By Adesakin Adefemi
The National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) has strongly dismissed claims by former presidential candidate Peter Obi that student loans are “wasteful”, saying the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is revolutionizing the country’s educational landscape.
NAPS President, Comr. Eshiofune Paul Oghayan made the statement in response to a circulating statement attributed to Obi, criticizing the student loan scheme, describing it as a “golden opportunity” for Nigerian students
Oghayan said Obi’s claims were “not only misleading but also unfair to millions of Nigerian students whose lives have been positively transformed by NELFUND,” adding that the criticism ignores the scheme’s verifiable achievements.
He noted that constructive criticism is welcome, but it must be anchored on facts, balance, and sincerity, emphasizing that NELFUND has delivered results, with 940,396 students benefiting from the scheme out of 1,523,148 applications.
According to Oghayan, the scheme has disbursed ₦101,068,919,810.00 as institutional fees and ₦73,492,800,000.00 as upkeep allowances, bringing the total loan disbursement to ₦174,561,719,810.00, a testament to NELFUND’s commitment to empowering Nigerian students.
Oghayan commended the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, for his leadership and commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity, saying his efforts have placed NELFUND on the global map as a model for student loan schemes.
He urged Nigerian students to disregard Obi’s misleading statements and seize the opportunity provided by NELFUND to access quality education, saying “History will favour delivery over rhetoric”.
NAPS is calling on Obi to desist from peddling unverified claims on policies of national importance, especially those affecting the future of Nigerian youths, emphasizing that NELFUND is a revolutionary intervention in Nigeria’s educational history.
The association emphasized that NELFUND is providing a structured, transparent, and sustainable pathway to quality tertiary education for students regardless of background, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The NAPS President’s statement has sparked widespread support from Nigerian students and educators, who praise NELFUND’s efforts to democratize access to quality education.
