A final year student in Ebonyi state university (EBSU), identified as Favour Ugwuaka, has reportedly ended her life.

In the news making rounds online, Favour was found dead behind her hostel at Ishieke campus in Abakaliki on Wednesday May, 22 after a poisonous substance suspected to be sniper.

According to Punch, the student from the Department of English passed all her courses but repeatedly failed a particular course, whose lecturer had allegedly vowed she would never pass.

In an emotional video airing online, it showed moment Favour’s grieving mom stormed EBSU campus with her corpse. Shouting and wailing in pain, she blamed the lecturer named Dr. Enyi for her tragic passing.

She could be heard calling out the lecturer’s name, revealing that he has successfully made her child commit suicide.

In her words, Dr. Enyi Chukwuka said he is the best, that nobody can teach like him, he graduated from UNILAG. He should come and carry my daughter who has committed suicide and bury her.

A voice note documenting the deceased lamentations few hours before killing herself showed that she paid N130k for the carry over course but still failed. She could be heard saying, ‘I go soon leave this school for una’, is it because I am not an indigene of Abakaliki”.

An EBSU graduate, Rex Nwome, claimed that the girl committed suicide because she had been failing the particular course repeatedly.

He said, “Favour was my classmate and a best friend to me in the English Department. The lecturer mentioned a did vow never to allow Favour to graduate”.

“You could imagine where she later passed all the courses except that lecturer’s that she had to pay another extra year tuition fee to rewrite”.

“Unfortunately the man failed her again. What resulted in this intense depression as the latest NYSC names that were recently shortlisted, and her name wasn’t there.”

“The girl suffered a lot of depression because she was only left wandering about the EBSU seeking help. She was very desperate to graduate and serve. This and many more of the disgusting stories resulted in this suicide mission”

“I wish she didn’t go this far to end her life. R. I. P Ugwuka Favour till we meet to part no more.”.

Watch the emotional moment below:

The Federal Government recently announced that the portal for student loan applications will officially open on Friday (today), May 24, 2024.

Nasir Ayitogo, Media and Public Relations Lead for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), disclosed this information in a statement released last Thursday in Abuja.

Following this announcement, NELFUND has released straightforward guidelines on how students can apply for the loan, as the application portal opens today.

The student loan provides credit facilities for tuition fees and upkeep at recognized higher education and vocational training institutions within Nigeria.   

Below are step-by-step ways to apply for a student loan according to NELFUND:  

Step 1: visit nelf.gov.ng 

Step 2: Click on the “Apply Now” 

Step 3: Click on “Get Started” 

Step 4: Answer the questions on this page to continue by clicking on “Yes, I am a Nigerian”  

Step 5: Verify your educational information. You would be required to select your school from a dropdown and provide your matric number to check if your school has uploaded your details.  

Step 6: Click the “Verify with JAMB” and enter your JAMB details in the screen. 

(Students whose NIN has not been registered with JAMB will have an input field where they can enter their NIN for validation.) 

Step 7: Create an account by entering your email address and password. You will need to confirm the password in the fields provided and click “Create Account.” 

Step 8: Click the email verification link sent to your email. This concludes the process of creating an account. 

HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR PROFILE  

After successful registration, log in by clicking the “LOGIN” button. 

Step 1: Enter your email address and password to Login. 

Step 2: Click on the “Proceed to Contact Details” button. 

Step 3: Update contact details with the current information of your phone number, full residential address, state of residence and local government area of residence. Then click “Proceed to Educational Details.” 

Step 4: Update your educational details by selecting your higher Institution, and inputting your matric number. Then click “Proceed to Account Details.” 

Step 5: Verify your BVN by entering your BVN, select your bank name and enter your account number. Click “save changes” to complete your profile. 

LOAN APPLICATION  

Step 1: Click on the “Request for student loan” button at the top right of the screen on the home or loans page after logging into the application. 

Step 2: If you want an upkeep loan, click the check box, and click *continue,” if all you need is the institutional charge, click the “Continue” button. 

Step 3: Upload supporting documents. The admission letter is compulsory but the student ID and institution invoice are optional. 

Click the checkbox for the policy and declaration and click “continue.” 

Step 4: Read the loan overview and click the checkboxes for both the terms & conditions and GSI Mandate then click “Submit Application” 

Step 5: Click on the “loans” button to view the status of your application. 

The UK government is set to revise the Graduate Route scheme by introducing mandatory annual English tests for migrant graduates, aiming to ensure that only highly proficient English speakers remain in the country.  

This is part of broader efforts to tighten immigration controls and maintain high educational standards. 

Under the new policy, the Graduate Visa Route, which allows international students to work in the UK for two years post-graduation, will now include stricter requirements to assess English language proficiency annually. 

Other immigration control measures
Also, universities and colleges with high dropout rates among international students will face penalties and could lose their license to recruit these students, ensuring accountability and commitment to quality education.

Again, the Home Office is cracking down on recruitment agents who mislead foreign students into low-paying jobs, often exploiting them under the Graduate Route scheme.

To further refine the quality of education offered, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is considering banning “low quality” postgraduate courses that serve more as gateways to work visas than genuine academic pursuits.

Despite these measures, immigration figures remain high, raising concerns about the effectiveness of current policies. 

Recent data shows that a significant portion of graduates under the visa scheme earn below £15,000 annually, questioning the system’s benefit to both the graduates and the UK economy.

The planned reforms highlight the government’s determination to refine its immigration policy and enhance the educational landscape signaling significant adjustments for universities, students, and recruitment agents in adapting to these changes.

The forthcoming reforms highlight the UK government’s dedication to enhancing its immigration policies and upholding rigorous educational standards.

As these modifications take effect, universities, students, and recruitment agents must adjust to the evolving environment, ensuring they comply with regulations and maintain the integrity of the UK’s educational and immigration frameworks.