The Presidency has clarified that no beneficiary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has been asked to start repaying their student loan, urging Nigerians to ignore viral claims suggesting otherwise. Dada Olusegun, Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, made this known in a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday. According to him, the loan scheme includes a two-year moratorium after completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), meaning repayment is not expected to begin anytime soon. Dada also shared a video of the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, who described the repayment structure as simple, transparent and fair. “As it stands, the scheme will be two years old in March 2026 from when the first applications were made, and none of the beneficiaries has reached the repayment stage” – Dada Sawyerr explained that under the scheme, repayment responsibility largely rests on employers, not the individual graduates, except in cases where beneficiaries are self-employed. He added that a system is already in place to ensure compliance, especially for employers who may attempt to avoid their obligations. Addressing fears that loan beneficiaries could face travel restrictions, the NELFUND boss dismissed such claims, saying the scheme does not restrict movement or career choices. Sawyerr explained that the two-year window after NYSC was deliberately built into the programme to give young graduates time to stabilise. He added that repayment only begins in the third year, at a rate of 10 per cent of the beneficiary’s income, with deductions handled by employers. “We have a global standing instruction system to recover funds from employers who default. During NYSC, many people are not in a position to look for full-time jobs. The two years after that allow beneficiaries to find work, settle down, rent a house, even start a family. We are not chasing graduates around for repayment. Our engagement is with employers. Unless someone is self-employed, we don’t go after the individual” – Sawyerr Sawyerr stressed that taking a NELFUND loan does not in any way tie beneficiaries to the government and that people are free to travel, work, and build their careers, the only expectation is that when they earn, they contribute back so others can benefit.
Innov8Zaria 2.0 Day One: What the Marketplace Looked Like From Where I Stood
By the time the Innov8Zaria 2.0 Marketplace began to find its rhythm, I already knew this wasn’t going to be a loud, crowded trade fair type of day. It was quieter than that. Slower. More intentional. I watched vendors adjusting their tables again and again – food trays being rearranged, clothes hung neatly, banners straightened. Some people looked confident. Others looked unsure. A few were clearly doing this for the first time. Attendees didn’t rush in. They came in small numbers, walking around, looking, asking questions. Some stayed. Some passed through. That was how Day One started. Different Expectations, Same Space As I spoke with vendors, it became clear that everyone came in with different expectations. Some food vendors sold well. A few told me they had already sold a large portion of what they brought. For them, the day felt encouraging – proof that showing up mattered. Others described the experience as “okay” or “nice.” Not amazing. Not terrible. Just… honest. What stood out to me was how differently people measured value. For some, it was money made. For others, it was simply being seen – having people stop, ask questions, and acknowledge their work. Watching Attendees Move Through the Space I paid close attention to the attendees. They moved slowly between stalls. Asked questions. Sampled food. Collected flyers. Exchanged contacts. A lot of conversations ended without a sale – but not without interest. Some vendors mentioned something I couldn’t ignore: people wanted to buy, but didn’t always have enough money. That detail mattered. It reminded me that this marketplace existed within real economic limits, especially in a student-driven town like Zaria. For many attendees, this wasn’t a shopping spree. It was a discovery. Curiosity. When Networking Becomes the Real Outcome One moment that stuck with me was speaking to a foundation that came early and immediately began engaging people. By the end of the day, they had spoken to over 40 people, shared flyers, collected contacts, and gained dozens of new followers online. They didn’t sell anything – but they left with visibility, momentum, and potential partnerships. That pattern repeated itself. Some vendors left with modest sales but strong leads. Others left with conversations that could turn into something later. Not every win was obvious in the moment, but it was there. The Quiet Talk About Turnout As the day went on, another conversation kept surfacing – quietly, between vendors. Turnout. Many felt awareness could have been better. Not aggressively critical – just honest. From their experience, events do better when people hear about them early, repeatedly, and everywhere. What struck me was that most vendors didn’t blame the environment itself. Some shared they had exhibited at events farther away and still recorded strong turnout when publicity was done right. To them, awareness mattered more than location. Venue, Visibility, and Zaria Reality Opinions about the venue were mixed. It was held at CEDDERT Zangon Shanu, which has a close proximity with 5G recreational centre and the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. Some people found it easy to locate. Others struggled, especially first-timers. One community organiser I spoke with described the experience as eye-opening. Planning an event on paper is one thing. Executing it on the ground in Zaria is another. It takes patience. It takes resilience. It takes accepting that not everything will work the first time. That comment stayed with me because it captured the entire day. What Day One Really Was By the end of Day One, the Innov8Zaria Marketplace didn’t feel like a failure, and it didn’t feel like a perfect success either. It felt real. Some vendors sold well. Some didn’t. Many learned something. Almost everyone had feedback. And maybe that’s exactly what Day One was meant to be. Not a polished finish line, but a mirror – showing us where Zaria’s innovation and community ecosystem currently stands, and what needs to change if it’s going to grow. Innov8Zaria 2.0 didn’t start with noise. It started with presence. And sometimes, that’s how real progress begins.
