2027: Sultan of Sokoto Dismisses Claims of Backing Tinubu’s Re-election

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has firmly dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that he endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 general elections, insisting that he has no favourite candidate and remains above partisan politics. In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Media Team and signed by Prince Bashir Adefaka, the revered traditional ruler described the reports as false and misleading, urging Nigerians to disregard what it called a “malicious and unpatriotic attempt to drag the revered personality of the Sultan into partisan politics for selfish interests.” “Our simple response to the report is that it is not possible for the Sultan, as the father of all, to make such a statement, either publicly or in any other forum,” the statement read in part.

The Media Team emphasised that the Sultan occupies a unique position as both a traditional and religious leader whose responsibility is to serve all Nigerians without political bias. The statement stressed that his role requires him to remain impartial while offering guidance and blessings to all Nigerians, regardless of their political affiliations. “Let it be made clear once again that the institutions of monarchy and religion led by the Sultan are institutions of a father figure. As such, His Eminence cannot but remain within the purview of that role by offering fatherly, royal and spiritual blessings, as well as guidance, to Nigerian politicians who seek his counsel and blessings,” the statement said. The monarch noted that his doors remain open to all Nigerians, irrespective of political persuasion, and that his willingness to receive politicians should not be interpreted as support for any individual or party. “The Sultan’s doors cannot be shut against anyone who comes to him, regardless of political affiliation or persuasion. His Eminence has consistently demonstrated that he is the father of all and will continue to relate with all Nigerians without discrimination,” the media team added.

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The clarification follows the circulation of posts on social media alleging that the Sultan had openly endorsed Tinubu for another term in office. Some claims suggested that the Sultan declared Tinubu as “our only choice” and demanded the creation of a Fulani commission during a television appearance. However, fact-checking organisation Dubawa traced the viral claim to a video recorded during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Conference of the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) held in Abuja on July 30, 2026. A review of the full speech showed that the Sultan was not discussing the 2027 presidential election or endorsing President Tinubu for a second term. Translated from Hausa, the Sultan was actually commending President Tinubu for establishing the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and expressing support for the government’s livestock reforms, not endorsing his re-election bid. The Sultan’s remarks were taken out of context and misrepresented to create a false impression.

The Media Team reiterated that the Sultan remains committed to promoting peace, unity, stability, and harmonious coexistence across the country, regardless of ethnic, religious, or political differences. It called on members of the public to reject any attempt to misrepresent the Sultan’s position or associate him with the political campaign or candidacy of any individual ahead of the 2027 general elections. The statement further appealed to media practitioners and social media users to exercise responsibility and restraint by verifying information before circulating reports capable of misleading the public or unnecessarily dragging revered traditional and religious institutions into partisan political controversies.

As the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, the Sultan has consistently projected himself as a non-partisan national figure, receiving politicians across party lines while advocating peace, dialogue, and national unity rather than political endorsements. The clarification comes amid increasing political activities and speculations ahead of the 2027 general election, with prominent national figures and traditional rulers often becoming subjects of political claims and endorsements on social media. By firmly rejecting the reports, the Sultan reaffirmed his commitment to remaining above partisan politics while continuing to promote national cohesion and equal treatment for all Nigerians, regardless of their political preferences.

2027: Sultan of Sokoto Dismisses Claims of Backing Tinubu’s Re-election

Tinubu Meets Jim Ovia, NELFUND CEO at Aso Rock as Student Loans Hit ₦303bn

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with the founder of Zenith Bank, Jim Ovia, and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) , Akintunde Sawyerr, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The purpose of the meeting was not officially disclosed as of the time of filing this report. Ovia and Sawyerr arrived at the State House at about 5:15 p.m. on Tuesday. Ovia was dressed in a black suit with a red tie as both officials proceeded into the Presidential Villa for the meeting. Their arrival came amid the continued expansion of the Federal Government’s student loan programme, which has become one of the administration’s flagship social intervention initiatives. Tinubu had appointed Ovia as Chairman of the NELFUND Board on April 26, 2024, shortly after signing the Access to Higher Education Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Act into law, which established Nigeria’s interest-free student loan scheme. Sawyerr was appointed the pioneer Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the fund on April 5, 2024, and has overseen the implementation of the initiative since its launch.

