The immediate past Commissioner for Youth Development in Ekiti State, Hon Gold Adesola Adedayo, has appealed to Ekiti youth to key into the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), codenamed “students’ Loan” to create unfettered platform for poor students to earn higher certificates without impediment.
Adedayo said the policy invented by President Tinubu, hasn’t only liberated young and versatile Nigerians from the shackles of illiteracy, but has started bridging the existing gulf between the rich and poor, thereby exterminating class differences among Nigerian citizens.
The former Commissioner gave the charge in Otun Ekiti, headquarters of Moba Local Government, on Thursday, while receiving the NELFUND’s Managing Director, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr , who came on a sensitization visit to the palace of Oore of Otun, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo.
Speaking at the event, the former Youth Commissioner, urged Ekiti youth to fully embrace the policy to ease payment of their tuition and other fees that could impede them from earning higher certificates to seek white collar jobs, or get the requisite knowledge to operate businesses under a 21st century economy.
Adedayo opined that the transformative policy will easily manifest positivity in the lives of Ekiti students on the premise that Governor Biodun Oyebanji has also started implementing a robust scholarship Scheme that can favourably complement the federal government-driven programme.
He revealed that the programme, where students get soft loans to attain university education, had benefited over 500,000 students across the country, saying time has come for Ekiti students to make judicious use of the opportunity provided them by Tinubu’s administration.
Going down memory lane, Adedayo drew inspiration from the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, whose pioneering efforts in introducing free education in Nigeria remained a lasting legacy abd masterstroke , noting that education remains the most powerful tool for human and societal transformation.
The former commissioner added that the policy will easily have impact in Ekiti because of the premium value placed on education by Governor Oyebanji, through continued legacy of free and qualitative education for children across strata.
He described this gesture as a vivid reflection of the Governor’s commitment to building a knowledgeable, empowered, and self-reliant generation.
Adedayo expressed appreciation to the Managing Director and the entire NELFUND team for taking the time to visit Ekiti State, describing their engagement as a laudable step toward empowering the youth through education and financial inclusion.
He further extended heartfelt gratitude to the Oore for his commitment to the welfare and development of his people, and for continuously seeking out opportunities that bring growth and advancement to the Moba community.
Underscoring the significance of the policy to national development, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, expressed deep appreciation to the monarch for deeming it fit to visit the organization’s headquarters earlier in Abuja, describing this as a mark of true leadership and commitment to the progress of his people.
Dr Sawyer urged the Ekiti parents to aggressively mobilize their children and wards to take advantage of the Students’ loan initiative, explaining that the NELFUND loan is open to all students in tertiary institutions owned by both Federal and State Government, assuring that no eligible students would be alienated from the programme.
Speaking at the event, Oba Adeagbo appreciated the NELFUND leadership for their visit and for what he described as “broken chains” by creating access to education for all.
He noted that education remains a pivotal factor in the development of any society and assured that he would personally see to it that the young ones of Moba benefit fully from this laudable initiative.
The event was attended by NELFUND’s Executive Director of Finance and Administration, Dr. Fred Akinfala, community leaders, political leaders, youth and students’ representatives, among others.