Student Loan Scheme: 1.2m Beneficiaries In First Batch – FG

No fewer than 1.2 million Nigerian students will be in the first batch of those to benefit from the Student Loan Scheme.

This was disclosed by the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, who noted that the process of disbursement will commence “anytime soon”.

According to the NELFUND CEO, all is set for the commencement of registration and application by tertiary institution students.

He said: “We don’t expect to have more than 1.2 million students in the first instance.

“As time goes on, there will probably be expansion.

“For the successful applicants, we will be paying their fees – the full amount – directly to the institutions.

“There will also be a stipend paid to the individuals.

“At a regular interval, the beneficiaries will receive an amount of money for their upkeep so that they can do the basic things – feeding, photocopying handouts and data.

“They can use the stipend to ensure that there is enough opportunity for them to survive the experience of being students.

“We all know that students’ survival is on another level.”

Speaking on what potential beneficiaries need, he said they would be required to provide their Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) numbers, National Identification Number (NIN), and Bank Verification Number (BVN), among other details, before they can apply for the loan.

He explained that those who are already students and seek to take the loan would need to, in addition to these conditions, provide their matriculation details.

“Without a doubt, President Tinubu intends to ensure that as many Nigerians as possible get this opportunity.

“That is why he has vigorously pursued this opportunity on behalf of students.

“That is why all of us must join hands to ensure that capacity expansion can happen.

“This is not going to be an elitist programme. It is a programme that is going to drag as many people into the education net as possible.

“That is what the President intends, and that is what we are going to do,” he said.