NELFUND: Northern senators praise Tinubu, advocate for more access for Northern youth
The joint Northern Senators Forum of the 10th National Assembly has appreciated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leadership of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for implementing the national student loan scheme.
In a letter signed by the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdul’aziz Musa Yar’adua, the forum acknowledged the impactful strides of the scheme across tertiary institutions, particularly in Northern Nigeria.
The forum noted that the scheme, led by NELFUND’s Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, and Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has quickly gained traction, with students from institutions such as Bayero University Kano, University of Maiduguri, and Federal University Dutsin-Ma being prominent beneficiaries in the early stages. Over 16,000 students have already benefited from this initiative, underscoring the scheme’s significance in increasing educational access for youth across Nigeria.
The letter reads, “On behalf of the Northern Senators, I wish to most respectfully express our profound gratitude to His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, and the eminent Nigerians in the Board and Management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND); led by Mr Jim Ovia, as Chairman and Mr Akintunde Sawyerr as MD/CEO.
“Our expression of deep appreciation is in view of the enormity of the impact of the Student Loans Scheme, which has been initiated with instant impact across tertiary institutions in Nigeria. The students from tertiary institutions in the North have shown belief in and responsiveness to the scheme, and it is heartwarming to find Bayero University Kano, University of Maiduguri and Federal University Dutsin-Ma, leading the charts of beneficiaries in the early days of the scheme, with over 16,000 combined number of beneficiaries, amongst other students from numerous other institutions.
“We will not lose sight of the fact that this program is a national scheme, and therefore should command a semblance of balance and spread across the country’s geo-political zones. However, considering the level of youth restiveness and violent extremism that has plagued the North for over a decade-and-a- half, it will not be out of place for the government to deliberately target a geometric enhancement of access to tertiary education mainly for young northerners. This scheme has bolstered chances of these young citizens to return to school and achieve gainful employment”, added the statement.
“As a forum of northern legislators, we acknowledge the impact of the historic Act setting up NELFUND and the propensity of the initiative to enable progress, especially in reducing insecurity and improving living standards across our communities.
“Finally, we wish to encourage northern state governments to sustain the active participation of citizens by ensuring active collaboration with NELFUND in undertaking awareness campaigns across tertiary institutions within their states.
