EasternNewsHub

        —By Ogene Romanus Chizoba  There are policy decisions that address today’s challenges, and there are decisions that quietly build the foundations for tomorrow. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that legally recovered liquid funds from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) belongs firmly in the second category. Beyond the immediate financial injection, the decision reflects a futuristic understanding of what is required to sustain Nigeria’s student loan programme. Rather than allowing NELFUND to depend solely on periodic budgetary allocations, the administration is beginning to explore a broader and more sustainable financing architecture capable of supporting the Fund as demand for education financing grows. That is where the strategic importance of the President’s decision lies. NELFUND was established to break one of the most stubborn barriers to higher education in Nigeria...

   —By Ogene Romanus Chizoba  There are policy decisions that address today’s challenges, and there are decisions that quietly build the foundations for tomorrow. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that legally recovered liquid funds from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) belongs firmly in the second category. Beyond the immediate financial injection, the decision reflects a futuristic understanding of what is required to sustain Nigeria’s student loan programme. Rather than allowing NELFUND to depend solely on periodic budgetary allocations, the administration is beginning to explore a broader and more sustainable financing architecture capable of supporting the Fund as demand for education financing grows. That is where the strategic importance of the President’s decision lies. NELFUND was established to break one of the most stubborn barriers to higher education in Nigeria: the inability...

        —By Ogene Romanus Chizoba  There are policy decisions that address today’s challenges, and there are decisions that quietly build the foundations for tomorrow. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive that legally recovered liquid funds from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be channelled to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) belongs firmly in the second category. Beyond the immediate financial injection, the decision reflects a futuristic understanding of what is required to sustain Nigeria’s student loan programme. Rather than allowing NELFUND to depend solely on periodic budgetary allocations, the administration is beginning to explore a broader and more sustainable financing architecture capable of supporting the Fund as demand for education financing grows. That is where the strategic importance of the President’s decision lies. NELFUND was established to break one of the most stubborn barriers to higher education in Nigeria...

  _. ..From the boardroom to the grassroots, the ADC Governorship Candidate brings over two decades of economic, financial and institutional leadership to the 2027 race._ _OBODOEZE CHUKWUMA OCHO  is the Executive Director, Finance & Operations, Zech Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited. A Visionary Leader. A Proven Builder. A Trusted Servant of the People. EXCLUSIVE PROFILE Obodoeze Chukwuma Ocho is a distinguished leader, accomplished economist, and strategic thinker with a strong record of building systems that work. With over two decades of experience across the oil and gas sector, financial systems, and institutional governance, he brings a rare blend of competence, integrity, and forward thinking leadership. He is widely respected for his ability to translate complex economic challenges into practical solutions that improve lives, create opportunities, and drive sustainable growth. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE _Zech Oil & Gas Nigeria Limited Executive Director, Finance & ...

  _And for the NELFUND MD, Mr Sawyerr, the assignment is equally historic, as he has continued to ensure that the President’s vision does not remain a good idea on paper, but becomes a durable institution capable of opening doors for millions of Nigerian students.          OGENE ROMANUS CHIZOBA   _President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has several initiatives across different sectors of the Nigerian economy that continue to generate discussion, but among his quiet achievements, one stands out for its potential to transform the lives of millions of young Nigerians, the establishment and rapid expansion of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). _The idea behind NELFUND is simple but powerful, no qualified Nigerian should be denied the opportunity to pursue higher education simply because of financial circumstances. By creating a structured system through which students can access interest-free financial support for their education, the Tinubu administration in...

About 70 per cent of students at the University of Ibadan (UI) are benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan scheme, according to a final-year student of the institution. Olaiya Adewumi, a 600-level Veterinary Medicine student, made the disclosure while speaking with Nigerian comedian and former Big Brother Naija housemate, Dee-One, who visited the university to assess students’ experiences with the Federal Government’s student-loan programme. Adewumi, who is from Ogun State, said she became a beneficiary of the scheme after applying in her final year, despite first learning about the opportunity while she was in 400 level. “Let me say 70 per cent of University of Ibadan students are actually benefiting from the NELFUND loan,” she said. The student also dismissed the perception that applicants require personal connections to access the loan, explaining that the application process is conducted online and can be completed without knowing anyone in governmen...

  ...As Hon Dr Chinedu Mbah Holds Stakeholders Engagement with Market Leaders  _...Traders Pledge Statewide Support for Re-Election of Gov Mbah, All APC Candidates_ The Enugu State Amalgamated Traders Association (ESMATA) has reaffirmed its total support for the re-election of Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah, with market leaders across the state pledging to mobilise traders for the Governor and all APC candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. The declaration was made during a stakeholders’ engagement meeting with the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Market Matters, Hon. Dr. Chinedu Mbah, held today at Carton Swiss Hotel, Enugu. The meeting brought together Chairmen and Secretaries of markets from across the 17 Local Government Areas of Enugu State, providing an important platform for direct engagement between the organised trading community and the state government on issues concerning markets, traders’ welfare and the economic development of the state. A major ...