The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, has urged tertiary students across the North Central geo-political zone to take advantage of the Fund’s N303 billion disbursements to higher institutions to support their education.
Sawyerr said the funds were approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within the last two years, adding that more than 850,000 Nigerians had so far benefited from the Federal Government’s student loan scheme out of over one million applications received by NELFUND.
He disclosed this on Friday during the “Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme for North Central Zone” held at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Addressing participants at the event, Sawyerr said the student loan scheme was designed to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent young Nigerians from accessing higher education.
He said the Federal Government, through NELFUND, had taken steps to reduce the financial burden of education on parents and students, particularly those from low-income backgrounds.
According to him, President Tinubu recognised that young Nigerians should not be left without opportunities to pursue education simply because they could not afford it.
He said, “The president has recognised this, and he said we cannot let young people just be roaming around the street for any reason, not because they don’t want to learn but because they don’t have money or they didn’t come from rich homes. The president said that is not acceptable.”
Sawyerr urged students in the North Central region to apply for the loans if they met the eligibility requirements, stressing that applicants did not need personal connections to access the scheme.
He explained that the application process was entirely digital and that eligible students could apply online by providing the required information.
“President Bola Tinubu has made the money available; just make sure that you are qualified for it. The system he has allowed us to put in place is digital-based. If you want to get this loan, you don’t need to know anybody,” he said.
The NELFUND boss also commended the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Asefon Sunday, for his efforts in strengthening engagement between the Federal Government and Nigerian students.
On his part, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director of University Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Kareem Lateef, said the student loan scheme demonstrated the Tinubu administration’s commitment to investing in Nigerian students.
He said the initiative would help prepare young Nigerians for leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and participation in the digital economy.
Also speaking, Sunday urged student leaders to promote academic excellence, uphold integrity, encourage dialogue and foster peace and coexistence within their institutions and communities.
He pledged to continue engaging Nigerian students, listening to their concerns and creating platforms to support their academic, economic and social development.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Lafia, Prof Mohammed Kida, said the engagement affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to student development and participation in national affairs.
Participants at the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration Programme were drawn from tertiary institutions across the North Central geo-political zone.
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