The Nigerian Student Loan Scheme, eagerly awaited by many hopefuls, faced yet another setback as the Federal Government announced an indefinite postponement of its launch.
Akintunde Sawyer, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, conveyed this disappointing news during an interview with ARISE NEWS.
The scheme, originally slated to kick off between September and October 2023 after President Bola Tinubu signed the bill into law, encountered repeated delays. Femi Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, championed the bill with high hopes for its swift implementation.
Despite Tinubu’s reassurances that the programme would commence in January 2024, preparations continued to lag behind schedule. Minister of State for Education Yusuf Sununu announced the completion of necessary preparations during a meeting in January, including the development of the Student Loan Scheme website and detailed planning for the rollout.
Additionally, Tinubu, in discussions with leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students, hinted at incorporating vocational studies into the programme, suggesting further delays as more features were being considered.
However, just when anticipation was at its peak, Sawyer delivered the disappointing news mere 48 hours before the scheduled launch. He cited the need for corrections and alignment among stakeholders as reasons for the postponement, leaving many aspiring students uncertain about the scheme’s future.
The saga of delays surrounding the Nigerian Students Loan Scheme underscores the challenges of implementing significant educational reforms in the country, leaving hopeful students and stakeholders in limbo.
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