By Stephen Angbulu

President Bola Tinubu will launch the Student Loan Scheme on Thursday, March 14, 2024.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Ajuri Ngelale, disclosed this when he spoke on TVC’s Politics on Sunday monitored by PUNCH Online.

On the programme titled ‘Counting the Cost of Presidents Tinubu’s Reforms,’ Ngelale highlighted some of the President’s welfare initiatives being implemented at the moment, saying, “Later this week, on Thursday, the President will launch the historic National Student Loan Programme.”

“This is a major form of obligation reduction for Nigerians and families and young people at a time when Nigerians are feeling the pinch. We believe this is the way to go,” he added.

On June 12, 2023, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.

The move was in “fulfillment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.

The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, which is expected to handle all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.

The government initially said it would take effect in September, but it did not.

However, Tinubu had insisted that the scheme would go live in January 2024. Declaring the 29th session of the annual Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja open on October 23, 2023, the President said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!”

He proposed N50bn for its take-off in the 2024 budget he presented to the National Assembly last November.

On February 7, the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, exclusively confirmed to our correspondent that the much-awaited scheme would go live on February 21, when President Tinubu launches it at the State House, Abuja.

However, the launch was delayed, with Sawyerr, alongside Presidency sources, explaining that the lag time is to enable the Fund to expand its mandate to include students seeking loans for skills development, as directed by the President.

After receiving briefing from the NELFUND team led by the Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, on January 22, the President directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes.

Tinubu based his decision on the need for the scheme to accommodate those who may not want to pursue a university education, noting that skill acquisition is as essential as obtaining undergraduate and graduate academic qualifications.

"This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas.

“This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.

"In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” he had said.

Linking this directive to the delay, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga had told The PUNCH, “Don’t forget that the last time they met, the President asked them to go and expand their mandate to include those who want to learn vocational skills. That could be the reason why the whole thing was delayed; they had to increase the scope.”

On Saturday, Sawyerr also told our correspondent that the delay is due to unperfected backend systems to power the application process as the scheme is “entirely technologically driven.”

He said, “The delay in take-off was basically to enable the agency to put all necessary measures in place as the scheme is entirely technologically driven.”

https://punchng.com/tinubu-to-launch-students-loan-scheme-thursday-presidency/?amp

Waiting to see the manifestation.

Thursday loading.....

It should be for Msc and PhD also

Okay.

Another scam! "Spokesperson of the tinubu-Shettima presidential campaign, Festus Keyamo, on Friday said the student loans Bola tinubu promised when the All Progressives Congress (APC) was campaigning in 2015 did not materialize because of recessions.

Asked about the student loan promise in the manifesto when the one tinubu promised in 2015 wasn’t fulfilled, Keyamo said that the recessions which the country entered into after the APC took over government contributed to the inability of the government to fulfil the student loan promise...."

Asíwájú JAGABAN

💪

I Love Bola Ahmed Tinubu

Racoon:



“3. He’s convicted of felony or any office involving dishonesty or fraud.
“4. He has been convicted of drug offenses.

Applicant Convicted Of Drug, Fraud Not Qualified For Student Loan — Tinubu’s Aid
https://tribuneonlineng.com/applicant-convicted-of-drug-fraud-not-qualified-for-student-loan-tinubus-aide/

Racoon, for your sanity don't do this for another eight years. You are not being fair to yourself.

Reason am nah! Since 2015!

Ichuba madu for eight years yet onye anwa anaga n'iru oburo uche k'iga eji mara na aka chukwu di ya?

Put the crack pipe down

Audio Loan has vehemently struggled to Germinate. Thursday!!!!!?

Okoroawusa:
Racoon, for your sanity don't do this for another eight years. You are not being fair to yourself. Reason am nah! Since 2015.......

So that the cycle of evil will continue. The message is that a man convicted of drug running and other criminal offenses with a well known track records of lying for wicked political intents can not and will never do anyone good with any academic scholarship. He is not a good example @ all.

Scammers, all of you should just gettat

Finally, after so many postponements

I hope it's not being rushed because in two months, the Tinubu presidency will clock one year in office, and Tinubu will have to tell Nigerians what he has achieved.

Racoon:
So that the cycle of evil will continue. The message is that a man convicted of drug running and other criminal offenses with a well known track records of lying for wicked political intents can not and will never do anyone good with any academic scholarship. He is not a good example @ all.

Nke anwa gbasazikwagi...ekwusigom k'oram n'onu

Okoroawusa:

Nke anwa gbasazikwagi...ekwusigom k'oram n'onu

you don Dey learn igbo small small from google translate . I would have preferred you learn Hausa more since you refer yourself as okoro hausa 😂

Racoon:



“3. He’s convicted of felony or any office involving dishonesty or fraud.
“4. He has been convicted of drug offenses.

Applicant Convicted Of Drug, Fraud Not Qualified For Student Loan — Tinubu’s Aid
https://tribuneonlineng.com/applicant-convicted-of-drug-fraud-not-qualified-for-student-loan-tinubus-aide/

It is not by force, just tell all your family members and relatives including those in your village to not go apply for the loan. In fact, any project Tinubu does, don't use it, that's when i'd know you're the true son of your father.

aariwa:
you don Dey learn igbo small small from google translate . I would have preferred you learn Hausa more since you refer yourself as okoro hausa 😂

Okoroawusaonuma is the full name.

Dlt.

If you are not happy about it nobody will force you to take it.
Please spare us from the teeth gnashing and wailing.

federal government to

To all the Nairaland third place sore losers, baba wey no well don bring another banger o, una go collect students loan abi una go wait until Agulu fraud become President?

I hope no obidient would apply for the loans, after all, they are all billionaires. They severally denigrated the scheme and said it would never hold. To their shame it is about to take off. I love Tinubu because he is a focussed and goal-oriented leader. Otherwise, Obis supporters would have done the unthinkable. God bless the President ! For once, I am proud to have an active president. Tinubu nah "talk and do President." Shame on the haters!

C
O
C
A
I
N
E

Another one

Okoroawusa:

Racoon, for your sanity don't do this for another eight years. You are not being fair to yourself.

Reason am nah! Since 2015!

Ichuba madu for eight years yet onye anwa anaga n'iru oburo uche k'iga eji mara na aka chukwu di ya?

You're the shameless one.

For 8 wasted years you defended Buhari's failures and all his policies.

Today you have turned to blame the same Buhari for all the challenges your new daddy is facing.

You no dey shame?

Sychophancy no be life oo.

Crimecity:


You're the shameless one.

For 8 wasted years you defended Buhari's failures and all his policies.

Today you have turned to blame the same Buhari for all the challenges your new daddy is facing.

You no dey shame?

Sychophancy no be life oo.

Show me a post of mine blaming Buhari for anything and I will send you 100k this morning.

Okoroawusa:

Show me a post of mine blaming Buhari for anything and I will send you 100k this morning.

I should show you?

Swear with your life that you don't have more than one moniker on Nairaland and I will show you

Crimecity:


I should show you?

Swear with your life that you don't have more than one moniker on Nairaland and I will show you

Osikwa swear? You don shift goal post now now?

Odika Ina anuta mkpurummili. Kitikpa n'enwero chain cover rachapukwagi ike there!

Okoroawusa:

I am waiting

Your mind go touch ground today.

Okoroawusa I dare you to swear with your life first.