Beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have commended the scheme as a game-changer, saying that the loan has removed financial barriers and kept their educational dreams alive. From tuition fees to daily upkeep, students across the six geopolitical zones explained in a virtual interview with THISDAY that the interest-free loan has provided timely relief and renewed hope for a brighter future. Chiamaka Oshite, a 400-level Mass Communication student at the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), recounted how the loan helped her pay overdue tuition and buy essential textbooks. “It actually did help. I don’t even have to…
Author: Reporter
A founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, has claimed that if Peter Obi returns to the PDP, he will defeat any candidate from the North in the 2027 presidential election. Gana made the claim during an interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time on Wednesday, amid ongoing speculations about Obi’s potential return to the PDP despite his recent engagements with the African Democratic Congress (ADC). Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, left the PDP in May 2022 to pursue his bid under the LP. “The…
African Champions, Nigeria D’Tigress have advanced into the semi-finals of the 2025 FIBA Women’s AfroBasket with a crushing 83-47 victory over Cameroon on Thursday night in Abidjan. The six-time and defending champions will now meet Senegal in the next stage of the competition. In the quarter-finals game, Cameroon had a bright start, opening the game on a 4-0 run, but Nigeria responded instantly, going up 7-4. The depth of Coach Rena Wakama’s side quickly overwhelmed a Cameroonian team clearly fatigued after a demanding late-night qualification clash against Angola. By halftime, it was all Nigeria, leading 36-18, with Amy Okonkwo setting…
ABEOKUTA The Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Branch, George Onafowokan, has urged manufacturers across the country to adopt alternative financing models, including leasing and equity markets, to survive the current harsh economic realities and boost industrial growth. Onafowokan, speaking at the Ogun State MAN Branch’s 40th Annual General Meeting held on Thursday in Abeokuta, called on stakeholders to explore new funding pathways for the manufacturing sector as the lending rates remain high. The Ogun MAN chairman, speaking on the theme ‘Financing Manufacturing Concerns: Exploring Alternatives,’ said manufacturers could no longer rely solely on traditional bank loans,…
Nigerian music legend Innocent Idibia popularly known as 2Baba has tied the knot with Natasha Osawaru in a traditional wedding ceremony held in Abuja. This comes months after confirming his separation from ex-wife, Annie Idibia. The traditional marriage took place barely two months after 2Baba, who currently serves as Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State’s Technical Adviser on Entertainment and Community Outreach, introduced the lawmaker to the elders of his Idoma Kingdom. Though the couple had earlier given hint of their wedding, images and videos from the event were shared on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday, revealing details of the private…
ABUJA The Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday approved N712 billion for the full rehabilitation, upgrade, and modernisation of International Terminal One at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The approval was the centrepiece of a sweeping N900 billion aviation infrastructure plan for the country. Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, made the disclosure while addressing newsmen after the FEC meeting presided by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at State House, Abuja. Keyamo said the project, awarded to China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), will strip the old terminal down to its structural core before rebuilding it with new…
ONDO Seven farmers kidnapped in their farmland at Itaogbolu in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State on Saturday have regained freedom. The victims were working on their farms when gunmen launched an attack and whisked them away A relative of one of the abductees, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday that the seven farmers were released on Wednesday night after spending five days in captivity. “I’m happy to tell you that the kidnappers released all seven farmers on Wednesday night. They are back to their families. “I want to…
The Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association of Nigeria has warned that the Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s plan to bypass existing distribution channels and supply refined petroleum products directly to end-users would lead to a nationwide disruption, long-term product scarcity, and the collapse of existing supply networks. The oil and gas suppliers called on the refinery to halt its plan and seek further dialogue before commencing the distribution of products to end users, urging it to learn from what happened to non-functional refineries under the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited. They also called on President Bola Tinubu to…
KATSINA The Katsina State Government says 80 percent of bandits’ attacks are being aided by informants and some members of the communities who supply food and other items to criminals in the forests. The state’s Commissioner for Internal Security and Home Affairs, Alhaji Nasir Mu’azu, disclosed this in Katsina on Thursday, while briefing newsmen on the security situation. He said that some members of those affected communities serve as informants to the criminals or provide them with their needs at exorbitant prices in the bush. According to the commissioner, the situation is making it difficult for the government and security…
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has confirmed its intention to raise additional funding to complete the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt Refining Company and the other two refineries it operates. The company also declared that the PHRC is not for sale. Within two decades, from 2002 to 2012, NNPC secured funding approval of over N16tn for the turnaround maintenance of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries. It is also actively exploring advanced technical partnerships as part of a renewed strategy to accelerate the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery. This was because the state-owned oil firm has officially…