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Ikenna Ngere
Guest
The Managing Director of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund), Dr. Akintunde Sawyyer, has reassured students that they will not face harassment on repaying their educational loans after graduation.
Naija News reports that Dr. Sawyyer made this statement during a sensitization meeting with students at Ebonyi State University (EBSU) in Abakaliki on Thursday.
The event, which took place on the university campus, also saw the participation of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, and Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Sunday Asefon.
Dr. Sawyyer explained that the primary purpose of the engagement was to inform students of the various benefits associated with the education loan, which aims to provide accessible tertiary education to all students, regardless of their financial standing.
He emphasized that the application process has been streamlined to make it simple and efficient, minimizing human involvement to ensure no student is unjustly denied access to the loan.
Addressing concerns about potential harassment for loan repayment, Dr. Sawyyer clarified that the loan is interest-free, and repayment only begins two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), provided the student is employed.
He further assured that no one would be pursued for repayment if they were still unemployed.
“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.
“In addition to tuition fees, which are paid directly to the institution, students will also receive monthly stipends for their upkeep,” Dr. Sawyyer added, encouraging students to take advantage of the opportunity to fund their education without worry.
NANS President, Lucky Emonefe, also spoke at the meeting, urging students to embrace the loan scheme.
He dispelled misconceptions that the system was only for a select few, assuring the students that all who applied through the designated portal would be eligible.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South East), Mrs. Chioma Nweze, highlighted the need for increased interest in the loan program within the South East region.
She emphasized that the loan is available to all Nigerian students, regardless of their background, and encouraged them not to miss out on the opportunity.
“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.
Ebonyi State University Vice Chancellor, Prof. Chigozie Ogbu, who was also present at the meeting, commended NELFund for organizing the sensitization session.
He acknowledged the challenges encountered by some students during the application process and urged NELFund to address these issues for a smoother experience.
“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,” Prof. Ogbu concluded.
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