The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has been instrumental in reducing poverty, illiteracy, and school dropout rates among Nigerian youth, according to Sunday Asefon, the Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students’ Engagements.
Speaking on Saturday at an event where he distributed 500 free Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) forms to indigent students in Ado Ekiti, Asefon emphasized the impact of over N100 billion already disbursed through NELFUND to support students from underprivileged backgrounds.
“This initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in ensuring that no deserving Nigerian youth is denied access to education due to financial constraints,” Asefon stated.
To further encourage academic excellence, Asefon announced that five top-performing students in the upcoming UTME would receive scholarships for their tertiary education, supported by Seyi Tinubu, the President’s son. Additionally, other high achievers would be awarded laptops to aid their studies.
Asefon urged students to take advantage of the interest-free NELFUND loans to pursue higher education, emphasizing that President Tinubu’s administration is committed to eliminating financial barriers to learning.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Asefon recounted how his late mother had to sell personal belongings to afford his JAMB form, underscoring the significance of his initiative.
“If my mother could go to that extent, there is nothing wrong with me purchasing free JAMB forms for others. Many students in the past dropped out due to financial difficulties, but with NELFUND, such challenges are being addressed,” he said.
He encouraged beneficiaries to focus on their education, assuring them that their background should not limit their future ambitions.
“This year, we are giving out 500 forms, but next year, it will be in the thousands. However, you must encourage me by studying hard and performing well,” he added.
The initiative also saw 50 forms allocated to SS3 students of Ado Grammar School, Asefon’s alma mater, while the remaining 450 were distributed to students across Ado Local Government.
Asefon reaffirmed his commitment to supporting academically gifted but financially disadvantaged students, assuring them that his intervention is purely for educational advancement, not politics.
