The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has approved the disbursement of student loans to successful applicants from selected tertiary institutions.

In a statement published on its official X handle (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, the directive was given following NELFUND inaugural board meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, chaired by its chairman, Jim Ovia.

The statement, signed by NELFUND Head of Media and Public Relations, Nasir Ayitogo, said the meeting marked a significant milestone in the organisation’s commitment to empowering tertiary students through financial support.

It said, “Under the leadership of the Board Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, top in agenda was the approval for disbursement of student loan to successful applicants.

“This decision underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to providing timely and essential financial assistance to students in need, enabling them to pursue their educational goals without undue financial stress.

“By approving the immediate disbursement of the loans, NELFUND is taking a critical step in fulfilling its mission to support education and empower the next generation of leaders.”

The inaugural meeting also set the stage for future initiatives, aimed at enhancing educational opportunities, and providing comprehensive support to students across various disciplines.

Also present at the meeting were the management of the Fund led by its Managing Director/CEO, Akintunde Sawyerr, and representatives of member organisations.

LEADERSHIP reports that NELFUND announced a 14-day postponement of the application process for students of state-owned institutions due to low data submissions.

Ayitogo, on Tuesday, said the decision was necessitated by the failure of several state-owned institutions to upload the required student data and fee information to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).

To date, it said only a limited number of state-owned institutions have completed the data submission process. These include 20 state-owned universities out of 48, 12 state-owned colleges of education out of 54, and two state-owned polytechnics out of 49.

He said, “While we acknowledge the efforts of these institutions, the failure to submit data from the remaining state institutions poses significant challenges to ensuring a seamless and accurate verification process for student loan applicants.”

The application window, initially set to open on June 25, 2024, will now commence on July 10, 2024, according to Ayitogo.

[Leadership]

There was a heated debate at the House of Representatives on Thursday over the request by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the implementation period for the capital component of the N21.83trillion 2023 budget and those of the N2.17trillion 2023 supplementary budgets to December 2024.

Daily Trust reports that the letter to that effect was read by Speaker Abbas Tajudeen after which the executive bills requesting the extension were introduced.

However, when the Leader of the House, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, moved for the second reading of the bills, the House Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda, raised concerns over the request for extension of the two budgets.

Chinda, while voicing opposition against the request, said it will be morally wrong for the country to running three to four budgets concurrently.

He said the 2024 budget is currently being implemented and the executive is still requesting for extension of the 2023 main budget and supplementary budget at the same time.

He said rather than extension, important projects in the supplementary budget should be moved to the main budget.

Former leader of the House, Alhassan Ado Doguwa in his contribution also supported the position of the Minority Leader, saying it will be morally wrong to have three budgets running at the same.

Speaker Abbas Tajudeen while intervening, appealed to members to support the extension of the budget implementation, saying most of the items on the supplementary budget were security related issues.

Despite his pleas, majority of the lawmakers appeared not comfortable with the request for extension of the budgets as they kept on shouting “No!”No!”

Following the development, Speaker Abbas Tajudeen asked that the House go into an executive session for members to iron out issues before resuming consideration of the bills.

The House is currently in an executive session.

[DailyTrust]

Brazil legend, Ronaldo Nazario says he has quit watching football, insisting the round-leather game is boring and is not worth his time.

The former Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan star said this after Brazil’s disappointing 0-0 draw against Costa Rica to open their Copa America campaign.

Despite Dorival Junior’s side staggering 19 shots throughout the game, they could only manage a measly four on target as they never got into any kind of flow or rhythm.

Brazil sits in second place in their group which is led by Colombia following their 2-1 win over Paraguay.

Brazil will next be in action on Saturday against Paraguay but their legend seems to have seen it all.

Ronaldo had earlier claimed he is unlikely to be supporting the Brazil squad at the Copa America because he finds it ‘too boring.’

“I think I love tennis more now than football. I cannot watch football matches. I think it’s too boring,” ‘R9’ said at the Mouratoglou Annual Charity Gala.

“I can stay for 5 hours watching tennis.”

The next tennis tournament is the Wembley Open which comes up on July 1st.

[DailyPost]

Rivers state governor, Siminialayi Fubara has declared that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the state.

The governor said that Rivers was currently relying on a mass movement based on truth and consistency instead of party politics.

