Nigerians can now request their banks to issue them with a debit card that doubles as their National Identity Card, following recent order from President Buhari.

This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy Prof. Isa Pantami in Abuja, while stating that the approval was obtained at the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), which was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.

He added that the approval followed a memo from the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) permitting banks to print debit cards that double as National identity cards, while also disclosing that the request for NIN cards comes with no cost.

In his words,

“As in the NIMC Act 2007, section 27, what is mandatory for our citizens and legal residents is the acquiring of the National Identity Number, not the card. However, the card is optional. But many citizens, particularly those living in rural communities, always go to NIMC offices complaining that they need the card at hand, even though it’s optional. To make it easier, NIMC last year, we introduced a smart ID card you can download from the NIMC app. It is just a smart card. You don’t need to have it physically, but that is becoming difficult for our people living in rural communities.

“To ease the difficulty, NIMC had partnered with the Central Bank of Nigeria so that citizens who are interested in having a card at hand can easily go to the relevant banks. It is going to be a form of a multipurpose card that will serve as your national identity card on one hand and also your bank card on the other. And based on the agreement, it is without any additional costs to our citizens. So when you apply for a card at your bank, you can indicate that ‘I want this card to be multiple purposes where it will serve as my bank card and also my national identity card. Both of them are going to be printed on the same card and it is going to serve the same purposes without any additional costs”.

Pantami further added that, when an individual requests the card, the bank will need to connect to the NIMC through their database. Afterward, the bank verifies the person’s details which must be in conjunction with the record in the NIMC database. Then, the card will be printed immediately for the user.

Investors King understands that this new directive from President Buhari ordering banks to issue NIN cards to citizens will ease the difficulty in obtaining the cards.

MTN scholarships foundation has opened applications for undergraduate scholarship awards.

The scholarship is part of its Youth Development Cause, which provides an annual platform for recognizing and rewarding dedicated, high-performing students across Nigerian Public Tertiary institutions.

The MTN scholarship is open to two categories of students, one is for undergraduate students in Science and Technology-related courses and the other is for blind students in any field of study.

Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS) is open to 200 and 300-level visually impaired students studying any course in Nigerian public tertiary institutions, which include (Universities, Polytechnics, and colleges of Education).

Speaking on the scholarship, the executive secretary of MTN Foundation, Odunayo Sanya said,

“We believe in the creativity and resilience of the Nigerian youth. They have the potential to change the world and put Nigeria on the global map in positive ways as we can already see. The role of quality education in empowering the youth for exploits cannot be over-emphasized. We are glad to stand with them through the MTN scholarships”.

Eligibility Criteria

MTN Science and Technology Scholarship (STS):

• The application is open to students who have completed their second semester 200 level examinations going to 300 level and students currently in their 300 level as we understand that the academic calendar is not aligned across all public tertiary institutions,

The MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBIs):

The application is open to 200 & 300-level blind students in any Nigerian Public Tertiary Institution (Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education). However, for blind students studying Law, which is a 5 years course, only 300 level students can apply for the MTN Scholarship.

The MN Science and Technology Scholarship (STS):

•STEM Students in Public Universities and Colleges of Education must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) score of 3.0/4 or 3.5/5 (second class upper credit)

• STEM Students in Public Polytechnics must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (CPA) of 3.0 (upper credit) from the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Program and must have secured admission into the Higher National Diploma (HND) Program.

• Direct Entry level STEM students must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (upper credit) From the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) program and must have secured admission into 300 level/3rd year in a Public University.

MTN Scholarship for Blind Students (SBS):

• Blind Students in Universities or Colleges of Education must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5

•Blind Students in Public Polytechnics must have a minimum Cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 from the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) Program and must have secured admission into the Higher National Diploma (HND) Program.

How Applicants Can Apply For The Scholarship

Eligible and qualified candidates should visit www.mtn.ng/scholarships to apply before June 18, 2023.

Investors King understands that MTN Foundation scholarships which are a part of MTN’s Youth Development Cause, have supported students financially throughout their university education and career progression. It has also provided valuable training and insights for their professional qualifications.

Recent data obtained from the Higher Education statistics agency revealed that 128,770 Nigerian students enrolled in Universities in the UK between 2015-2022.

In the 2015/2016 academic session, up to 16,100 Nigerians enrolled in Universities in the UK, while during the 2016/2017 session, the number declined to 12,655.

In the 2017/2018 academic session, the number further declined to 10,685, while in 2018/2019 there was a little increase with 10,810 students enrolling in U.K universities. In the 2020/21 academic year, 21,305 Nigerian students were enrolled at UK universities.

The 2021/2022 academic session saw a massive surge in the enrollment of Nigerian students in the UK, with 44,195 students. This figure was reported to be the highest so far since Nigeria’s independence in 1960.

The massive migration of Nigerian citizens to the U.K has been an issue of great concern for the Nigerian government as several experts in the country have attributed the government’s poor policies as a major factor for Nigerians seeking opportunities abroad.

Meanwhile, in a recent development, the United Kingdom authorities have announced a new restriction that may restrain Nigerian students, and others from bringing their families to the UK.

The crackdown would see all masters students as well as postgraduate students banned from bringing their families to the U.K. However, the ban would not apply to Ph.D. students, whose courses are usually between 3 to 5 years.

This latest move by the UK government is coming after the number of immigrants skyrocketed to 1 million with the country’s ministers asking prime minister Rishi Sunak to get a grip on the surging numbers.

They disclosed that individuals migrating to the UK have been taking advantage of their relative student data as reports revealed that in 2019, students brought 135,788 family members to the UK. In 2022, reports reveal that Nigerian students reportedly brought over 60,923 relatives.

Investors King understands that In October 2020, the UK introduced a student visa to open up its borders to more international students.

The UK student visa allowed family members to apply for immigration as dependants. Holders of a student visa, including full-time postgraduate scholars and some other special cases, are allowed to list a spouse, a partner, or a child under 18 as dependants.

Nigerian students however saw this policy as a golden opportunity to immigrate to the UK with their families. UK Immigration revealed that Nigerians of all ages and employment statuses took advantage of this opportunity. Among all nationalities, Nigerians represented the largest relative increase in sponsored study visa grants.

For many, it offered an escape from Nigeria’s economic woes, including record-high inflation, and a crippled education system.