Fake Student Loan Portal Targets Nigerians, NELFUND Warns Public

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) issues a stern warning to the public over a fake student loan website circulating online, falsely claiming to offer access to government-backed financial aid.

The misleading message alleges that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered the reopening of the student loan application portal, directing unsuspecting users to a counterfeit site:https://nelfund-student-loan-2025.po-rt-al.com/NELFUND.

“This website is FAKE, and the message is both false and misleading,” said Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND in a statement on Monday.

She stressed that https://nelf.gov.ng remains the only official portal for student loan applications. “NELFUND will never ask students or guardians to submit personal or financial information via unofficial channels,” she added.

Parents, students, and guardians are urged to exercise extreme caution and avoid clicking on unverified links. The agency is reinforcing its commitment to transparency and digital safety in response to rising cyber threats targeting educational platforms.

“We call on the public to report suspicious messages or websites directly to us via info@nelf.gov.ng or through our verified social media handles,” Mrs Oluwatuyi advised.

NELFUND’s official platforms include:
X (Twitter): @nelfund, Instagram: @nelfund, Facebook/LinkedIn: Nigerian Education Loan Fund – NELFUND.

As Nigeria ramps up digital access to education funding, experts warn that phishing and online fraud pose serious risks to students. The government’s loan program, launched to ease the financial burden of tertiary education, has become a growing target for scammers.

Gom Marian-Report

Mass No-Show as JAMB Mop-Up Exposes Cheating Syndicates Nationwide

More than 80% of the 98,232 candidates scheduled for Saturday’s nationwide mop-up Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) failed to appear, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) reveals.

The Board attributes the low turnout to tightened security and surveillance targeting impersonators and exam malpractice rings.

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, speaking from the Technology CBT Centre in NAF Valley Estate, Abuja, confirms that only about 12% of registered candidates turned up. “Normally, mop-ups are for 4,000 to 5,000 candidates with legitimate issues. But this time, we gave a wider second chance—armed with intelligence from security agencies.”

He says the poor turnout confirms that many registered individuals were involved in organised cheating. “Some CBT centres expecting 250 candidates barely saw 20. This is due to criminal syndicates disguised as tutorial centres and private schools,” he says.

Oloyede further discloses a bizarre trend—1,787 candidates falsely claimed to be albinos to exploit facial recognition systems. “We have fewer than 250 albinos nationwide. A centre registered 450 alone. It’s a ploy to trick AI detection through image blending.”

He adds, “Some impersonators even submitted photos merged with real candidates’ images to deceive our systems.”

Security agencies have started making arrests. “These people have names, NINs, and phone numbers. Many are already in custody,” Oloyede confirms.

Parents funding malpractice may also face prosecution. The registrar warns, “We are following the money trail. No one will be spared.”

On Direct Entry fraud, 14 candidates have been caught with fake NCE certificates. “Institutions issuing such documents will face consequences,” he says.

Results for the mop-up exam may be delayed till Monday for forensic checks.

Gom Marian-Report

Homegrown Nigerian Innovations Set to Hit Global Markets, TETFund Says

Abuja, Nigeria – Nigeria’s research sector takes a bold leap as homegrown, market-ready prototypes are unveiled in Abuja, marking a new era for innovation driven by local expertise.

At the Science Granting Councils Initiative (SGCI) Demo Day and Closing Ceremony on Wednesday, Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Arc. Sonny Echono, declared, “This is more than just a prototype showcase. It’s a transformation—research becoming enterprise, and academia fuelling national development.”

The SGCI, a 17-nation African initiative funded by Canada’s IDRC and the UK’s FCDO, awarded a $250,000 grant to Nigerian researchers under TETFund’s Research for Impact (R4i) initiative. Over 12 months, four research teams comprising 18 scholars developed innovations with real-world potential, including AirVolt (renewable energy), I-GEL (agricultural biotech), and Jolly Fryer (an improved garri processing system).

“The prototypes presented today align with both national and global development goals,” Echono said. “This reflects the success of our Triple Helix Synergy—where academia, government, and industry drive sustainable innovation.”

Representing the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Mr. Francis Sani praised TETFund’s leadership, linking the initiative with ongoing national projects such as the Nigeria Talent Initiative and the 3MTT program. “We must build systems that transcend administrations and deliver lasting impact,” he said.

Nicholas Odongo of the African Centre for Technology Studies added, “These aren’t just technical successes—they’re transformative. They represent African knowledge answering African challenges.”

Gregory Ibe, MD of Innov8 Hub, emphasized, “We are nurturing a vibrant innovation ecosystem. The journey from concept to execution proves African ingenuity can solve global problems.”

With innovation now in full gear, TETFund affirms it will keep backing research that creates jobs, drives growth, and positions Nigeria as a global innovation leader.

Gom Marian – Report

JAMB Schedules Mop-Up UTME for June 28, Targets Malpractice

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) confirms Saturday, 28 June 2025, as the date for its Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) mop-up, targeting 96,838 eligible candidates. Printing of examination slips begins Monday, 23 June.

The mop-up accommodates 5,096 spill-over candidates and over 91,000 others who missed either the main or resit exams, including those with biometric issues. The Board assures all affected candidates will be rescheduled across 183 centres, while others remain on standby.

