The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has started sending out the April 2025 upkeep payments to eligible students across Nigeria. This payment is part of the federal government’s effort to ease the financial burden on students in tertiary institutions.

According to NELFUND, “While most payments have been successfully processed, a small number of beneficiaries may experience a delay due to the recent upgrade on our payment and application processing system.” This upgrade was done to improve payment security and speed up future student loan disbursements.

Students who have not yet received their allowance are encouraged to stay calm, as the system update is temporary and NELFUND is already working with relevant agencies to fix the delay. The organisation says it is fully committed to providing financial aid to students in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Students who need help can contact NELFUND at info@nelf.gov.ng or message them on social media via X (@nelfund), Instagram (@nelfund), and Facebook or LinkedIn at Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND.

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This update supports improved access to upkeep allowance, student loans in Nigeria, and federal student support.

The Abia State government has officially announced that the 2025 Digital Annual School Census will begin on Tuesday, May 20, and end on Friday, May 30, 2025. This exercise is mandatory for all schools operating in the state, including public, private, unity, military, paramilitary, and faith-based institutions.

According to Elder Goodluck Ubochi, the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, “The census aims to collect accurate and complete data that will help improve strategic planning in the education sector.” This data will support better decisions in education funding, teacher recruitment, and classroom development.

Every school must take part. Principals, head teachers, and proprietors are required to log on to the official portal at www.nemiserp.com/cas using their school’s official code. Schools must submit complete and current data using smartphones, tablets, or computers. The process is mobile-friendly and easy to access.

For schools without a code, the Ministry recommends visiting the Local Government Education Authority (LGEA) office to get one at no cost. High-value keywords like digital education reform, school data reporting, and online education portal reflect the importance of this project.

The Ministry said the digital school census will improve education policy, assist in fair resource allocation, and boost overall educational development in Abia State.

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The government has warned that any school that fails to take part will be considered non-existent, which may result in de-registration or shutdown.

Schools needing help should reach out to their local education offices for support.

The Federal Government of Nigeria is making clear moves to improve the state of Unity Schools across the country. This was shown through a surprise inspection tour carried out by the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id Ahmad. She visited two major Unity Colleges — Federal Government College (FGC), Kano and Federal Government Girls College (FGGC), Kazaure — to see how things are going in terms of school infrastructure, learning standards, and student welfare.

Speaking during the visit, Professor Suwaiba stated that this was not just a show. It was a real effort by the Ministry of Education to connect government policies with what is actually happening in the schools. By directly observing how the schools run and hearing from students and staff, the government aims to design better solutions that truly help the education sector.

According to the Minister, the Federal Government has already allocated over ₦80 billion for the renovation and upgrade of more than 100 Unity Schools in Nigeria.

This is a clear signal that the government is serious about creating better learning environments, improving public secondary education, and making sure Nigerian students are not left behind in global standards.

Professor Suwaiba also shared that the Ministry is working on a national digital platform for teacher training. This online platform will give teachers across Nigeria access to modern teaching tools and professional development resources. This is expected to help bridge the education gap, especially in rural areas, and support quality teaching in both urban and less developed communities.

During her stop at FGC Kano, the Minister was welcomed by the principal, Mrs. Hafsat Adebayo, who praised the timing of the visit. The Minister spoke to the students and encouraged them to remain focused on their studies and embrace discipline, honesty, and integrity. She also warned against cheating during exams, adding that true education is about who you become, not just what you learn.

At FGGC Kazaure, the Minister inspected classrooms, science laboratories, and the school’s ICT centre. She even joined the students during lunch to assess the food quality in the boarding school. While impressed by some parts of the school, she expressed concern over the poor state of internet connection in the ICT centre, promising to prioritise improvements in such areas. The principal, Mrs. Feniah Vokito, listed key problems facing the school and thanked the Minister for listening and showing active interest.

The Minister also stressed the need for balanced student-teacher ratios, regular school evaluations, and the promotion of inclusive education practices. She highlighted that Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs) remain a strong part of the government’s education strategy, especially for supporting students from poor homes. CCTs are expected to help reduce dropout rates and give more students a chance at quality education.

Professor Suwaiba called Unity Schools a symbol of both academic excellence and national unity. She said the Federal Government is fully committed to improving these schools and making sure they meet their goals. That means investing not just in buildings, but also in teacher training, leadership, and policies that support long-term success.

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The surprise inspection was not just a visit; it was a strong signal of transparency and accountability. It also highlights a subtle but growing interest in attracting passionate young people into the education sector.

May 17, 2025 — A false news report is spreading online with the title “BEA: Education Minister receives committee’s report,” claiming that the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Olatunji Alausa, set up a committee to bring back BEA scholars into Nigerian universities. The Federal Ministry of Education has called this information completely false and misleading.

In a statement released on 07/05/2025, the Ministry said clearly that no committee was inaugurated for this purpose. There is also no plan to reintegrate Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) scholars into local universities. The public is warned to ignore such claims.