The governor spoke while receiving a delegation from the Senate Committee on Privatisation and Commercialisation, led by Senator Orji Uzo Kalu, at Government House in Port Harcourt.

He said the state would no longer be held back by party affiliation, but would instead stand firm on its own soil to defend democracy.

 Fubara said: “In our state today we are no longer doing party. We are doing a movement, so you don’t blame me if I don’t go to the side of the party too much.

“The party has failed us here, so what we are doing here is to stand with our two legs on the soil of Rivers State, so that we can defend democracy.”

An endless political war between Fubara and his estranged benefactor, Nyesom Wike, who is the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, has enveloped Rivers.

The crisis escalated following the collapse of the peace deal President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, brokered for the warring parties.

The governor was reportedly disappointed at the silence of his party on the crisis.

[TheNation]

The Senate has extended the life cycle of the 2023 supplementary budget from June 30 to December 31, 2024.

The Red Chamber on Thursday suspended all its rules and gave an expeditious passage to a bill seeking the extension in less than 20 minutes.

Earlier before the passage of the bill, the lawmakers went into a closed-door session for two hours.

In December 2023, both Chambers of the National Assembly extended the implementation period for the capital component of the budget from December 31, 2023, to March 31, 2024, along with the N2.17 trillion 2023 supplementary budget passed in November 2023.

Earlier in March, following requests made by President Bola Tinubu, both the Senate and the House of Representatives extended the implementation period for the budgetary appropriations from March 31, 2024, to June 30, 2024.

With just four days remaining until the June 30, 2024, deadline for the affected 2023 budgetary appropriations, the two chambers cut short their recess to hold separate sessions for Thursday (today) to consider further extensions ahead of their previously set resumption date of July 2, 2024.

[Punch]

The immediate past Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who is facing a 19-count charge, has written a letter to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Tsoho, pleading to be allowed to face his trial in Kogi.

Ex-governor Bello, in the letter he wrote through his team of lawyers led by Mr. Abdulwahab Mohammed, SAN, maintained that only Lokoja Division of the high court has the territorial jurisdiction to entertain the allegations that were raised against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. 

At the resumed proceeding in the matter on Thursday, Bello, failed to appear before the Federal High Court in Abuja to enter his plea to the charge against him.

However, a lawyer that announced appearance for him, Mr. Adeola Adedipe, SAN, brought the attention of trial Justice Emeka Nwite to the letter his client wrote to the CJ.

Addressing the court after the matter was called, Adedipe, SAN, said, “My lord, after the proceedings of the last adjourned date, I went back and gave a report of what happened in court to our team.

“However, I was made to understand that a letter had been written on behalf of the defendant to the honourable Chief Judge of the Federal High Court requesting in substance, that this matter be administratively transfered to the Federal High Court, Lokoja Judicial Division, which we believe have territorial jurisdiction to handle this matter.

“That letter was received at the Chief Judge’s Chambers and the office of the of honourable CJ wrote the prosecution team through Mr. Iseoluwa Rotimi Oyedepo, SAN, on June 13, notifying him that administrative steps has been activated, whereof he was directed to provide a response to the request for transfer of the matter.

“My lord, as of this morning, I am not aware whether there has been a response by the prosecution team in compliance to the directive of the CJ.

“We are also not in receipt of any decision that has been made on this request by the CJ.

“I am also aware that this administrative directive of the CJ has been formally communicated to this court.

“We have filed an affidavit wherein we attached two documents referencing the details that I have just highlighted.

“My duty is first to the court. As of the moment, I am not urging anything from the court, but just to present the facts as they were,” Adedipe, SAN, added.

On his part, the EFCC, through its counsel, Mr. Kemi Pinhero, SAN, urged the court to compel the defence lawyer to explain why the defendant was not in court, despite an undertaking he made on June 13 to ensure his presence in court for arraignment.

He prayed the court to dismiss “the story of the defence lawyer as dilatory and a further attempt to treat this court with scorn.”

The EFCC counsel argued that the letter to the CJ did not discharge the undertaking that were made by the senior lawyers representing the defendant.

Pinhero, SAN, further argued that even where a petition is forwarded against a judge to the National Judicial Council, NJC, it does not stop proceedings on cases pending before the judge.

