*Governor Alex Otti with Engr. Nneamaka Okafor
Igboman’s attitude to loan, responsible for low participation of South East students in NELfunds – Otti
From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia
Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, has identified the Igboman’s attitude to loan as the reason why students of South East origin were not eager to apply for the federal government’s National Education Loan Funds (NELFUND) for Nigerian students in tertiary institutions.
Governor Otti made the call on Friday, February 14, 2025, when he Receiving, in audience, a delegation led by the Director, Regional Advocacy, National Education Loan Funds, Engr. Nneamaka Okafor, Governor Otti hammered on the need to change the tide by sensitizing the students on the merits of NELFunds.
“You see, our people have this attitude towards loans. Except if they’ve tried everything else, because once you are owing, even the business people when they borrow, they want to pay back.
“This is where advocacy comes in. I am not too sure that our people know that it is interest-free, may be they know; but their attitude towards borrowing still has something to do with it. I think we need to sensitize them,” he told his guest.
The Governor said that if the people were well-informed about the programme, they would likely participate and access the students’ loan to enable them pursue their academic dreams.
“Maybe we need to do a little bit more because this is a very good initiative, particularly for students who are from indigent homes.
“So, I am sure that if our people understand clearly that nobody would be chasing them to pay back the loan when they have no means of livelihood, they will apply.
“So, we need to do a whole lot more in Abia State University, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike – even though it is a federal university, ” Gov. Otti advocated.
He directed the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Emeh Uche, to embark on aggressive advocacy, engaging students across the tertiary institutions in the State.
He assured the NELFUNDS Director that Abia State was ready to assist in the area of providing space for the agency to have its office in the state as well as provide every other necessary logistics for her smooth operations.
Speaking earlier, the Director, Regional Advocacy, NELFunds, Engr. Nneamaka Okafor, said that she came to seek partnership with the state government in sensitizing the people about the students’ loan, noting that the South East has the lowest list of those that have been applying for it.
She recalled that the opportunity for accessing the students’ loan started in April 2024, disclosing that the loan was for students in government institutions of higher learning such as university, polytechnic and college of education.
She further explained that the loan which is interest-free, was expected to be paid back within 10 years starting from 2 years after the beneficiary would have completed his youth service.
While appreciating the giant strides of Governor Alex Otti in various sectors of the economy and describing him as one who has performed miracle in Abia state, she requested for an office accommodation.
The Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Professor Uche Emeh Uche, the Rector of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba, Dr. Christopher Okoro, were among top government officials present at the visit.
