The Nigerian Senate has passed the student loan establishment bill to support Nigerian students and parents/guardians going through tough times.
The bill which was sponsored by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila was passed by the lower chamber earlier this year.
The proposed legislation titled ‘Bill for an Act to provide for easy access to higher education for Nigerians through interest-free loans from the Nigerian Education Bank’ seeks to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students in the higher institutions within the county.
Investors King learnt that with senate concurrence, a clean copy would be produced and transmitted to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.
If signed by the president, the bill will see to the establishment of the Nigerian Education Bank which shall have powers to supervise, coordinate, administer and monitor the management of student loans in Nigeria.
Additionally, the Nigerian Education Bank will have the mandate to receive applications from students through their respective institutions of learning. The body “Nigerian Education Bank” will also have the power to screen applicants and administer loans to those who met the laydown requirements.
Without prejudice to gender, religion, tribe, position or disability of any kind, the bill shall ensure that all Nigerian students have equal rights to access the loan.
While commenting on the bill, the House speaker, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila noted that the bill will ameliorate the hardship being faced by Nigerian students especially those who come from low-income families.
He added that the legislation will also promote and enhance education among the youth by making it easy to study.
“A well-educated citizenry was critical to the nation’s development and its ability to compete in the global economy” he noted.
Although Investors King can not ascertain the requirements to access the loan, sources closer to the development however revealed that the major criteria is to be a student in any of the higher institutions of learning in Nigeria be it a University, Polytechnic or Monotechnic.