The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced that no fewer than 1.5 million students across 288 tertiary institutions in Nigeria have benefitted from its interest-free loan scheme, with a total disbursement exceeding ₦282 billion nationwide.
The Head of Loan Repayment and Reconciliation at NELFUND, Mr. Awati Muhammed, disclosed this on Friday during a Democracy Day engagement organised by student union leaders across Northern Nigeria in Yola, Adamawa State.
The event, themed “Thank You President Tinubu for Making Democracy Work for Students,” brought together student leaders and education stakeholders to review ongoing Federal Government interventions in the education sector.
Muhammed said the engagement was designed to create awareness about educational opportunities under various government initiatives and to deepen students’ participation in the loan scheme.
He explained that the Northern Project Coordination Office (NPCO), in collaboration with NELFUND and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG), had launched a sensitisation campaign across 25 universities in Northern Nigeria.
According to him, the campaign aims to educate students on the benefits of the interest-free loan programme and improve access to Federal Government education support schemes.
“The outreach is designed to increase awareness and encourage wider participation among eligible students,” Muhammed said.
He added that the initiative was helping to remove long-standing financial barriers that have limited access to tertiary education for many young Nigerians.
Muhammed noted that the programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises youth empowerment and improved access to quality education.
He also reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the management of the scheme, adding that sensitisation efforts would continue across institutions in Northern Nigeria to ensure no eligible student is left out.
The campaign, he said, also provides a platform for students to engage directly with NELFUND officials and other stakeholders on issues relating to the loan scheme.
Speaking at the event, the NELFUND Desk Officer at Modibbo Adama University, Malam Abdulwahab Shehu, described the initiative as a significant step toward expanding equitable access to higher education.
Shehu urged students to seek proper guidance on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and repayment terms to make informed decisions about the programme.
He encouraged qualified students to take advantage of the scheme, describing it as a rare opportunity to pursue higher education without financial strain.
A beneficiary of the programme and student of Modibbo Adama University, Abbas Aminu, said the loan had eased his financial burden and enabled him to focus more on his academic work.
He described the initiative as a timely intervention that has significantly reduced the challenges associated with tuition and other educational expenses.
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