The Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Charles Anosike, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as a major boost to the education sector through the Nigerian Educational Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Anosike said the student loan initiative has reportedly benefited over one million students across public universities, easing financial burdens and expanding access to higher education.

He made the remarks on Thursday at the 2026 Student Mentorship Summit organised by the National Association of Nigerian Students in Abuja. The summit, held at Merit House, Maitama, had the theme: “Skybound Leadership: A Multi-Sector Approach to Youth Development in Tech, Aviation, Oil and Gas, Security, and Anti-Drug/Cybercrime Advocacy.”

At the event, Anosike was honoured with the NANS Mentorship Award in recognition of his contributions at NiMet, particularly in providing timely and accurate weather and climate information. Organisers said his work has helped safeguard lives and support agricultural productivity.

Represented by Barrister Shola Gabriel, Director of Legal Services at NiMet, Anosike described the student loan scheme as a landmark achievement in Nigeria’s education sector. He urged more students to take advantage of the initiative, noting that it reduces the financial strain on families while enabling indigent students to pursue university education.

He also disclosed that NiMet has entered into partnerships with several universities to strengthen research and improve climate monitoring, prediction, and reporting. According to him, further collaborations with institutions within and outside Nigeria are expected in the coming months to support sectors such as agriculture, aviation, and maritime operations.

President Tinubu, represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Student Engagements, Sunday Ashefon, commended Nigerian students for their role in national development. He noted that the administration has appointed more young people into leadership positions than previous governments and pledged to expand opportunities for youths.

Other awardees at the event included Mohammed Bulama, Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria; Olusegun Faleye, Managing Director of the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund; Christopher Musa, Minister of Defence; Dapo Abiodun; and Bosun Tijani, Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy.

The summit brought together stakeholders from various sectors to discuss youth development and leadership, while recognising individuals contributing to national growth.