By Aliyu Musa

In a landmark effort to empower Nigeria’s next generation of female professionals, NNPC Limited/SNEPCo PSC, together with Ascent Club and the University of Lagos, hosted the inaugural Career Clinic: Career Readiness Skills for the Real World.

The event, held on the 11th of October 2025, welcomed 150 final-year female students for a day of mentorship, career guidance, and direct engagement with industry leaders.

Nkechi Anaedobe, Head, Business Services, NNPC Upstream Investment Management Services (NUIMS), in her Keynote Speech, noted that the event provided a golden opportunity to pay forward the mentorship which helped her grow in her career.

She reiterated that mentoring does a lot for the individual and the company, and society. “It is a tool that is never too late to learn to use, and I am glad I was able to contribute to this while soaking up even more,” she added.

“The event was a testament to the joys and impact of collaboration with a clear view of what good looks like,” she concluded.

Throughout the day, students participated in sessions led by professionals from NNPC Limited, SNEPCo, and a host of other experts from various fields covering topics such as employability skills, personal branding, leadership development, and long-term mentorship.

The Career Clinic followed the successful launch of the Top 100 Career Women in Africa Initiative earlier this year and marked a significant expansion of its mission.

Designed to address the critical gap between academic achievement and workplace readiness, the programme offered participants practical strategies for success in competitive industries, particularly in STEM and technical fields.

Mariam Sanni

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the official closure of its 2024/2025 academic session application portal, effective Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

This was made known in a statement signed by its Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

She said the the move marked the end of the second full cycle of the scheme and will enable it to finalise processing of pending applications and upkeep payments.

According to the statement, the portal will reopen in the second week of October 2025 for fresh applications into the 2025/2026 academic session and remain open until January 2026.

The Fund directed institutions to promptly update their students’ records on the Student Verification System (SVS) to allow eligible applicants to participate in the new cycle.

Institutions yet to commence a new academic session within the stated window were advised to notify NELFUND for additional concessions.

“All applications for the 2024/2025 academic session that remain unverified by institutions after October 8, 2025, will be automatically cancelled.

“Students in this category are strongly encouraged to prompt their school management to complete the verification process before the deadline. “Affected students will have to submit fresh applications for the 2025/2026 academic year,” the statement said.

NELFUND further noted that some students’ applications for the current session remained unapproved or unpaid due to institutions’ failure to complete the mandatory verification process.

“NELFUND is actively engaging with such institutions to resolve the delays. However, institutions that fail to comply by the stipulated deadline should note that the Fund will publish the names of all non-compliant institutions for transparency,” it said.

On upkeep allowances, NELFUND clarified that disbursements for the 2024/2025 session would continue until November 2025, but students must reapply for the 2025/2026 academic session to sustain their eligibility.

The National Universities Commission (NUC) has released a list of 58 fake universities currently operating illegally in Nigeria, warning students and parents that certificates from such institutions are invalid.

In a public notice, the Commission stressed that the listed institutions have no accreditation to run degree programmes in the country. “For the avoidance of doubt, anybody who patronises or obtains any certificate from any of these illegal institutions does so at his or her own risk,” the NUC declared.

The regulatory body confirmed that security and law enforcement agencies have been alerted for appropriate action against the operators. It also revealed that investigations are ongoing into eight additional institutions suspected of running unauthorised degree programmes.

The fake universities according to the NUC are:

1. University of Accountancy and Management Studies
2. Christians of Charity American University of Science and Technology, Nkpor, Anambra
3. University of Industry, Yaba, Lagos
4. University of Applied Sciences and Management, Port Novo, Benin Republic
5. Blacksmith University, Akwa
6. Volta University College, Ghana
7. Royal University, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State
8. Atlanta University, Anyigba, Kogi
9. United Christian University, Imo
10. United Nigeria University College, Okija, Anambra
11. Samuel Ahmadu University, Makurdi, Benue
12. UNESCO University, Ndoni, Rivers
13. Saint Augustine’s University of Technology, Jos, Plateau
14. The International University, Missouri, USA (study centres in Kano and Lagos)
15. Columbus University, UK
16. Tiu International University, UK
17. Pebbles University, UK
18. London External Studies, UK
19. Pilgrims University
20. Lobi Business School, Makurdi
21. West African Christian University
22. Bolta University College, Aba
23. JBC Seminary Inc. (Wukari Jubilee University), Kaduna
24. Western University, Kwara
25. St. Andrews University College, Abuja
26. EC-Council USA, Lagos Study Centre
27. Atlas University, Uyo, Akwa Ibom
28. Concept College/Universities, Ilorin
29. Halifax Gateway University, Ikeja
30. Kingdom of Christ University, Abuja
31. Acada University, Oyo
32. Filfom University, Imo
33. Houdegbe North American University campuses in Nigeria
34. Atlantic Intercontinental University, Okija
35. Open International University, Akure
36. Middle Belt University, Otukpo
37. Lead Way University, Delta
38. Metro University, Abuja
39. Southend University, Rivers
40. Olympic University, Enugu
41. Federal College of Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Abuja
42. Temple University, Abuja.
43. Irish University Business School, London
44. National University of Technology, Lafia, Nasarawa
45. University of Accountancy and Management Studies, Mowe, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
46. University of Education, Wenneba, Ghana
47. Cape Coast University, Ghana
48. African University Cooperative Development, Benin Republic
49. Pacific Western University, Colorado (Owerri study centre)
50. Evangel University of America and Chudick Management Academic, Lagos
51. Enugu State University of Science and Technology (Gboko campus)
52. Career Light Resources Centre, Jos
53. University of West Africa, Abuja
54. Coastal University, Akwa Ibom
55. Kaduna Business School, Kaduna
56. Royal University of Theology, Minna, Niger State
57. West African Union University (with International Professional College of Administration, Science and Technology)
58. Gospel Missionary Foundation Theological University, Lagos

The eight institutions under investigation are:

1. National University of Nigeria, Keffi, Nasarawa
2. North Central University, Otukpo, Benue
3. Christ Alive Christian Seminary and University
4. Richmond Open University, Arochukwu, Abia
5. West Coast University, Umuahia
6. Saint Clements University, Ekiti
7. Volta University College, Aba
8. Illegal satellite campuses of Ambrose Alli University

The Commission urged Nigerians to verify accreditation status before enrolling in any higher institution, warning that only duly approved universities are recognised for valid degrees in Nigeria.