Presidency and Agricultural Stakeholders to Launch Agrovest Reality TV

 

The Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, commodity associations, and other agricultural stakeholders, is preparing to launch Agrovest reality TV in Nigeria.

Agrovest is a multinational organization dedicated to promoting and facilitating agri-business investments by working with various stakeholders and investors.

Salisu Sheriff, Chief of Staff to the Senior Special Assistant, praised the Agrovest reality TV initiative during a stakeholders meeting in Abuja. He highlighted its potential to inspire Nigerian youth to engage in agriculture and view it as a valuable and appealing field, rather than focusing on less productive media content.

Sheriff emphasized the office’s partnership with Agrovest due to the President's strong interest in agriculture and Nigeria's vast agricultural potential. He noted that, similar to China's successful youth engagement in agriculture and technology, this initiative aims to make agriculture attractive and engaging through the concept of edutainment—combining education and entertainment.

The new approach will not only help alleviate poverty and food insecurity but also reduce dependence on government support and boost the national GDP. Sheriff added that even small-scale farming in personal spaces could contribute to poverty reduction.

Emmanuel Abuhson, CEO of Tremma Agro Limited and creator of the Agrovest reality TV show, announced that 37 young Nigerians, aged 18 to 40, will be selected from across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. These participants will compete over 60 days, working in teams on various agricultural tasks. Commodity associations will provide training and help judge the competition.

The winner will receive a ₦20 million cash prize, along with other rewards to be revealed later. Abuhson highlighted that the show, a first of its kind, aims to redirect Nigerian youth's energy towards agriculture and position Nigeria as a leading global agricultural hub.

The meeting was attended by presidents of various commodity associations, including those representing sesame, wheat, soursop, and bamboo.

Renewed Hope Initiative: Oyo Petty Traders Benefit from ₦1.85 Billion Grant from Nigeria's First Lady

 

In response to the impact of fuel subsidy removal on small businesses, Nigeria’s First Lady, Mrs. Oluremi Tinubu, has supported over 1,000 petty traders in Oyo State through the Renewed Hope Initiative. This program aims to aid Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) across all 36 states.

Speaking through Oyo State’s First Lady, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, Mrs. Tinubu announced that the federal government has allocated ₦1.85 billion to 37,000 female petty traders nationwide. This funding is intended to help them address financial difficulties, grow their businesses, create jobs, and boost the economy.

Mrs. Tinubu highlighted that empowering women economically is not only a moral obligation but also a strategic move, noting that when women succeed, their families, communities, and the nation benefit. She encouraged Nigerian women to support the current administration in building a nation where every woman can thrive and every business can prosper.

The Renewed Hope Initiative Economic Empowerment Programme will provide ₦50,000 grants to 1,000 pre-selected women petty traders per state to help them revitalize and expand their businesses. In total, ₦1.85 billion will be distributed to 37,000 women across the country.

These grants are designed to assist women petty traders in overcoming business challenges, expanding their enterprises, creating jobs, and making a stronger contribution to the economy. Economic empowerment is a key focus of the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to support women and youth across the six geopolitical zones as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic reforms.

Mrs. Tinubu praised the RHI State Coordinators, State First Ladies, and others involved in implementing the program and selecting the traders. She acknowledged the beneficiaries' dedication and encouraged them to continue working together to create a Nigeria where every woman can succeed and every small business can grow and enhance national prosperity.

Oyo State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Mrs. Toyin Balogun, represented by Director of Women Affairs, Mr. Kunle Oke, praised the federal government for the initiative and urged beneficiaries to use the funds effectively to expand their businesses and contribute to the national economy.

Southeast universities refute claims of neglect as lawmakers raise issues

 

The South-East caucus of the National Assembly expressed concerns on Sunday about the alleged exclusion of students from South-East higher institutions from the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.

