The Managing Director, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, has urged tertiary students from across the North Central geo-political zone of the country to key into the Fund’s N303 billion in disbursements to higher institutions to support their education.

He said the funds were approved by President Bola Tinubu within the last two years, adding that so far, no fewer than 850,000 citizens have benefited from the Federal Government’s student loan scheme, following the Fund’s receipt of over one million loan applications.

Sawyerr disclosed on Friday during the “Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Digital Acceleration programme for North Central Zone,” which was held at the Federal University of Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Addressing the participants, Sawyerr explained that for the first time in the history of the country, the president took the education financial burden off the shoulders of parents and students by ensuring that nobody misses the opportunity of getting educated because of lack of money or sponsors.

He said, “The president has recognised this, and he said we cannot let young people just be roaming around the street for any reason, not because they don’t want to learn but because they don’t have money or they didn’t come from rich homes. The president said that is not acceptable.

“He, therefore, deployed this programme known as NELFUND, to ensure that if you want to get an education, which will help you to be a great citizen, you must not be prevented from getting that opportunity simply because you don’t come from a rich home.”

The NELFUND boss further appreciated the Senior Special Assistant on Students Engagement to the President, Asefon Sunday, for working tirelessly to drive the process to serve as a bridge between the students and the government by ensuring that the mandate of the Fund is achieved.

Sawyerr charged students from the North Central region of the country to key into the programme, assuring that they don’t need to know anybody to access the loans, as all the information needed is on the internet for eligible students to apply.

“President Bola Tinubu has made the money available; just make sure that you are qualified for it. The system he has allowed us to put in place is digital-based. If you want to get this loan, you don’t need to know anybody. It doesn’t matter who I am; you don’t need to know me, you don’t need to have my number, you don’t need to connect to me. You just have to go online and put in specific pieces of information that confirm that you are qualified,” he emphasised.

On his part, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, represented by the Director, University Education, Federal Ministry of Education, Dr Kareem Lateef, said the students’ loan scheme reflects the unwavering commitment of the Tinubu administration to invest in Nigerian students and prepare them for leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship and the digital economy.

​In his address, Sunday charged student leaders to promote excellence, uphold integrity, encourage dialogue and foster peace and coexistence within their institutions and communities.

​He pledged his continued commitment to engaging Nigerian students, listening to their aspirations, and creating platforms that empower them academically, economically, and socially.

Speaking earlier in his welcome remark, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia, Prof. Mohammed Kida, said the event affirms the FG’s commitment to students’ development and engagement.

Our correspondent further reports that participants at the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement were drawn from tertiary institutions across the North Central geo-political zone of the country.