The long wait is over as the federal government finally announced the date for the opening of the portal for student loan applications.
May 24, 2024, is the deal day, as confirmed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) on Thursday evening.
Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFUND, said in a statement made available to newsmen, that through the portal, students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints.”
According to him, the opening marks a significant milestone in the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students.
The statement, signed by Nasir Ayitogo, NELFUND’s spokesperson, said the portal provides a user-friendly interface for students to submit their loan applications conveniently.
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He explained that students can access the portal at www.nelf.gov.ng to begin applications and contact the Fund for assistance, via email at info@nelf.gov.ng or their social media handles.
“We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of this opportunity to invest in their future and contribute to the growth and development of our nation,” he added.
Grassroots Parrot reports that the student loan scheme has suffered a lot of setbacks in the past over the incessant postponement of its implementation.
The Federal Government failed to meet the proposed February 26, 2024, kickoff date for the scheme, and slated March 1, 2024, as a new date for the launch.
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President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law in June 2023 to establish a Students Loan Fund (SLF) to provide interest-free loans to Nigerians seeking higher education.
The bill, sponsored by Femi Gbajabiamila, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, was initially planned to kick off between September and October 2023.
Tinubu later assured the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) when they visited him at the State House, Abuja, that the scheme would begin once its expansion to accommodate extra features, including vocational studies, was done.