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Students Loan: FG Explains Delay In Take-off, Sets New Date

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The Federal Government has stated that the Nigeria Education Loan Fund portal for eligible students would open in March.

The Executive Secretary, NELFund, Dr. Akintunde Sawyer, who disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Abuja, urged eligible students to register to access the fund.

President Bola Tinubu on June 12, 2023, signed the Access to Higher Education Bill into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans to pursue their education in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

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The scheme was slated to commence between September and October 2023, but because of unforeseen circumstances, there was a revised timeline to January.

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Giving reasons for the delay in starting the scheme as earlier scheduled, Sawyer explained that the process is technically driven and necessary measures needed to be put in place for proper execution.

The take-off date is this month (March) and the reason for the delay is that we are trying to get it right.

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“This is not a political programme where we say, oh! we are just going to do it, it doesn’t matter how it works.

“This is a programme that will probably run beyond me as a human being, not even as a Secretary. This is something that we want to run adequately, so we have to get it right,’’ he said.

Sawyerr reiterated President Tinubu’s commitment to ensure that lack of finance did not constitute a reason for any student in Nigeria to halt education at a tertiary level.

READ ALSO: Two Adults, Four Children Found Dead In Canada

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He added that the scheme is designed for indigent Nigerian students in tertiary institutions and applications will be done online.

We have decided that all applicants should be able to access this scheme regardless of where they are, who they are and who they know.

“We want this to be a process that is fair to all and we will advertise the portal widely so that applicants will be able to go to the website to fill series of forms and answer certain questions.

“Based on the data they input and their answers to the questions, the system will be able to determine appropriately, whether they are eligible to apply or not,’’ Sawyer explained.

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He also noted that the recovery process from beneficiaries of the NELFund would commence two years after the National Youth Service Scheme, according to the FG.

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Nollywood Veterans React To Death The New Masquerade’ Actress, Ovularia

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Nollywood actors and actresses have reacted to the death of Madam Elizabeth Evoeme, who starred as Ovularia in the 80s TV sitcom ‘The New Masquerade’, is dead.

Reacting to her death, veteran actor, Jide Kosoko wrote: “We lost another gem though at a ripe age. I pray the almighty God grants her soul a peaceful rest. We worked together on ‘The New Masquerade.’

“I was a guest artiste at the time. She was just fantastic. May her soul rest in peace and may God continue to keep us that are still alive.

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READ ALSO: The New Masquerade’ Actress, Ovularia Is Dead

“Her virtue of discipline that has to do with keeping to call time, submitting to the directors’ wish at all time and other professional ethics she stood for, should be emulated by all other actors.”

Adebayo Salami, popularly known as “Oga Bello,” described the death of the actress as shocking.

He said, “We are all getting older but no one wants to die. We are going to miss her but her legacies still remain with us. We love her but God loves her most.”

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Actor Fred Amata also expressed shock over the death of the actress

 

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Abuja School Closed For One Week Over Death Of Four-year-old

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The Brickhall School, Abuja on Wednesday announced that it has decided to mourn the memory of its late four-year-old pupil, Miguel Ovoke by closing down the school for one week.

The PUNCH reported how Ovoke was declared dead by Excel Specialist Hospital, Abuja.

The medical report, signed by Dr. Akinwande Ajayi, on behalf of the medical director, indicated that he was brought in, “on account of aspiration on meat while feeding at school.”

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The hospital said upon examination, the medical team found that the boy’s pupils were fixed and dilated, with a nonreactive response to light.

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His peripheral pulses were said to be “impalpable, blood pressure was unrecordable, and there was no cardiopulmonary activity or respiratory excursions.”

The report indicated that all efforts of the medical team to resuscitate him failed.

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The report concluded that he was “Brought in Dead.”

Meanwhile, the school, in a statement released on Wednesday and signed by its management, said it was greatly saddened that the life of the pupil could not be saved despite the timely response of its trained nurse and the eventual decision to rush him to a hospital.

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While noting the decision to mourn the late pupil by closing the school for one week, the school respectfully urged everyone connected to the tragedy to respect Miguel’s memory with dignity and peace while allowing medical professionals and law enforcement agencies to conclude with the autopsy.

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The school said, “It is with profound sorrow and deepest sympathy that we at Brickhall School, Management, and the Parents Teacher’s Forum express our heartfelt condolences to the family of our dearly beloved pupil, Miguel Ovoke.

“We are devastated to report that Miguel tragically passed away on April 24, 2024, following a sad incident where he choked on a piece of meat offal from his meal brought from home, despite the immediate and expert care provided by our dedicated staff and certified school nurse.

“In response to this heart-wrenching event, we convened an urgent meeting with our school community on the day of the incident.

“Out of respect for Miguel’s memory and to honour his bright spirit, we suspended classes for over a week, allowing our community time to mourn and reflect on this profound loss.”

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Generator Fumes Kill Mother, Son In Delta, Daughter Hospitalised

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The Delta State Police command has warned the public about the dangers of generator fumes and urged them to be careful.

This warning comes after an incident in which a mother and son lost their lives while using generator inside their house during rainfall.

According to a statement signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Bright Edafe, on X.com on Wednesday, the mother and son died two days ago in Asaba, the state capital while the daughter is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital.

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The statement read, “Generator fumes is dangerous. It kills!!!

“A mother and son died in Asaba two days ago while her daughter is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.

“What happened? While the generator was working, it started raining, so they moved the generator somewhere inside the house and continued using it.

“Unfortunately, they slept off, and that was how they died of suspected generator emissions(carbon monoxide), and her daughter was rushed to the hospital.

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“This is not the first time we have recorded this incident in Delta. it’s important we know, learn, and educate others”

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