The meeting comes as NELFUND continues to record significant growth in its disbursements. According to the fund, total loan disbursements have exceeded ₦303.9 billion to 1,635,676 beneficiaries from 1,800,489 applications as of July 4, 2026. The fund has disbursed to over 315 institutions nationwide, covering both institutional fees and upkeep allowances for students. Between May 5 and July 3, 2026, an additional N21.71 billion was disbursed to beneficiaries, lifting total payments under the programme to N303.91 billion. Institutional fee payments rose by N6.15 billion during the period, from N183.91 billion to N190.06 billion, while disbursements for students’ upkeep allowances increased by N15.56 billion, climbing from N98.29 billion to N113.85 billion. The fund also announced on July 9 that it released an additional ₦1.5 billion to 6,129 students across three tertiary institutions for the 2025/2026 academic session. The fund has cleared outstanding June and July 2026 upkeep allowances, with each eligible student receiving ₦40,000 to cover the two-month backlog. The delay in monthly upkeep payments had generated concerns among beneficiaries, prompting the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) to intervene.

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Tuesday’s meeting followed Ovia’s recent endorsement of the student loan initiative, in which he described it as a transformative intervention that has enabled thousands of Nigerians to access higher education. Speaking during a recent interview on Channels Television, the NELFUND Board chairman praised Tinubu for establishing the scheme and dismissed claims that it was being abused. “Yes, NELFUND definitely is addressing access to education, and we are glad that Bola Tinubu has introduced that by setting up NELFUND — Nigeria Education Loan Fund — and it’s a very encouraging initiative,” Ovia said. He added, “No, it’s not being abused at all because without the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, many students wouldn’t have gone to university at all. And also, they are being encouraged to have some stipend to pay their school fees. So, it’s not being abused; it’s being encouraged.” Ovia urged beneficiaries to maximise the opportunity provided by the Federal Government. “Without NELFUND, they wouldn’t have gone to the university at all. So, they should be encouraged to take the opportunity to go to university and graduate, and they will get jobs,” he said.

Ovia, who retired as Founder and Group Chairman of Zenith Bank in May, remains active in education through the Jim Ovia Foundation and as founder and chancellor of James Hope University in Lagos. He became the bank’s chairman on July 16, 2014, after previously serving as its founder and Group Managing Director/CEO from 1990 to 2010. After his retirement, the bank described Ovia’s tenure as marked by strong leadership, strategic direction, and effective board oversight. The NELFUND Board chairman is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana. President Tinubu, upon appointing Ovia, expressed confidence that he would bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to advance the vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds.

Akintunde Sawyerr, who has served as NELFUND’s pioneer Managing Director since April 2024, has described the initiative as a game-changer for Nigerian education. Speaking previously, he revealed that the fund receives an average of 6,000 to 7,000 applications daily, underscoring the growing demand for the scheme among Nigerian students. Sawyerr has emphasised that the scheme is designed to be transparent and accessible to all eligible students. “For the first time in Nigeria—or certainly the first time in a very long time—people are starting to believe that you can actually benefit from government policies without knowing anybody. The system is totally agnostic to who you know. All you have to do is provide the right credentials, apply online, and you don’t need the help of anybody to be able to access this,” he said. He explained that President Tinubu established NELFUND to ensure that no Nigerian is denied access to quality tertiary education due to poverty or lack of funds. “Education is one of the topmost priorities of President Bola Tinubu. The President believes that education is the greatest weapon against poverty and so he doesn’t want any Nigerian to be deprived of having a qualitative tertiary education due to financial difficulties, hence the establishment of NELFUND,” Sawyerr said. The National Assembly and NELFUND have announced plans to expand the student loan scheme from 1.6 million beneficiaries to seven million students nationwide. The initiative includes incorporating Skills Acquisition, Technical, and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) into the scheme, which could ultimately uplift an estimated 50 million citizens indirectly. The meeting at the State House is expected to focus on the progress of the scheme and efforts to further expand access to higher education for Nigerian students.

