By Naomi Sharang
Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Sen. Muntari Dandutse, has called for collaboration among government agencies to ensure effective recovery of loans disbursed under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Dandutse who represents Katsina South Senatorial District said such collaboration would help identify beneficiaries who had secured employment and facilitate the recovery of loans to sustain the scheme.
He made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja on Friday, while assessing the implementation of NELFUND and efforts to expand access to higher education.
According to him, loan recovery will depend largely on beneficiaries securing jobs and the ability of relevant agencies to work together to ensure repayment.
“If there is an inter-agency collaboration, the money can be recovered,” he said.
The senator expressed optimism that beneficiaries who had secured employment in banks, government establishments and other organisations would repay their loans to enable other financially disadvantaged students to benefit from the scheme.
He said the programme was designed to ensure that financial constraints did not prevent eligible Nigerians from pursuing higher education.
Dandutse described NELFUND as one of the significant initiatives of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, adding that its sustainability would depend partly on beneficiaries fulfilling their repayment obligations.
He said the Senate Committee had undertaken zonal engagements to sensitise stakeholders and encourage eligible students to access the facility.
According to him, the engagements also provide opportunities for project oversight and interactions with stakeholders on the implementation of NELFUND and TETFund interventions.
Dandutse urged Nigerians to appreciate the importance of education, stressing that expanding access to higher education was critical to national development.
He expressed confidence that effective collaboration and increased awareness would strengthen the scheme and enable more students to benefit from the initiative.
The lawmaker added that TETFund had recorded notable achievements through its interventions in federal tertiary institutions since its establishment, particularly in infrastructure, research and innovation.
He also welcomed the establishment of the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences in Funtua, Katsina State, describing it as a significant development for his senatorial district.
Dandutse said the institution’s establishment through an Act of the National Assembly would provide a legal framework for its continued existence and protect it against arbitrary discontinuation by future administrations.
He expressed optimism that the university would strengthen medical education and help produce professionals capable of providing essential healthcare services.(NAN)
NNL/SH
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Edited by Sadiya Hamza
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