NELFUND urges South-East, South-South to boost student loan participation
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has called on higher education institutions and students in the South-East and South-South regions to step up their involvement in the national student loan scheme, which is designed to widen access to tertiary education across the country.
Speaking during a stakeholder engagement session and technical workshop held in Abuja on Monday, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, described the event as a significant step in building a transparent, digitised, and student-centred financial support system.
The three-day workshop commenced with representatives from universities, with polytechnics, monotechnics, and colleges of education expected to participate in the following sessions.
Responding to concerns about the Fund issuing loans to students who had already graduated, Sawyerr clarified that NELFUND follows a strict process to ensure accountability and prudent management of public funds.
“We have to adhere to our processes. If a person has already paid their fees in their final year and we’ve covered their tuition, it is the obligation of that individual to attend school.
“But to complain after graduation misses the point. People applied in their final year. There is a necessary process to confirm that the applicants are genuine and still require the support,” he said.
Sawyerr added that the forum was not only meant to train institutional representatives on the loan application process but also to gather feedback that would help refine the platform and improve delivery.
Also addressing attendees, Ifeoluwa Ehindero, Chairperson of the House Committee on Students Loan, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing, spoke about the importance of building a system that is modern and fit for purpose.
“By automating and optimising the NELFUND system, we aim to build a process that is transparent, efficient, and responsive at every stage—application, approval, and disbursement,” she said.
Ehindero noted that legislative efforts to strengthen the scheme were ongoing, but stressed that successful implementation depends on close collaboration between the Fund and educational institutions.
Earlier in the session, NELFUND’s Executive Director of Operations, Mr Iyal Mustapha, revealed that over 576,058 students had so far registered on the platform, with total applications amounting to ¦ 170.4 billion.
He encouraged institutions in the South-East and South-South to step up awareness campaigns so that eligible students can submit their applications in good time and benefit from the initiative.