In response, spokespeople from Enugu State University of Science and Technology and Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University confirmed that their students had applied for the loan and were awaiting disbursement from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

NELFUND had clarified on Friday that there was no discrimination against South-East students, stating that none of the institutions in the region had completed the required verification for their students to qualify for the scheme.

Dr. Harrison Madubueze, PRO of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, reported that the university was officially registered on the NELFUND portal on August 10 and shortlisted by the Federal Government on August 14. Efforts are now focused on informing students about the enrollment process.

Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeanioma, ESUT’s PRO, mentioned that their verification was completed three weeks ago, but technical issues delayed its upload until last Friday night. The verification has now been successfully uploaded.

Emmanuel Ojukwu, PRO of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, indicated he was unaware of the students' loan applications but promised to gather more information. Hilary Chinedu, Deputy PRO of the Student Union Government, stated that he could not confirm whether students had received or filled out the NELFUND forms but emphasized the importance of ensuring fairness and access for students from all regions.

Efforts to reach the University of Nigeria Nsukka for a comment were unsuccessful as their officials did not respond.

South-East lawmakers expressed concern on Sunday over the absence of South-East students among the 27,667 beneficiaries of the N2.95 billion loan scheme. They noted that despite the funds being distributed to students from other regions, none from the South-East had received any benefits.

NELFUND reiterated that it was awaiting the completion of verification processes from South-East institutions, which was necessary for fund disbursement.

In a statement, the South-East Caucus in the National Assembly, signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Rt. Hon. Igariwey Enwo, urged regional institutions to promptly meet verification requirements. They emphasized the importance of applying for the loan to address challenges in accessing higher education and urged South-East students to actively seek available opportunities. The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the region does not miss out on development opportunities.

#StudentsLoanNG

South East lawmakers have raised concerns about the region’s exclusion from the current student loan program administered by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)

Despite the distribution of ₦2.95 billion to 27,667 students across 19 institutions nationwide, no recipients are from South East universities or colleges. 

NELFUND has attributed the exclusion to the failure of South East institutions to respond to requests for student list verification, a crucial step for loan disbursement. Although verification requests were sent to all institutions, South East schools have not yet complied, resulting in their students not being included in the beneficiary list.

In response, the South East caucus, through a statement signed by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Igariwey Enwo, urged the region’s institutions to complete the verification process promptly. They stressed the need for South East students to take advantage of the federal initiative to ease financial burdens and improve access to higher education.

The statement urged South East students to apply for the loans, emphasizing that participation in such programs is vital for overcoming challenges to higher education and personal development. It highlighted the need for the region to actively participate in and benefit from federal programs to avoid missing out on opportunities available to other regions. The lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the South East remains competitive in accessing development opportunities.

FG Announces Procedures for Student Loan Disbursement

 

With the initiation of the NELFUND student loan disbursement, NELFUND has outlined the procedures for distributing student loans.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the process each student loan application follows, highlighting the essential roles of NELFUND, the institutions, and the students:

1. Data Submission: Institutions must provide NELFUND with accurate and complete student data, including matriculation numbers, JAMB details, course of study, academic level, and fees for upload onto the NELFUND SVS.

2. Student Notification: NELFUND and the institutions will inform students about their eligibility to apply for loans through awareness campaigns and direct communication.

3. Student Loan Application: Students apply for loans via the NELFUND portal (https://nelf.gov.ng), providing necessary details such as JAMB number, NIN, BVN, and matriculation number.

4. Application Processing: NELFUND processes the applications by verifying the provided details and approving those that meet the criteria.

5. Approval Notification: NELFUND sends a list of approved loans to the institutions for further verification.

6. Institutional Verification: Institutions review the approved list, confirm the accuracy of the student information and loan approvals, and then sign off on the list before returning it to NELFUND.

7. Fee Disbursement: NELFUND, upon receiving the verified list, disburses the approved fees directly to the institutions on behalf of the students.

This structured process ensures efficient management of student loans, with all parties fulfilling their roles to help students access higher education.

#StudentsLoanNG