Tinubu Meets Jim Ovia, NELFUND CEO at Aso Rock as Student Loans Hit ₦303bn

Renewed Hope Skills Training: FG Begins Practical Sessions for 18,510 Nigerians Across 36 States

The Federal Government has commenced intensive practical training under its Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme, targeting 18,510 Nigerians across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory with employable skills, entrepreneurship support, and starter packs to accelerate poverty reduction and economic self-reliance.

The programme, implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, was officially flagged off by the Minister, Dr. Bernard M. Doro, on July 13, 2026, at the Government Technical College, Area 3, Garki, Abuja. Training is taking place at 229 accredited centres nationwide, including government technical colleges and approved vocational institutions, ensuring that beneficiaries from every corner of the country have access to this life-changing opportunity. At the official flag-off, the Minister, in a statement issued by his Senior Technical Adviser on Information Systems and Data Analysis, Dr. Abimbola Fasanu, described the programme as a strategic investment in Nigeria’s human capital and a major shift in the government’s approach to poverty reduction. Dr. Doro said the initiative moves beyond short-term palliatives to practical skills development that equips beneficiaries with sustainable incomes and lasting prosperity, marking a significant departure from the traditional handout-based interventions that have characterized previous social investment programmes.

“This programme is more than a training exercise; it is a strategic investment in Nigeria’s future. Under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are moving from palliatives to pathways by equipping Nigerians with practical skills that create opportunities, restore dignity, and build lasting prosperity,” the Minister stated.

The initiative forms part of the Ministry’s broader reform agenda under the One Humanitarian–One Poverty Response System (OHOPRS), which seeks to eliminate fragmented interventions by integrating humanitarian assistance, social protection, and poverty reduction into a single coordinated national framework. This innovative approach ensures that beneficiaries are not merely trained and abandoned but are connected to entrepreneurship opportunities, cooperative structures, and poverty graduation pathways that promote long-term economic independence and resilience.

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Speaking during the third day of training at the Women Development Centre, Agege, Lagos, the Programme Coordinator and Centre Head, Mrs. Kemilat Opasaye, said the initiative reflects President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by empowering vulnerable Nigerians with practical skills for economic self-reliance. She explained that participants are receiving hands-on training in various vocational trades, including tailoring, welding, carpentry, catering, baking, agro-processing, and bead and jewellery making, all carefully selected to match market demand and income-generating potential. The intensive two-week programme combines technical vocational training with entrepreneurship development, covering business management, financial literacy, digital literacy, customer relations, and enterprise sustainability. According to Badamasi Lawal, National Coordinator and Chief Executive Officer of NSIPA, beneficiaries will receive training in 14 high-demand vocational trades : Automobile Technology, Agric-Tech, Baking and Confectionery, Carpentry, Cooks and Catering, Electrical Installation, Housekeeping, Jewellery and Bead Making, Masonry, Plumbing, Welding, Sewing and Fashion Design, Grinding Operations, and Vulcanising.

At the completion of the programme, every participant will receive a trade-specific starter pack aligned with their chosen trade to facilitate immediate business start-up upon graduation. Lawal explained that the initiative was conceived partly to address rising youth unemployment and to utilise thousands of vocational starter packs that had remained unused in government warehouses for years due to administrative bottlenecks. “Rather than allowing these public assets to depreciate, the Federal Government approved their refurbishment, deployment, and distribution to qualified beneficiaries after practical skills training,” Lawal said. To prevent abuse and ensure the equipment serves its intended purpose, beneficiaries have been warned against selling the equipment. Lawal stated that every starter pack distributed under the programme will be digitally tracked, allowing the government to monitor both the tools and their beneficiaries after the training. This accountability mechanism is designed to ensure that the investment translates into tangible economic outcomes rather than being diverted to the secondary market.

