Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund is easing the financial burden on students from poor backgrounds by helping them access and remain in tertiary institutions.
Shettima described NELFUND as a major social intervention of the President Bola Tinubu administration, saying it had helped remove financial barriers to higher education.
The Vice President spoke when he received the management team of the University of Abuja, now Yakubu Gowon University, led by its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Hakeem Fawehinmi.
According to Shettima, NELFUND covers tuition and provides monthly upkeep allowances, making it possible for students from less-privileged families to pursue their education.
He said the scheme was particularly important in view of the financial challenges facing families across the country.
“NELFUND is a very beautiful initiative by the leadership of this country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, created to give respite and breathing space to the children of the poor,” he said.
Shettima also attributed recent improvements in Nigeria’s sovereign credit ratings to stronger foreign exchange reserves, increased oil production, higher federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy and ongoing macroeconomic reforms.
He said the country had crossed the Rubicon and was on the path of sustainable economic development.
The Vice President commended the management of the University of Abuja for stabilising the institution and pledged continued Federal Government support.
Fawehinmi, in his remarks, also commended NELFUND, saying the initiative had contributed to stability in the education sector by helping students remain in school despite financial difficulties.
He appealed for continued government partnership to support the university’s development.
