By Chiekezie Emmanuel

The Vice-Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Prof. Aloysius Michaels Okolie, attended the South-East National Education Loan Fund sensitization alongside the University Dean of Students Affairs, Prof. Ifeoma Okwor. The program was organized by NELFUND and TETFund in Enugu State.

Prof. Aloysius spoke during an interview with an ESUT Monitor Newspaper reporter immediately after the event at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus (UNEC) Hall on Friday.

He stated that the essence of the sensitization is to create awareness about the interest-free loan established by the Federal Government. 

A combined team of the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), alongside TETFund, was present at the program.

“So, they are here to sensitize us generally on the need to begin to key into the scheme.

 

And that is why today they invited all heads of tertiary institutions in the South East,” he said.

He emphasized that the program was mapped out for the South East to enlighten stakeholders on the need to participate in the ongoing Federal project. 

“We have started interfacing. So, they tried to impress it on us to improve the level of registration of our students.”

Prof. Aloysius noted that the South East is the least among the zones that have keyed into NELFUND. 

“And you discover that even in a university in the North East, the number of registered students in that particular university is more than the total number of people that have registered in the entire South East,” he said.

“That is why there is the need for us to change our orientation, change our values, and begin to appreciate the need for this NELFUND loan, which to me is not technically a loan. 

In my own local parlance, _’anansina ndi Igbo adia agba last’. Since it is a national initiative, and the greatest thing about it is that it is an interest-free loan. 

So, everybody, whether your father is well-to-do or has a lot to commend him, the critical point is: come and take the loan.

He also encouraged people from the South East to extend the sensitization to local communities, and called on parents to enlighten and encourage their wards to collect this interest-free loan so that nobody will have the excuse again that, _”I’m unable to send my child to school because there is no money.”_

“This is precisely the key message from the sensitization. And I want to place it on record that this is about the fifth sensitization we have been part of. We are doing our best to make sure that our people are not being shortchanged in the South East.”

He pledged to continue enlightening and encouraging students of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) and students in all universities to key in in the peoject.

Many heads of tertiary institutions Rectors, Provosts, Vice-Chancellors  were also in attendance with their Bursars and key officers to demonstrate the seriousness of the campaign, he said.

Prof. Aloysius appreciated ESUT Monitor newspaper for covering the event. 

“We thank you for being here to cover it, and we are looking forward to harvesting optimally the gains of this sensitization,” he said.

“I am not worried about the low turnout of ESUT students in NELFUND because in the entire South East, ESUT has carried the banner of being the highest institution in terms of registration. We have done well, but we are not yet satisfied. We have not gotten there.”

Also speaking at the event, the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS)Enugu State,Comrade Okeke Kelvin emphasized that the loan is, in another word, a grant. This is because the rules guiding the loan state that you will start paying back only when you are employed. 

“And the guidelines also state that even if you travel out of the country or become self-employed, you are not paying the loan until you get a job,” he said. 

“So, the question is: what is hindering you from participating and getting this loan? 

Since you know that even if you get a job, you will pay the loan, and until you get a job, you won’t. The job will start paying you enough for you to pay back the loan. So, the money you are wasting today, why not save it and put it into something else and make use of government money for schooling.”

He further urged all the student participants who attended the program to extend the message to other students on how crucial it is to participate and get this loan.

He also revealed the Association’s efforts in sensitizing students about the initiative. 

They shared questionnaires with all the institutions to get their direct opinions and knowledge about the ongoing NELFUND initiative. 

“My team and I started engaging them after the research, visiting some local governments to talk to their parents, to help us talk to their children in school, and to work towards getting them to apply for it.”

Some of the dignitaries present were, senator representing Anambra North, Sen.Tony Nwoye; senator Kelvin Chukwu, Hon. Cyracus Umeha, Member representing Ezeagu/Udi Federal Constituency; Igwe Asadu, Traditional Ruler of Edem Nsukka Local Government, among others.