The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu has committed over N90 billion to school fees and upkeep of 400,000 students across the nation’s tertiary institutions.
He said the President made the commitment through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund initiative.
Idris made the disclosure during a platform of state information commissioners led by the Borno Commissioner of Information and Internal Security, Prof. On Wednesday, Usman Tar paid him a friendly visit in Abuja. He stated that the President's Nigerian Education Loan Fund initiative has enabled over 400,000 Nigerian students to continue their education without posing a financial obstacle or burden to their parents or guardians. According to him, Tinubu’s vision is to ensure the holistic development, prosperity, and well-being of all Nigerians, irrespective of political party affiliation or religious backgrounds.
“The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has committed N90 billion to NELFUND. Tinubu’s vision is that, on no account, should a Nigerian child of school age be denied going to a tertiary institution.
Therefore, this sum is not only for school fees but also for the care of over 400,000 students attending various tertiary institutions across the nation. “Nigeria under Tinubu is on the path to prosperity. This is my message to you. We are in government to serve the interests of all, irrespective of political parties.
“If you will not listen to me because I was appointed by President Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, don’t forget that your children need the NELFUND to stay in school.
“And also your people who have cancer need treatment and would have to access the Cancer Screening and Treatment Centre/Oncology that Tinubu provided,” Idris said.
The information minister reiterated that the heart of President Tinubu is for all Nigerians, not for people who belong to a particular political party or religious background, adding that Tinubu is the President for all Nigerians.
Since its launch on May 24, 2024, the Fund claimed to have received over 550,000 loan applications during its first anniversary. The implementation of the student loan scheme is President Bola Tinubu’s flagship project in the education sector, under the Access to Higher Education Act. It aims to create a legal framework fogranting loans to indigent or low-income Nigerians to facilitate the payment of their fees in Nigerian tertiary institutions.