Abuja, Nigeria – If you no don hear this one, make you open your ears well-well! Na Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), wey drop some serious gists on Thursday. E talk say within one year, NELFUND don distribute N73.2 billion to 396,252 students. Just like that, dem don marry education with cash!
Sawyerr yarn this matter at a media shindig wey dem hold in Abuja to mark one year since NELFUND don waka enter the education space. E come drop more details say NELFUND na baby born from the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, wey show for March 2024. The agency dey aim to be the main supplier of inclusive, equitable, and sustainable education financing for the country. And you know wetin dey sweet? Dem don clear N38.3 billion for tuition fees and N34.9 billion for upkeep allowance!
As e dey hot, Sawyerr don tell us say since dem open application portal in May 2024, over 645,692 applications don pour in from students wey dey try their luck across dis 36 states plus FCT. But guess wetin? Dem don scatter loan to more than 396,252 students, plenty of them na first-generation students for tertiary institutions. Na big vibes be that!
Him also yarn say NELFUND don build one fully digital loan portal wey get transparency for body to make everything smooth like butter. E gree say dem don also expand dem framework to include students wey dey learn skills for vocational training, just to follow the national employment and skills development goals wey dey shine for Nigeria.
Sawyerr drop serious ginger with dis talk: “Behind each of these numbers are real people, young Nigerians whose dreams were once delayed or denied by circumstances but who now carry a renewed sense of possibility.” E don collect letters and messages from students and parents wey show gratitude, relief, and plenty confidence in their country. Na wetin we dey talk about when we dey reason this education matter, abeg!
He no forget to hail President Bola Tinubu, for him leadership wey give birth to NELFUND. E say Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda dey inspire big reforms wey fit carry us to the future. Sawyerr believes say this NELFUND na direct answer to the vision wey dey put Nigerian youth for the center of everything wey we dey do as country. E sweet, abi? We’re all for it!
