NUC Upgrades Medical Programmes in Nigerian Universities

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has announced that certain medical-related courses in Nigerian universities have been upgraded from bachelor’s degrees to doctoral programmes.  This change affects degrees in Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, and Optometry, now offering Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm D), Doctor of Physiotherapy (DPT), and Doctor of Optometry. The decision aims to improve the clinical experience of students by adding more practical sessions and foundational courses. READ ALSO: Tinubu gets a Federal Polytechnic in Abuja  This will allow students to gain better clinical skills and cover all specialty areas comprehensively.  The programmes have also been extended from five years to six to accommodate the new curriculum. NUC emphasized that this move aligns with international standards for medical training, ensuring Nigerian degrees are competitive globally in terms of employability and further studies.  However, the Doctor of Medical Laboratory Science (DMLS) programme has not been approved for upgrading and remains unavailable in Nigerian universities.

NELFUND Approves N20bn Loan for Over 192,000 Students

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved a loan of N20.1bn for 192,906 students across public universities in Nigeria.  This disbursement, which was finalized as of January 1, 2025, aims to support students in their educational pursuits. Bayero University in Kano will receive the highest share, with N1.3bn allocated for 11,683 students.  The University of Maiduguri follows closely, as 12,198 students will benefit from N1.27bn.  READ ALSO: Africa has what it takes to develop itself – Tinubu Other universities like the University of Jos, Federal University Dutsin-Ma, and the University of Ibadan also received substantial amounts to support their students. Some institutions received smaller amounts, with Gombe State Polytechnic and Abia State Polytechnic receiving funds for only a few students.  These smaller loans include amounts such as N122,000 for four students at Gombe State Polytechnic and N106,300 for two students at Abia State Polytechnic. Previously, NELFUND had disbursed N110bn to students across Nigeria, according to an update from the fund’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr.

FG Reveals First Beneficiaries Of Student Loan Scheme

The Federal Government has announced that federal institutions will be the initial beneficiaries of the student loan scheme, which is set to commence next week. According to reports, President Bola Tinubu’s administration revealed that the scheme would begin on May 24th. Providing an update on this initiative, Akintunde Swayerr, the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, stated that the loan distribution will occur in phases. During an interview with Arise Television on Friday, Swayerr confirmed that the loan application portal would indeed open on May 24th, as previously announced. Swayerr also mentioned that the government has organised a sensitization campaign to educate Nigerians on the workings of the scheme. He emphasised that the student loan scheme aims to bridge the financing gap for Nigerian students, enhance their resourcefulness, and ultimately contribute to the country’s development. “On the 3rd of April 2024, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed into law a monumental act that seeks to bridge the financing gap for applicants who want to get a higher education that is tertiary level and who want to get vocational training to get proper qualifications that enable them to be more marketable and useful to the Nigerian society. “The fund covers 100 per cent of all the fees of tertiary institutions. There’s also upkeep for the student.” Swayerr noted that this plan will be rolled out in schemes and the first being the public institutions, because of the large number of students in that sector requiring financial aid. “We’re going to roll this plan out in phases. The first phase will be with federal institutions, then to others. “It’s going to be the public sector at the beginning because that’s where we find the bulk of students that perhaps need the financing cover and are most vulnerable. “We have a system that hopefully makes this have a national spread and some degree of equal opportunity for those who have the desire, capacity, and eligibility to engage in this scheme,” he stated. While explaining the modalities of the online application, he said, “We’re going to open the portal for applicants on the 24th of May, so those who want to apply can. “It doesn’t mean they get it that day; it just means they can apply and begin to understand the process, and then after that, there will be an evaluation for those who have qualified for the loan, and then an approval will be given for those who qualified. “The application allows them to create an individual account where they can go online to see their loan status. “Then they get a letter within 30 days telling them whether they are eligible or not; if they are eligible, we will disburse the loan directly to the institution when the course begins.” Further speaking on the process of evaluation of the application, he said, “The application is open to everyone, we’ll do an evaluation, and whatever data we have that helps us determine the neediest, we’ll use it to make judgements. “When applications begin to come in, we will turn the information into intelligence and use the intelligence for decision-making. “It is an online IT application and will include their JAMB number, NIN, BVN, admission number, and matriculation number. “The BVN is that we’ll be able to make some determination as to how much money they have in their accounts; there’s also a declaration that they will state how much of a need they have. It’s a loan and not a grant.” The loan scheme states that the student must repay the loan two years after completing National Youth Service, but due to the high rate of youth unemployment, he clarified the provisions made. “It’s 2 years after NYSC for repayment. In the event that you find yourself 2 years after NYSC and you don’t have a job, you can’t oblige people to pay for loans when they’re not working. This law does not seek to criminalise people. We seek to encourage people to take the loan. “In c