The federal government has officially discontinued the BEA Scholarship Programme. This was part of a new education policy that focuses on strengthening Nigeria’s local tertiary institutions. According to the Ministry, courses that Nigerian students used to study abroad under the BEA programme are now available in the country—and in many cases, of better quality.

Importantly, all current BEA scholars will continue to receive full government funding. This includes tuition, monthly stipends, and all approved benefits until they complete their education abroad.

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The Ministry urges everyone to rely only on verified updates. Official updates are shared through the Ministry’s social media @nigeducation and email at press@education.gov.ng.

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has announced plans to introduce a Local Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme aimed at helping students within Nigeria pursue advanced degrees at home. This was revealed by the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Alabo Hon. Boma Iyaye, during a briefing with candidates of the 2025 NDDC Foreign Post-Graduate Scholarship program.

While addressing the hopeful applicants, Iyaye emphasised the competitive nature of the foreign education scholarship, stating, “The spaces are limited. We have about 200 spaces, so it is very competitive.” He stressed that the selection process is based strictly on merit and fairness, urging candidates to ignore widespread claims that the programme favours individuals with connections.

According to Iyaye, the foreign postgraduate scholarship remains one of the commission’s most impactful educational initiatives, designed to equip Niger Deltans with global knowledge that can be used to develop the region. This statement comes as a positive hint, especially after concerns arose due to the federal government’s cancellation of other overseas scholarship programs.

In a major development, Iyaye also announced a new opportunity. “If per adventure, any of the foreign scholarship applicants are not successful, they should not be deterred and instead prepare for the new scholarship scheme that has just been introduced, which is the NDDC Local Post-Graduate Scholarship Scheme,” he said.

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He revealed that although the number of available slots has not been finalised, “it will be a huge amount of students sponsored into local Nigerian universities to complete their post graduate studies,” highlighting the commission’s continued commitment to promoting higher education in Nigeria.

In response to growing concerns about possible irregularities in Nigeria’s student loan disbursement process, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has addressed the situation in a recent statement.

Recall the recent NELFUND Student Loan Complaints concerning fraud and hidden disbursement charges to students.

Speaking during an interview shared on ICPC’s official Facebook page, the commission’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, fSi, stated clearly that there has been no confirmation of any discrepancies in the student loan system so far.

“Nothing can be farther from the truth. It is not true,” Bakare said, responding to claims circulating in the media. “At this stage, we cannot even confirm, and it is not our tradition to do investigation on the pages of newspaper.”

Bakare explained that the ICPC is currently focused on establishing the financial trail. “What we have done so far at this stage is to know precisely how much was made available to NELFUND, how much has been disbursed so far, and money available to them, N203 billion. Amount disbursed so far, as at the time that statement was released was N44 billion.”

He added, “It is until we get to the receiving end that we can establish whether there are discrepancies or not.”

In a major development in Nigeria’s education sector, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, has received a key report on the resettlement of BEA scholars. The report follows the government’s recent cancellation of the Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA) programme, a move that left many Nigerian students studying abroad in need of reintegration into local universities.

To manage this process, Dr Alausa had on April 30 inaugurated a special committee led by Prof David Adetunji Akinwale. The committee includes members from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), the National Universities Commission (NUC), and key academics from six top federal universities.

These universities include:

• University of Ilorin, represented by Prof Ajao Salihu Moyosere
• University of Calabar, represented by Prof Akpantan Amabe Otoabasi
• University of Ibadan, represented by Prof Alada Abdulrazak Akinola
• Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, represented by Prof Adamu Shehu Usman
• University of Nigeria, Nsukka, represented by Prof Anyanwu Emeka Godson
• Usmanu Danfodiyo University, represented by Prof Galadima Ibrahim

After two weeks of assessment and consultations, the committee submitted its final report on Friday, May 16. Prof Akinwale, speaking during the presentation, stated, “Yes, we have reached out to most of the federal universities. The universities are more than ready to receive the students but the problem we have is that concerning the medical students.”

He further explained that while many faculties had available slots, the medical programmes lacked enough space. To solve this, the committee proposed that JAMB conduct a special test for the returning students. “The best students we put them in the limited slots, while the others we transfer them to the departments of Anatomy, Physiology and Medical Biochemistry,” Prof Akinwale said.

Responding to this suggestion, JAMB Registrar, Mr Ishaq Adewale, confirmed that the board has the infrastructure to conduct such tests. However, he noted that the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria will need to be involved for proper coordination.

The final list of Nigerian universities selected to absorb the returning BEA scholars includes:

• North East: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Maiduguri
• North Central: University of Abuja, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University
• North West: Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Federal University Dutse
• South East: Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Federal University of Technology Owerri

The Minister of Education thanked the committee for a “job well done” and announced that each returning student will receive a ₦25,000 monthly stipend. This move, he said, aligns with the President’s renewed hope agenda for education.

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The Minister also advised parents against aiding their children in exam malpractice, warning that examination bodies will no longer tolerate such offences.