The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (Nelfund) management, led by Managing Director Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, along with Executive Director of Operations Mustapha Iyal and President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) Comr. Lucky Emonefe, visited Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) in Anambra State on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
The visit aimed to promote awareness of Nelfund among students from the South Eastern region of Nigeria and encourage enrollment into the loan program.
The delegation was warmly received by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Kate Azuka Omenugha, who expressed her support for the initiative.
During the briefing, Mr. Sawyer emphasized the vital role of education in societal development. “A more educated populace contributes to societal progress, and no one should be denied the chance to benefit from education,” he stated, highlighting the challenges faced by students who drop out due to financial constraints.
Mr. Sawyer elaborated on the Federal Government’s vision under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which aims to mitigate these financial burdens through Nelfund’s policy.
“Nelfund aims to ease the financial burden of tuition by providing loans with extended repayment options,” he explained, underlining the program’s potential to transform the educational landscape for many students.
In his remarks, the Managing Director expressed his gratitude to Prof. Omenugha for her support and requested further collaboration to enhance awareness of the program at COOU.
Responding to the presentation, Prof. Omenugha thanked Nelfund and the NANS leadership for their efforts to provide financial opportunities to students across Nigeria. “I assure you that COOU students will respond positively and apply to the program,” she affirmed, reinforcing the university’s commitment to supporting its students in accessing educational resources.