Abakaliki, Nigeria – The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Community Engagement (South East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze, says that the students loan scheme is a veritable catalyst for poverty alleviation.
Nweze made the declaration on Saturday while addressing students during the maiden south east citizens engagement, at the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.
The president’s aide said that the engagement was to enlighten students on the need to apply for loans and other poverty alleviation opportunities available to the academic community.
“The purpose of this south east engagement is to educate Nigerian universities and students on the importance of accessing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
“The students should know why they need the loan; What they should do to access it and why they should tell other Nigerian students to do what they are doing.
“South East has taken the lead in a lot of issues in the country and we want to enlighten our students that there is nothing wrong in obtaining the loans.”
She noted that the south east should avail itself of Federal Government’s educational opportunities, grants, loans and research funds, among others, to place its universities at the forefront.
“The NELFUND initiative is a poverty alleviation programme of President Tinubu’s administration in the area of education.
“The effectiveness of this policy among poverty alleviating measures of the present administration, will manifest in the fullness of time.”
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said the scheme will fail on its mandate if alstudents fail to access the loans.
“The students should know that with this loan, President Tinubu has fulfilled an election promise to positively impact on the the lives of Nigerian citizens.
“Education is one of these areas and this loan will provide an opportunity for Nigerian students to enhance their academic pursuits.”
The Vice Chancellor of Ebonyi State University, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, in his remarks, applauded President Tinubu for approving the loan which will help tackle the rate of student dropouts.
“The policy will also reduce social vices and generally enhance the quality of education in the country.”
Goodwill messages were delivered on the occasion by the Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Polycarp Chigbu.
