Videos of primary school pupils in Nigeria reciting the reintroduced national anthem are circulating on social media.

The old national anthem adopted from 1960 to 1988 used the theme ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ while the version used from 1978 to early 2024 was titled ‘Arise, O Compatriots’.

The lyrics of the old anthem were written by Lillian Jean Williams, a British expatriate, and composed by another Briton, Frances Benda.

Benedict Odiase, a Nigerian, composed the national anthem adopted in 1978.

On May 23, the house of representatives speedily passed the bill while the senate also did the same during a public hearing on Tuesday.

President Bola Tinubu signed the bill on the reintroduction of the old national anthem on Wednesday.

Although the development stirred reactions on social media, some videos of pupils reciting the national anthem at their schools on Thursday morning have begun to go viral.

In one footage, pupils of Justice and Peace Primary School in Ogbere-Ijebu, Ogun state, were captured reciting the first stanza of the ‘Nigeria, We Hail Thee’ anthem.

In another clip, students of an unidentified primary school could be seen singing the reintroduced anthem at the top of their voices.

Another video shows a school playing a recording of the national anthem during their morning assembly.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says the student loan scheme will be open to state-owned tertiary institutions in three weeks.

On May 24, the NELFUND portal went live.

Before the rollout of the scheme, NELFUND said students of federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

However, NELFUND clarified that the scheme’s second phase will extend loans to state-owned institutions.

Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND managing director, said since the launch of the scheme, an overwhelming response has been received, with over 60,000 students successfully registering on the portal.

“This for us has been an overwhelming response and it serves as a testament to the critical need for financial assistance amongst our student population and we remain committed to addressing this urgent demand,” he said.

He said registrations do not necessarily translate to completed applications by the students, adding that of the figure, only 30,000 have successfully applied.

The managing director said in line with NELFUND’s commitment to higher education, it will “commence accepting applications from students attending state-owned tertiary institutions in three weeks time”.

Asked about the exact date, he said the fund aims to start receiving applications on June 25. However, he added that the date remains tentative with factors like data upload by institutions.

“We request all state institutions to submit their students data immediately in order to facilitate a smooth and seamless application process,” he said.

Sawyerr disclosed that over 90 percent of federal institutions of higher learning have submitted their student data to the fund.

“However, we urge the remaining two federal universities and five federal polytechnics to expedite the process to ensure that all eligible students can access financial support, so that we can expand to state-owned tertiary institutions,” he added.

At least 1.2 million undergraduates from over 120 federal tertiary institutions are set to benefit from Nigeria’s student loan scheme.

On May 24, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) portal went live and became accessible to members of the public.

Before the rollout of the scheme, NELFUND said students of federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

However, NELFUND clarified that the scheme’s second phase, to be announced when due, will extend loans to state-owned institutions.

At least 1.2 million undergraduates from over 120 federal tertiary institutions are set to benefit from Nigeria’s student loan scheme.

On May 24, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) portal went live and became accessible to members of the public.

Before the rollout of the scheme, NELFUND said students of federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges would benefit from the first phase of the scheme.

However, NELFUND clarified that the scheme’s second phase, to be announced when due, will extend loans to state-owned institutions.

Nasir Ayitogo, NELFUND’s spokesperson, told TheCable on Monday that over 120 federal universities, polytechnics, and colleges have been deemed eligible for the pilot phase of the scheme.

See the full list of the benefiting tertiary institutions below.

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University
Federal College of Education, Abeokuta
Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike
Federal College of Education, Bichi
Federal College of Education Eha-Amufu
Federal College of Education Technical, Gusau
Federal College of Education, Isu Ebonyi
Federal College of Education, Kano
Federal College of Education, Katsina
Federal College of Education, Kontagora
Federal College of Education, Odugbo
Federal College of Education, Okene
Federal College of Education, Pankshin
Federal College of Education (Technical), Gombe
Federal College of Education, Gidan Madi
Federal College of Education (Technical), Umunze
Federal College of Education (Technical), Potiskum
Federal College of Education, Gombe
Adeyemi College of Education
Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ikwo
Bayero University Kano
David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, Uburu
Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta
Federal University, Birnin Kebbi
Federal University Dutse
Federal University Gashua, Yobe
Federal University, Lafia
Federal University, Lokoja
National Open University
University of Ilorin
Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi
Federal University of Kashere
Federal University of Technology, Akure
Federal University of Technology, Owerri
Federal University, Otuoke
Federal University, Wukari
Federal University, Gusau
Federal Polytechnic Ayede
Federal Polytechnic Bali
Federal Polytechnic Bauchi
Federal Polytechnic Damaturu, Yobe State
Federal Polytechnic Daura
Federal Polytechnic, Idah
Federal Polytechnic, Ede
Federal Polytechnic Ile-Oluji
Federal Polytechnic Mubi
Federal Polytechnic, Kaltungo
Federal Polytechnic, Nekede
Federal Polytechnic Offa
Federal Polytechnic Oko
Federal Polytechnic Kaura Namoda
Flexisaf University of Technology
Federal College of Education (Technical), Akoka
Federal College of Education, Yola
Federal College of Education, Zaria
Federal University, Dutsin-Ma
Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare, Bauchi State
Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru
Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo
Federal University Oye-Ekiti
Federal University of Technology, Babura
Federal College of Education, Obudu
Creek-high state
Federal College of Animal Health, VOM
Federal College of Education, Edo
Federal Polytechnic Ilaro
Federal Polytechnic Kazaure, Jigawa
Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua
Federal University of Technology, Minna
Federal College of Education, Iwo
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Warri
Federal College of Education, Technical, Omoku
University of Abuja
University of Calabar
University of Lagos
University of Maiduguri
University of Port Harcourt
University of Uyo
Usman Danfodio University, Sokoto
Federal Polytechnic Bida
Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa
Kaduna Polytechnic
Federal Polytechnic Ohodo
Federal College of Education, Zuba
Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola
National Teachers Institute
Nigerian Army College of Education
Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka
Obafemi Awolowo University
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
Waziri Umaru Federal Polytechnic, Birnin-Kebbi
Yaba College of Technology
Global Maritime Academy
Petroleum Training Institute
Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic, Atikori, Ijebu-Igbo
University of Jos
Federal College of Agriculture, Akure
Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan
Federal School of Surveying, Oyo
Nigerian Army College of Environmental Science and Technology
Federal Polytechnic Wannune
Federal Polytechnic, N’yak, Shendem
Nigerian Army University, Biu
Nigerian Defence Academy
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
Airforce Institute of Technology, Kaduna
Nigeria Police Academy Wudil
Federal University of Transportation Daura, Katsina
Federal Polytechnic Umunnoechi
Federal Polytechnic of Oil and Gas, Bonny
Akanu Ibiam Federal Polytechnic, Unwana, Afikpo, Ebonyi State
Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri
Federal University of Technology, Ikot Abasi
Federal Polytechnic Ukana
Federal Polytechnic Ekowe, Bayelsa
Federal Polytechnic Ugep
Federal College of Education (Technical), Asaba
Admiralty University Ibusa, Delta State
Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko
University of Benin
National Institute of Construction Technology and Management, Uromi
Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi
Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State
Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun
University of Ibadan
Federal College of Education (Special) Oyo