The Principal and Chief Executive of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State, Dr. Samuel Onoji, has encouraged students to leverage the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to address their financial needs.

Dr. Onoji made this appeal on Monday during a courtesy visit by the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, and his team to the institute.

Highlighting the purpose of NELFUND, Dr. Onoji explained that the initiative was established to provide financial assistance to students across Nigeria.

He emphasized the importance of PTI students seizing this opportunity to ease the burden of tuition fees and other academic expenses.

In his address, Akintunde Sawyerr outlined the benefits of the loan scheme, stating that NELFUND is accessible to both new and existing students in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

He assured students that approved applications are processed promptly, with funds disbursed within a reasonable timeframe.

“The loan supports qualified Nigerian students by covering tuition fees, other institutional charges, and living expenses during their studies at accredited academic or vocational institutions within Nigeria,” Sawyerr explained.

Sawyerr urged students to take advantage of the program, describing NELFUND as a federal government initiative designed to improve students’ welfare.

He revealed that the agency has so far disbursed over ₦104 billion to 613,734 students and aims to expand this to benefit 2.1 million students in the near future.

According to Sawyerr, the loan covers both institutional fees, which are paid directly to the applicants’ schools, and maintenance allowances, deposited into applicants’ personal accounts.

He further clarified the eligibility criteria, noting that the scheme is available to students in government-owned tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.

“We currently have about 417,000 students registered on our portal, and 328,000 have submitted applications.

Many of these have been processed, and a significant number will soon receive their loans,” Sawyerr added.

Students were encouraged to register and apply for the scheme to benefit from its offerings and secure a smoother academic experience