Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has assured that students from the southeast geopolitical zone will soon be included in the Federal Government’s student loan program.
This comes after the South East Caucus in the National Assembly protested the region’s exclusion from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.
In a statement on Monday, Kalu said his office has engaged with the authorities in charge of the student loans and expressed optimism that the matter would be resolved soon. He noted that issues such as poor registration and mistakes in completing forms, including non-inclusion of JAMB results, were identified as reasons for the non-shortlisting of names.
Kalu stated that steps have been taken by affected institutions in the southeast to remedy the situation, and governors of the region are also working to increase the number of participating students. He encouraged members of the national assembly to reach out to their constituents for immediate compliance.
The Deputy Speaker also said his office has devised means to increase awareness, including producing jingles in English, Igbo, and pigeon English to be played on various radio stations in the region.
Kalu urged institutions to encourage their students to apply for the loan and asked stakeholders to set up registration points to increase participation. He called for patience among students and the people of the southeast, assuring that the needful would be done.
He said, “The various governors are equally on top of this to increase the number of participating students. The members of the House of Representatives from the southeast as well and senate have been asked to reach out to their respective constituents for immediate compliance.”
