By Felix Khanoba
The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has extended its advocacy and awareness campaign to students at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK).
According to NELFUND, many students expressed concerns about being overlooked in the newly established student loan scheme.
This prompted NELFUND to reach out and provide them with crucial information regarding the financial aid initiative, which is being implemented by the organization.
NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyyer, led a team of senior officials to engage with the students.
The National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Comrade Lucky Emonefe, also participated in the advocacy efforts, alongside Chioma Nweze, the Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), who helped mobilize resources for the event.
Sawyyer expressed disappointment in the low participation of South East students in the scheme, noting that the programme was designed to alleviate the financial burden on students and their families. He explained that the loan offers students a way to finance their education without the stress of immediate repayment.
While addressing students at UNN, Sawyyer highlighted that the student loan scheme, introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aims to provide affordable loans to underprivileged students, ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent anyone from accessing higher education.
He walked the students through the application process, encouraging them to visit the NELFUND website for detailed information and to carefully complete their applications to avoid errors.
He said: “We had to come and engage you in this interactive session because of the interest of President Tinubu in your future, which can become brighter and better if quality and affordable education is added to whatever knowledge you must have obtained.”
He reassured the students that the loan is interest-free and tailored for anyone seeking tertiary education. Repayment, he explained, begins two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and can be deferred if employment is delayed.
At Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Sawyyer dispelled concerns that the loan was a government ploy to burden students with debt.
“This is a false information that should be outrightly disregarded. The student loan is an idea that was conceived to take away financial burden from parents and students. The process is simple and the repayment system also is not stressful and choking.
“Let me assure you tha no one will call, text or harass you about the loan. You pay back the loan at your pace without any form of harassment. You can choose to start the repayment of the loan immediately after your NYSC if you are able to secure a job.
“But if you venture into private business or self employment, you will be expected to remit 10 per cent of your profit as loan repayment. This is to enable others have enough money to access for their own education. Please save your parents the stress and access the loan. There’s also monthly stipends that can also access for your upkeep.”
Prof. Romanus Ezeokonkwo, the Acting Vice Chancellor of UNN, expressed gratitude to NELFUND for the initiative and pledged to increase awareness among students about the loan’s benefits.
Similarly, Benedict Soludo, Special Assistant to the Anambra State Governor on Students Affairs, commended President Bola Tinubu for the initiative.
He pledged to continue raising awareness among students about the loan and suggested that parents and traditional rulers also be engaged to encourage their children to participate, thereby easing financial pressure on families.
