The Federal Government has announced a definitive opening of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund) portal for eligible students in March. The scheme, initially planned to commence between September and October 2023, was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances, with a revised timeline set for January.
Dr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Executive Secretary of NELFund, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. He urged eligible students to register to access the fund.
President Bola Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Bill into law on June 12, 2023, enabling indigent students to access interest-free loans for education in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
Explaining the delay, Sawyerr noted that the process is technically driven and requires necessary measures for proper execution. He emphasized the importance of getting the program right, stating that it is designed to run beyond his tenure.
Sawyerr reiterated President Tinubu's commitment to ensuring that lack of finance should not hinder any student in Nigeria from pursuing education at a tertiary level. The scheme targets indigent Nigerian students in tertiary institutions, and applications will be done online.
"We want this to be a process that is fair to all, and we will advertise the portal widely so that applicants can go to the website to fill out forms and answer questions. Based on their input and answers, the system will determine their eligibility," Sawyerr explained.
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