NANS Commends NELFUND for Including Private Institution Students in Loan Plan

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has praised the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyer, for making it possible for students of private institutions to be part of the loan programme.

According to a Friday statement signed by Emmanuel Segun Amos, NANS National Director of Private Institutions Students, the group noted that the move would advance equal educational opportunities for all students in Nigeria.

Nonetheless, NANS appealed to NELFUND to speed up the rollout of the programme so that students from private schools can start benefiting from it without unnecessary delays.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), through the office of the National Director of Private Institutions Affairs, has taken note of a statement credited to the Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, where he hinted that the student loan scheme might be extended to private institutions.

“We applaud this initiative and regard it as a positive step toward ensuring equal access to education for all Nigerian students, regardless of their institution type. Furthermore, we strongly believe this initiative will alleviate the financial burdens on students and promote academic excellence across Nigeria.

“Prior to my emergence in this office, I had worked closely with directors of NELFUND and have witnessed firsthand the credibility of the board as well as the impact it has on our educational system.

It is no longer news that most students who attend private institutions are not there because of financial abundance, but because of their desire for a system that works and an academic calendar free from strikes and shutdowns.

“Thankfully, the administration of our working and pro-student President, Bola Tinubu, has demonstrated through actions that even public institutions can function properly and that no academic or non-academic staff should have reasons to be aggrieved in ways that would disrupt the academic calendar of Nigerian students.

“We therefore call on NELFUND to expedite the implementation process, ensuring that students in private institutions can benefit from the loan scheme without undue delays.

“We call for a swift rollout of the program, with clear guidelines and eligibility requirements.

“Conclusively, we recommend that the NELFUND Board engages with stakeholders from private institutions to ensure a smooth implementation process and address any concerns or challenges that may arise.

NANS reaffirmed its dedication to collaborating with NELFUND and other involved parties to protect and advance the interests and welfare of students in the country.

They also expressed hope that the loan programme would be successfully launched and would have a positive effect on students in private universities.