* VC, Fasina urges students to take advantage of loan for studies
By Nudoiba Ojen
The sensitisation train of Nigerian Education Fund (NELFund) and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) reached the Federal University of Oye Ekiti on Tuesday to educate students on the benefits of student loan and provide guidance on the application process.
NELFund, in collaboration with NANS, is out to ensure that needy students do not miss out of the gesture of the Federal Government targeted at ensuring that no student drops out of school as a result of financial crisis.
Speaking at the event, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, Mr Sunday Asefon, stated that the loan scheme was fulfilment of President Bola Tinubu’s campaign promise to ensure that no indigent Nigerian youth drops out of the country’s tertiary institutions.
Asefon stressed that the President aims to eradicate the incidents of out-of-school children and Nigerian youths dropping out of various institutions.
Asefon said, “During electioneering campaign, President Tinubu promised to eradicate the incidents of out-of-school children and Nigerian youths dropping out of various institutions. Today, he has brought the student loan.
“It is sad that many of our students from the South West are not applying for this interest-free loan.
This loan is taking a heavy burden off your parents’ shoulders. So, l urge you as students to take advantage of this opportunity.
“You will refund the exact amount you borrowed and that is even when you are employed. The repayment starts from two years after your completion of your National Youth Service Corps scheme. This administration has so much good things for you,” Asefon said.
Also speaking, NELFund Director of Stakeholder Management, Mrs Yemi Caxton, said, “We are here to sensitize the students on the advantages of the loan and the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible students have access to quality tertiary education regardless of their financial background”
Caxton, who took the students through the process of application for the loan, emphasized that NELFund has taken the pains to make the application process easy for students to apply and obtain the loan for their education.
FUOYE Vice Chancellor, Prof Abayomi Fasina, hailed NELFund and NANS for the sensitisation to ensure students benefit from the loan scheme of the President Tinubu administration.
Fasina, represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof. Tajudeen Opoola, encouraged FUOYE students to urgently apply for the loan especially as the new session, 2024/2025 was just kicking off, saying, “This is an opportunity for indigent students and those who cannot afford three square meals.
“My message to all our students is to quickly assess the loan and meet with the relevant representatives of NELFUND in the University Bursary, Students Affairs Office and the Special Adviser to the VC on Students’ Affairs to assist them in applying for the loan.”
The VC, who said he had introduced a loan scheme for students and had released over six million naira as loans for school fees since 2022, said, “We cannot but appreciate President Tinubu for this laudable student loan scheme. Everyone is now being encouraged to go to school because the fear of not having money to pay for school fees would no longer be there”.
Fasina lauded the peace on campus as he appreciated the collaborative efforts of the FUOYE students leaders, NANS and the university, adding, “We are appreciating NANS and National Association of University Students (NAUS). The VC, a man who loves his students, is ever ready to take this institution to greater heights”.
NANS National President, Comrade Lucky Emonefe, who participated in the advocacy efforts, alongside other students leaders from the institution and Zone D, helped in the mobilization of resources for the event.
The Senate President of NANS, Comrade Akinteye Afeez, in a chat, said, “We are here to sensitize the students, we noticed that many students did not understand rudiment of the student loan, that is why we are here to enlighten them.
“Due to the low turn-out from the South West, we went to NELFund that our students across the nation need to be sensitize, that is why we are having the campaign across the South West states”.
The NANS Senate President, who said the loan would be paid back only when the beneficiary had started working, said, “I want to encourage all students in the South West zone to subscribe to this initiative of the President Bola Tinubu.
FUOYE Students Union Government (SUG) President, Comrade Abiodun Olorunsola, thanked the NELFund team, NANS leadership, NAUS and all students that participated in the sensitization programme.
She urged FUOYE students who are yet to apply to do so that they would not miss the opportunity.
