Abuja, Nigeria – E don happen! Na big news wey dey burst everywhere as Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) don share N56.85 billion to 298,124 students across 198 tertiary institutions within their first year. This move na part of we government effort to remove financial wahala wey dey block students from reaching higher education. Dem launch dis fund on May 24, 2024, under President Bola Tinubu wey dey follow him Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to di figures wey dem release, N30.18 billion as don go straight to schools to settle tuition fees, while students collect N26.63 billion as living stipends for dem upkeep. Na wetin we call better hustle plus smart planning!
Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, di Director of Strategic Communications for NELFUND, make we sabi say 602,417 students don register for di loan portal. But no be everybody wey register go fit collect loan, sha. Dem don approve 554,719 applications which mean say dem get 92% success rate. Na correct strategy wey dey work, no be small.
She even drop some sweet stats, say between May 24 and 25, 2025, dem see 145% rise in daily registrations. From 1,771 new students to 1,221 wey get approval (some people don get their hopes high, no be?).
“Dis achievement dey show wetin happen when policy wey get sense meet with strong execution. NELFUND student loan programme don bring relief to plenty families, plus dem don restore hope to many students. E don create pathway for academic and professional success across Nigeria,” she talk with correct ginger.
Oluwatuyi further claim say di milestone na clear sign of President Tinubu’s commitment to help students by cutting dem financial struggles wey dey hold dem back. “In just twelve months, NELFUND don transform di way students fit access education funding. Over 600,000 students don register and N56.85 billion don dey enter their account for tuition and upkeep,” she add.
Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, di Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, also pipe for di matter, explaining how di scheme don ginger socio-economic change. He call NELFUND “a bridge to opportunity, equity, and national transformation.” Make dem no forget, e don dey turn students to better citizens!
He assure us say NELFUND go still expand to ensure no qualified Nigerian go dey miss out on higher education because of money wahala. Na true padi e be; dis initiative go don dey impact students in a way wey governments don dey try but never fit achieve before.
But e no go stop for tertiary institutions alone, my people. Dem don plan to widen di scheme to include vocational centers around Nigeria, starting from Enugu State between late June and mid-July 2025. If di plan take shape, students fit apply for loan through dem school systems instead of going through NELFUND’s website. Wetin dem dey try do be to make di process simple and accessible for students wey dey remote areas or wherever wey money no dey flow.
Once dem launch, even vocational trainees fit enjoy loan wey cover dem training fees based on proposals wey each center go submit. Na big step forward! Dis na how you make education available to all. Abeg make we continue to watch as dis story dey unfold.
