Shortly after his arrival in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director/Chief Executive of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, led his delegation to the Rivers State Government House, where he paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, GSSRS.
The visit formed part of NELFUND’s ongoing nationwide engagement with critical stakeholders to deepen collaboration and strengthen institutional support for the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
During the meeting, Mr. Sawyerr formally presented NELFUND’s one-year progress report, highlighting key milestones recorded since the operationalization of the Fund.
He outlined the number of beneficiary institutions across the country, the volume of student applications processed, and the cumulative disbursements made for tuition and upkeep.
He emphasized that the initiative, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, was designed to remove financial barriers to tertiary education and ensure that no qualified Nigerian student is denied access to higher education on account of economic constraints.
The Managing Director commended the Rivers State Government for its continued commitment to educational development and youth empowerment. He noted that Rivers State, with its vibrant student population and strategic importance in the South-South region, remains a critical partner in expanding the reach and impact of the student loan scheme.
In his response, His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, welcomed the delegation and expressed appreciation for the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to education.
He acknowledged the transformative potential of the student loan programme and assured the NELFUND team of the state government’s readiness to collaborate in mobilizing institutions and students across Rivers State to take advantage of the initiative.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.