The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, on Friday led a delegation on an official visit to University of Benin as part of ongoing efforts to deepen awareness of the student loan scheme across Nigerian universities.
The delegation was received by the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Edabo E. Omoregie, SAN, alongside members of the institution’s management team.
During the meeting, the Vice-Chancellor commended NELFUND for its impactful work within a short period and acknowledged the agency’s strong operational capacity in rolling out the student loan initiative.
NELFUND Delegation
Members of the NELFUND team on the visit included:
Aliyu Aliyu Mohammed – Director, Monitoring and Evaluation
Nasir Ayitogo – Technical Assistant to the MD/CE
Oriyomi Gbadamosi – Personal Assistant to the MD/CE
Oluwabukola A. Akano – Assistant Manager, Strategic Communications
Rita Ijeoma Nwafor – Deputy Manager, Client Support and Services
Nazifi Bature – Assistant Manager, Protocol
Focus on Student Loan Awareness
The visit featured a sensitization session aimed at strengthening understanding of the NELFUND Student Loan Scheme among students and university stakeholders. Discussions focused on the eligibility requirements, operational framework, challenges and future prospects of the programme.
Participants were also informed about the significance of the loan facility and the accompanying student upkeep support designed to help beneficiaries manage basic living expenses while pursuing their studies.
Students of the university actively engaged the NELFUND team during an interactive question-and-answer session, seeking clarification on the application process and the benefits available under the scheme.
Dedicated NELFUND Directorate at UNIBEN
During the visit, the delegation toured a dedicated directorate established for NELFUND within the university. The centre is staffed with designated personnel and includes a resource centre to support students seeking information about the loan programme.
The team also met with a group of 44 students appointed as NELFUND Ambassadors across different departments of the university. Each of the ambassadors pledged to support the initiative by promoting awareness and assisting fellow students with information about the scheme.
NELFUND reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that no eligible Nigerian student is left behind in accessing higher education opportunities.
Oluwabukola A. Akano
For the Director, Strategic Communications.
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