By Awayi Kuje

The Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Alhaji  Ibrahim Abdullahi, has urged owners of private schools in the state to provide quality education to pupils and students to enhance development.

The speaker made the call while playing host to the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria  (APSON) Nasarawa State Chapter on Thursday in Lafia.

He said the importance of the education to societal development could not be overemphasised, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure  quality education is provided across the state right from the elementary level.

The speaker informed the association that the assembly would propose a bill to regulate establishment and operation of private schools in the state.

” I want to appreciate you for the visit and for complementing state government efforts in the education sector.

” I want to also assure you of our support at all times as education is the bedrock for the development  of any society, ” he said

The  speaker also assured of the assembly’s readiness to work closely with Gov. Abdullahi Sule to create an enabling environment for teaching and learning.

“We are working in synergy with Gov. Abdullahi Sule to continue to  provide quality education in the state.

” Gov. Abdullahi Sule has the concern, care and love for the education sector and the people of the state, ” he said.

He said the house is committed to make laws and passed resolutions that have direct bearing on the education sector in the state.

Earlier,  Mr Agada Abraham, the State Chairman of the Association, said the visit was to congratulate the speaker on his re-election  for the third term.

Abraham also appreciated the speaker over his leadership qualities.

The chairman said that the association is in full support of the bill to regulate the establishment and operation of private schools in Nasarawa State. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Modupe Adeloye/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Bushrah Yusuf-Badmus

The Management of the Kwara State University (KWASU) has dissociated itself from persons and sites impersonating the institution and demanding money from prospective candidates seeking admissions into its programmes.

This is contained in a statement signed by the Registrar of the institution , Dr Kikelomo Salle and made available to newsmen in Ilorin on Thursday.

“Anyone who transacts business with those faceless characters does so at his/her risk.

“The attention of the Management of KWASU, has been drawn to persons and sites impersonating the institution and demanding payments from prospective candidates for admission process”

“This is to warn that these persons and sites have no connection to KWASU and anyone who transacts business with them does so at his/her risk”

“For the avoidance of doubt, all payments to KWASU, are done through the University portal, which every applicant has access to through their individual portals on www.portal.kwasu.edu.ng.

”Once more, any payment done outside this platform was sutomaticslly at peril of the payer,” she said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Auwalu Birnin Kudu/Julius Toba-Jegede

By Funmilayo Adeyemi

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has said that it is addressing plights of some Nigerian lecturers studying in foreign institutions under the TETfund Scholarship for Academic Staff (TSAS) programmes.

The assurance was given in  statement by the Acting Director, Public Affairs of TETFund, Abdulmumin Oniyangi, in Abuja on Thursday.

Oniyangi said the lecturers were requesting for bailout to cater for shortfalls in their living expenses occasioned by fluctuations in Foreign Exchange.

He said the TETfund specifically noted appeals from scholars in Malaysia, India and Kenya, some of who had written to the Minister of Education and the fund, requesting for intervention to enable them complete their studies.

“It is instructive to note that upon the introduction of the TSAS programme in 2008, full tuition and living expenses of scholars were disbursed directly by TETFund to their employers i.e. the Fund’s beneficiary institutions.

“And were expected as part of TETFund guidelines to warehouse approved training cost in respect of foreign scholarship in domiciliary accounts.

“And then disburse tuition to approved foreign institutions of study and living expenses into scholars’ foreign accounts upon receipt of progress report on academic standing,” he said.

He added that due to complaints by numerous scholars and certain observations on non-compliance to stipulated guidelines by beneficiary institutions, the mode of disbursement was reviewed in August 2019.

According to him, TETFund commenced direct payment of tuition to foreign training institutions to mitigate the issue of exchange rate fluctuations, while disbursement of living expenses was still made to the institutions for retention in domiciliary accounts before transfer to scholars.

He said the aim is to protect the scholarship bond signed with their employers.

“Based on the foregoing, TETFund has been up to date in tuition payment to the training institutions of all affected scholars and indeed other institutions where TETFund scholars undergo various programmes.

“It is pertinent to state that despite the requirement of operating domiciliary accounts for living expenses of foreign scholars, some beneficiary institutions still kept such funds in local currency.

“Consequently, due to non-compliance to this requirement, scholars are often cut up on volatility of foreign exchange arising from the practice of keeping their stipends in local currency.

“To address this anomaly, TETFund with effect from 2022, commenced payment of living expenses directly to scholars after the first year until the end of the programme, with the burden of exchange rate variation borne by the Fund,” he said.

He added that TETFund had also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with some foreign institutions to safeguard its scholars and ensure seamless academic activities.

He expressed regret over scholars from beneficiary institutions who fail to open domiciliary accounts and as such were most affected by the current impasse.

“The fund has taken a position not to punish the scholars for non-compliance by their home institutions. Accordingly, the shortfalls in living expenses of the scholars are currently being computed by the Fund.

“This will be paid directly to eligible scholars and recovered from subsequent allocations of affected beneficiary institutions.

“Furthermore, given the steady rise in the cost of living index in these foreign countries, the management of TETFund has also proposed increase in the rates of living expenses to scholars with effect from the 2023/2024 academic year,” he explained.

He, therefore, appealed to affected scholars to be patient as the fund concludes individual computations and obtain necessary approvals for the extra budgetary expenditure. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)