By Amah
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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday flagged off the Nigeria Education Loan Fund NELFUND.
Speaking on Wednesday, during the official launch of the NELFUND and ceremonial disbursement of funds at the State House in Abuja, the president noted how important education is in the fight against poverty and achieving national development.
According to him, education is the greatest weapon against poverty, providing vision, development, and hope, adding that there is no other way of conquering insecurity and achieving success is impossible without education.
Tinubu stressed that education provides the light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is slow.
The president also addressed the Board, members and the management of the Fund present at the launch ceremony, and reiterated his administration’s commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that the goal of his government is to build a fair society that is built on successful inclusiveness.
The president said: “What I believe is that education is the greatest weapon against poverty in any society, without education there is no vision, there is development, you cannot successfully conquer insecurity.
“Education is that light at the end of the tunnel no matter how sluggish you move, it will give you the light and the hope.
“We are investing; we don’t want to try ignorance as an alternative. We want education from foundations to the topmost level and I am glad that leadership and its leadership accepted the responsibility.
“There is hope and genuine commitment here, inclusiveness is what democracy is all about.
“Today I am fulfilling one of my greatest campaign agenda.You cannot find your way if you are not well educated; you cannot even fight terrorism and banditry.
“If we have successful inclusiveness and loans that are necessary for our people to get educated and invest in their own lives, we would have built a fair society and a promise that we will earn a banner without stain to our children.”
Tinubu also symbolically presented loan cheques to students from each geo-political zone, this flagging off the disbursement of the fund to qualified Nigerian students.
Speaking on the occasion, Jim Ovia, the Chairman of NELFUND, said: “I am grateful for the opportunity to be here today for Mr. President to formally launch the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). Mr. President, I would like to make reference to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, of which education is number four.
“The lresident has recognised that; hence, he inaugurated and also signed into law in February the NELFUND. We are all grateful for Mr. President’s time for inaugurating and also sanctioning the activities of NELFUND.’’
Akintunde Sawyerr, the Executive Secretary and Managing Director of NELFUND, disclosed that a total number of 164,000 students registered for the loan with a total number of 103,000 of them applied from May 25.
Sawyerr revealed that a total sum of N32billion is currently available for disbursement to kick start the program.
He said the aim of NELFUND is to empower Nigerian youth by providing fair transparent funding and removing financial barriers to educational opportunities and academic pursuits.
