Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has suspended its policy requiring students to provide proof of tuition payment before sitting for examinations, particularly for those applying for student loans through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.
Rector of the polytechnic, Engr. Sylvester Omoruyi, made the announcement during a NELFUND sensitization Programme at the institution’s main campus in Usen on Tuesday.
“The era of sending students out of examinations over unpaid fees is over. We will no longer check payment slips. Instead, we will verify the NELFUND portal, and if a student has registered, they will not be barred from writing exams,” Omoruyi stated.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for launching the initiative and praised the Edo State government for its support. He also lauded NELFUND for alleviating the financial burden on students by covering tuition and providing upkeep allowances.
Speaking at the event, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, expressed concern over the polytechnic’s delay in submitting student data to formally commence loan registrations.
Represented by Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Sawyerr encouraged the institution to take advantage of the upcoming registration cycle for the 2024/2025 academic session.
“In the 2023/2024 session, NELFUND successfully enrolled students from 259 institutions and disbursed billions of naira in student loans,” he noted.
However, he pointed out that institutions in the South-South and South-East regions had recorded the lowest registration numbers and called for increased participation.
On his part, the Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to partnering with NELFUND to expand access to education.
“Every Edo child must have access to quality education. We are providing the platform through NELFUND to help students achieve their dreams and reduce school dropouts,” he said.
He emphasized that with NELFUND’s intervention, students would no longer have to depend on financial assistance from relatives abroad.
“You no longer need to wait for your uncles or aunties in Spain to send money before you can go to school. With focus, commitment, and dedication, you now have a platform to succeed,” he added.
Expressing his excitement, Oboh Victor, a Business Administration student at Edo Polytechnic, noted that many students were eager to take advantage of the loan scheme to pursue their education without financial hardship.
The event, attended by students, parents, government officials, and heads of Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology and Edo State College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, featured a presentation on the loan application process, followed by a question-and-answer session.
Meanwhile, NELFUND has expressed interest in partnering with the Edo State government on its forthcoming comprehensive skills acquisition program.
Director of Fund Mobilization, Segun Akinyelure, disclosed this during a visit by NELFUND’s sensitization team to Benin Technical College, Benin City, where they inspected the institution’s training facilities.
The initiative aims to equip students with vocational and technical skills, fostering entrepreneurship and innovation to enhance their employability in the modern job market.
