President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) management to broaden its scope by providing interest-free loans to Nigerian students seeking skill-development programmes.
The directive was given at the State House on Monday following a briefing by Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND’s Executive Secretary, outlining preparations for the upcoming program launch later this month, according to a statement by the presidential spokesperson.
President Tinubu emphasized the significance of the program catering to individuals not inclined toward university education, underscoring the equal importance of skill acquisition alongside traditional academic qualifications at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Furthermore, the President emphasized the imperative of equity and inclusivity in the program’s management.
He further mentioned that NELFUND has established a strong risk-mitigation mechanism to handle potential risks associated with the program.
Regarding the program’s funding mechanism, Zacch Adedeji, Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), stated that funding sources are in place to facilitate the seamless initiation and continuity of the program.
