Student Loan Will Eliminate Dropouts - Ayodele Olawande

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, has said the student loan is for youths to access interest-free facility.

Ayodele Olawande, told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja it was part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to carry youths along.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, stated that with the student loan, undergraduates would no longer drop out of school because of financial limitations.

“If the President said a child will not drop out of school because he or she is not able to pay school fees, I think that is a big plus,” Ayodele Olawande said.

Ayodele Olawande called for an enabling environment for young Nigerians to thrive and achieve their goals in life.

According to Ayodele Olawande, the country has more than 60% of young people; hence, with an enabling environment, much can be achieved.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the ministry was making critical decisions and suggestions while President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made sure they were put into action.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the student loan had an agency and a chairman, adding students could access the portal at https://nelf.gov.ng

“You don’t need to know anybody; just go and apply. They will put it together, send it to the school and it will be sorted out so that one can study properly and pass the examination,” Ayodele Olawande said.

The minister said the student loan is for students in public tertiary and technical institutions.

Ayodele Olawande added everything must not be just education because the country had got to a stage were skills was also needed.

“China, India, United States and others are successful because of skills citizens have.

“The government is not saying everything must be university, polytechnic, tertiary institution. They must also go to technical schools so the persons can have one or two skills.

“Most of the foreigners they bring to Nigeria to work, who we call graduates, are not graduates. They are technicians,” Ayodele Olawande said.

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande said that in every ministry and corporation, young people are found.

Ayodele Olawande said this was the reason most decisions government made boiled down on youths.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Student Loan Scheme, which is being implemented, is part of the Higher Education Access Act, assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a year ago.

In February, the Act was returned to National Assembly for overhaul and was assented to by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Source: https://thenationonlineng.net/minister-student-loan-will-curb-dropouts/