At least 200,000 Nigerian students have received over N22 billion in loans.

The Managing Director of Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr disclosed this at a press conference in Abuja on Monday while noting that the 2023/2024, application will close on February 21, 2025.

He further announced that the 2024/2025 application will open on February 22.

Recall that in December last year, the Federal Government announced a fresh approval of N110 billion for students of public tertiary institutions nationwide.

In November 2024, Sawyerr told the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans and Higher Education Financing that NELFUND had disbursed N12 billion to students as loans.

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS on Monday said the resolve by Southwest governors to establish a joint security network and food hubs to address insecurity and hunger respectively, would enhance regional growth and development.

Ekwutosblog reports that the governors at a meeting held in last week in Lagos decided to establish a combined security network and food centres hubs in the region, in an effort to promote the socioeconomic growth of the southwest.

The Governors of the six South-West states- Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti, Oyo and Ondo, also announced that they would work together to make sure the Southwest Development Commission could effectively promote coordinated regional development.

Responding to this, the student body in a statement signed by the NANS Ogun JCC chairman, Gabriel Francis, in Abeokuta, described the resolution by the Southwest Governors Forum as laudable.

Francis said the governors took the right decision to collaborate on key issues such as insecurity and hunger, noting that such a regional cooperation would go a long way in boosting economic prosperity in the southwest.

He stated that the governors decision pertaining to insecurity, could not have come at a better time than when insurgents and terrorists are suspected of flooding to the southwest.

According to the NANS chairman, if the governors cooperate and work together on the issues that support the region’s development, the southwest would restore its prestigious status in the nation.

Meanwhile, he maintained that aside issues of insecurity and hunger, the Southwest Governors Forum should expand their cooperation to transportation, joint trade fair, youth development programmes, industrial, ICT and other socioeconomic development activities.

While urging the governors to make sure they implement the commendable resolutions, Gabriel also asked them to start working by setting up various committees to create a work plan for ensuring their resolutions function as intended.

The Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Nnamdi Azikiwe University branch has written to commend Dr Chukwudi Okoye, a lecturer with the university who was recently bitten and assaulted by a female student of the university.

Okoye, a lecturer in the department of theatre and film studies had on the day of the incident excused himself to pass through a hallway where the student was making a Tik Tok video, when she attacked him for disrupting his video.

In a letter signed by the Chairman and Secretary of ASUU, UNIZIK branch, Kingsley Ubaoji and Joseph Onyejiaka respectively, they commended him for remaining calm in the face of such provocation.

The letter read: “ASUU wishes to commend Dr Chukwudi Michael Okoye of the Department of Theatre and Film Studies for his exemplary display of maturity and civility in the face of the recent violent assault on him by a female student. Goddy-Mbakwe Chiamaka Precious, a student of the Department of History and International Studies.

“Dr Okoye’s restraint and composure in the aftermath of the incident are a testament to his character and professionalism. His actions have not only brought honour to himself but also to our union and the university community at large.”

The union also thanked the Acting Vice Chancellor for his swift and decisive action in addressing the incident.

They said: “His prompt response has reassured staff of their protection and underscored the university’s commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful learning environment.

“As a union, we will continue to promote and defend the rights and interests of our members, while also advocating for a safe and conducive academic environment.

“We commend Dr. Okoye once again for his exemplary conduct and reassure him of our support and solidarity.”

Recall that the university authorities had in a letter to the student announced her expulsion, and also ordered her to leave the campus immediately.