News

Okonjo-Iweala calls for release of abducted Kaduna, Sokoto students, says education crucial to development

Published

2 months ago

March 12, 2024

admin

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), has called on the federal government to ensure the release of the students abducted by bandits in Kaduna and Sokoto states.

Okonjo-Iweala spoke in Abuja on Tuesday during the launch of the WTO-ITC 2024 technical assistance programme for Nigeria.

She expressed sadness over the mass abduction of students and teachers in the country, adding that education is very crucial to economic development.

Over 200 students were recently abducted after bandits invaded the Government Secondary School Kuriga in Chikun LGA of Kaduna.

Another 15 Tsangaya students reportedly went missing after bandits invaded the school at Gidan Bakuso in Gada LGA of Sokoto.

“I am sad because I am here at a time when once more hundreds of our school children and teachers have been abducted,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

“As a mother, grandmother educator and someone for whom education is paramount to creating economic opportunities, I am sad.

READ 14 kidnapped victims escape from bandits’ camp in Sokoto

And with the representative of my brother, the national security adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, I hope we can be able to recover them soon in Kaduna and Sokoto.”

Despite recent efforts by security operatives to combat banditry and terrorism, cases of attacks, killings and abductions are still recorded in parts of the country.

Recently, more than 200 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Ngala area of Borno were abducted by terrorists while fetching firewood in the area.

Related Topics:ABDUCTED STUDENTS Kaduna Okonjo-Iweala Sokoto

Up Next

Arsenal defeat Porto to reach Champions League quarter-finals

Don't Miss

Tinubu approves appointment of head of service, permanent secretaries for FCT

Click to comment

News

UPDATED: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

10 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

Ngelale said Tinubu believes that Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience to ensure that no Nigerian student suffers a paucity of funds in the quest for tertiary education.

On April 3, Tinubu signed the student loans amendment bill into law to provide Nigerians with quality and accessible education.

The law will allow Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to access low-interest loans for tuition and other academic needs.

Subsequently, the president appointed Akintunde Sawyerr as the managing director and chief executive officer (CEO) of the fund.

Tinubu also appointed Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the executive director of finance and administration, while Mustapha Iyal will serve as the executive director of operations of NELFUND.

READ BREAKING: Over 600 inmates escape from Kuje prison

News

JUST IN: Tinubu appoints Jim Ovia as chairman of education loan fund

Published

12 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

President Bola Tinubu has appointed Jim Ovia as the chairman of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Ajuri Ngelale, presidential spokesperson, announced the appointment of Ovia, chairman of Zenith Bank, in a statement on Friday.

More to follow…

READ Aggrieved PDP govs meet Tinubu in London, give condition to support him

News

ICPC detains TETFund boss ‘over questionable N7.6bn project’

Published

16 hours ago

April 26, 2024

admin

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has detained Sonny Echono, executive secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Demola Bakare, ICPC spokesperson, confirmed the development on Friday.

Bakare said that Echono was invited by the anti-graft agency on Thursday.

“The executive secretary of TETFund is here with us. He has been invited for questioning. He is still in custody. He was invited yesterday.” Bakare said.

“He was invited on Thursday. He has not been released. He’s still with us. Investigation is still ongoing.”

It was earlier reported that TETfund awarded two contracts to Fides Et Ratio Academy and Pole Global Marketing (PGM) within two months at the cost of N3.8 billion respectively without the approval of the federal executive council (FEC), which is required for the contract size.

The contract was to provide capacity building course and learning management systems to about 2 million students across higher institutions in the country.

READ JUST IN: Atiku is North’s candidate - ACF chieftain

In a rejoinder, TETFund said it did not award N7.6 billion contracts to two companies without due process.

The agency said it was wrong to say they were contracts, whereas they were ICT projects implemented under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) which doesn’t require competitive bidding in public procurement.

TETFund further said its disbursement guidelines were approved by the president on the recommendation of the “Fund’s Board of Trustees and concurrence of the Honourable Minister of Education in line with the TETFund Act 2011″.

In an interview with TheCable, Echono said there was no form of irregularity in the N7.6 billion project.