The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has revealed that it has disbursed at least ₦11 billion worth of loans to students in higher institutions across the country.

NELFUND made this disclosure on Wednesday evening in a post on its official X account where it provided an update on the disbursement of loans to students.

“98 Institutions across all geo-political zones are now benefiting from student loans,” it wrote on X.

“105,844 Students are receiving financial support, empowering them to achieve their educational dreams even as ₦11,047,793,949.80 has been disbursed to date.”

The Student Loan initiative (SLI) is a program established by the Federal Government of Nigeria to break financial barriers in higher education.

It has been designed to help in revolutionising the accessibility to education across Nigeria and also reducing financial stress on students and families.

Other benefits of the initiative include a path to educational accessibility without financial hurdles, interest-free loans for tuition fees and equal access to higher education for all eligible candidates.

To apply for the loan, interested candidates have been directed to register on the Student Loan Application platform by clicking the “APPLY NOW” button to get started.

The second step is to click on the “Request for Student Loan” button and complete the loan application steps after which applicants have been directed to submit.

“Step 3: Your application will be reviewed. After successful verification, payments will be made to your institution for institutional charge while the upkeep loan will be paid to the bank account you have provided in your profile,” NELFUND wrote on its official website.

The National Examination Council (NECO) has officially revised its 2024 SSCE External Timetable to accommodate the upcoming Ondo State governorship election, scheduled for Saturday, November 16.

This adjustment, shared on NECO’s website on Monday, advises candidates to review the revised timetable, as some exam dates may now differ from the original schedule.

The announcement stated, “Please note that the 2024 SSCE External Timetable has been adjusted due to the Ondo Governorship Election on Saturday, 16th November, 2024. The adjusted timetable is now available and should be reviewed alongside the original timetable.”

Candidates are reminded of key registration deadlines, with standard registration closing on November 6. Late registration will start on November 7, while walk-in registration, subject to additional fees, will begin on November 13.

NECO advises candidates to stay updated and check the revised schedule to avoid any last-minute inconveniences as they prepare for their exams.

“The registration deadline for the SSCE External Examination is 6th November 2024. Late registration starts on the 7th of November, and walk-in registration begins on the 13th of November. Both attract a fee,” the statement concluded.

Self-consciousness and mind manipulation are two complex and interconnected topics that have fascinated humans for centuries. From the nature of consciousness to the ways in which our minds can be influenced, these subjects have been explored in various fields, including philosophy, psychology, neuroscience, and sociology.

To gain a deeper understanding of self-consciousness and mind manipulation, we’ve compiled a list of 8 books that offer valuable insights and perspectives on these topics. Whether you’re interested in the science behind consciousness, the art of persuasion, or the ways in which our minds can be controlled, these books are sure to provide you with a wealth of knowledge and food for thought.

1. “The Conscious Mind” by David Chalmers

In this groundbreaking book, philosopher David Chalmers explores the nature of consciousness and its relationship to the physical world. Chalmers argues that consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe, unconnected to specific brains or bodies. He also discusses the implications of this idea for our understanding of free will, morality, and the human condition.

2. “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert Cialdini

This classic book on influence and persuasion explores the six universal principles that drive human behavior: reciprocity, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity. Cialdini provides numerous examples of how these principles are used in various contexts, from sales and marketing to politics and social engineering.

3. “The Power of Habit” by Charles Duhigg

In this fascinating book, journalist Charles Duhigg explores the science behind habits and how they can be changed. Duhigg argues that habits are a crucial aspect of our lives, influencing everything from our daily routines to our relationships and decision-making processes. He also provides strategies for transforming bad habits into good ones.

4. “The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat” by Oliver Sacks

This collection of case studies by neurologist Oliver Sacks explores the complexities of the human brain and its many mysteries. Sacks writes about patients with unusual neurological disorders, including those with impaired self-awareness, memory loss, and altered perceptions of reality.

5. “The Art of Deception” by Kevin Mitnick

In this book, former hacker Kevin Mitnick reveals the tactics and strategies used by social engineers to manipulate people into divulging sensitive information or performing certain actions. Mitnick provides insights into the psychology of deception and offers advice on how to protect oneself from these types of attacks.

