Government reveals Tinubu's mid-term performance evaluation during South-South public awareness initiative
The Federal Government has been actively engaged in the South-South region, making significant investments and launching a sensitisation campaign to acquaint Nigerians with its policies and programs.
Over the past two years, the government has made substantial investments in the region. One of the notable programs is the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise - Niger Delta (LIFE-ND), a joint initiative financed by the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), the Federal Government, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The LIFE-ND program has been implemented in eight other states in the South-South region, including Edo, where N500 million was disbursed to 1,797 farmers to support their agribusiness under the program.
The Federal Government's efforts extend beyond agriculture. The campaign includes the Student Loan Scheme, the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, and the Bank of Industry low-interest loans to micro-enterprises. These initiatives aim to boost education, skills development, housing, and small businesses in the region.
The campaign was inaugurated in Port Harcourt with the theme: "Tinubu Administration's Mid-Term Report." Alhaji Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, inaugurated the campaign, which aims to highlight the achievements of President Bola Tinubu's two-year term in office.
In the education sector, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) program is available to all Nigerian students in both federal and state-owned tertiary institutions, except for private universities. Interested students can apply for the NELFUND loan by visiting the NELFUND website: https://nelf.gov.ng and completing the online application form. Repayment for the NELFUND loan is scheduled to commence two years after graduation and securing employment. However, Prof. Sunny Orike, Head ICT and Desk Officer of NELFUND in the Rivers State University, expressed concern over the low number of subscribers to the loan.
The Federal Government's investments and initiatives have not gone unnoticed. The First Lady has applauded the shea butter export ban, and the LIFE-ND and NELFUND programs have benefitted thousands of citizens in the South-South.
Notably, the Federal Government is also constructing the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States. This infrastructure project is expected to boost transportation and economic activities in the region.
While the Federal Government continues to invest in the South-South region, the panel session "Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) Beneficiaries in Rivers State: Their Journey So Far and the Genuineness of the Programme" was held to discuss the experiences of NELFUND beneficiaries and the authenticity of the program. The search results do not provide information on who led the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in Rivers State before Professor Sunny Orike.
In conclusion, the Federal Government's investments and initiatives in the South-South region are aimed at improving agriculture, education, skills development, housing, small businesses, and infrastructure. The sensitisation campaign is a significant step towards ensuring that Nigerians in the region are aware of these programs and their benefits.