FG launches 3MTT National Impact Challenge (How to Apply)
The Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Ministry of Communications, Innovation & Digital Economy, has launched the 3MTT National Impact Challenge. This program is the transition of the 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT) programme into its scale-up phase, moving from pilot training to measuring real-world economic outcomes for its 1.8 million pipeline members.The announcement was made by Minister Dr. Bosun Tijani, to invite program fellows to share their personal transformation stories to showcase how digital skills are driving innovation and employment across Nigeria. Our focus is on deepening impact by strengthening the alumni community, expanding access to opportunity, and ensuring skills translate into real outcomes – Dr. Bosun Tijani Participants in the 3MTT National Impact Challenge stand to gain rewards such as laptops, tablets, and 10GB data bundles, alongside prestigious ministerial recognition, enhanced professional visibility, and priority access to an exclusive alumni network and direct employment opportunities within the digital economy of Nigeria. How to participate To be eligible for the prizes and recognition, participants must follow these specific steps:
Innov8Zaria 2.0 kicks off in Two Days, bringing “Workforce Beyond Borders” to Zaria
Zaria is set to become a hub of ideas, innovation, and opportunity as Innov8Zaria 2.0 begins in just two days. Scheduled for January 23-24, organised by the Startup Zaria Innovation Development Centre and sponsored by The GirlTech Vision. The two-day event will feature a Tech Conference and a vibrant Community Marketplace, bringing together young innovators, entrepreneurs, creatives, and industry leaders. With the theme “Workforce Beyond Borders,” Innov8Zaria 2.0 focuses on preparing young people for a future where skills, talent, and opportunity are no longer limited by geography. The event aims to expose participants to global career paths, remote work opportunities, digital skills, and new ways of building sustainable careers in today’s connected world. The tech conference will host panel sessions, talks, and discussions led by professionals across technology, business, and innovation. Attendees can expect practical insights on building digital careers, launching startups, and positioning themselves for opportunities beyond their local environment. Tech and career conference (Jan 24) The Tech Conference on Day Two will run from 9:30am to 1:30pm and feature a carefully curated programme focused on preparing young people for global opportunities. The event will open with a welcome address by the Director General of the National Institute for Technology and Innovation (NITT), followed by a keynote by the Director General of KASITDA, setting the tone for innovation-driven development in Kaduna State. Startup Zaria founder, Ila Bappa Ibrahim, will present the community’s vision and unveil Startup Zaria’s next product, reinforcing the role of local platforms in enabling global participation. Special talks will explore the realities of a borderless workforce. Mu’azu Usman Ibrahim will speak on “Tax Reform and the Digital Workforce,” addressing the policy side of remote and digital work, while Sabbah Nazrul Islam will deliver a session on “Building Global Careers Without Borders,” focusing on how young Africans can access international opportunities. Two panel discussions will anchor the day. The first, “Founders, Freelancers and Designers in a Borderless Workforce,” will bring together practitioners already navigating global work, including Safwan Idris, Dr. Abdurrasheed A.S., Salisu Gaya Zubair, and Abubakar Sadeeq Umar, moderated by Rahma Azeez. The second panel, “Building Ecosystems for Global Talent Growth,” moderated by Bello Yusuf Yusuf, will examine how communities, institutions, and platforms can support young people to compete globally. The programme will also feature a spoken word performance by Aminu Tagwaye, President of ZLS, a sponsor spotlight by Maryam Yunus Lawal of The GirlTech Vision, and closing remarks by Ila Bappa Ibrahim, before transitioning into networking and media engagement. Innov8Zaria Marketplace (Jan 23) Alongside the conference is the Innov8Zaria Marketplace, a platform for local vendors, startups, and creatives to