The Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagements, Sunday Asefon, has said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is a game changer that is reshaping the nation’s education landscape.
He said the initiative, with over N100 billion given as soft loan to millions of students across the country, has become a transformative force making university education more accessible to those from disadvantaged background.
Asefon spoke at the weekend while distributing free Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms to 500 indigenes of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.
The presidential aide noted that the impact of NELFUND was already being felt across the country with beneficiary students testifying to improved academic performance and reduction in school dropouts among youths.
He urged the students to properly use the loan to further their education.
Asefon said the free JAMB forms would enable indigent beneficiaries to take the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
The presidential aide said five of the beneficiaries, who were the best in the last UTME, would also get scholarships up to their final year through the son of the President, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, while others who also performed well would get computer laptops as a motivation.
He added that 50 of the forms would be distributed to senior secondary (SS) 3 pupils of Ado Grammar School, his alma mater, while the remaining 450 would be distributed to beneficiaries drawn from Ado Local Government Area.
The former students’ leader explained that his action was meant to reduce illiteracy and ensure that no youth is inhibited from getting tertiary education due to poverty, in line with the vision of President Tinubu’s administration.
He said: “This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in ensuring that no deserving Nigerian youth is denied access to education due to financial constraints.
“I commend the efforts of all stakeholders who continue to support students’ welfare and educational advancement. It is our collective responsibility to create opportunities for young Nigerians to thrive academically and contribute meaningfully to society.
“This is just one of many interventions designed to ensure that our students receive the necessary support to excel. I assure Nigerian students of my unwavering commitment to championing their cause and advocating for policies that prioritise their educational needs,” Asefon added.
