The Federal Government has launched a sensitisation campaign in Port Harcourt to showcase the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the last two years.
The exercise, themed “Tinubu Administration’s Mid-Term Report,” was inaugurated by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who was represented by Mr Gabriel Obokuru, Head of the Federal Information Centre, Port Harcourt.
Idris explained that the campaign was designed to update Nigerians in the South-South region about government policies and programmes directly impacting their states. He noted that significant investments had been made in the region, particularly in Edo and Delta States, as well as in other areas.
“The President Tinubu-led administration has really touched many areas in the South-South zone with various programmes and projects, notably in Edo and Delta States as well as in other states.
The administration has initiated and completed some programmes to address the people’s needs in the past two years, with others still in progress,” he said.
He highlighted initiatives such as the Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprise – Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) programme and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which he said had supported thousands of citizens. According to him, the sensitisation campaign was also meant to encourage citizens to engage with government projects constructively.
“We are also using this workshop to educate citizens on how they can support government plans in their respective states, constituencies, and localities, rather than only criticizing government,” he added.
Dr Helen Nsirim, Information and Public Relations Officer in the ministry, further outlined the Federal Government’s achievements in the region. She said that under the LIFE-ND programme, N500 million was disbursed to 1,797 farmers in Edo State to boost agribusiness. The programme, she explained, is also running in Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers States.
“The programme is jointly financed by the International Fund for Agriculture Development, the Federal Government, and the Niger Delta Development Commission. Youths, women-headed households, and persons with disabilities are trained and equipped with the necessary skills, knowledge, and resources to thrive in the agricultural sector,” Nsirim said.
She also mentioned other government initiatives, including the Student Loan Scheme, the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) initiative, the Renewed Hope Housing Scheme, and the Bank of Industry’s low-interest loans for micro-enterprises. She disclosed that work had begun on the 700-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which will pass through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River States.
“In just two years, the Tinubu-led administration has delivered tangible infrastructure improvements, as well as reforms that have touched lives in the South-South region. Residents should take advantage of the opportunity to register for cash transfer scheme, the housing scheme, and the student loan scheme, among others. These are not just programmes but opportunities to transform our lives and our communities,” she said.
The sensitisation event also featured a panel session on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, focusing on beneficiaries in Rivers State. Prof. Sunny Orike, Head ICT and Desk Officer of NELFUND at the Rivers State University, noted concerns about the low number of students applying for the facility.
He stressed that the loan was designed for all Nigerian students in federal and state-owned universities, excluding private institutions. “It is for students in both federal and state-owned tertiary institutions, except for private universities. Interested students can apply for the loan by visiting the NELFUND website: nelf.gov.ng and completing the online application form,” Orike said.
He further explained that the loan is interest-free and repayment is only expected to begin two years after a beneficiary graduates and secures employment.
He encouraged more students to take advantage of the opportunity, describing it as a practical step to make higher education more accessible across the country.