The Federal Government’s plan to launch the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme has been postponed indefinitely, according to Akintunde Sawyer, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
Originally set to commence on a specified Thursday, the launch has once again been delayed due to necessary adjustments.
Sawyer stated the need for alignment among stakeholders to ensure a smooth and sustainable rollout, refraining from committing to a specific date.
This setback comes after President Bola Tinubu signed a bill in June 2023 to establish a Students Loan Fund aimed at providing interest-free loans for higher education.
Initially slated to begin between September and October 2023, the scheme faced delays, leading President Tinubu to announce a new start date in January 2024.
Despite assurances from the Minister of State for Education, Yusuf Sununu, regarding completed preparations, including the development of a dedicated website, the program’s launch remains uncertain.
President Tinubu, during a meeting with leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students, reiterated the commitment to commence the program once all necessary enhancements, such as the inclusion of vocational studies, are in place.