Consequently, he applied for the court to invite the two senior lawyers representing the former governor to show cause why they should not be dealt with for contemptuous conduct.

Bello, who piloted affairs of Kogi state for eight years, is facing a charge bordering on his alleged complicity in money laundering, breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds to the tune of about N80.2billion.

EFCC alleged that the former governor, alongside his nephew Ali Bello and two others, Dauda Suleiman and Abdulsalam Hudu, were complicit in money laundering.

Though the ex-Kogi governor previously failed to appear before the court for his arraignment, however, he briefed lawyers to file an application to set aside an arrest warrant that was issued against him on April 17, as well as to challenge the jurisdiction of the court to try him.

The former governor maintained that the EFCC acted in breach of a subsisting judgement of a High Court in Kogi State when it entered the charge against him and also applied for a bench warrant to be issued for his arrest.

Even though the court, in a ruling it delivered on May 10, declined to vacate the arrest warrant, it, however, gave the defendant the opportunity to voluntarily present himself for arraignment.

[Vanguard]

Don Jazzy, the Mavin Records head honcho, has revealed the reason he is not married.

The music producer disclosed this in an interactive session with netizens on X.

Reacting to a question from a fan asking why he is not married, Don Jazzy said he is on a journey of self-development.

Don Jazzy said he is doing that to make sure his partner “enjoys” when he finally gets one.

“I dey work on myself so that when my head correct, my babe go enjoy me,” he wrote in pidgin English.

This roughly translates, “I’m working on myself. Once, I’m 100 percent, my partner will enjoy me.”

In 2021, Don Jazzy revealed that he once got married at age 20 but divorced after two years.

He said he ruined the union with his obsession for music.

The music executive was to marry Michelle Jackson, a UK-based writer and model.

“For so long everyone keeps asking me when am I getting married,” he said.

“Well, the truth is that almost 18 years ago, I was 20 and I got married to my best friend Michelle and it was beautiful.

“I loved love and I loved marriage. Michelle is so beautiful inside and outside with such a soft heart.

“But then me being so young and full of dreams I went and fucked it up cos I was giving all my time to my Music.

“Music became a priority instead of my family. We got divorced when I was 22 and it hurt.

“I am still very much in love with my music and I wouldn’t want to marry another and fuck it up again. So I’m taking my time.”

[TheCable]

So, what next? That was another great question after Wednesday’s presentation. Will it take another 16 years before a sequel? There’s never been a holiday between The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu and Writing for Media and Monetising It. But this work, which greatly benefited from the interviews and resources of great content creators, strongly suggests that to be more, we must challenge ourselves to do more!

It was different 16 years ago. Very different. At that time, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was relatively new and walking where angels feared to tread. That was unusual for a government institution, especially a law enforcement agency.

So unusual that one of Nigeria’s most courageous social crusaders, Gani Fawehinmi, a thorn in government’s side, joined forces with the Commission in the fight against corruption, even when the man he loved to hate, Olusegun Obasanjo, was president.

But you couldn’t blame Gani. The first decade after transitioning to civilian rule in 1999 was an “enough moment” for Nigeria. It was a time when it became clear that among the country’s many problems, corruption would either kill it or it would have to kill corruption.

Like Ribadu, Like Githongo

Nuhu Ribadu, an assistant commissioner of police from a family with a distinguished record in the security services, had the most unwanted job of being the first chairman of the EFCC. He took the job when his counterpart in Kenya, John Githongo, was famously saying the most significant threat in fighting corruption is corruption itself. It would fight back.

Githongo was right. Corruption in Kenya fought him back so furiously that it exiled him to the UK. You can read the rest of the story in Michela Wrong’s It’s Our Turn to Eat. To help Ribadu deal with his own misery back home, the press pitched in big time. It took it as its own war to the point where the Commission was often accused of media trial.

I felt obliged to document parts of that era in the book The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu: A Riveting Story of Nigeria’s Anti-corruption War, published by Spectrum Books. That was in 2008, when, as my mother would have said, the world was asleep. There was no Instagram, and Twitter was only two years old.

Mack Zuckerberg was 19, and Facebook was four. That was the era when respectable newspapers scooped one another by paying the author to be the first to serialise the book, while street rags ripped the same book for fast bucks. I know that thanks to technology, there has been a somewhat deadly mutation, but that’s not where I’m going.