Lawal noted that beneficiaries were selected through a transparent and inclusive process involving the National Assembly, state governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, community development associations, youth and women groups, and organisations representing persons with disabilities (PWDs) . Priority was given to unemployed youths, women, and economically vulnerable Nigerians with the capacity to build sustainable livelihoods after the programme, ensuring that the most marginalized segments of society are not left behind. This multi-stakeholder approach guarantees that the selection process is free from political manipulation and reflects the genuine needs of communities across Nigeria. The programme deliberately targets individuals who demonstrate the motivation and potential to transform their lives through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.

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Facilitators at the training centre commended the initiative, describing it as a practical intervention that equips participants with marketable skills and entrepreneurial knowledge. They noted that the training combines classroom instruction with intensive practical sessions to prepare beneficiaries for self-employment, ensuring that graduates emerge with both theoretical understanding and hands-on competence. Participants also expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the opportunity. Miss Uche Obinna, a participant in the baking class, said the practical lessons had given her the confidence to start her own business. She noted that before the training, she lacked the technical knowledge and business acumen to pursue her passion, but the programme has now equipped her with everything she needs to succeed. Mrs. Adebisi Muhammed, a graduate undergoing tailoring training, described the programme as a pathway to financial independence through entrepreneurship. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to acquire skills that would enable her to support her family and contribute to the local economy.

Dr. Doro stressed that the true measure of the programme’s success would not be the number of certificates awarded but the number of sustainable livelihoods created. He emphasized that the government’s focus is on outcomes rather than outputs, ensuring that every naira invested translates into tangible improvements in the lives of ordinary Nigerians. “Our vision is to see today’s trainee become tomorrow’s entrepreneur, employer, and contributor to national development. This is how we will build resilience, reduce poverty, and create inclusive economic growth for Nigerians,” he added. The Minister commended NSIPA, training providers, development partners, and private sector organisations supporting the initiative, urging them to ensure quality delivery, effective monitoring, and sustained post-training support for beneficiaries. He reaffirmed that the Ministry would continue to champion reforms that empower vulnerable Nigerians through coordinated interventions, practical skills development, and sustainable livelihood opportunities in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme is being implemented simultaneously across the country as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to creating sustainable livelihoods, expanding economic opportunities, and lifting Nigerians out of poverty through skills development, enterprise support, and inclusive social protection. The initiative aligns with the National Development Plan 2021-2025 and the broader vision of reducing unemployment and underemployment among Nigeria’s rapidly growing youth population. The programme also complements existing social protection schemes, including the National Social Investment Programme, the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), creating a comprehensive ecosystem of support for vulnerable Nigerians. By linking skills acquisition with entrepreneurship support and starter packs, the government is building a sustainable pathway out of poverty that empowers individuals to become economically self-reliant and active contributors to national development.

To ensure the programme delivers lasting impact, the Ministry has established a robust monitoring and evaluation framework that will track beneficiaries’ progress over an extended period. This includes post-training mentorship pairing graduates with experienced entrepreneurs, business registration support to help beneficiaries formalize their enterprises, access to finance through microcredit schemes, cooperative formation to encourage collective action and shared resources, and regular impact assessments measuring income growth and job creation. These support mechanisms are designed to ensure that the skills acquired during the two-week intensive training translate into sustainable businesses that generate income, create employment, and contribute to local economic development.

The Renewed Hope Vocational and Skills Training Programme represents a paradigm shift in Nigeria’s approach to poverty reduction and youth empowerment. By moving beyond temporary palliatives to sustainable skills development, the Federal Government is building a foundation for long-term economic growth and social inclusion. As Dr. Doro noted, the ultimate measure of success will be the number of Nigerians who transform their lives through the skills they acquire and the businesses they build. With 18,510 beneficiaries already enrolled and the programme expanding across all 36 states, the government is demonstrating its commitment to creating real opportunities for Nigerians to achieve economic independence and contribute to national development.

Renewed Hope Skills Training: FG Begins Practical Sessions for 18,510 Nigerians Across 36 States