President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Jim Ovia, renowned banker and businessman, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund NELFUND, on Friday, 26th April 2024.
The news of his appointment was contained in a press release signed by Chief Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity on April 26, 2024.
Mr. Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.
The National Student Loan Programme is an intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian.
According to the statement the President believes Mr. Ovia will bring his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to this role to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds.
He added that the loan would ensure that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society and core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.
President Bola Tinubu, signed the Student Loan Bill which will enable Nigerian students to access loans at interest-free rates into law on Monday, 12th June, 2023, in Abuja.
Story: Ihuoma Ukeje