FG fixes date to open students loan portal for applicants

……provides new link to access loan

By Samuel Ogunsona

The Federal Government, FG, has announced May 24, as the date for the opening of students’ loan application portal.

This was disclosed by Nasir Ayantogo, the media lead Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFund, on Thursday.

Ayantogo who describes the initiative as a way of “fostering accessible and inclusive education for all Nigerian students” commends the President Bola Tinubu’s led administration for signing the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023 into law in June, 2023.

However, the student loan scheme which ought to have commence in January, 2024, was postponed after missing the October, 2023, deadline.

Earlier in March, the executive secretary of Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, announced to the public that the launched of the loan scheme had again been postponed due to some corrections that were being made.

The continued postponement of this scheme since last year has contributed to the frustration and disappointment of many Nigerian students, stating that the frivolous conduct of Nigeria government has left them with no choice but to seek alternative means of financing their education.

Furthermore, The commission had said part of the reason for the delay is linked with President Tinubu’s directive to expand the scheme that would include loans for vocational skills.

The President also directed the commission to make the students loan scheme an “interest-free” loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

The statement also read that students can now access loans to pursue their academic aspirations without financial constraints

“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.

“Students can access the portal on “nelf.gov.ng” to begin application,” the statement said.