President Bola Tinubu has announced the appointment of a dedicated management team for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), aimed at providing Nigerian students with enhanced access to quality education. Akintunde Sawyerr has been named as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), signaling the administration’s commitment to ensuring the fund’s effective deployment.
The announcement, made on Friday by Ajuri Ngelale, the Presidential Spokesperson, further detailed the appointment of Frederick Oluwafemi Akinfala as the Executive Director of Finance and Administration, alongside Mustapha Iyal, who will take on the role of Executive Director of Operations. These appointments come on the heels of President Tinubu’s signing of the student loans amendment bill into law this Wednesday, a legislative move that underscores the administration’s dedication to fostering an environment where accessible and quality education is a cornerstone for socio-economic development.
President Tinubu articulated that the constitution of the NELFUND board is a strategic step to “ensure Nigerian students benefit greatly” from the educational loan initiative. This effort is seen as a pivotal element of the President’s broader strategy to secure Nigeria’s socio-economic future by facilitating sustainable higher education and critical skill development across the nation.
The establishment of the NELFUND management team is poised to expedite the implementation of this crucial fund, providing immediate and lasting benefits to Nigerian students and their families across all regions of the country. The administration expects that the newly appointed leaders will swiftly put in place the necessary mechanisms for the fund’s effective activation, aligning with President Tinubu’s vision of a robust educational system that is both inclusive and empowering.
As Nigeria faces the challenges of the 21st century, initiatives like NELFUND are seen as essential for equipping the youth with the education and skills needed to drive national growth and development. With the management team now in place, the focus turns to the operationalization of the fund, which promises to be a game-changer in making higher education more attainable for Nigerian students, thereby fostering a brighter socio-economic future for the nation.
