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FG releases N292.6bn for varsities, polytechnics, colleges of education

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TETFUND

 

The Federal Government, through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), has approved the sum of N292.66 billion for disbursement to some public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

Executive Secretary of TETFund, Prof. Suleiman Bogoro, said the intervention, which has been okayed by the Federal Government, would be spread to higher education institutions in each of the six geo-political zones.

At least one university from each of the six- geo-political zones would receive N906.8 million, while about N628.4 million will go to one polytechnic and one college of education from each of the six geo-political zones.

Bogoro made these known on Tuesday while welcoming all heads of beneficiary institutions to a one-day stakeholders’ meeting at the Nigeria Air Force Conference Centre, Abuja.

At the meeting, Bogoro explained that the responsibility of completing the national headquarters of National Library of Nigeria project has been handed over to TETFund by the FG.

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He said the library project represented an important national asset that should not be ignored on account of funding challenges.

Bogoro also stressed the importance of research to national development, saying the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has been consistent in approving funds to see that academics churn out quality research that would address emerging challenges bedeviling the country.

He said this accounted for the setting up of the National Research Fund, which has increased from N3 billion to N8.5 billion in recent times.

Bogoro, who expressed delight that Nigeria is moving closer to an emergence of a National Research and Development Foundation, challenged academics to turn around the fortunes of the country through cutting- edge research.

On the 2021 research grants to lecturers, Bogoro called on the nation’s academics to live up to expectations by churning out good proposals, saying that the Fund is always ready to finance such academic exercise.

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“I have signed the letters of allocation for the research grants that we are issuing out, 217. This is the highest research grant ever. It has never gone beyond 200. We have 217 research grants that have recently been approved,” Bogoro said.

Speaking on the recent special allocations by the TETFund’s Board of Trustees (BoT), Bogoro revealed that N5 billion each was approved for University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria for massive infrastructural projects development.

The TETFund boss said N1 billion was also approved as funds for the completion of special intervention projects for Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and another N1 billion for Imo State Polytechnic, Umuagwo, adding that more tertiary institutions would benefit from the special allocations soon.

Bogoro said TETFund is also providing support to boost research activities in Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON), among others, to address the nation’s security challenges.

The executive secretary said the Board of TETFund has approved the review of overseas masters and PhD courses/specialisation.

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According to him, more emphasis would now be placed on Masters or PhD programmes that are science-based.

Among the overseas masters and PhD courses specialisations with effect from August 2021 include: Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Biosciences, Biomedical Engineering, Material Science and Engineering, Industrial Systems and Engineering, Geosciences, Behavioural Sciences, Nuclear Engineering, Oceanography, Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering.

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Education

Oduduwa polytechnic denies extortion story

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The management of Oduduwa Polytechnic, Lagos, has denied media report that a lecturer in the institution was  extorting a female student and withhold her results.

 

According to the report, the student, one Jesulayomi Adedini, allegedly accused a lecturer of the institution, whose name was given as Ogunjana Adeolu of extortion and deliberate attempt to frustrate her graduation from school.

But the school, in a statement, copy of which was sent to The Post, stated: “The attention of the Management of the Oduduwa Polytechnic, Lagos has been drawn to a story published in The Punch of today titled: ‘Osun poly student accuses lecturer of extortion, withholding result.

“Contrary to what was published in The Punch, we wish to state that our institution, Oduduwa Polytechnic had nothing to do with the said story.

“We don’t have any record of both the staff and the student in our database.

 

“We, therefore, implore the members of the public to disregard the said story as it had nothing to do with our institution.”

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Shedding more light on the report, the management of the Oduduwa Polytechnic said, “We believe there is a mix-up somewhere. Our institution, Oduduwa Polytechnic, is located in  Lagos, not in Ife, Osun state, as claimed in the report by The Punch.
“It is surprising that while the report claimed the school involved in the alleged extortion story is in Ife, Osun state, but the photo used in the said story is that of our school, Oduduwa Polytechnic that is located in Lagos.”

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Education

Tinubu signs amended student loan bill into law

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President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the National Students Loan Amendment bill into law.

 

The President signed the bill in a short ceremony at the State House in the presence of the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Minister and Minister of State for Education, Hannatu Musawa, the Minister of State for Youth, Ayodele Olawande, the president of the National Association of Nigerian Students, other government officials and aides to the president.

 

Tinubu initially signed the student loan bill into law back in June 2023, to offer financial assistance to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.

 

While the bill was signed earlier, its implementation has faced delays due to various issues hindering its rollout.