Journey to a Sequel

My point is that when I wrote my first book 16 years ago, the options and opportunities for sharing – or promotions – were minimal. Of course, big-time authors sold in millions even decades ago. But newbies like me still struggled with only perhaps a cat hell’s chance of making their voices heard. Not so anymore.

The change we’re living through is relentless, a point poignantly made by Dr Reuben Abati, who reviewed the book, and the cross-generational panel of discussants chaired by Professor Abiodun Adeniyi. There is a shortage of resources, especially for young journalists, writers, and content creators, who must adapt well to the changing seasons. This book tries to fill the gap.

That’s one of the reasons why promoting my new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It, has been different. Unlike The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu, which you’ll have to scratch your head to remember if it was ever written and who the author was, this new book has been in your face from day one!

I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of promoting it – being in front, sharing moments with followers and readers whose feedback, sometimes hilarious, sometimes cryptic, but mostly enthusiastic, has been altogether encouraging. After seeing the promotional videos, some folks have even jokingly asked if I had not missed my career train!

Beyond Nollywood Things

Much of the impact of the promotional tour resonated during the public presentation of the book in Abuja on Wednesday, 26 June – an event that had one of the best collections of professionals and persons from all walks of life. It was conceived, developed, and executed by friends working assiduously in the background with LEADERSHIP and Premium Times Books.

You’ll have to believe me when I say Writing for Media and Monetising It is much more than the stunts and amateur videos. It’s a book written from my heart. The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu is different, not for a shortage of heart but for the nature of the narrative. It’s a snapshot of what, at the time, was an evolving history.

This new book was, to paraphrase Francis Bacon, part of the repayment of the debt to my profession. I wrote this book to give back to the craft that fostered me.

The change we’re living through is relentless, a point poignantly made by Dr Reuben Abati, who reviewed the book, and the cross-generational panel of discussants chaired by Professor Abiodun Adeniyi. There is a shortage of resources, especially for young journalists, writers, and content creators, who must adapt well to the changing seasons. This book tries to fill the gap.

As contained in the statement by PT Books when the book was released, “navigating the exciting maelstrom that the media – and its various iterations or strands of practice – have become.” I couldn’t agree more.

Clear, simple and concise writing is a craft. Writing for Media and Monetising It is not only about such writing. It is also about how to get compensation for it.

One matter that has come up repeatedly, both before and after the presentation, is whether it is possible to “make money” in the media today and, if so, whether that point is sufficiently addressed in the book. Unlike The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu, which tries to capture an evolving attempt to tackle systemic corruption and its inherent challenges, the new book examines the threats and opportunities in the media.

What’s in a Book?

The book provides a step-by-step approach, with many examples and insights on media law, writing for impact, syndication, generative AI, and managing feedback and trolls, among other things.

The unique quality of the book is that it combines the seasons that fostered my career, to borrow from Sonala Olumhense’s blurb, with a narrative of how younger writers can take advantage and be rewarded by evolving trends in the media.

This 15-chapter book also benefits hugely from interviews with some of the best, from Abimbola Adelakun, Fisayo Soyombo to Ruona Meyer, and from Farooq Kperogi, Sam Omatseye to Toyosi Ogunseye, and Pulitzer Prize winner Dele Olojede, who gave an interview for the first time in 13 years.

One matter that has come up repeatedly, both before and after the presentation, is whether it is possible to “make money” in the media today and, if so, whether that point is sufficiently addressed in the book. Unlike The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu, which tries to capture an evolving attempt to tackle systemic corruption and its inherent challenges, the new book examines the threats and opportunities in the media. Even though it focuses on journalists and journalism, its broader scope is how to get reward for literary work, especially in a convergent world.

The Heart of the Matter

The summary of the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, was that “The book significantly closes the gap between practice and entrepreneurship – a gap that has impoverished the media industry!” Of course, the media is not the only “victim” of the harsh economic tide.

But the point in Idris’ intervention, amplified by the panel comprising Kadaria Ahmed, Ahmed Shekarau and Emeke Ishiekwene, is also about adaptation and research – metrics that need not only be measured by the quantum of immediate financial gains. Scale, niche and leverage of a content creator’s cultural assets will deliver benefits, ultimately.

