Gov. Abba Yusuf of Kano State, has described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a significant intervention that expanded access to higher education for Nigerian students.

This is contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the governor, Mustapha Muhammad, issued in Kano state, yesterday.

The CPS quoted his principal as saying this at the 2nd and 3rd combined convocation ceremony of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila.

According to Yusuf, the initiative provides students and their parents with greater opportunities to finance tertiary education and reduce financial barriers that could prevent qualified young Nigerians from pursuing higher education.

“May I also use this opportunity to extend our profound appreciation to the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, for its immense support to the education sector, particularly through the introduction of NELFUND.

“This important initiative provides students and parents with greater opportunities to finance education across Nigerian tertiary institutions and represents a significant step towards expanding access to higher education,” he said.

The governor urged the graduands to translate the knowledge and skills acquired during their academic journey into productive ventures and meaningful contributions to their communities, Kano State and Nigeria at large.

Yusuf also commended the management and staff of Al-Istiqama University for their contributions to the development of higher education in the state by providing young Nigerians with opportunities to pursue tertiary education.

He said investments in education constitute investments in the future, noting that a well-educated and skilled population remained essential to achieving sustainable development, economic growth and social progress.

The governor urged the graduands to uphold discipline, integrity and the values acquired during their academic journey, while using their education to contribute positively to society.

He further encouraged them to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning that would enable them to respond effectively to contemporary challenges and contribute to the development of their communities.

Rivers State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ngozi Odu, has commended the immediate past Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo, for investing in the development of the Church.

The deputy governor gave the commendation during the dedication of the parsonage, the 10th memorial thanksgiving service for late Mrs. Justina Ihunwo, and the birthday thanksgiving of Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo at St. Philip’s Anglican Church, Oro-Igwe District, yesterday.

Describing the dedication of the new parsonage as a worthy act of service to God, Odu said the Bible teaches that those who sow into the house of God and fertile spiritual ground would reap abundant blessings.

She congratulated Ihunwo on his birthday and commended him for honouring the memory of his late mother through the memorial thanksgiving and construction of the parsonage.

She also pledged her support towards furnishing the new building, while urging other well-meaning individuals to join her in supporting the project, stressing that the benefits would extend to their families and future generations.

Odu thanked Bishop, clergy and choir for their contributions to the celebration, and prayed that God would continue to bless all those who support the Church.

She expressed optimism that the support would be sustained, stressing that it should not be a one-off gesture but an ongoing commitment to the work of God.

In his sermon, the Bishop of the Diocese of Evo, Rt. Rev. Innocent Ordu, urged Christians to always acknowledge God’s faithfulness and celebrate the gift of life with gratitude.

Speaking from Psalm 71, the cleric said birthdays provided an opportunity for people to recognise God as the author and sustainer of their lives.

He noted that from conception and pregnancy through childbirth and the challenges of life, human survival remained dependent on God’s mercy and grace.

According to him, the Psalmist acknowledged God as the One who had sustained him from the womb, declaring, “My praise shall be continually of thee.”

Rev. Ordu further said grateful and wise people should acknowledge God’s role in their lives and celebrate their milestones in a godly manner.

He prayed for the celebrant to continue to enjoy God’s protection, grace and strength as he begins another year of life and service.

In his remarks  he celebrant, Hon. Chijioke Ihunwo, said the parsonage was constructed in memory of his beloved mother, who was a dedicated worker in the vineyard of God.

The Redeemer’s Health Village (RHV), in collaboration with RoboMed Global and Nisa Premier Hospital, has performed Nigeria’s first tele-robotic surgery.

The Tide source reports that the surgery was performed in real time on Saturday from a Toumai console at RHV on a patient at Nisa Premier Hospital, Abuja.

The procedure was a telesurgery-assisted, robot-assisted right radical nephrectomy performed to remove a kidney affected by a cancerous tumour.

Tele-robotic surgery, also known as remote surgery, is a technique that enables a surgeon to perform an operation on a patient from a completely different physical location.

Speaking after the surgery at RHV, Prof. Obi Ekwenna-Davis, Professor of Urology and Transplantation, who led the surgery, explained the medical condition of the patient.

He said the procedure demonstrated that telesurgery could be safely performed on patients in different parts of Nigeria and the world.

Ekwenna-Davis, Co-Founder of RoboMed Global, said the development was a significant achievement for RHV and its partners.

“Distance should never decide who receives safe surgery; this is what safe and trusted surgery looks like,” he said.

The U.S.-based surgeon said the patient was in good condition and expected to be discharged within 24 hours.

He said the procedure lasted about three hours, with brief stoppages to ensure that the equipment and systems functioned properly.

Ekwenna-Davis said the collaboration was significant as it marked the first time two hospitals in different parts of Nigeria successfully collaborated to provide surgical care to a patient.

He said the sustainability of the initiative would depend on continuous training, adding that a robotic academy would soon be established to train surgeons and other medical professionals.

According to him, the academy aims to train at least 150 surgeons within the next two years.

Ekwenna-Davis said the programme had the support of the Minister of Health and other government institutions, while calling for additional support from private and non-governmental organisations.

Earlier, Dr Adedamola Dada, Chief Executive Officer, RHV, said the development marked the first telesurgery in West Africa.

Dada said RHV was established to promote innovation and provide world-class healthcare services at affordable costs.

“What has happened today is a demonstration that Nigerians can access modern healthcare without travelling abroad,” he said.

He said the initiative was not primarily profit-driven but aimed at demonstrating what modern healthcare could offer Nigerians, in line with the vision of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

Dada said the achievement had positioned the hospital as a gateway through which specialist skills could be transferred to patients across Nigeria.

He said the introduction of robotic surgery and telesurgery at RHV was aimed at reducing medical tourism and improving access to complex surgical procedures within the country.

The CEO said measures had been put in place to address possible connectivity challenges through the use of reliable networks.

He explained that weather conditions could sometimes affect connectivity, while the quality of equipment and availability of skilled personnel were also critical to the success of telesurgery.

Dada said the hospital was establishing a robotic academy in collaboration with RoboMed Global to train doctors, surgeons, nurses, biomedical engineers and product specialists.

He urged the government to support and sponsor medical professionals interested in acquiring robotic surgery skills.

“My message to government is to support and sponsor Nigerians, the surgeons, the nurses, the biomedical engineers who would want to come and do this training here.

“They can award scholarships to them so that within two to three years, Nigeria will have a lot of professionals who are capable of performing robotic surgery,” he said.

Dr Ibrahim Wada, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Nisa Premier Hospital, said the facility had been a centre for robotic surgery in West Africa since November 2025.

“Today, our patient received specialist surgical expertise from across the country without leaving Abuja. This is what becomes possible when Nigerian institutions decide to build together,” Wada said.

Also, Dr Kunle Onakoya, Chairman, Board of RHV, described the development as historic and urged participants to recognise their roles in creating a milestone for Nigeria.

The Tide source reports that RHV is a faith-based 300-bed multispecialty hospital established by the Redeemed Christian Church of God.

The Tide source also reports that journalists watched the procedure live on television at RHV.