 

Speaking afterwards, the president said, “ First of all, I must thank members of the National Assembly for their expeditious handling of this bill considering the children of Nigeria, that education is the tool to fight against poverty effectively.”

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“We are determined to ensure that education is given the proper attention necessary for the country including skills development programmes. This is to ensure that no one, no matter how poor their background is, is excluded from quality education and opportunity to build their future.”

 

“We are here because we are all educated and were helped. In the past, we have seen a lot of our children drop out of college and give up the opportunity. That is no more, the standard and the control is there for you to apply no matter who you are as long as you are a Nigerian citizen.”

 

This development came after separate considerations from the two chambers of the National Assembly committees on tertiary institutions and TETFund.

 

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Education

Mohbad: Family faults wife’s petition against Primeboy

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The family of the late singer, Ilerioluwa Aloba, popularly known as Mohbad, has faulted a petition said to have been filed by the deceased’s widow, Omowunmi, against Ibrahim Owodunni, also known as Primeboy.

Primeboy, a close ally of Mohbad, was interrogated during a scheduled visit to the State Criminal Investigation Department on Tuesday, alongside Ayobami Fisayo, aka Spending.

The duo had been instructed to visit the police facility every week since the commencement of the investigation into the circumstances leading to Mohbad’s death.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, however, confirmed that the Afro singer was delayed and questioned during Tuesday’s visit over alleged defamation of character and other allegations cited in a petition filed by Wunmi.

 

Although the singer was released on Tuesday night, he returned to the SCID on Wednesday as police continued their probe of the allegations.

However, the family, in a statement signed by the head of its legal team, Monisola Odumosu, on Wednesday, alleged that the petition bordered on scaring potential witnesses in the unfolding investigative enquiry at the Coroner’s Court.

Mohbad’s family also noted that Primeboy was released from the SCID following the intervention of its legal team.

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The statement read, “It has come to our notice that Wunmi Cynthia Aloba has petitioned the police alleging that Primeboy and four other persons were cyber-bullying and threats to her life and her son Liam Aloba, amongst other allegations.

“As a result, the police detained Primeboy at their Panti office in Lagos and released him on Tuesday evening at about 8.00 pm local time. The legal team was led by Emmanuel Oroko Esq. Primeboy and Spending were at Panti Police Station earlier in the morning of (12/03/2024) to fulfil part of the conditions of their administrative bail which is that they must report to the homicide section of Panti police station every week.

“We are of the strong opinion that the police can only help to get justice in the matter relating to who killed Ilerioluwa Aloba (Mohbad) by vetting spurious petitions that border on scaring potential witnesses in the unfolding investigative enquiry at the Coroner’s Court. The police have shown professionalism and integrity by releasing Primeboy on bail and allowing our legal team access to the petition. Also, Primeboy was told to come back on Wednesday.”

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Odumosu explained further that it was not easy for the duo since they were listed as witnesses for the inquest.

“May we mention that since we listed Spending and Primeboy as witnesses for the inquest at the Coroner Court, it has not been easy for the duo. We have evidence of a sporadic call from a person sympathetic to Wunmi Aloba, and we queried why the person had to call and truncate the call when Primeboy had not picked up the call. Immediately the person switched off his phone and has not called back since then. Barely a week after, Primeboy has been petitioned against and detained.

 

“The petitions against the duo of Spending and Primeboy will not scare them away as witnesses at the next sitting of the Coroner Court. We shall do all within the law not just to protect them but also protect their mental health,” the statement added.

 

During its probe, the police declared Primeboy wanted on October 4, 2023, after which he turned himself in two days later.

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Meanwhile, Mohbad’s father, Joseph Aloba, had filed an application in January at the coroner court sitting in the Ikorodu area of the state, seeking to call more witnesses in the bid to unravel the cause of his son’s death.

The witnesses requested to testify before the court include Primeboy, Spending and Boluwatife Adeyemo aka Darosha; all of whom were alleged to have been with the deceased at the material time.

Mohbad died on September 12 at the age of 27, with circumstances surrounding his death sparking controversies on social media.

Being a former record label signee of Marlian Music owned by Naira Marley, Mohbad left the label in February 2022.

The state police command had on September 18, 2023, inaugurated a 13-man special investigation team to probe the death.

His death also led to the arrest of Naira Marley, and controversial Lagos socialite, Balogun Eletu, aka Sam Larry, amongst others.

The body of Mohbad was on September 21, 2023, exhumed for autopsy to unravel the cause of his death.

 

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