President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Zenith Bank founder, Jim Ovia, as the Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Tinubu said that Ovia’s appointment was to ensure that the bank brings his immense wealth of experience and professional stature to his new role.
He noted that considering Ovia’s status, the banker would be able to advance the all-important vision of ensuring that no Nigerian student suffers a capricious end to their pursuit of higher education over a lack of funds.
In a statement released on Friday by his Special Adviser to the President on Media publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the president stressed that the banker would be using the office to ensure that Nigerian youths, irrespective of who they are, have access to higher education and skills that will make them productive members of society.
Tinubu added that when the fund provides this to the youths, they would form the core contributors to the knowledge-based global economy of this century.
According to the statement, Ovia is the founder of one of Nigeria’s leading banks and a respected business leader, with a surfeit of efforts and benefaction towards nurturing and empowering young Nigerians.
He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds a Master’s in Business Administration from the University of Louisiana.
The National Student Loan Programme is a pivotal intervention that seeks to guarantee sustainable higher education and functional skill development for all Nigerian students and youths.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the implementing institution of this innovation, demands excellence and Nigerians of the finest professional ilk to guide and manage.
