NELFUND TO INTRODUCE SPECIALIZED SOFTWARE TO ENSURE THAT STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES IN HIGHER INSTITUTIONS- PARTICIPATE IN THE LOAN SCHEME 16-03-25
By Sadiq Aminu. The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND says plans are underway to introduce specialized software to ensure that students with disabilities in higher institutions participate in the loan scheme.
Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, made this known during a stakeholders’ engagement on student loan in Benin City, Edo State.
Mr. Sawyerr emphasized that the Act establishing the loan scheme guarantees equal opportunity for all and the Agency would collaborate with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities to ensure more inclusivity.
“We want to see how we can make it easier for those visually impaired, so that they can actually apply for the loan. We are looking at a specific software we are going to use,” he said.
Mr. Sawyerr described the initiative under President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a transformative step for education in Nigeria.
Addressing concerns about loan repayment in the event of a beneficiary’s death, he said the law says that, if the person dies, the loan would not be transferred to the family but would be wiped out.
Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, commended the Federal Government for making the student loan scheme a reality.
“Let me also use this opportunity to thank the President of our dear country, President Bola Tinubu, for this initiative. Because before now, many families go through a lot of challenges to be able to pay school fees for students across the country.
“We as a state government, by the grace of God, we are going to collaborate with you for very aggressive sensitization to ensure that almost all the students in Edo State benefit from the student loan initiative,” he said.
The event brought together religious leaders, parents, persons with disabilities, government officials, teachers, and community representatives.