By Tomiwa Akinbamire
For many Nigerian families, paying for tertiary education has become increasingly difficult as tuition fees and living costs continue to rise. In response to this challenge, the Federal Government introduced the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a programme designed to provide financial relief to students and ensure wider access to higher education.
The Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, disclosed at a press conference in Abuja that the fund has so far received 1,361,011 loan applications from students across the country.
According to him, N161.97 billion has already been disbursed under the scheme. Of this amount, N89.94 billion was paid directly to 263 tertiary institutions to cover tuition and institutional charges, while N72.03 billion was paid to students as upkeep allowances to support their daily living needs.
Sawyerr described the intervention as a major relief to students and their families, stating that the programme represents “evidence of barriers being removed and opportunities being created,” as it continues to protect students’ rights to education.
Also speaking, the Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, Mr. Mustapha Iyal, revealed that about 11,000 students out of more than 400,000 beneficiaries in the 2024/2025 academic session are yet to receive their upkeep allowances.
He explained that the delays were largely due to incorrect information supplied by applicants. Iyal added that NELFUND has contacted tertiary institutions to validate student data, noting that feedback has been received from over 100 institutions and that payment of the outstanding allowances is expected to commence shortly.
With over one million applications recorded, the NELFUND initiative is emerging as one of the Federal Government’s most significant education interventions, offering renewed hope to students seeking quality tertiary education across Nigeria.
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