By John Moses
A former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Alhaji Idi Farouk, has lauded the Nigerian government’s education loan scheme as a transformative tool that is easing financial pressures on students and their families.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, Farouk described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a landmark initiative that is expanding access to tertiary education. He said the scheme had already begun making a meaningful impact since its establishment in 2024.
“I had not heard of NELFUND until I saw its Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, speaking on television,” Farouk said. “The agency has done so much, yet more public awareness is needed to reach students in remote communities.”
He urged the media and the agency to raise visibility around the loan scheme, especially for underprivileged but brilliant children who may be unaware of the opportunity.
Farouk commended President Bola Tinubu for backing the establishment of NELFUND through the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, signed into law in 2024. He described the initiative as a relief to Nigerian households and praised Mr Sawyerr’s leadership as “a round peg in a round hole”.
Reflecting on the performance of Tinubu’s government two years into his presidency, Farouk said he preferred to assess individual appointees rather than the president himself. He applauded the performance of Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike and Aviation Minister Festus Keyamo but expressed concern over ministries such as Defence, Police Affairs, and the Central Bank, citing inflation and a weakened currency.
On infrastructure, Farouk criticised the state of federal roads, particularly in Kaduna State. He also questioned the transparency of the contract process for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway but acknowledged that the long-term benefits might become clearer in the future.
“The pyramids in Egypt were once questioned for their relevance,” he noted. “Today, they generate significant tourism revenue. The same could apply to the coastal highway project, eventually.”
Farouk also praised the efforts of other agencies, including the National Orientation Agency, while urging greater public communication from government institutions. He called on President Tinubu to review the performance of his appointees and replace underperforming officials to ensure more effective delivery of democratic dividends.
On the recent conferment of national honours, he stated that awarding recognition was the president’s constitutional prerogative.
