The Edo State Government has entered into partnership with Nigerian Education Loan Fund to make tertiary education accessible and affordable to its citizens in the state-owned tertiary institutions.
The Commissioner for Education, Dr Pally Iyamu, on Monday said that the partnership would guarantee Edo students access to university and tertiary education without paying school fees immediately.
He also said that it would give the students access to a monthly stipend meant to offset their expenses while they were in school.
He said, “This is to let Edo people know that the state government has entered into partnership with Nigerian Education Loan Fund to make tertiary education accessible and affordable to its citizens in the state-owned tertiary Institutions.
“I am calling on all students across the various tertiary institutions in the state to take advantage of this great initiative by the state government.”
Stressing the state government’s resolve to lessen parents’ financial burdens and obligations, Dr. Iyamu said the partnership will be a big relief to parents, who previously had to cough out hundreds of thousands of naira for their children ‘s school fees.
Iyamu appreciated the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating a road map where all students can thrive, irrespective of their background.
This partnership is expected to help checkmate the incidence of student dropouts and other hindrances to attaining higher degrees due to financial restraints.
The commissioner said a two-day sensitisation programme is scheduled for March 11 and 12 across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, will host the programme in Edo South on March 11, while AAU Student Conference Centre, Ekpoma, and Edo University, Iyanmo, will serve as the venue for the programme in Edo Central and Edo North, respectively, on March 12.
