The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said it has disbursed over N73.2 billion in interest-free loans to 396,252 students across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) within one year.
NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, during a media engagement in Abuja on Thursday, emphasised on the progress made since President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the initiative.
He stated that a total of 645,692 loan applications had been received, with 94 per cent processed from 206 tertiary institutions nationwide.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, students are gaining structured, interest-free access to education finance through a national public fund,” Sawyerr said.
He described the programme as a product of political will aimed at rescuing undergraduates and eliminating the risk of not completing the their education due to financial constraints.
He said the initiative was designed to democratise access to higher education and skill development through sustainable financing.
“Since our application portal opened in May 2024, we’ve seen measurable and meaningful progress.
“Many of the beneficiaries are first-generation students in tertiary institutions,” he stated.
Sawyerr also pointed out the digital and transparent nature of the loan system, which enabled seamless processing, tracking, and verification.
He, however, admitted several challenges, including data mismatches, delays in verification, and misinformation.
Despite the issues, he reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to transparency and continuous improvement. “We’ve remained steadfast, improving our systems, engaging applicants directly, training institutional focal points, and addressing concerns swiftly,” he said.
Sawyerr cautioned against the growing wave of misinformation about the Fund on social media, stating that it could undermine the initiative’s credibility and purpose.
He said the public should seek clarification directly from the Fund rather than spreading unverified claims in the media.
