The Nigerian government has been applauded for its innovative approach to student loans, where institutional fees are paid directly to tertiary institutions.
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, gave the commendation yesterday in Jos, Plateau State, when he received the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, ahead of a sensitization visit to institutions of higher learning in the state.
The governor said the move will not only promote transparency but also prevent mismanagement and misuse.
He said, “We’ve had cases where students were offered allowances to pay for some of their school charges, and they never got there.
“It is important that you keep that channel of communication open. So when it came to exams, the school didn’t allow them to sit for exams, and it became another crisis on its own. So we need to be very firm on that.”
He also commended President Bola Tinubu for appointing Sawyerr as Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of the agency.
“Mr. President did not make a mistake by appointing you as Managing Director,” he added.
Other NELFUND staff on the delegation included the Director of Client Support Services, Yemi Carson; Senior Manager of Strategic Communications, Folayemi Ogunniya; and Senior Manager Technical Advisor to the MD/CEO, Nasir Ayitogo, among others.