However, the exercise unfolds amid a major security clampdown on examination fraud. JAMB has delisted or suspended 113 CBT centres implicated in malpractice or technical deficiencies.

“The ongoing investigation has uncovered a syndicate of impersonators, including undergraduates, school proprietors, and tutorial centres,” says Fabian Benjamin, JAMB’s spokesperson. “Institutions of the implicated undergraduates are being notified for disciplinary action.”

JAMB expresses gratitude to national security agencies – the State Security Service, Nigeria Police Force, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps – for their “extraordinary devotion” in cracking down on identity theft rings.

Exam towns linked to fraudulent activities have been deactivated. Affected candidates will be reassigned to the nearest available centres. The Board appeals for their understanding.

Candidates are advised to arrive at their centres at least one hour before the first exam session begins at 8:00am. Special security squads and invigilators will oversee proceedings, as directed by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, who has declared a war on exam malpractice.

JAMB warns that impersonators and collaborators, including parents, risk prosecution under the Examination Malpractice Act of 1999, which prescribes jail terms, regardless of age or role.

Gom Marian – Report

Bauchi Governor Champions Basic Education, Commits to Regional Impact

Abuja, Nigeria – Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, reaffirms his government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening basic education, during a courtesy visit to the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) headquarters in Abuja.

At the meeting, Governor Mohammed declares, “Without basic education, nothing works,” stressing that foundational learning remains the cornerstone of social and economic transformation.

Bauchi, he notes, is not only prioritising education for its own citizens but also extending access to pupils from neighbouring states. “We’re one of the biggest states in terms of educational reach. Our schools serve beyond our borders,” he states.

The governor praises UBEC for its developmental impact through initiatives like the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), revealing that Bauchi has used the programme to drive improvements in infrastructure, enrolment, and teacher development. “We’ve implemented impactful projects using BESDA support, and we remain current on our UBEC matching grants,” he adds.

UBEC Executive Secretary, Dr. Aisha Garba, commends Bauchi’s commitment to reform and accountability. “Bauchi State is not only accessing its grants but putting them to visible, effective use,” she says.

Dr. Garba also lauds the state’s investment in “mega schools” – modern facilities she compares to “smart schools” – and praises its efforts in hiring qualified educators to improve classroom outcomes.

The visit highlights a deepening collaboration between Bauchi and UBEC aimed at delivering inclusive, high-quality education. Dr. Garba affirms UBEC’s continued support, stating, “We are confident this partnership will further strengthen Nigeria’s basic education system.”

The meeting concludes with renewed resolve from both parties to drive lasting improvements in access, quality, and equity in the nation’s foundational education sector.

Gom Mirian  – Report

JAMB Targets Exam Fraud: Eleven Centres Face Sanctions Over Fingerprint Scam

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) vows to crack down on exam malpractice, recommending stiff penalties for 11 Computer-Based Test (CBT) centres and their agents linked to fingerprint registration fraud during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).

JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, says the Board’s technology “does not only prevent infractions but detects them with precision,” warning that exam cheats and complicit centres will be rooted out.

Speaking after a stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja today, Oloyede discloses that any registrant involved in registering over 50 candidates with infractions will be barred from UTME, WAEC, NECO, or NABTEB for three years.

“Such individuals will neither register nor participate in our exams. They will be placed under suspension pending a future review,” he says, as read by JAMB’s spokesman, Dr Fabian Benjamin.

For lesser infractions, erring registrants must write apology letters and sign non-recidivism bonds. Compromised CBT centres will also sign bonds and submit proof of staff training from nearby federal universities.

“No centre will work with us again unless they show evidence of ethical training,” Oloyede insists. “Federal-run centres will be reported to appropriate authorities.”

Many affected registrants broke down in tears, pleading ignorance. However, stakeholders argue ignorance is no excuse.

Former Lagos Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, calls for legal action. “This is criminal. They should be prosecuted, but in the spirit of education, JAMB may temper justice with reform,” he suggests.

Bashir Gumel, an official of Jalors CBT Centre, acknowledges the malpractice and promises corrective steps. “We’re conducting internal investigations and will update JAMB accordingly. This will never repeat.”

Affected centres span across Bauchi, Bayelsa, Gombe, Edo, Abuja, Jigawa, Lagos, Oyo, Plateau, FCT, and Rivers.

Gom Mirian – Report

TETFund, NEITI Seal Pact to Boost Education Funds with Transparency

Abuja, Nigeria – In a move to boost education financing and enforce transparency, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen revenue remittance and data sharing from the extractive sector.

Speaking at the ceremony in Abuja, today, NEITI Executive Secretary, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, called the pact “timely and significant.” He emphasised its potential to ensure that natural resource revenues are “transparently managed and efficiently deployed” to reduce poverty and drive national development.

“NEITI and TETFund are united by a common goal,” Orji stated. “We aim to convert Nigeria’s finite mineral wealth into infinite human capital.”