6. “The Sociopath Next Door” by Martha Stout

This book explores the phenomenon of sociopathy, a personality disorder characterized by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, and manipulative behavior. Stout argues that sociopaths are more common than we think and provides guidance on how to recognize and deal with them.

7. “Mindwise: How We Understand What Others Think, Believe, Feel, and Want” by Nicholas Epley

In this book, psychologist Nicholas Epley explores the ways in which we understand (or misunderstand) other people’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions. Epley argues that our ability to read minds is limited and often influenced by our own biases and assumptions.

8. “The Lucifer Effect” by Philip Zimbardo

This book tells the story of the Stanford Prison Experiment, in which a group of healthy college students were transformed into sadistic guards and submissive prisoners. Zimbardo explores the psychological and social factors that contribute to this type of behavior and argues that we are all capable of both good and evil.

These 8 books offer a wealth of knowledge and insights into the complex topics of self-consciousness and mind manipulation. Whether you’re interested in the science behind consciousness, the art of persuasion, or the ways in which our minds can be controlled, these books are sure to provide you with a deeper understanding of the human experience.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has pledged its commitment to helping beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s student loan programme secure employment.

The initiative, the agency said, aims to ensure that beneficiaries can repay their loans without difficulties.

Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, stated this while addressing questions from tertiary institution students on the operations of the loan scheme.

The Guardian reports that at a joint public hearing organised by the National Assembly for the reenactment of the Students’ Loan Bill 2024, some stakeholders, including the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), expressed concerns about beneficiaries’ ability to repay the loan, given the unemployment rate in the country.

Speaking over the weekend, the Fund’s Chief Executive Officer said the agency is taking a proactive approach to empower students to repay their loans, thereby reducing the risk of default.

He noted that by connecting beneficiaries with job opportunities, the government is helping to create a more sustainable and self-sufficient education loan system.

His words: “We are saying that for the entirety of the course, if a person applies today, it’s zero percent interest. If they come back for their 200 Level, it remains at zero percent interest. In the future, we might change the interest rate but not for those who have applied now. We will follow through on the promise that takes it all the way through to the end of the course.

“The loan needs to be paid back. It can only be paid back if the person who took the loan is earning an income. So the provision of the law is that nobody is required to start paying this loan back until two years after they have completed their NYSC. What this means is that if a person completes their NYSC and, two years later, they are due to start paying the loan back, if they don’t have a job, they don’t pay back. NELFUND doesn’t come after people who don’t have a job, or gainful employment, to pay back. After the two-year point, you inform us that you still haven’t got a job. As NELFUND, we will try to connect you to work. We will try to connect you to jobs because it is in our best interest for you to get a job.”

While stressing that the programme is not a slave contract, Sawyerr pointed out that the online processes, which eliminate human contact, will help prevent corruption.

The Managing Director explained that if the Fund detects significant funds entering the loan recipients’ bank accounts, yet the individual claims no income or employment two years after completion of NYSC, it reserves the right to deduct the outstanding loan balance from the recipient’s bank account to recover the funds.

“We do ask for a mandate that allows us access to the accounts of those who are taking these loans. And if we find that large amounts of money are going into the account and the person is saying that they haven’t got a job or income, we reserve the right to take what is owed to NELFUND and pull it back out of the bank account into the NELFUND account.

“It is important that if a loanee wants to pay their loan back the day after they graduate, while they are still studying, or when they have money before they even do NYSC, they are welcome to pay back,” he stated.

While stressing that the credit facility is not allocated based on a quota system, the NELFUND boss noted that it is unethical to compel individuals to accept the loan. “The law requires that there is geographical spread. People who access this loan can come from anywhere. What we are doing is to ensure that we bring this equal opportunity to everyone in Nigeria. It is worth noting that it is unethical to force people to take loans. If a whole state, local government, tribe, or religious group decides that they don’t want to take the loan for whatever reason, there is very little we can do. But we are going to bring the opportunity to everybody,” he said.

