A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students’ Engagements, Sunday Asefon, has disclosed that the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), codenamed students’ loans, has helped dismantle the monsters of poverty, illiteracy, and school dropout among Nigerian youth.
Asefon, former President, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), said with over N100 billion spent to give soft loan to students, that university education has now become accessible to students from poor backgrounds.
The presidential aide said this on Saturday while distributing free Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms to 500 indigenes of Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital.
He said the generous donation would afford the indigent beneficiaries to partake in the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME).
At the occasion, Asefon revealed that five of the beneficiaries, who emerged best in the UTME, will be given scholarships in the tertiary institution through support from the son of the President, Mr. Seyi Tinubu, while others who performed well will be given computer laptops as a motivation.
Asefon added that Tinubu perceives education remains the most powerful tool for both personal and national development and veracious opportunity to eliminate poverty in the system.
He said the foregoing accounted for why President Tinubu initiated the establishment of the NELFUND to provide students with soft loans to finance tertiary education, saying he is not only investing in the future of these students but also strengthening the foundation of the nation’s progress.
According to him, ”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 prioritize their educational needs.”
Speaking further he urged the students to ensure they access the loan anytime the opportunity beckons to further their education.
Asefon, a native of Ado Ekiti and graduate of Ekiti State University, revealed that 50 out of the forms would be distributed to the SS3 students of Ado Grammar School, his alma mater, while the remaining 450 will be distributed to beneficiaries drawn from Ado Local Government.
