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Court refuses to hear FG’s application seeking to stop ASUU strike

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The National Industrial Court of Nigeria (NICN) on Friday refused to hear an application by the federal government seeking an order directing the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to suspend its ongoing strike.

ASUU has been on strike since February 14 to press home the demand for improved funding for universities, and a review of salaries for lecturers, among other issues.

Several meetings between ASUU and the federal government have ended deadlocked.

The court had on Monday adjourned the matter to September 16 for further mention.

At the resumption of proceedings on Friday, the federal government through its counsel, James Igwe, tried to persuade the court to hear the claimants’ interlocutory application for an injunction against ASUU.

He said the matter is of national interest as millions of students have been at home since February 14.

“Section 47 of the Trade Dispute Act gives your lordship the power to direct that no worker should continue to embark on strike pending when the applications are heard and determined,” he said.

Opposing the claimant, Femi Falana said the applications cannot be taken because the business for the day is for further mention.

He said his clients are in the process of meeting with stakeholders, including members of the house of representatives on September 20, to settle the issues.

“We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved. We are going out of our way to ensure that this matter is resolved and we appeal to the claimant to corporate with us,” he said

In his ruling, Polycarp Hamman, the judge, said he would not hear the application since the matter was slated for further hearing.

“The matter is for further mention which means hearing cannot take place,” the judge ruled.

He also noted that the application for an interlocutory injunction, which has an affidavit of urgency, would be heard first at the next sitting.

Education

Tinubu’s student loan application portal opens May 24

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The Nigerian government has announced that the portal for the application of student loan will be open on May 24, 2024.

This was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELD) media lead, Nasiru Ayantogo on Thursday night, April 16, 2024.

According to him, the opening of the application portal marks a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to “fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students.”

Through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.

The portal, according to the statement, provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.

“We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation.

“Students can access the portal on www.nelf.gov.ng to begin application,” the statement said.

On June 12, 2023, President Bola Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023 into law, enabling indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

This initiative fulfilled one of Tinubu’s campaign promises to liberalize the funding of education, as noted by Dele Alake, a member of the Presidential Strategy Team.

The Act, commonly referred to as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to handle the processing, granting, disbursement, and recovery of these loans.

Initially, the government planned to launch the scheme in September 2023, but it faced several delays, leading to an indefinite postponement in early March.

The Presidency attributed the delay to Tinubu’s directive to expand the scheme to include loans for vocational skills.

Following a briefing from the NELFUND team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, President Tinubu directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programs.

Tinubu emphasized the importance of accommodating those who may not want to pursue a university education, highlighting that skill acquisition is as crucial as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas. This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation,” Tinubu stated.

“Following this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education.”

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Education

Teenager, Dr Dorothy Jean Tillman II who started college at age 10 bags PhD at 17

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A Chicago-based female teenager, Dr Dorothy Jean Tillman II, has just set a remarkable academic record after receiving her doctorate from Arizona State University, in the US at the age of 17.

She disclosed this on Tuesday via her Instagram post, sharing that she started college when she was 10 years old.

In an interview with ‘Good Morning America’ that she posted, Tillman said the remarkable feat felt “surreal” and “full of reflection and inspiration”.

In 2020, Tillman earned a Master of Science degree, and the following year, at the age of 15, she gained admission to the Doctorate of Behavioural Health Management program at Arizona State University.

After her successful completion of the doctoral programme, at the age of 17, Tillman defended her dissertation, earning her doctoral degree in Integrated Behavioural Health from ASU’s College of Health Solutions.

Tillman, now 18, was celebrated during ASU’s spring commencement on May 6, 2024, when Tillman joined her classmates in person.

“Everything that we were doing didn’t seem abnormal to me or out of the ordinary until it started getting all of the attention,” she said on Tuesday.

Tillman attributes her educational pursuits and successes to the guidance of her grandmother and the trust she placed in her mother’s advice.

According to Leslie Manson, the associate professor who supervised Tillman’s dissertation through ASU’s online program, Tillman holds the distinction of being the youngest person to complete a doctoral degree in integrated behavioural health at ASU.

“It’s a wonderful celebration … but this is still something so rare and unique.

“She has innovative ideas and motivation, which is wonderful, and truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader,” Manson said.

Having completed her degrees, Tillman expressed her plan to continue reflecting on her specific goals.

She also plans to devote attention to her other interests, such as public speaking and a leadership institute she established.

“I’m really just grateful that the world is my oyster, and that I’ve done so much so young.

“And I have time to kind of think that through,” she said.

“I didn’t have the everyday school things like homecoming dances or spirit weeks or just school pictures and things like that … that kind of create unity with my peers,” Tillman said.

Aside from her academic prowess, the 18-year-old has found time to dance and do choreography, she disclosed in her interview.

Tillman also is founder and chief executive of the Dorothyjeanius STEAM Leadership Institute. The programme includes summer camps designed to help young people in the arts and STEM subjects.

She said her plans include public speaking engagements and fundraising for the camp, which Tillman said she hopes to franchise one day.

Tillman is motivated and has innovative ideas, said Manson, adding, “And truly, I think what is inspiring is that she embodies that meaning of being a true leader.”

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Education

JAMB releases additional 36,540 UTME results

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The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released an additional 36,540 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results which were withheld over irregularities.

Last week, JAMB released 531 results from the 64,624 results under investigation.

The exam body said the investigation includes verification anomalies, centres suspected of infractions, and cases of exam malpractice.

According to Fabian Benjamin, the board spokesperson, in a statement released on Tuesday, the total results released now stand at 1,879,437.

About 26,000 results are still being withheld over possible examination misconduct.

Benjamin also dismissed claims purporting to emanate from the board that the outstanding 2024 UTME results, currently being subjected to intense scrutiny by its team of experts, had been compromised on account of a cyber security breach and that it is considering rescheduling the examination.

He urged the public to disregard the report, adding that it was created by fraudulent people.

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Bodex F. Hungbo, SPMIIM is a multiple award-winning Nigerian Digital Media Practitioner, Digital Strategist, PR consultant, Brand and Event Expert, Tv Presenter, Tier-A Blogger/Influencer, and a top cobbler in Nigeria.

She has widespread experiences across different professions and skills, which includes experiences in; Marketing, Media, Broadcasting, Brand and Event Management, Administration and Management with prior stints at MTN, NAPIMS-NNPC, GLOBAL FLEET OIL AND GAS, LTV, Silverbird and a host of others

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