Osogbo, Nigeria-Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke has received an award of excellence from the Nigeria Education Loans Fund (NELFUND) for the state’s first-place ranking in nationwide enrolment for the education loan scheme.
The award was presented on Tuesday in Osogbo by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, who praised Osun’s exemplary responsiveness and meticulous data management.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Sawyer highlighted Osun State’s leadership in gathering and submitting the necessary institutional and student data, setting a benchmark among the 36 states of the federation.
He commended Governor Adeleke for his proactive approach to the education loan scheme, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for improving student funding.
“Governor Adeleke represents an enviable model in sectoral push for good governance,” Sawyer stated. He emphasized the loan fund’s significance in supporting indigent students, noting that Osun’s effective data collection was a critical step in reaching eligible beneficiaries.
Governor Adeleke expressed his gratitude for the recognition and praised President Tinubu for initiating the education loan fund.
“We express our appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for creating this funding initiative as a response to the many challenges facing our student population,” Adeleke said. He lauded the President’s political will in swiftly establishing and operationalizing the fund.
Governor Adeleke reaffirmed Osun State’s commitment to partnering with the federal government to benefit the people, regardless of political affiliations.
“When it comes to bringing dividends of democracy to our people, we are blind to partisan politics. Our focus is the improvement of the lives of our people irrespective of where it is coming from,” he asserted.
He described the education loan fund as a crucial platform for alleviating the financial burdens faced by many brilliant students in Osun.
“The initiative promises to remove the pain and hardship experienced by many brilliant students in the area of funding. Again, we are elated by the prospects and opportunities for our students, hence our launching into the programme with all machinery of government,” Adeleke added.
The Governor expressed satisfaction with the high enrolment rates of Osun state-owned schools in the program and emphasized plans to further prepare these schools for accessing the fund’s opportunities. He also commended NELFUND’s management for their efficient rollout and fairness during the selection process.
“Our gratitude also goes to the management of NELFUND for making the take-off so efficient and for the fairness manifested during the selection process. We have strong faith in the capacity of the Fund to continue on the path of openness and equity,” Adeleke concluded.
However, he urged NELFUND to ensure the loan system avoids creating a debt trap for students. The ceremony underscored Osun State’s leading role in educational development and the collaborative efforts to enhance student welfare through innovative funding solutions.
