The Managing Director of Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund), Dr. Akintunde Sawyyer, said beneficiaries won’t be harassed into repaying the loan upon graduation.
Sawyyer stated this, Thursday, in Abakaliki, when he engaged in a sensitisation meeting with students of the Ebonyi State University (EBSU), Abakaliki, alongside the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS).
Also at the engagement meeting, held at the school campus in Abakaliki, were senior officials of NELFund, the National President of NANS, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon.
Addressing the students, the NELFund MD, Dr. Akintunde Sawyyer, said the engagement was designed to expose the students to the huge benefits of the loan and the good intentions of the Federal Government, “which is for all eligible students to access quality tertiary education, irrespective of financial background.”
He highlighted the processes of applying for the loan, revealing that NELFund made the process simple and seamless, with less human interaction so that no one can be denied the opportunity of accessing the loan for education.
He neutralised the fear of the students that they would be harassed or intimidated if they defaulted in repaying the loan.
He said the loan is interest-free and a student can only start repaying the loan two years after the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) and when working.
The NELFund MD explained that no one is or will be harassed for not repaying the loan.
He further informed the students that in addition to the tuition fees, which are paid 100 per cent to the institutions, students are given monthly stipends for upkeep.
“You will start loan repayment two years of graduation and completion of NYSC. Please, also note that you cannot be reached for repayment of the loan if you are not working yet.
*So, don’t deny yourself the opportunity to get education because of funds. Please, take advantage of this great opportunity to acquire education without stress,” he said.
Also speaking, NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, allayed the fear of the students and encourage them to embrace the opportunity, so as not to lose out in the opportunity.
He assured them of the genuineness of the system, adding that it was not for a few privileged people as being erroneously believed by many people, but for all students who indicated interest and submitted the necessary information to the provided portal.
Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze, said the sensitisation meeting became necessary following the obvious poor interest of students in the South East schools to access the loan.
“We shouldn’t be lagging behind in things like this. This loan is available for all Nigerian students to assess, irrespective of region, religion, political affiliation, or other differences.
“If people from other regions are already enjoying the services, why should we be holding back? It’s important we leverage this opportunity to support our education,” she said.
On his part, EBSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, who served as a two-term deputy governor of the state, appreciated NELFund for the sensitisation opportunity.
He highlighted some of the challenges they encountered in the cause of the application and appealed to NELFund management to address the issues to enable seamless application.
He assured NELFund that the school management will continue to enlighten students on the benefits of the student loan, in addition to providing the necessary guide for seamless application.
“We have done this sensitisation in the past and we saw the positive response we received from students. The presence of senior NELFund and NANS officials in this engagement with students will further strengthen the confidence and trust of the students to the credibility and genuineness of the process,” he said.