By Mbah Monday
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has commended the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELfund, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, for the transparent and effective implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
Governor Otu, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Peter Odey, gave the commendation when he received Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr and his team to the Glass House, the temporary office of the Deputy Governor in Calabar.
Governor Otu expressed appreciation for the establishment of NELfund, noting that the initiative aligns with his administration’s priority on education and its commitment to providing financial support to students in tertiary institutions across the State and country.
“We thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for introducing this initiative, which allows students to access funding for their education. Education remains a cornerstone of our ‘People First’ mantra, and we are fully in support of NELfund’s mission to assist students in the state and the nation at large.”
He reaffirmed the State’s readiness to support federal government policies that empower youth from low-income families to access quality higher education and develop the skills needed for self-reliance, thereby improving the socioeconomic outlook of the State.
Giving his remarks, Mr. Sawyerr explained that NELfund was created in line with President Tinubu’s vision to ease the financial burden on students and broaden access to quality higher education.
He stated that NELfund has a two-fold mandate which entailed enhancing academic pursuits as well as to promoting, supporting, and financing skills development across Nigeria.
The Managing Director of NELfund lauded the Cross River State government for its unwavering support of the mission and programmes of the agency pointing out that thousands of applications have been received from institutions in Cross River State since the launch of the programme, with many students already benefiting.
“Several millions of naira have been disbursed to public institutions, including the University of Calabar, the University of Cross River State, UNICROSS, and the Federal College of Education, Obudu.
“Students of the newly established Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies, Akamkpa, Cross River State College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Itigidi, and the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, will be included in the second phase of the scheme.”
Also present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Emmanuel Ironbar, Special Adviser on General Duties, Mr Ekpenyong Akiba, and Special Assistant on Student Affairs, Comrade Kelvin Eyam.
