Office of the SSA to the president on students engagement

Dear Nigerian Students,

The dividends of Renewed Hope have once again reached Nigerian campuses.

I am delighted to inform Nigerian students that the Federal Ministry of Education is set to commence a High Demand Digital Technology Training Programme aimed at empowering our young graduates with globally relevant digital skills.

The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has signed a landmark agreement with Coursera, the world's leading online learning platform, to facilitate a six-month intensive training programme in high demand fields such as Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Software Engineering, IT Automation, Software Development Methodologies, and Natural Language Processing, among others.

The programme is designed for final year students in Nigerian tertiary institutions as well as recent graduates. Participation will be completely free of charge.

In addition, the Federal Ministry of Education will fully sponsor the cost of obtaining professional certifications from globally recognized organizations such as Huawei, Google, Microsoft, IBM, and other international certification bodies of the participants' choice.

To support this initiative, the Ministry has secured and paid for 36,000 Coursera licenses worth several billions of naira.

I therefore call on all Nigerian students to take advantage of this life changing opportunity and position themselves for success in the rapidly evolving digital economy. This is a unique chance to be part of the generational shift toward a technology driven future.

As soon as the official application portal is unveiled, I encourage every eligible student across the country to apply and participate.
The dividends of Renewed Hope are here for all Nigerians to enjoy.

Together, let us embrace innovation, acquire digital skills, and build a brighter future for our nation.

Signed:
SSAP Students Engagement.
Comr Asefon Sunday.

Attn.
Powered By: Hon. Come. Sunday Asefon
SSA To The President On Student's Engagement.

Presidential Aide Hon. Asefon Congratulates First Class Graduates who Benefitted from NELFUND, Describes Student Loan Scheme as President Tinubu’s Best Gift to Nigerian Students.

Hon. Comrade Sunday Asefon, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, has extended warm congratulations to Nigerian students who recently graduated with First Class honours, attributing their outstanding academic success in large part to the timely intervention of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

In a statement released on Thursday morning, Hon. Asefon particularly celebrated standout performers such as Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), who emerged as the overall best graduating student with an impressive CGPA of 4.89/5.0 in B.Tech Electronic and Electrical Engineering, as well as other high-achieving students like Augustine Ayorinde Oreoluwa, who also bagged First Class and emerged as one of the best in his department.

These brilliant young Nigerians are living proof that when the barriers of finance are removed, our students can compete with the very best anywhere in the world,” Asefon said. Their First Class degrees did not come by chance. Many of them walked long distances to school, studied under difficult conditions, and faced serious financial hardships before NELFUND came to their rescue. Today, they stand tall as First Class graduates, and we are extremely proud of them.

The presidential aide praised the beneficiaries for their resilience, discipline, and unwavering commitment to excellence despite the challenges many Nigerian students face. He noted that stories like that of Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, who credited NELFUND for making his graduation possible, are becoming increasingly common across tertiary institutions nationwide and serve as powerful testimonies to the positive impact of the scheme.

Hon. Asefon used the occasion to express profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for the bold education reforms initiated under the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the establishment and successful implementation of NELFUND as one of the most transformative interventions in Nigeria’s tertiary education sector in recent decades.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated uncommon courage and genuine love for Nigerian youths by reviving and strengthening the student loan scheme through NELFUND. What many thought was impossible is now a living reality. Thousands of students from poor and vulnerable backgrounds who would have dropped out are today completing their studies and graduating with excellent results,” he stated.

He further described NELFUND as “the best gift President Tinubu has given to Nigerian students”, emphasizing that the interest-free loan scheme has restored hope, dignity, and equal opportunity to millions of young Nigerians irrespective of their socio economic background.

Before now, many brilliant students were forced to abandon their dreams due to inability to pay school fees. Today, NELFUND has changed that narrative. It has become a lifeline and a game changer. This is not just a loan, it is an investment in Nigeria’s future. It is the strongest statement yet that no child should be left behind in the pursuit of quality education under this administration,Asefon added.

Reiterating his long standing position, the Senior Special Assistant declared that NELFUND remains the most impactful and student friendly education intervention in the country.

NELFUND is not a wasteful venture as some critics claim. It is a strategic, well thought out investment in human capital development. It is the saving grace for millions of Nigerian students. We have seen the evidence in the increasing number of students who can now focus on their studies without the constant distraction and humiliation of unpaid fees, he stressed.

Asefon commended NELFUND’s management for the significant progress recorded so far in disbursements and urged continuous improvement in the application and disbursement processes to reach even more deserving students, especially in rural and underserved communities.

While congratulating the recent First Class graduates, Hon. Asefon challenged other students currently benefiting from NELFUND across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to aim for academic excellence.

Let these First Class graduates be your motivation. NELFUND has given you the opportunity; now it is your turn to seize it with both hands. Study hard, stay focused, shun social vices, and make your parents, your institutions, and your country proud, he advised.

The presidential aide also reiterated the commitment of the Office of the Senior Special Assistant on Student Engagement to continue working closely with NELFUND, tertiary institutions, student unions, and all relevant stakeholders to ensure the scheme delivers maximum value to Nigerian students.

He assured that the Tinubu administration remains fully committed

Happy Good Friday

Wishing you a blessed Good Friday filled with reflection, gratitude and faith in the Divine Grace that surrounds us.

Powered by: Hon. Comr. Sunday Asefon,
SSA to the President on Students Engagement.

Thank you, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Over 90% of students admitted in 2023 will be graduating in 2026, a clear case of promise made and promise kept.

Congratulations to Nigerian students.

Special appreciation to the hardworking Minister of Education for this achievement.

Indeed, hope has been renewed.

Powered by: Hon. Comr. Sunday Asefon
SSA To The President On Students Engagement

As both Muslims and Christians begin their fasting today, Wednesday, I extend my warmest greetings and heartfelt wishes to all faithful across our communities.

To our Muslim brothers and sisters observing Ramadan, may this sacred period of devotion, sacrifice, and prayer bring you peace, renewed strength, and abundant blessings.

May your fasting and supplications be accepted, and may your homes be filled with joy and divine mercy.

To our Christian brothers and sisters commencing the season of Lent, may this time of reflection, discipline, and spiritual renewal draw you closer to God and deepen your faith, love, and compassion for humanity.

As both faiths embark on this solemn journey on the same day, may it serve as a powerful reminder of our shared values, faith, sacrifice, unity, and service to others. Let us use this sacred season to pray for peace, progress, and harmony in our nation and beyond.

I wish you all a blessed and spiritually fulfilling fasting season.

Comrade Asefon Sunday,
SSAP Students Engagement.

Happy New Month and welcome to the month of February!

I warmly welcome our respected leaders and Nigerian students into this new month. May February bring renewed hope, greater opportunities, progress, and success for us all.

Together, let us remain focused, united, and committed to building a stronger and better Nigeria. Here's to a greater and more productive February ahead.

Asefon Sunday
SSAP Students Engagement