Gov Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau has commended President Bola Tinubu over his commitment to the education of Nigerians, particularly Plateau students.
Mutfwang gave the commendation during a technical session organised by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND on the Tertiary Education Loan disbursement processes on Tuesday in Jos.
The governor expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for ensuring that more than 7,000 Plateau indigent students benefited from the loan scheme.
According to him, Tinubu has an uncommon commitment to the education of Nigerians, describing the president as “one who cares for the plight of the underprivileged.”
“I want to extend our gratitude to Mr. President for this wonderful opportunity. I have had opportunities to relate with him, and I see his concern for the underprivileged.
“This singular act has democratised access to education and boosted the economy of any community of students.
“If there’s over N900 million in circulation in an environment, there should be some tangible improvement in economic activity.
“I therefore want to admonish all the stakeholders to see this as a responsibility to create opportunity for our teaming number of students to benefit from this scheme,” Mutfwang said.
Speaking earlier, Mr Akindunde Sawyerr, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, also reiterated
Tinubu”s commitment to improving the lot of Nigerians.
Sawyerr said that the programme was not just aimed at uplifting individuals but the country at large.
The NELFUND helmsman, who noted that education was key to developing any nation, said it was key to pushing any country to attain its place among the Committee of Nations.
He said NELFUND’s aim was to ensure that more than the stipulated number of students per state benefited from the scheme.
“This programme is not just to uplift Nigerians individually, but to uplift the nation and take it to its rightful place among the committee of nations.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has put before us this opportunity and challenge to ensure that no student who wishes to pursue tertiary education in this country is denied because their parents do not have money or they themselves lack the funds.
“The President did this as a way to improve the lot of the people of this great nation; and to borrow from the comments of the honourable commissioner, ‘the opportunity is here and the time is now’.
“I am delighted to tell you that the University of Jos is the third highest benefiting institution from NELFUND in this country, we have disbursed N941 million on behalf of over 6,900 students.
“We want to give more, we don’t think that 7000 students is enough, we need more students from Plateau, we need to relieve parents from their burdens and also allow the students focus on their studies peacefully,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, Dr Kachollom Gang, the state’s Commissioner for Education, who commended Tinubu for the noble gesture, noted that the technical session was apt.
Gang noted that it would provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to explore ways of accessing and properly utilising the loan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that some of the stakeholders included the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Ishaya Tanko, members of the state’s Executive Council, and students from selected tertiary institutions in the state.