The Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has suspended its policy requiring students to provide proof of fee payment before sitting for examinations, specifically for those applying for financial aid through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The institution’s Rector, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi, made the announcement on Tuesday during a sensitization program held at the polytechnic’s main campus.
He assured students that they would no longer be removed from examination halls for unpaid fees if they had registered with NELFUND.
“The days of preventing students from taking exams due to non-payment of fees are over. We will simply check the NELFUND portal, and if a student is registered, they will not be sent out,” Omoruyi stated.
He praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating the student loan scheme and commended the Edo State Government for its support. He also lauded NELFUND for reducing the financial burden on students by covering tuition fees and providing upkeep allowances.
However, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, raised concerns that Edo Polytechnic had not yet submitted its students’ data for formal enrollment in the loan scheme.
Represented by Lami Suwaid, the Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Sawyerr urged the institution to take advantage of the ongoing registration cycle for the 2024/2025 academic session to enable more students to benefit.
“In the 2023/2024 session, NELFUND successfully enrolled students from 259 institutions and disbursed billions of naira. However, we observed that institutions in the South-South and South-East had the lowest registration rates. We hope to see a significant improvement,” he noted.
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to collaborating with NELFUND to enhance access to education.
“Every Edo child must have access to quality education. With NELFUND, students no longer need to depend on relatives abroad for financial support. This scheme provides a clear path to achieving their academic dreams,” Iyamu said.
Victor Oboh, a Business Administration student at Edo Polytechnic, expressed excitement about the initiative, noting that many students were eager to take advantage of the opportunity to continue their education without financial barriers.
The sensitization event, attended by students, parents, and government officials, also featured representatives from Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology, as well as Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The session included a detailed presentation on the application process and a Q&A segment.
Meanwhile, NELFUND has expressed interest in partnering with the Edo State Government on an upcoming skills acquisition program aimed at equipping students with vocational and technical skills.
During an inspection of training facilities at Benin Technical College, Segun Akinyelure, NELFUND’s Director of Fund Mobilization, emphasized that the initiative would prepare students for the modern job market by fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and practical skills development.
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