President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on South East students to cue into the federal government student Loan programmed to address the current economic challenges facing the country.
The President represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Community Engagement South East region, Mrs Chioma Nweze, gave the charge when she led Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) managing Director Akintunde Sawyer and team to Ebonyi State University (EBSU) to enlighten students on the need to be part of the exercise and others.
According to Nweze, the NELFund exercise, which is also part of Tinubu-led government efforts to address Nigeria’s economic challenges through various poverty alleviation programs, encouraged students and lecturers to also pursue research grants and collaborations, develop interdisciplinary programs, engage in community outreach, extension services and participate in professional development opportunities.
She noted that the Strategic shift will enable the citadel of learning in Nigeria to become an incubator of ideals, fostering creativity, innovation, and progress. She then urged the students and lecturers to remain optimistic and engaged in the collective efforts to build a better future.
She said; “To achieve this, we must revamp our curriculum to focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. While we liberal sciences remain essential for understanding social relations, we must prioritise areas that will bridge the technology gap between the developed and developing world. By doing so, we can cultivate our own Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, Paul Allen, and Mark Zuckerberg visionaries who will shape Nigeria’s future.
“The purpose of this south east engagement is to educate Nigerian universities and students on the importance of NELFUND and why the students need the loan, What they should do to access the loan and why they should tell other Nigerian students to do what they are doing. South-East has taken the forefront in a lot of things, and we want to tell you that there is nothing wrong with taking the loan.
“Anything that the federal government brings, let’s be part of it; if it is grants, let’s take it; and if it is loan, let’s take it, and if it is money for research, let’s take it. Let our universities be at the forefront and we shouldn’t be last.
“Today’s engagement is crucial as we delve into the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), its objectives, eligibility criteria, and application process. This initiative is part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s efforts to address Nigeria’s economic challenges through various poverty alleviation programmes. It’s essential to note that these policies are still unfolding, and their effectiveness will manifest in fullness of time,” she said.
In his part, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sanyerr, who said he came to reconnect students with Nigeria, urged them to participate in the no-interest loan from the government. According to him, students are expected to offset the loan when they get a white-collar job.
“I am here in the South East region to plead with the students, that they must apply for this loan to enable them overcome their challenges.
“The main purpose that I’m here in the south east is to let the people of the area know that the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has fulfilled an election promise, to affect many areas of the lives of Nigerian citizens, and education is one of them. And one of the programs within activation is this student loan fund. Which seeks to provide loans to students who are Nigerian, who have the capacity and ability to engage and take their education further,” he stated.
Welcoming the visitors to the university, the vice chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, lauded the President for approving the students loan. According to him, the loan will help to tackle the rate of student dropout and reduce social vices in the country.
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