According to NEITI’s data, TETFund recorded ₦1.024 trillion in revenue accruals from 2019 to 2023, primarily sourced from education tax on companies in oil, gas, mining, manufacturing, telecoms, and banking. In 2022 alone, TETFund received ₦322.99 billion, which jumped to ₦571.01 billion in 2023 — the highest yet.

TETFund Executive Secretary, Arc. Sonny Echono, stressed the collaboration would enforce accountability within extractive industries. “We are working to recover unremitted taxes and ensure those due to TETFund are fully paid. This aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

He revealed a new Revenue and Investment Department has enhanced tax compliance across zonal offices.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Abel Enitan, praised the agreement: “This is a strategic step. With proper tracking, this funding will transform not just our generation but generations to come.”

The MoU also ensures real-time data sharing, tracking of remittances, and support for scholarships and research initiatives in public tertiary institutions.

Gom Mirian-Report

64,000 Candidates Shine in Nigeria’s National Common Entrance Exam

No fewer than 64,000 candidates from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo participate in the 2025 National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE), organized by the National Examinations Council (NECO).

The examination aims to secure admission into Federal Government Colleges, highlighting the region’s commitment to education.

After observing the examination today at Model Secondary School, Maitama, and Government Secondary School, Tudun Wada in Abuja, Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, expresses her satisfaction with the event’s organization.

“I’m very happy with the way the exams have been conducted. They started on time, students were orderly, and invigilators were present and active,” she states.

The gender breakdown reveals 30,000 male and 34,000 female candidates, showcasing a robust interest in unity colleges.

Prof. Ahmad emphasizes the significance of this turnout, stating, “Nigerians are still eager to have their children in Federal Government Colleges. This turnout shows that parents still value the role of unity schools in national cohesion.”

NECO Registrar, Prof. Ibrahim Wushishi, confirms that Lagos State leads with over 15,000 registered candidates, while Togo has the fewest with just 17. “We had about 109 candidates from Benin Republic and Togo combined, all Nigerian citizens residing there. This is a truly regional exercise that affirms the reach and reputation of our unity colleges,” he explains.

Wushishi also notes the exam’s smooth execution, with no reported challenges. “Materials arrived on time, the exam started as scheduled, and so far, we’ve seen no issues,” he adds, expressing optimism for future examinations.

The inclusion of children with special needs is also highlighted, with accommodations provided.

Binta Abdulkadir, Director of Senior Secondary Education, assures that admissions will be based on merit and state quotas, ensuring a fair process for all candidates.

Gom Marian – Report

NUC Debunks False Claims, Defends Integrity of Accreditation System

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has firmly refuted viral social media claims alleging that Nigeria’s university accreditation process is a mere formality.

In a statement issued Today, the Commission described the assertions as “baseless and misleading,” warning that such narratives endanger the integrity of the country’s higher education system.

The rebuttal follows a post by one Taofik Olatubonsun, which suggested that universities with inadequate staffing still secure full accreditation from the NUC. “This claim is not only false but stems from an uninformed position,” said Prof. Abdullahi Yusufu Ribadu, Executive Secretary of the NUC.

The Commission reaffirmed that staffing is a core component of the accreditation process, evaluated through seven indicators, including verification of staff records during on-site visits. “Presenting temporary staff or falsifying records attracts sanctions,” Ribadu stressed.

He emphasised that the NUC’s peer-review approach—engaging independent subject experts for programme evaluations—has earned global recognition. “Countries like Namibia and Gambia have studied our quality assurance system, and foreign universities often rely on our accreditation for admissions decisions,” he added.

The NUC clarified that for any programme to earn full accreditation, it must achieve at least 70% in four key areas: Academic Matters, Staffing, Physical Facilities, and Library. “Full Accreditation does not mean perfection—it signifies acceptable performance with room for improvement,” Ribadu noted.

The Commission also underscored its internal review and ratification process to validate accreditation outcomes. “We remain committed to producing graduates who meet global standards,” Ribadu assured.

Calling for caution, the NUC urged stakeholders and the public to rely on verified sources. “Spreading unverified claims undermines our education system,” the Commission warned.

Gom Marian – Report

NECO Warns Public: Fake Facebook Page Targets Victims

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has raised alarm over a fake Facebook account impersonating its Registrar/Chief Executive, Prof. Dantani Ibrahim Wushishi, warning that it is being used to defraud unsuspecting individuals.

In a statement released on Sunday, NECO disowned the social media profile and alerted the public to steer clear of the fraudulent page. “The account is fake and has no affiliation with Prof. Wushishi or the Council,” said Azeez Sani, NECO’s Acting Director of Information and Public Relations.

According to NECO, the fake profile is being used by fraudsters posing as the Registrar to deceive and potentially scam members of the public. “This is a calculated attempt to tarnish the image of the Council and exploit the public,” the statement read.

The examination body added that security agencies have been notified and are taking steps to investigate and bring the perpetrators to justice. NECO further urged Nigerians to verify official communication through the Council’s verified platforms only.

“We advise everyone to be vigilant, and not to engage with any suspicious accounts claiming to represent NECO or its officials,” Sani warned.

The Council emphasised its commitment to integrity and transparency, especially in an era where online scams continue to rise. It called on the public to share verified information and report suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.


Gom Mirian-Report