Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: Nigeria education

  • UN Urges Nigeria to Strengthen Protection for Students and Schools Amid Insecurity

    UN Urges Nigeria to Strengthen Protection for Students and Schools Amid Insecurity

    As documented by The Punch, the United Nations has called on Nigeria to step up measures to protect students and educational institutions from persistent security threats.

    The UN stressed that schools must remain safe zones and urged stronger implementation of the Safe Schools Initiative, including physical protection and surveillance where needed.

    The advisory comes amid continuing attacks and displacement in parts of the country, with calls for quicker de-escalation and better protection for civilians.

    **Echotitbits take:** The security of schools is foundational—loss of education today fuels instability tomorrow. Watch for any concrete rollout of dedicated campus or school protection units and measurable funding for the Safe Schools Initiative.
    Source: The Punch — https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/terrorism-un-urges-nigeria-to-protect-civilians-schools/ 2026-01-08

    Photo Credit: The Punch

  • Oluremi Tinubu’s @65 Education Fund closes at ₦25.52bn for National Library project

    Oluremi Tinubu’s @65 Education Fund closes at ₦25.52bn for National Library project

    2026-01-01 07:50:00
    According to The Nation, the Oluremi @65 Education Fund—set up around Nigeria’s First Lady’s 65th birthday—closed after raising ₦25.52bn, tied to education support and the National Library project.

    The disclosure puts a hard figure to a fundraising drive that drew attention for both its scale and the stated goal of moving a long-delayed national institution toward completion.

    Execution is now the key issue: procurement transparency, governance structure, and clear milestones that show the money translates into measurable progress.

    The Guardian Nigeria also reported the fund “has closed after raising” ₦25,520,708,074.35.

    BusinessDay similarly stated the appeal “had reached a total of ₦25,520,708,074.35” as of December 31, 2025.

    Echotitbits take:

    Nigerians will support public-good projects when trust is high. Watch for an auditable dashboard, published milestones, and transparent contracting—otherwise the story risks ending as a headline without delivery.

    Source: The Nation — January 1, 2026 (https://thenationonlineng.net/oluremi-65-education-fund-raises-n25-52bn-for-national-library-project/)

    The Nation 2026-01-01

    Photo Credit: The Nation

  • FG orders phased reopening of 47 Unity Schools shut over insecurity

    FG orders phased reopening of 47 Unity Schools shut over insecurity

    Photo Credit: The Guardian Nigeria News

    2025-12-18 13:00:00

    The Nation reports that the Federal Government has directed the reopening of 47 Unity Schools previously closed due to insecurity, signalling a push to restore learning under strengthened safety arrangements.

    The return is expected to be phased, with security readiness and local risk context shaping how quickly each school fully resumes.

    Verification: Premium Times and PulseWire also reported the reopening directive and the security-driven context behind earlier closures.

    Quotes: Premium Times: “FG announces reopening of 47 unity schools…” PulseWire: “UPDATED: FG Announces Reopening Of 47 Unity Schools…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: Reopening is only step one. Watch for measurable protection: perimeter hardening, early-warning networks, rapid response protocols and sustained funding—without turning schools into conflict zones.

    Source:

    The Guardian Nigeria News

    — 2025-12-18 — https://guardian.ng/education/insecurity-fg-reopens-47-unity-schools/

    The Guardian Nigeria News

    2025-12-18

  • NELFUND says ₦154.3bn disbursed to nearly 789,000 students since loan scheme launch

    NELFUND says ₦154.3bn disbursed to nearly 789,000 students since loan scheme launch

    Photo credit: NELFUND
    2025-12-17

    At a virtual briefing, NELFUND says it has disbursed ₦154.3 billion in student loans since the scheme began, with almost 789,000 students counted as beneficiaries across 262 public tertiary institutions.

    The figures suggest the programme has scaled quickly, with the fund splitting disbursements between institutional fees and upkeep allowances to students, while still managing verification and duplicate‑application challenges.

    Beyond the headline number, the policy stakes are high: the scheme is meant to expand access to education without immediate repayment pressure, but its credibility depends on transparent reporting, timely payments to schools, and fair beneficiary selection.

    As the programme grows, questions around repayment administration after graduation, fraud controls, and institutional compliance will become more prominent.

    BusinessDay: “NELFUND has disbursed a total of ₦154.37 billion to 788,947 students…”

    TheCable: “The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) says 788,947 students have so far benefited… out of 1,193,228 applications received…”

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: If the data holds up under scrutiny, the scheme could be one of the most consequential social programmes of this cycle. Watch for independent audits, repayment‑tracking systems, and how the fund handles application surges without delays.

    Source: Punch — December 17, 2025 — https://punchng.com/n154-3bn-student-loans-disbursed-in-19-months-nelfund/

  • Safe School Project plans more deployments as kidnapping risks persist

    Safe School Project plans more deployments as kidnapping risks persist

    Photo Credit: A school classroom session – Facebook/Nigerian Teachers
    2025-12-14

    According to The Punch, the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre says more security personnel will be deployed to schools to strengthen protection and deter attacks amid kidnapping concerns.

    Officials say the approach blends intelligence-led operations with visible security measures to reduce school vulnerability in high-risk locations.

    On its official platform, the NSSRCC describes its work as enhancing security for schools through coordination with security agencies and rapid response mechanisms.

    The Guardian Nigeria has previously highlighted gaps in school protection and warned that many schools remain exposed despite funding announcements, keeping pressure on implementation.

    Analysis/Echotitbits take: School protection announcements are common—execution is the real test. Watch for state-by-state coverage, quick-response effectiveness, and whether community early-warning systems and safe transportation measures actually reduce abductions and attacks in the next quarter.

    Source: The Punch — 14 Dec 2025 (https://punchng.com/kidnapping-safe-school-project-to-deploy-more-security-personnel/)

     

  • 100 Papiri Pupils Freed as Tinubu Orders Full Rescue

    About 100 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic school in Papiri, Agwara LGA, Niger State, have been released and received by state officials. The abduction was reported to have occurred around November 21, 2025.

    President Bola Tinubu commended security agencies and directed intensified operations to rescue any remaining captives and prevent further attacks on schools. Governor Mohammed Bago assured families that recovery efforts are ongoing.

    2025-12-09

    Punch

    2025-12-09