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Southern States Skeptical as NELFund Disburses First Loans

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The National Education Loan Fund (NELFund) officially launched on Wednesday, a significant step in providing financial aid to students across Nigeria.

However, the initiative faces skepticism, particularly from the southern states.

President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the first tranche of funds, amounting to N32 billion, aimed at empowering Nigerian youth and breaking financial barriers to education.

The NELFund portal has registered 164,000 students, with 103,000 applying for loans.

Despite the promising start, many southern states remain doubtful about the fund’s implementation.

Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFund’s Managing Director, acknowledged these concerns, citing data challenges in verifying indigent applicants as a primary hurdle.

Sawyerr highlighted the lack of comprehensive data needed for credit assessments. The fund relies on bank verification numbers (BVN), National Identification Numbers (NIN), and educational institution data to determine eligibility.

More applications have been received from northern states, where students have shown greater confidence in the fund.

Sawyerr pointed out that skepticism in the south might stem from uncertainty about the program’s viability.

NELFund offers two types of loans: educational fees paid directly to institutions and upkeep loans for student stipends.

The focus is currently on government-owned institutions to ensure a smooth rollout.

President Tinubu emphasized education as a critical tool against poverty and insecurity, linking the nation’s challenges to a lack of educational opportunities.

He reaffirmed his commitment to inclusive growth through education.

As NELFund continues its rollout, efforts to address data issues and regional skepticism will be crucial. By building trust and ensuring transparency, the program aims to support more students nationwide and foster a fairer society.

Is the CEO and Founder of Investors King Limited. He is a seasoned foreign exchange research analyst and a published author on Yahoo Finance, Business Insider, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur.com, Investorplace, and other prominent platforms. With over two decades of experience in global financial markets, Olukoya is well-recognized in the industry.

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WAEC Releases 2024 WASSCE Results, 73.79% of Candidates Achieve Five Credits and Above

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WAEC results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has officially released the results of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for school candidates.

The announcement was made on Monday, August 12, 2024, through WAEC’s official X (formerly Twitter) account and during a press briefing held in Lagos.

According to Amos Dangut, the Head of WAEC’s Nigeria National Office, a total of 1,805,216 candidates sat for the examination in Nigeria.

Out of these, 1,685,889 candidates, representing 93.39%, have had their results fully processed and released.

However, 119,327 candidates, making up 6.61%, have their results still being processed due to various issues.

In his detailed analysis of the candidates’ performance, Dangut revealed that 1,332,089 candidates, or 73.79%, obtained credit passes and above in a minimum of five subjects.

This includes passes in subjects such as English Language and Mathematics, though the statistics account for those with or without these crucial subjects.

“The performance this year has been commendable, with a significant majority of the students meeting the basic requirements for higher education and other future endeavors,” Dangut stated during the press conference.

The WAEC official also provided guidance on how candidates can check their results. Those who sat for the examination can access their results online by using the “Result Checker PIN and Serial Number” provided on the Smart Identity Cards issued during the examination.

This process allows for quick and easy access to their scores from the comfort of their homes.

Furthermore, Dangut assured that the hard copies of certificates for candidates whose results have been fully processed will be ready within the next 90 days.

“We are committed to ensuring that the certificates are made available in the shortest possible time to facilitate the next steps in the academic or career journeys of these young candidates,” he said.

The release of the 2024 WASSCE results marks a crucial milestone for millions of students across West Africa who rely on these results to progress into higher education or various professional fields.

The impressive performance, with nearly three-quarters of candidates achieving five credits or more, underscores the continued importance of the WASSCE as a gateway to future opportunities.

Candidates and their families are encouraged to promptly check their results and begin preparing for the next stages of their educational or career paths.

The availability of certificates within 90 days also provides a clear timeline for those planning to use their results for immediate applications to universities, colleges, or job opportunities.

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WAEC Set to Announce May/June 2024 WASSCE Results Today

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WAEC results

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) is poised to release the results of the May/June 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) today.

This announcement has been eagerly awaited by the 1,814,344 candidates who participated in the examination across 22,229 secondary schools nationwide.

Mrs. Moyosola Adesina, the Acting Head of Public Affairs for WAEC, confirmed that the Head of National Office (HNO), Dr. Amos Dangut, will make the official announcement from WAEC’s Yaba headquarters.

The release of the results is a significant milestone for students across the country, many of whom are depending on these results for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education for the 2023/2024 academic session.

The 2024 WASSCE saw a balanced participation with 902,328 male candidates (49.73%) and 912,016 female candidates (50.27%).

These students were examined in 76 subjects across 197 papers, with 30,000 teachers supervising the examination to ensure its integrity.

Dr. Dangut had earlier stated that WAEC is committed to maintaining its tradition of releasing results within 45 days after the conclusion of the exams.

The results will be accompanied by digital copies of the candidates’ certificates, accessible through WAEC’s digital certificate platform.

This development marks a continued effort by WAEC to streamline processes and offer more accessible and secure ways for students to obtain their academic credentials.

For the candidates, the release of these results is a crucial step in their academic journey. Many of them are currently in the process of applying for tertiary education, with several institutions already having begun their admission processes, including scheduling Post-UTME screenings and tests.

The timely release of these results will enable students who applied with “awaiting results” status to move forward in their educational pursuits without delay.

As the announcement draws near, the anticipation among candidates, parents, and educators is palpable.

The release of the 2024 WASSCE results today will not only provide clarity for students’ future academic paths but also reinforce WAEC’s commitment to maintaining high standards in the administration and management of secondary school examinations across West Africa.

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Federal Government Shortlists 5,000 for Oil and Gas Sector Overseas Scholarships

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The Federal Government has shortlisted 5,000 candidates for its prestigious overseas scholarships.

The announcement was made through the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) in Abuja.

Bolanle Agboola, the Head of the Overseas Scholarship Scheme at PTDF, disclosed that the selection process for the 2024 scholarships had reached its final stage.

She revealed that the shortlisted candidates had participated in rigorous examinations across the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

“The purpose of this initiative is to empower Nigerians with high-tech skills required in the oil and gas industry,” Agboola stated. “The selection process was conducted simultaneously in various universities across the country.”

Highlighting the importance of the scholarships, Agboola emphasized the need for Nigeria to indigenize its oil and gas sector.

“Our target is to select the best candidates for the overseas scholarships,” she said. “This initiative aligns with the government’s goal of building local capacity in the oil and gas industry.”

When asked about the number of participants to be selected, Agboola explained that each state of the federation would receive an equal allocation of successful candidates based on the budget for the year.

However, she refrained from disclosing the exact budget allocated for the scholarship scheme.

Agboola defended the decision to send scholars abroad, citing the high-tech nature of the oil and gas industry and the need for hands-on experience with cutting-edge equipment and technology.

She also mentioned PTDF’s in-country scholarship program, where participants are trained in Nigeria.

The overseas scholarships will be offered in various universities in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Malaysia, providing Nigerian scholars with access to world-class education and training in the oil and gas sector.

With this initiative, the Federal Government aims to equip Nigerian professionals with the expertise needed to drive innovation and development in the nation’s vital oil and gas industry, ensuring its sustainability and competitiveness on the global stage.

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