Meanwhile, The Guardian investigation showed that the Fund is nearing the launch of a job portal aimed at connecting loan beneficiaries with employment opportunities, facilitating loan repayment post-graduation.

According to a source who requested anonymity, borrowers will receive a unique identification for priority access to job listings, allowing them to explore openings.

“We will try to attract jobs from Dubai, Scotland, the United States, and all over the world, and ask them to post them on our portal.

“Our priority will be the borrowers. Everybody that takes a loan has a unique ID. When you put your unique ID into that portal, it will allow you to access a place where you will be able to see the job before anybody else,” the source hinted.

President Bola Tinubu had in April this year signed into law the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024.

The cardinal programme seeks to address the challenge of financial constraints in accessing higher education by providing interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions struggling to pay fees, as well as a monthly stipend of N20,000.

The Guardian reports that 1.2 million students from federal and state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education are expected to benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

Checks on the agency’s website showed that as of Sunday, November 3, 2024, 262 federal and state universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education have been onboarded, resulting in 383,581 students’ registrations and 288,537 loan applications.

The Joint Action Committee of the Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions and the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities are in a meeting with the Federal Government today (Thursday) to have talks over the ongoing strike.

The SSANU Vice-President Abdussobur Salaam confirmed this on Thursday morning, after the union received an official invitation from the Federal Government on Wednesday.

“We received a formal invitation last night. The meeting is scheduled for 11 am today. It will be presided over by the Minister of State for Education and will be held in the Minister’s Conference Room,” he is quoted as saying by The Punch.

Members of NASU and SSANU on Monday, October 28, commenced industrial action, over withheld four mouths salaries by the Federal Government.

The notice of strike was issued by the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of the two non-teaching staff unions to their members in federal universities across the country.

A circular to all branch chairmen of NASU and SSANU in the universities and inter-university centres noted that the strike, initially billed for October 23, was rescheduled because of the Trade Group Council meeting of NASU branches on the said date.

The circular, signed by General Secretary of NASU, Peters Adeyemi, and SSANU President, Mohammed Ibrahim, explained that the change in timing was for effective coordination and for both unions to be on the same page.

The unions expressed sadness over the failure of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, to obey the directive of President Bola Tinubu, saying that the President had approved payment of two months out of the four months, but the minister failed to give effect to the directive.

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) says the commission will roll out the minimum documentation required for booksellers as a way of curbing piracy in the country.

Dr. John Asein, the Director-General of the NCC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said the documentation exercise, which has already begun in Abuja, would be spread across other states in the country.

The NCC boss added that the commission was working to make the online registration for booksellers seamless and easy.

According to him, as soon as NCC rolls out the regulation, it becomes mandatory for all the booksellers in the country.

“I am hoping we can achieve this at the beginning of next year. So that as we approach the next book season, we will have rolled out some of these initiatives.

“Every printer, publisher and bookseller in the market must meet our minimum demands,” he said.

The NCC boss further disclosed that the commission had opened the pathway for the anti-piracy devices, adding that the rollout regulation would be backed up with the use of the hologram.

“We are going to take it in phases. We will start with the purely voluntary scale and also determine which books may require compulsory use of the hologram.

“The commission has different models, which we are already discussing with the publishers. NCC will procure and give the holograms to the publishers.

“There are also models that will allow the publishers to just take our prescribed hologram and then go ahead and produce for their own use,” he explained.

Asein stated that there would be a uniform format that would be well-tracked, stressing that any hologram out there would be well-documented in their records.

“Through this, we will be able to follow up in the market and make the job of the copyright officers easier, as well as fighting against piracy more effectively.”

The director general further appealed to those engaged in piracy to desist from it, stressing that piracy, in the long run, kills, steals and destroys other people’s work.

“As a matter of fact, piracy kills creativity. We know authors who have resigned from the business of authorship because of pirates.

“So, it steals from them, individuals and investors, and destroys the economy. There is no better time for everyone to fight against piracy because we cannot sustain the creative economy if we keep allowing people to steal from that economy.