FG appoints the governing council for universities, others

In a move seen as aimed at staving off another disruption of academic activities, the federal government has approved the constitution of governing councils for federal tertiary institutions, comprising universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Recall that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) threatened to call its members out on strike over the failure of government to reconstitute the governing councils of public universities almost a year after most of them were prematurely disbanded. ASUU had on Tuesday given the government a two-week ultimatum to reconstitute the governing councils of federal universities. In a circular signed by permanent secretary, Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, as sighted by Nigerian Anchor, the Federal Government has now appointed chairmen and members of the governing council for Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education. The inauguration and retreat for the Governing Councils will take place on Thursday, 30th, and Friday, 31st May, 2024, at the National Universities Commission, Abuja.

President Tinubu Directs Inclusion Of NOUN Graduates In NYSC Scheme

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mandated the Federal Ministry of Education to develop guidelines for including graduates of the National Open University (NOUN) in the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. This directive was given during the university’s 13th convocation ceremony, held at the University’s Convocation Arena in Jabi, Abuja. Represented by Biodun Saliu, Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), the President expressed his administration’s commitment to addressing educational inclusivity. “With the changing demographics of our great nation, the government has recognized the importance of allowing NOUN graduates to participate in the NYSC scheme,” President Tinubu stated, emphasizing the need to harness the potential of young Nigerians from all educational backgrounds. In a related development, President Tinubu also announced the resolution of the long-standing issue concerning the admittance of NOUN law graduates to the country’s law schools. “The doors of the Law School are now open to the graduates, ensuring equal opportunities for all,” he declared. This move is expected to remove any remaining barriers faced by NOUN graduates in legal education, further cementing the government’s stance on educational equality.

NUC Slams NBTE’s ‘Top-Up Degree’ Scheme For Poly Graduates

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has raised strong objections to the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) over its introduction of a “top-up degree” program for Nigerian polytechnic graduates holding Higher National Diplomas (HNDs). The NUC, through its acting Executive Secretary, Chris Maiyaki, expressed that this initiative contradicts the commission’s mandate.  The NBTE had initially established a partnership with foreign universities to offer a one-year conversion course, allowing HND graduates to convert their diplomas into full-fledged degrees.  This move was well-received by HND graduates seeking to bridge the gap between university degree holders and themselves. However, the NUC issued a stern statement, urging the NBTE to reconsider its plan. The NUC emphasized that the “Bill for an Act to Abolish and Prohibit Dichotomy and Discrimination between First Degree and Higher National Diploma in the Same Profession/Field for Employment, and for Related Matters,” which passed in 2021, has not been assented to by the President.  Thus, the dichotomy between university degrees and HNDs remains. The NUC clarified its authority as the sole regulatory agency for university education in Nigeria, underlining the significant differences in the educational processes and requirements between universities and polytechnics. Additionally, the NUC pointed out that candidates with HNDs who wish to pursue postgraduate degrees in Nigerian universities must meet specific admission criteria. The NUC advised the NBTE to focus on its core mandate and refrain from introducing programs that fall outside its jurisdiction and lack legal support in Nigeria. The commission emphasized its commitment to regulating and maintaining the quality of university education in the country.