ABUJA, Nigeria — Di Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) don call all student leaders in tertiary institutions make dem fully embrace di interest-free education loan scheme. Di Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, make dis call during Stakeholders’ Engagement Session & Technical Workshop wey happen for Abuja on May 8, 2025.
Sawyerr talk say NELFUND dey committed to removing financial barriers wey fit stop students from thriving, no matter wetin dem background be. E encourage di students to work with di agency to make sure di loan scheme reach everybody wey e suppose reach.
“To make dis work, we need you. Your voice. Your leadership. Your engagement on campus. Help us raise awareness, refine our processes, and ensure that dis scheme reach every student it was designed to serve,” he talk.
Di NELFUND MD also mention say di event connect well with di Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu wey focus on inclusion, empowerment, and a strong commitment to education as priority for di nation.
Di Executive Director of Operations, Iyal Mustapha, warn institutions to no dey delay for di verification of students’ applications. E explain say once dem verify di applications, dem go send am to di institutions for confirmation. Dis verification dey important because slow response from some schools don dey cause delay for di disbursement of funds.
“We need your schools to respond quickly. If dem no confirm your status, we no fit release di funds. You must be involved in making sure your institutions do di right thing. Dis nah your opportunity. We dey here to support you,” Mustapha stress.
He add say di loan scheme dey tackle dropout rates due to financial hardship, ensuring Nigerian students receive loans wey go cover institutional charges and give dem monthly upkeep support. “There is no reason for anyone to drop out of school,” he emphasize.
On di issue of loan repayment, Mustapha assure di students say dem no go start to pay until two years after dem graduate and only if dem don find work. In case of death or permanent disability, he promise say di loan go dey forgiven.
“No one dey chase you. Dis na your loan. Dis na your government. Your repayment go fit help di next generation,” he talk. E also advise students wey receive their upkeep without di institutional fees to go meet dem institutions because di upkeep no fit pay without di institutional fees.
Di President of di National Association of Nigerian Students, Olushola Oladoja, come join di conversation to warn institutions wey dey sabotage di federal government’s student loan scheme. Oladoja say di association don set up five-man committee to investigate di allegations of sabotage concerning di disbursement and accountability of di loan.
“We dey receive information say some institutions dey claim sey dem don pay, but di students no dey informed. Dis kind thing no fit continue. We go engage NELFUND directly and also meet di Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to verify di matter,” he explain.
Umar Lawal, final-year student of Bayero University, Kano, come praise President Bola Tinubu’s administration for di student loan scheme wey dey transform tertiary education for Nigeria. Bin talk say, while he appreciate di scheme, transparency and accountability dey important to ensure di success of di initiative.
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