NELFUND to expands loan programme to vocational skills centres
Education
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said the expansion of its loan programme to vocational skills centres across the country would commence in six to eight week’s time.
Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr explained that the vocational training support through loans, was aimed at helping individuals access technical education at various skill centres, including fashion design and other skills.
Speaking at a strategic engagement and sensitisation campaign on operations of NELFUND in Enugu State, Sawyerr disclosed that Enugu was pencilled down as one of the states to kick-off the skills acquisition and vocational training support.
He said: “We are working on it now, and we’re going to have some discussions with the executive governor and his team, because we want to start it here.
“The president has also instructed that we focus on areas where the governments or the institutions of state and instruments are ready to work with us, so that we can have a quick takeoff. I think that within the next six to eight weeks, you will see us kick something off.”
Meanwhile, during a tour of the Enugu Garments and Fashion Hub on Friday, NELFUND’s Executive Director Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, said of over 10 states equipped with vocational and skills training facilities, Enugu had the best.
He stated: “Presently we have other states, almost more than 10 states that we have seen such but then, Enugu is one of the best.
“Enugu is going to be one of the first states or one of the first locations we are looking at to start. With what I see, there is a lot of positivity.
“We have seen different skill centers from technical colleges to vocational skill centers like fashion design and they are all very positive for us at NELFUND. I would not say that Enugu will be the only state but one of the first states to start with.”
Mustapha explained that NELFUND, just like the student loan component of its mandate, would open its portal up for those interested in acquiring training in either of the various forms of vocation and skills, to apply.
According to him, the loan programme would cover training costs, provide upkeep support and supply beneficiaries with tools after the training.
“We are going to have these centers in place to say if you apply from Enugu this is where to go in Enugu. We are going to pay for their training costs, we are going to be giving them upkeep and at the end of the day, they will have some working tools when they finish their training,” he added.
On how much upkeep NELFUND would grant beneficiaries under this category, Mustapha said: “We are still trying to complete that into our guideline. The training costs are based on what the centre is proposing, that’s what we are paying but the institutional charges are going to be part of the loan because it’s to support them with the transport coming to these skill centres.
“It’s a work in progress and the country is always evolving. The government is seeing the value in skills and vocation just to support the community.”
