Education
Senate approves students loan Repeal and Re-enactment Bill
The Senate has passed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024 into law
The resolution of the Senate came after it considered the report of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND that considered the Bill.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Muntari Dandutse (APC – Katsina South) presented the report at plenary on Wednesday
President Bola Tinubu had last wednesday transmitted the Bill to the National Assembly for its consideration and passage.
The Senate had given the Bill accelerated hearing by suspending relevant sections of its standing rules and referred the Bill to the Committee of the Whole for consideration.
After the debate on the Bill, Senate President Godswill Akpabio referred the Bill to the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND for further legislative work and to report back in one week.
The Bill seeks to provide easy access to higher education for indigent Nigerians through interest free loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund established in the Act with a view to providing education for all Nigerians.
Some amendments sought to the Act by by President Tinubu, according to an explanatory memorandum made available to reporters include “the establishment of the the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a body corporate that that can sue and be sued in its name and has the power to acquire, hold, and dispose of movable and immovable property for the purpose of its functions.
“This ensures that the Fund can legally enter contracts, including loan agreements and may also initiate action to ensure repayment by beneficiaries.
“It also empowers the Fund to provide loans to qualified Nigerians for tuition, fees, charges, and upkeep during their studies in approved tertiary education
institutions and vocational and skills acquisition institutions in
Nigeria.
“It empowers the Fund to build, operate, and maintain a diversified pool of funds to
provide loans to qualified applicants and ensure access to higher education, vocational training, and skills acquisition.”
“These changes,” it indicated, would “ensure that students can apply for and receive loans to cover tuition, institutional charges and some upkeep costs.
“It also separates the Governance functions from the management operations of the NELFUND by establishing a Board of Directors with a Chairman and Secretary.
“The board’s members are drawn from the relevant ministries, regulatory bodies, and participating agencies, including the
Federal Ministries of Finance and Education, the FIRS, NIMC, NUC, NBTE, and NCCE, as well as representatives of universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, students of tertiary institutions, and the organised private sector.
“It also properly defines the resource structure of the Fund by, amongst other things, establishing the General Reserve Fund into which shall be paid 1% of all taxes, levies and duties collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service and accruing to the benefit of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
“It indicated that this is from which the Fund shall pay amounts payable as loans to
qualified applicants for tuition, fees, charges, and upkeep, as well as the Fund’s operational expenses and such expenditures necessary to attaining the Fund’s objectives and functions.”
On changes to Eligibility Criteria for Applicants, the new Bill removed the family income threshold to enable Nigerian students to apply for loans and accept responsibility for repayment according to the Fund’s guidelines.
It also removed the guarantor requirement so that students can apply for and receive loans subject to application and identity verification guidelines as provided by the Fund.
Besides, Student applicants can no longer be disqualified based on their parent’s loan history.
It established a justice and fairness provision mandating the Board to ensure a minimum national spread of loans approved and
disbursed in each financial year.
Applicants to the Fund may apply for loans to cover tuition and other fees payable to the school and maintenance allowance
payable to the student.
On repayment of loans, the Bill indicated that beneficiaries of the Fund shall begin as soon as the beneficiary becomes employed in any capacity.
According to the brief, the Fund shall not initiate loan recovery efforts until two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps programme.
It stated that a beneficiary may request an extension of enforcement action by the Fund by providing a sworn affidavit indicating that he is not employed in any capacity and is not receiving any income.
It pointed out that any person who provides a false statement to the Fund under
this section is guilty of a felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.
It also makes provision for loan forgiveness in the event of death or acts of God causing inability to repay.
The National Examinations Council (NECO) has expanded its international footprint by accrediting more schools in Equatorial Guinea to conduct its Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).
According to a statement released in Minna on Wednesday by NECO’s Director of Information and Public Relations, Mallam Azeez Sani, the newly accredited schools are located in Bata, the largest city in Equatorial Guinea. This expansion adds to the existing NECO-accredited schools in the country.
The accreditation process involved a comprehensive assessment by NECO’s team, which evaluated the schools’ classrooms, laboratories, libraries, computer labs, workshops, examination halls, sports facilities, continuous assessment systems, teacher adequacy, and security standards.
Following a thorough review, the schools were granted full accreditation to conduct both SSCE and BECE examinations.
Mallam Azeez Sani emphasized that this development underscores NECO’s commitment to providing quality education and standardized assessments beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“With its expanding global presence, NECO is positioning itself as a leading examination body in Africa, creating opportunities for Nigerian students and other foreign nationals to benefit from its expertise and contribute to educational advancement across the continent,” he stated.