So, what next? That was another great question after Wednesday’s presentation. Will it take another 16 years before a sequel? There’s never been a holiday between The Trial of Nuhu Ribadu and Writing for Media and Monetising It. But this work, which greatly benefited from the interviews and resources of great content creators, strongly suggests that to be more, we must challenge ourselves to do more!

Azu Ishiekwene is the Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP and author of the new book, Writing for Media and Monetising It.

It is with deep sorrow and profound respect that we at the IREPRESENT Documentary Film Festival acknowledge the passing of Tam Fiofori, a legendary Nigerian photographer, filmmaker, and author. Tam Fiofori, who departed this world on June 25, 2024, was a monumental figure in the documentary ecosystem of Nigeria. His enduring influence and unwavering support for the IREP docufilm festival have left an indelible mark on our community.

Born in 1942, Tam Fiofori's illustrious career spanned over several decades, during which he profoundly shaped the narrative of Nigerian and African stories through his lens and words. His contributions to documentary filmmaking and photography were not just artistic expressions but powerful commentaries on society, culture, and history.

Tam's dedication to the IREPRESENT Documentary Film Festival was nothing short of inspirational. His presence at nearly every single edition of our festival was a testament to his commitment and passion for the craft. Even in his later years, he continued to submit new work, demonstrating his relentless creativity and his desire to capture the ever-evolving stories of our times.

Tam Fiofori's legacy is one of brilliance, innovation, and an unyielding spirit. He not only chronicled history but also inspired a new generation of filmmakers and photographers to pursue truth and authenticity in their work. His absence will be deeply felt, but his influence will continue to guide and inspire us.

As we mourn his passing, we also celebrate his life and work. We are eternally grateful for the time, talent, and wisdom he shared with us. May his soul rest in perfect peace, and may his legacy continue to illuminate the path for future storytellers.

Rest in peace, ‘Uncle Tam.’ You will be dearly missed, but never forgotten.

Femi ODUGBEMI 

On behalf of the Directorate and Board of the iREPRESENT International Documentary Film Festival Lagos.

Naija News reports that the two bodies met and commenced meeting today at approximately 4:30 pm at the Education Ministry headquarters in Abuja.

After more than two hours of deliberations, both parties agreed to settle their differences in a peaceful manner to avoid a strike.

The meeting featured the presence of two Education Ministers, Prof. Tahir Mamman and Dr Yusuf Sununu, along with other senior officials from the ministry representing the government’s position.

ASUU President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, informed reporters following the meeting that the discussions had just started with hopes that the government would take action on the agreements reached.

“We have discussions on all the issues and we have given assignments to some people to look at and agree on the way forward,” he said.

Speaking on the two-week ultimatum issued by the union, Osodeke said they would go back and give the details of the meeting to their union members.

He said: “What is important is that we have started the process and our prayers is that we resolve it for the interest of our young men and the interest of the nation.

“The government has spent one year in office and we have not been called for any formal meeting. Today we are having the first formal meeting. There is a process we have started and we are going to set deadlines. We are going to meet to look at what has been done on those issues and we hope the process will continue.”

A Lot Of Consultation Will Continue

On his part, Mamman told journalists that consultations would commence immediately to address the lingering challenges in the education sector.

He said: “We’ve had a very good meeting and a very productive one. We’ve discussed progress on how to ensure that the system works well, and lots of the issues we talked about are those that we inherited and some that are ongoing. We discussed them all without exception and we have a consensus on the way forward.

“A lot of consultations will continue on some information we don’t have, which is beyond the scope of the ministry and which will require us to connect with our colleagues in other ministries.

“But the most important thing is that we had a very good meeting and agreed to continue with the consultations to overcome the problems bedevilling education in Nigeria.”

Naija News reports that ASUU had earlier warned that it might launch a country-wide strike due to the federal government’s inability to fulfill its promises.

The union has directed the government to fulfill all pending requests within a fortnight.

Key areas of dispute include being dropped from the IPPIS, redoing the terms of the 2009 agreement between FGN and ASUU, settling all unpaid Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) backlogs, and addressing all outstanding pay issues, among other matters.

[NaijaNews]