cannot just be building assembly houses or laboratories without making sure that students are able to use those facilities with the loans from NELFund.

“The new allocation is only supplementary as there will also be budgetary allocation from the FG to NELFund all the time.”

Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu is seeking global support for a climate-friendly school meal programme in the country.

To this end, Tinubu attended a Roundtable lunch organized by the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) in partnership with the Rockefeller Foundation on the sideline of the 79th Session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York, United States (US).

The First Lady speaking on Tuesday called on development partners to assist Nigeria in its effort to kick off some climate friendly school meal programs.

She stated this, according to a statement signed by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, assuring that the Federal Government is committed to working for the Nigerian people and restoring the country’s stability.

Acknowledging the potential of school feeding programme to drive up enrollment in schools as well as promote nutrition among scholars, the First Lady said the programme is under review in Nigeria.

While President Bola Tinubu has shown commitment by declaring a state of emergency on food security in the country, the senator noted that the launch of Young Farmers clubNigeria and Every Home A Garden Competition promoted by her are clear indications of the priority attached to provision of affine nutritious meals to children and others in the society.

To ensure sustainable rollout, Nigeria with its surging population and climatic challenges, needs all the help she can get.

“Nigeria is open to assistance in that area. It is something that I believe we really want to do so that we can have school enrollment up and then get most of the children, especially children from the North that are going through desertification and recently, flooding as witnessed in Bornu State,” she said.

“It is an hydra headed problem that we are facing. But we are not really scared but we need all the assistance we can get.

“You can believe in our administration that we are here to work for our people and get Nigeria back on its feet.”

The goal of the Roundtable lunch which had in attendance other members of OAFLAD is to among others, position the school meals agenda in the G20 engagement of the African Union.

Governor Ademola Adeleke on Monday swore in the newly-appointed Chairman Governing Council of the Osun State College of Education (OSCOED), Ila-Orangun.

The swearing in ceremony took place at the Executive Council Chambers Lounge of the Governors office.

The event highlighted the institution’s significant role in shaping the educational landscape of the southwestern region of Nigeria.

“Osun state college of education (OSCOED), Ila-orangun is one of the foremost colleges of education in the south-western region of Nigeria, the school has produced people of great minds, tutors, and outstanding dignitaries in the society,” Adeleke said.

In his address, the governor who was represented by the Secretary to the Osun State Government, Hon. Teslim Igbalaye praised the college for its history of producing distinguished educators and leaders.

Igbalaye also expressed confidence in Akinyele’s qualifications and experience, emphasizing his vast academic background which will greatly benefit the college and the state as a whole.

“With all the positive testimonies about Mr. Sarafa Akinyele, his appointment is a round peg in a round hole,” he said.

The governor concluded by congratulating Akinyele on his well-deserved appointment and wishing him success in his new role.

Adeleke also on Monday commissioned four electricity projects in three local government areas of Osun state.

The projects were facilitated by a member of the House of Representatives representing the Ede/Ejigbo/Egbedore Federal constituency, Bamidele Salam.

The projects are situated in various communities within Salam’s constituency, including Oke Arula, Ofatedo, Sekona communities, Idi Igba town, Oke Awere-Musa, and Okini towns.

The communities that benefitted from the gestures have not been connected to the national grids for decades.

Also, he commissioned over N260 million for Information Communication Technology and eight classroom facilities in Ara in Egbedore Local Government Area of the state which was also facilitated by Salam from the Federal Government of Nigeria.

Adeleke commended the federal lawmaker, noting that he is contributing to his development agenda for the state.

Salami while addressing newsmen, disclosed that the projects were done to mark the first anniversary of his second term at the National Assembly.

He highlighted that “Oke Arula, Ofatedo, Sekona community, Idi Igba town, Oke Awere-Musa, and Okini, all got 500KVA transformer each which have been installed for the usage of the communities.

The Edo Government has directed all public and private schools in the state to resume the 2024/25 academic session on Sept. 30.

This directive comes after an earlier postponement of the resumption date, initially set for Sept. 9, 2024.

In a statement on Sunday in Benin, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Ojo Akin-Longe, warned that a fake notification had been circulating that schools would reopen on Monday.

He urged parents and guardians to disregard this false information.

“We refer to the earlier announcement postponing the resumption of all public and private schools in Edo State, which was originally scheduled to reopen on Monday, 9th September 2024.

“We are aware of a subsequent false notification stating that schools should resume on Monday, 23rd September 2024.

“We wish to clarify that this announcement did not originate from the Edo State Government and is the work of mischief makers.

The information is false and should be disregarded.

“The Edo State Government hereby directs that all public and private schools in the state will now resume for the 2024/25 academic session on Monday, 30th September 2024.

“We appreciate your understanding and cooperation,” the permanent secretary said.

The National Educational Loan Fund (NELFUND) has presented a ceremonial cheque of N89.29m to the Nasarawa State University.

The presentation of the cheque was announced in several posts shared on X on Friday afternoon.

“Nasarawa State Students have also benefited as the institution received a ceremonial cheque of payment made to the school in total sum of N89.29m,” the post read.

“The cheque was presented by the MD of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr to the VC of the university, Prof Sa’adatu Hassan Liman.”