NECO examinations are currently written in Benin Republic, Niger Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, further cementing its role as a key player in Africa’s educational landscape.
***Insists, no Students, No Meeting
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has issued a final ultimatum to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), demanding immediate student representation on its board.
The association has vowed to shut down the upcoming board meeting if its demand is ignored.
In a letter dated February 13, 2025, addressed to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, and Board Chairman, Jim Ovia, NANS President Lucky Emonefe condemned the exclusion of students as “completely unacceptable.”
Emonefe indicated that excluding students from the NELFUND Board is tantamount to shaving a man’s head in his absence emphasizing that decisions about student loans should not be made without their input.
Representing over 50 million students nationwide, NANS insisted that students, as the primary beneficiaries of the fund, must have a seat at the table.
The letter warned that failure to comply would result in a mass mobilization to prevent the board meeting from taking place.
“This is not an appeal; it is a final warning. Nigerian students refuse to be spectators in decisions that shape their future. No student, no meeting!” the letter concluded.
With tensions rising, all eyes are now on NELFUND’s leadership to see whether they will yield to NANS’ demands or risk a major student uprising.
By James Ojochegbe
As September approaches, excitement continues to build around Rugby School Nigeria, a prestigious institution set to redefine secondary education in West Africa.
With its campus rising in Eko Atlantic City, Lagos, and preparations in full swing, the school’s leadership remains committed to delivering an elite academic experience rooted in the traditions of its UK counterpart.
International Development Director of Rugby School Global,
Ian McIntyre, recently toured the campus and expressed confidence in meeting the projected launch date.
“The facilities here will reflect the highest standards of excellence and innovation,” he remarked, underscoring the institution’s goal of blending academic rigor with holistic student development.
While the school’s full senior program will open in 2026, its debut this year will focus on an advanced Sixth Form curriculum designed to propel students into the world’s top universities.
The program, led by expert instructors, covers a diverse range of subjects, from Mathematics and Sciences to Business Studies and the Arts.
James Whitehead, Director of Education at Rugby School Global, highlighted the school’s unique approach: “At Rugby School Nigeria, we embrace the ‘Whole Person, Whole Point’ philosophy, ensuring students not only achieve academic excellence but also develop key life skills.”
Beyond academics, Rugby School Nigeria aims to cultivate leadership, creativity, and resilience—qualities that will prepare students for success in an evolving global landscape. As enrollment begins, families across the region are eager to secure a place in what promises to be a transformative educational institution.
In a deal sealed by
Nick Bacon Chairman, Governing Body of Rugby School and Mr Ronald Chagoury, Chairman of Eko Atlantic, Rugby School Nigeria will initially offer a Sixth Form programme for day students aged 16 and above, emphasizing
academic excellence and a diverse range of extra-curricular activities, preparing students for entry to the world’s
leading universities.
With the school set to welcome its first A Level students this September, and the full senior school opening in September 2026, excitement has continued to build around this transformative educational institution for aspiring students from across West Africa.
Expressing his excitement at the progress made so far,
Ian McIntyre, said,
“It is truly inspiring to see the remarkable progress being made on the world-class campus of Rugby School Nigeria. The facilities here will reflect the highest standards of excellence and innovation, ensuring that students will experience an education that is both academically rigorous and holistically enriching.
“With the launch of our full A-level programme this September and the full opening of the senior school in 2026, we are excited to bring the proud heritage and values of Rugby School to Nigeria. This campus will undoubtedly become a beacon of learning in West Africa.”
According to the statement from Rugby School Global, the A-Level students will benefit from expert instruction by specialist teachers in a broad range of subjects, including: English Literature, Mathematics & Further Mathematics; Biology, Chemistry, Physics; History, Geography, French; Art, Economics, Business Studies; Physical Education, and Computer Studies.
James Whitehead, Director of Education at Rugby School Global, equally highlighted the school’s distinctive philosophy
“At Rugby School Nigeria, we embrace the ‘Rugby Way’ teaching & learning philosophy and the ‘Whole Person, Whole Point’ approach—ensuring that students not only excel academically but also grow holistically, preparing them for the world’s top universities and life beyond.”
The first phase of the school campus will include a reception and welcome area, numerous classrooms, sports and social spaces and a sixth form centre.
The statement further urged ”
prospective families to register their interest and “secure a place for their child at this groundbreaking educational institution. ”
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