The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to introduce specialized software to ensure students with disabilities in higher institutions can fully access its loan scheme. The initiative, aimed at enhancing inclusivity, will be developed in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD).
NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed this at a stakeholders’ engagement on student loans in Benin City, Edo State. He emphasized that the Act establishing the scheme guarantees equal opportunities for all students and that specific software will be deployed to assist visually impaired applicants.
Addressing concerns over loan repayment, Sawyerr clarified that if a loan beneficiary dies, the debt is completely cancelled and not transferred to their family. He also reiterated that repayment would begin two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and only after securing employment, with deductions set at 10% of the beneficiary’s salary.
Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, described the scheme as nearly free due to its zero-interest nature. Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa also commended the initiative, pledging the state government’s support in raising awareness and ensuring accessibility for students.
Sawyerr reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making tertiary education accessible to all Nigerians, highlighting President Bola Tinubu’s vision of ensuring that no student is deprived of higher education due to financial constraints. He also clarified that beneficiaries of the loan scheme are not restricted from traveling abroad after graduation but should take responsibility for repaying their loans, regardless of their location.
