Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, has suspended its policy requiring students to present proof of fee payment during examinations for those applying for student loans through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The institution’s Rector, Sylvester Omoruyi, made the announcement on Tuesday during a sensitization program organized by NELFUND at the polytechnic’s main campus.

“The issue of driving students out of exams over unpaid fees is now over. We will no longer be checking payment slips. Instead, we will verify registrations on the NELFUND portal, and once a student is registered, there will be no disruption,” he said.

Omoruyi praised President Bola Tinubu for introducing the student loan scheme and acknowledged the Edo State government’s support in ensuring its success.

He also commended NELFUND for easing the financial burden on students by covering tuition fees and providing upkeep allowances.

However, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, expressed concern that Edo Polytechnic had yet to submit student data required to officially commence registrations under the scheme.

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Represented by the Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Lami Suwaid, Sawyerr urged the institution to take advantage of the new registration cycle for the 2024/2025 academic session to facilitate mass student enrollment.

“During the 2023/2024 session, NELFUND successfully enrolled 259 institutions and disbursed billions of naira to students,” he said.

Sawyerr noted that institutions in the South-South and South-East had the lowest student registration rates and called for improved participation.

Edo State Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, also reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to supporting NELFUND’s implementation.

“Every Edo child must have access to education. With this platform, students can achieve their dreams without dropping out due to financial constraints,” he said.

Iyamu stressed that with the loan scheme in place, students would no longer need to depend on financial assistance from family members abroad.

Oboh Victor, a Business Administration student at Edo Polytechnic, expressed excitement over the development, noting that many students were eager to benefit from the opportunity to continue their education without financial setbacks.