NELFUND; South East remains lowest in application –Okafor …Otti calls for sensitization

From Henrietta Ashikodi, Umuahia

The Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds,(NELFUND) Engr. Nneamaka Okafor has revealed that South East has the lowest list of students that have applied for the loan, meant for Nigerian students in institutions of higher learning.

Nneamaka Okafor made the call when she visited the governor of Abia state, Dr Alex Otti.

She said she came to seek partnership with the State government in sensitizing the people about the students’ loan, adding that the South East has the lowest list of those that have been applying for it.

She reiterated that the opportunity for accessing the students’ loan started in April 2024, noting that the loan is for students in government institutions of higher learning such as university, polytechnic and college of education.

She further made it public that the loan which is interest -free is expected to be paid back within 10 years starting from two years after the beneficiary would have completed his youth service.

Engr Okafor appreciated the giant strides of the Governor in various sectors of the economy and described him as one who has performed miracle in Abia state, she requested for a space for an office accommodation.

Responding, Governor, Otti appreciated her visit and call for adequate sensitization on the merit of NELFUND for Nigerian students in institutions of higher learning.

He said that if the people are well – informed about the programme they would likely participate in the programme and access the students’ loan to enable them pursue their academic dreams.

Otti stated that an average Igbo man has an attitude towards loan, hence, the need for the advocacy.

“You see our people have this attitude towards loan except if they’ve tried everything. Because once you are owing, even the business people when they borrow they want to pay back.

“This is where advocacy comes in. I am not too sure that our people know that it is interest – free, may be they know, but their attitude towards borrowing still has something to do with it. I think we need to sensitize them.

“Maybe we need to do a little bit more because this is a very good initiative particularly for students who are from indigent homes.

“So, I am sure that if our people understand clearly that nobody would be chasing them to pay back the loan when they have no means of livelihood.

“So, we need to do a whole lot more in Abia State University, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike even though it is a federal university”. The governor reiterated.

The Governor charged the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Emeh Uche to take it upon herself to push the advocacy aggressively across the tertiary institutions in the State.

He assured the Director Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds that Abia State is ready to assist in the area of providing space for the agency as well as provide every other necessary logistics for the smooth operation of the office.

Otti used the opportunity to inform the gathering that since the introduction of free education at primary and secondary school levels in the State, there has been an upsurge in the schools in terms of enrollments and the policy is working effectively.

“Since we started in January this year, there has been an upsurge in registration.Initially we were thinking we will have to enforce it. So, we said, if you are of school age and we see you hawking banana and groundnut, we will arrest you and exchange you with your parents.

“What we found is that schools are busting and there is nobody to arrest, people want to go to school ,” the Chief executive noted.

Among those present are, Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Emeh Uche, the of Rector Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba, Dr. Christopher Okoro were among top government officials present at the visit.