The federal government has allocated additional N50 billion naira to boost its Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme for students.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris who disclosed this, said a total of N549,199,000 has so far been disbursed by the Fund to beneficiaries in Ekiti State with more students still in line to access the educational fund.
Idris disclosed this on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital at a town hall engagement organised by his ministry as part of the nationwide sensitisation programme on government policies, services and initiatives in line with the 8-point agenda of President Tinubu-led administration.
Idris, who reiterated the federal government’s commitment to a better living of the citizenry and nation building, said the vision was to have ‘education for all’ by 2030.
While urging the students to key into the initiative, the minister said, “NELFUND is established by the federal government as a beacon of hope for Nigerian students pursuing education, to provide financial aid for them and lessen financial burden on parents sending their children to higher institutions of learning”.
Represented by the Head and Director of the Ekiti State office of the Federal Information and Resource Centre, Mrs Omotola Oluyemisi, the minister added that the Tinubu-led government has been actively engaging communities across Nigeria, listening to their concerns, responsive to their yearnings and promoting a better understanding under common policies.
“It is aimed at ensuring transparency, public engagement and citizens’ participation in national development. We are carefully treading the track in which government has chosen, thereby, building trust, fostering national unity and promoting transparency and accountability,” he said.
He highlighted some of the notable milestone recorded by the South-West under President Tinubu in the last two years to include provision of incentives to farmers to increase food production at affordable prices, removal of tariff on essential imports such as rice, wheat, maize, sorghum and some crops to help drive down prices.
Also is the distribution of fertilizers and increased cultivation by supporting agricultural development in the South-West and particularly in Ekiti State.
He added that the federal government also approved and established food processing equipment and machinery development institute on February 21, 2025 to boost food chain.
On the health sector the minister said Tinubu has expanded Health Insurance Progrogramme such as “Ulera Wa” Health Insurance Programme, and Basic Health Insurance Fund in Ekiti State and strengthened routine immunization and Primary Health Care Programme.
He further enumerated the others to include extension of material and Child Health Services to 177 Health Care facilities across 16 LGA and LCDAs in Ekiti State.
“Under Basic Health Care provision fund, the health fund is allocated to primary health care facilities to pursue drugs and consumables. Upgrade of Health Care Centres and thus we can testify in the upgrade of Ikole Ekiti General Hospital to Federal Medical Centre to improve health care delivery increase accessibility to remote communities as well as boosting the economic benefit which stimulate the economy through job creation.
“Recruitment of 170 Ekiti Indigene as Midwives and Community Health Extension Workers under the Sure-P scheme. Upgrade of Health Care Centre in Federal Teaching Hospital in Ido Ekiti (FETHI) and many centers are still springing across the Local Government in Ekiti State,” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Prince Olusesan Alabi said the landmark achievement of President Tinubu’s administration has greatly impacted lives of Nigerians.
“The six point Renewed Hope Agenda of the administration is a beacon of hope for Nigerian people. We thank the president for his interest in the development of the state,” Olatunbosun said.
