Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has called for adequate sensitization on the benefits of the National Education Loan Funds (NELFUND) for Nigerian students in institutions of higher learning.
Governor Otti who made the call when he received in audience, a delegation of the Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds, Lady Nneamaka Okafor, expressed the hope that Abia students in higher institutions would identify with the programme as soon as they are well informed of it.
He described the program as a good initiative as it is meant to serve the interest of indigent students in institutions of higher learning and urged the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Emeh Uche to embark on aggressive advocacy across tertiary institutions in the state.
The Governor assured the Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds that Abia State is ready to assist in the area of providing space for the Agency and other necessary logistics for its smooth operation.
The State chief executive used the opportunity to inform that since the introduction of free education at primary and secondary levels in the state, there has been an upsurge in schools in terms of enrollments.
Speaking earlier, the Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds, Lady Nneamaka Okafor, said she came to seek partnership with the State government in sensitizing the people about the Students’ Loan Scheme, noting that the South East Zone has the lowest application for the loan.
Lady Okafor recalled that the Scheme commenced in April last year, disclosing that the loan is for students in government institutions of higher learning such as universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.
She further made it clear that the loan which is interest-free is expected to be paid back within ten years starting from two years after the beneficiary would have completed his or her youth service.
