Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) announced on Wednesday that it has successfully disbursed a total of N1.17 billion to 20,000 students across five public tertiary institutions.  This announcement was made by the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, at a press conference held in Abuja. Sawyerr highlighted that the disbursement aligns with a directive from President Bola Tinubu and reflects NELFUND’s commitment to enhancing access to education for deserving students.  He emphasised that the fund has ensured that 100 percent of the students’ institutional fees were covered. “The total amount disbursed is N1,172,388,340.00, which has been paid in full…

Daud Olatunji  No fewer than 49  inmates of the Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre in Ogun State have graduated from courses in computer desktop publishing and basic education. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  graduation ceremony, held on Wednesday, showcased the centre’s commitment to reform and empowerment through education. The welfare officer of the custodial centre, Awesu AbdulHakeem, announced the graduation, detailing that 27 inmates completed the computer desktop publishing programme, while 22 inmates graduated from the basic education course.  The event was well-attended, featuring dignitaries such as the Comptroller of Corrections, Ogun State Command, Ayodeji Adepoju, and the Officer-in-Charge of the…

Daud Olatunji  The Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, has made a strong case for the reintroduction of history into the Nigerian school curriculum. The monarch stated this  on Wednesday at his Oke-Agowu Palace during a press conference heralding activities marking the second anniversary Coronation and 60th birthday. Oba Matemilola emphasised the importance of teaching accurate historical narratives from a local perspective, particularly for the Yoruba people. According to Oba Matemilola, much of the history taught in Nigerian schools has been shaped by colonial narratives, often misrepresenting significant events and figures.  He cited the example of…

The Abeokuta Passport Office has launched a new system that drastically reduces the waiting time for passport issuance to just one week after biometric data capture.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the innovation, led by Passport Control Officer ACI Sunday Olubiyi, aligns with the directives of the Honourable Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda for enhanced public service delivery. Historically, Nigerian passport applicants have faced prolonged waiting periods, often enduring months of delays and uncertainty.  However, the new system at the Abeokuta Passport Office ensures that applicants receive their passports in a significantly shorter time…

The Federal Government has  spent over ₦633.30 billion on electricity subsidies in the first quarter of 2024, representing a significant increase of 150.5% from the ₦252.76 billion recorded in the fourth quarter of 2023. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this  substantial rise, detailed in the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission’s (NERC) quarterly report, also surpasses the total subsidy of ₦628.61 billion paid throughout the entire year of 2023. A detailed breakdown of the subsidy payments reveals a progressive increase over the quarters of 2023, culminating in the large outlay seen at the start of 2024.  Specifically, the government spent ₦36.02 billion…

Members of the minority caucus of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, staged a walkout in protest of a bill amending the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Act.  The bill sought to increase the limit of advances from the CBN to the Federal Government from 5% to a maximum of 10%, a move that has stirred significant controversy. The proposed amendment, known as the Ways and Means, allows the CBN to provide short-term financing to the Federal Government to cover budget shortfalls.  However, opposition lawmakers, led by Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, voiced strong objections to the increase.  Chinda argued that…

Kamal Saka-Odunjo, a Doctorate candidate on a Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) scholarship at Girne American University, Cyprus, accuses TETFund officials of embezzling funds meant for his education.  Nigerian PhD candidate Kamal Saka-Odunjo accused TETFund officials of embezzling his N10 million scholarship grant.  The grant, which was intended to support his doctoral studies in Cyprus, was allegedly mishandled, leaving him and approximately 600 other Nigerian scholars stranded and unable to continue their education abroad. Saka-Odunjo, said he  began his programme in 2021, describing a series of administrative failures and financial irregularities that he believes are part of a broader…

…Urges Youths To Adopt Dialogue To Resolve Issues Nigerian top – notch property developer, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, has been listed among the ‘Ogun State 50 Top Role Models.’ Ambassador Adeyemo who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer CEO of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, was listed alongside a prominent politician and the immediate past Nigeria’s High Commission to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Tunji Isola and Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Kehinde Onasanya, as notable role models by the Prestige Newspaper – one of the surviving and oldest modern community newsreel in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The “Ogun State Top…

By Ismael Adebare Ayinla. “You can be everything! You can be the infinite number of things that people are…”- KESHA As if playing a script of his degree and doctoral courses, Economics; Dr. Idris journey through undergraduate to the pinnacle of his educational degree was all about WANTS that were usually out of reach, NEEDS that were never affordable, RESOURCES that were scarce and never available; and COSTS that were usually huge enough to drain his pocket and relegate him to perpetual bankruptcy! These were the hurdles he needed to cross and the wilderness he had to navigate to reach…

Nigerian music legend and iconic artist, Ms. Onyeka Onwenu, has passed away at the age of 72.  The celebrated songstress, known for her hit song “One Love Keeps Us Together,” reportedly collapsed and died at Reddington Hospital in Lagos after performing at the 80th birthday celebration of Mrs. Stella Okoli, the founder of Emzor Pharmaceuticals. The tragic incident occurred shortly after Onwenu delivered a vibrant performance at the event.  Witnesses described the moment as surreal, noting that Onwenu had just finished her set and was returning to her seat when she suddenly slumped.  “I have never seen anything like this…