showcase products and services, connect with customers, and build partnerships. The marketplace highlights the entrepreneurial spirit within Zaria and creates a bridge between local innovation and wider markets. Innov8Zaria was created to address the gap in access to mentorship, exposure, and opportunity for young people in Zaria. Since its first edition, the initiative has worked to connect talent with resources, support networks, and real-world pathways in technology and entrepreneurship. Speaking on the vision of the event, the organisers note that Innov8Zaria is not just about technology, but about possibility – helping young people in Zaria see that their ideas, skills, and ambitions can travel far beyond their immediate environment. With only two days to go, anticipation continues to build across the city. Participants are expected from across Zaria and beyond, making Innov8Zaria 2.0 a landmark moment for Northern Nigeria’s growing tech and innovation ecosystem. As the countdown reaches its final hours, Innov8Zaria stands ready to inspire a new generation to think globally, build boldly, and step into a workforce without borders.
Paystack launches new holding company
Paystack has announced the creation of a new holding company, The Stack Group (TSG), as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. The Nigerian fintech company noted that the new structure reflects how far it has grown beyond its early focus on helping businesses accept card payments. Under the new arrangement, the group (TSG) will oversee Paystack’s core payments business, the Zap consumer payments app, Paystack Microfinance Bank, and TSG Labs, its innovation and product development arm. Shola Akinlade, Paystack’s founder and CEO, will continue to lead the group. Stripe, Paystack employees, and Akinlade are listed as the founding shareholders of the new company. According to Paystack, the shift is designed to support faster product development and also maintaining shared infrastructure, compliance systems, and operational support across the group. This new structure allows us to build more products across different domains while staying focused on reliability and long term impact – Akinlade The company stated that it now serves more than 300,000 businesses across five African countries, with regulatory approvals secured in Egypt and Rwanda. Paystack recently acquired a microfinance bank in Nigeria, allowing it to build banking and credit infrastructure directly for merchants and reduce reliance on partner banks. Paystack also stated that the new structure gives the company better chance to expand into banking, consumer finance, and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
FG drops Meta, X from Sowore cyberbullying case
The Federal Government of Nigeria has formally removed Meta Platforms Inc., Facebook and X Inc. (formerly Twitter) from the cyberbullying charges filed against activist and politician Omoyele Sowore. The decision was announced on Monday at the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the case is being heard. The charges centred on a post Sowore shared on his official X account, @YeleSowore, in which he criticised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and questioned claims that corruption had ended under the current administration. According to the prosecution, the post was false and capable of causing public unrest, which formed the basis of the cyberbullying charge against the activist. Justice Mohammed Umar, who is presiding over the case, struck out the names of Meta and X and ordered that the amended charges be read to Sowore. Sowore, represented by his lawyer, Abubakar Marshal, pleaded not guilty after the charges were read in court. He also requested full disclosure of the prosecution’s witnesses and evidence, as provided for under Nigerian law, to enable him prepare his defence. Legal practitioners say the development could set an important precedent, noting that individuals may be held personally responsible for what they post online, regardless of the platforms involved. The government has submitted materials including screenshots of the social media post, letters sent to Meta and X, and a video of President Tinubu’s comments made during a trip to Brazil, as evidence. The court adjourned the case, with the trial scheduled to continue on January 22.