The Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has suspended its policy requiring students to present proof of fee payment during examinations for those that will be applying for student loans through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The Rector of the Polytechnic, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi, made the announcement during a sensitisation programme organised by NELFUND at the polytechnic’s main campus in Usen.
“The issue of driving students during examinations is now over. We will no longer be checking your slips — if you have paid your fees or not. It is just to check the (NELFUND) portal, and if you have registered, there will not be a need to be driven out,” he said.
Omoruyi praised President Bola Tinubu for initiating the scheme and commended the Edo State government for supporting the programme.
He also applauded NELFUND for easing the financial burden on Nigerian students through school fee coverage and upkeep allowances.
On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, expressed concern that the polytechnic was yet to submit students’ data to formally kickstart the process for the registration of its students for the scheme.
Represented by Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Sawyerr urged the institution to take advantage of the new registration cycle for the 2024/2025 academic session by ensuring students massively register for the scheme.
“During the 2023/2024 session, NELFUND proudly enrolled 259 institutions. We also had disbursement of billions of naira to students,” he said.
However, Sawyerr noted that institutions in the South-South and South-East regions had the lowest registration rates, calling for a turnaround.
Also speaking at the event, Commissioner for Education, Edo State, Dr Paddy Iyamu, expressed the readiness of the Edo government to collaborate with NELFUND to improve on the already recorded gains of the scheme in Edo State.
“Every Edo child must have access to education. We want to give you the platform (NELFUND) to achieve your dreams and stop school dropouts,” he said.
Iyamu added that with NELFUND’s intervention, students would no longer need to rely on family members abroad for financial support.
“You don’t need your uncles and aunties in Spain to come and send you money anymore before you go to school. Once you are focused, once you are committed, once you are dedicated, next step, you have a platform to shine,” he said.
Oboh Victor, a Business Administration student at Edo Polytechnic, expressed excitement about the loan scheme, stating that many students were eager to utilise the opportunity to pursue their education without financial hindrance.
The event, which attracted students, parents, government officials, among others, also witnessed the presence of heads of Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology and Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
It also featured a detailed presentation on the application process, along with a question-and-answer session.
Meanwhile, NELFUND has expressed its willingness to partner with the Edo State government on its soon-to-commence comprehensive skills acquisition programme designed to provide training in various vocational and technical fields to students across the country.
Director of Fund Mobilisation, NELFUND, Segun Akinyelure, stated this during the NELFUND’s sensitisation team’s stopover at Benin Technical College, Benin City, to inspect training facilities in the institution.
The training programme is designed to prepare students to meet the demands of the modern job market by fostering skills, entrepreneurship, and innovation amongst young people.
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