A lawmaker, Gbolahan Yishawu, has said the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has made university education more accessible to residents of his constituency.

Mr Yishawu said the fund has significantly enhanced the impact of his annual free General Certificate Examination (GCE) form distribution programme.

The lawmaker, representing Eti-Osa Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, said this at the 14th edition of the programme held on Friday in Lagos.

He distributed 500 free GCE registration forms to beneficiaries in his constituency.

He said the combination of the programme and NELFUND now offered candidates a clearer pathway to obtaining the required basic secondary school qualifications to access tertiary education.

“While the free GCE scheme helps candidates secure the qualifications results needed for admission, NELFUND provides financial support through tuition loans and upkeep allowances, removing one of the biggest barriers to university education.

“The programme was introduced more than a decade ago to assist individuals, who either did not obtain the required credits in previous examinations, or needed additional subjects to pursue new academic or career goals,” he said.

Mr Yishawu noted that the initiative had grown steadily from 100 beneficiaries at inception to between 200 and 500 beneficiaries in its 14th edition.

He said the free GCE scheme complemented other educational interventions he sponsored, including the annual distribution of free Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) forms.

According to him, the aim is to expand access to higher education for young people in the constituency.

“To improve candidates’ chances of success, beneficiaries will also receive free revision classes and computer-based test (CBT) training.

“Many applicants have been out of school for several years and require academic support, while others need practical exposure to the CBT format, now used for the examination,” he said.

Mr Yishawu also revealed plans to introduce an award for the best-performing GCE candidate, similar to the recognition already given to outstanding UTME candidates, following a suggestion made during the programme.

Giving an update on the initiative, he disclosed that over 4,000 GCE forms had been distributed since the programme began.

He stressed that the programme was open to all eligible residents of Eti-Osa Constituency II, irrespective of age, noting, however, that minors must register through their parents or guardians.

Two beneficiaries expressed appreciation for the initiative.

One of them, who already holds a university degree, Aisha Musa, said she applied for the free GCE form because she intended to study Law.

She said, however, that she lacked the required basic secondary school qualification subjects, including Literature in English and Christian Religious Knowledge.

Another beneficiary, a master’s degree holder, Chukwunonso Dickson, also benefited from the programme, saying he needed additional basic secondary school qualification subjects to pursue another academic programme.

He described the initiative as a rare opportunity that saved him the cost of purchasing the examination form.

The beneficiaries pledged to maximise the opportunity by excelling in the examination and pursuing their higher education ambitions. 

(NAN)