The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has visited Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to engage with students, educators, and government officials, highlighting the benefits of the NELFUND initiative.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu introduced the student loan scheme as part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, intended to provide all higher institution students with access to financial resources, enabling them to pursue their educational goals and aspirations at ease.
Sawyerr who was received by the Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to revitalizing education in the country.
He noted that the loan programme is designed to also reduce unproductivity and unhappiness amongst Nigerian students, which often lead to broader societal issues.
Sawyerr explained the loan’s modalities, which include creating an online profile as a prerequisite for application, clarifying that the loan is interest-free and does not require a fixed repayment period, and making it accessible and flexible for students.
Borno State Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Lawan Abba Wakilbe, reiterated the state government’s commitment to facilitating student access to the loan.
He announced the establishment of a dedicated desk officer for NELFUND in the state Ali Sheriff to work in collaboration with the Special Adviser to Governor Zulum on Higher Education and other educators.
This initiative, Wakilbe added will guide students throughout the application process and ensure they fully understand THE benefits of the loan, which he described as a low-risk grant and encouraged all eligible students to take advantage of the programme.
During the session, questions were raised seeking further clarification, and the Managing Director provided detailed responses, shedding more light on the programme and its benefits.
