The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, says President Bola Tinubu has allocated over N86 billion to the payment of school fees and upkeep allowances for more than 400,000 students across the country.
Idris disclosed this on Friday in Abakaliki during a courtesy visit to Governor Francis Nwifuru of Ebonyi State. The minister and his team were in the state to tour federal government projects and engage with residents.
According to him, the intervention, under the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) programme, has benefitted students from all parts of the country, including Ebonyi and other states in the Southeast region.
“What the President seems to say is that he dislikes the situation where students who have the requisite qualification to be in school, like tertiary institutions, but were not able to, because their parents or guardians are unable to pay for their fees or upkeep.
“Today, that is the tale of the past. If you are admitted into any tertiary institution, you can apply to NELFUND, and you don’t even need to know anybody. This is one of such programmes that President Tinubu has designed for all Nigerians to participate in,” Idris said.
He explained that the N86 billion allocation so far was aimed at removing financial barriers to education and promised that more plans were underway to empower millions of Nigerians, including those in the Southeast.
The minister also commended Governor Nwifuru for providing office space for the Nigerian Press Council to enhance its operations and fulfil its mandate.
The Minister’s entourage included Special Advisers to the President and heads of federal government media organisations.
