By Okon Grace
The Cross River State Government has expressed strong support for the Federal Government’s student loan initiative, commending the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for its transparent and effective implementation of the programme across the state.
Governor Edet Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, gave the commendation during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, and his delegation to the Glass House, the temporary office of the Deputy Governor in Calabar on Wednesday.
Otu hailed the student loan scheme as a timely and transformative policy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that it aligns with his administration’s commitment to improving access to quality education for all, especially students from low-income backgrounds.
“We thank President Tinubu for this visionary initiative. Education is at the heart of our ‘People First’ agenda, and we are proud to partner with NELFUND in ensuring that no child is denied higher education due to financial constraints,” the Governor stated.
Odey reaffirmed the state’s readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government to empower youths through education and skills development, describing the loan programme as a strategic step toward building a more self-reliant and prosperous Cross River.
Responding, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr emphasized that the establishment of NELFUND was a core component of President Tinubu’s vision to ease the financial burden on students and to expand access to tertiary education nationwide.
According to him, the Fund has a dual mandate: to support academic advancement and to promote technical and vocational skill development among Nigerian youth. He revealed that since the programme’s launch, thousands of applications have been received from institutions within Cross River State, with many students already benefitting.
“Significant disbursements running into millions of naira have already been made to public institutions such as the University of Calabar, the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), and the Federal College of Education, Obudu,” Sawyerr disclosed.
He further assured that students from newly established institutions including the Cross River State University of Education and Entrepreneurial Studies, Akamkpa; the Cross River State College of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, Itigidi; and the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep will be integrated into the second phase of the scheme.
The courtesy visit was attended by senior state officials, including the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar; Special Adviser on General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba; and Special Assistant on Student Affairs, Comrade Kelvin Eyam.
The visit underscored Cross River State’s commitment to driving educational development and supporting initiatives that uplift its youth through structured, sustainable financing.
