Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has announced the suspension of its policy requiring students to present proof of fee payment during examinations for those applying for student loans through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The announcement was made by the institution’s rector, Sylvester Omoruyi, during a sensitization program organized by NELFUND at the polytechnic’s main campus in Usen on Tuesday. Omoruyi stated, “The issue of requiring students to present payment slips during examinations is now over. We will no longer check if you have paid your fees. We will simply check the NELFUND portal, and if you have registered, there will be no need to be sent out.”
Omoruyi commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating the NELFUND scheme and thanked the Edo State government for its support. He also praised NELFUND for alleviating the financial burdens on Nigerian students by covering school fees and providing allowances for upkeep.
The Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr raised concerns about the polytechnic’s failure to submit student data for the formal registration process for the loan scheme. Represented by Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Sawyerr urged the institution to take advantage of the new registration cycle for the 2024/2025 academic session, encouraging students to register in large numbers. “During the 2023/2024 session, NELFUND successfully enrolled 259 institutions and disbursed billions of naira to students,” Sawyerr noted. However, he pointed out that institutions in the South-South and South-East regions had the lowest registration rates and called for improvement.
The Commissioner for Education in Edo State, Paddy Iyamu expressed the state government’s commitment to collaborating with NELFUND to build on the successes of the scheme in Edo. “Every child in Edo must have access to education. We want to provide you with the platform (NELFUND) to achieve your dreams and prevent school dropouts,” Iyamu stated.
He also emphasized that with NELFUND’s support, students would no longer have to rely on financial assistance from family members abroad.
