By Dorcas Opeyemi 
ABUJA | November 2: The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has recorded over one million applications since the student loan portal was officially launched on May 24, 2024.
This was disclosed today in Abuja in a press statement by the Director of Strategic Communications of the Fund, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who described it as a “remarkable achievement” aimed at restoring faith in government-led social empowerment programmes designed to make higher education more accessible to all Nigerians.
Since May 2024 up to the time of publication, the student loan body has disbursed over ₦116 billion, covering both institutional fees and upkeep allowances to undergraduate students across Nigeria’s higher institutions, including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Speaking on the milestone, NELFUND boss, Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, who described it as a defining moment in Nigeria’s journey toward equitable education financing, stated that “This milestone reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to human capital development and inclusive growth.”
He said financial barriers will no longer be the reason why higher education is inaccessible to youths in the country.
He promised to build on past success and explore more ways to improve areas that need attention so as to ensure that “every qualified Nigerian student, regardless of background or location, can access education funding with transparency, efficiency, and dignity.”
The elated NELFUND CEO maintained that the government initiative is working, authentic, effective, and truly transformative, describing it as “a non-discriminatory initiative that benefits Nigerians of all faiths and tribes — Christians, Muslims, and others across diverse ethnic backgrounds.”
He promised that no Nigerian will be denied the opportunity to learn, grow, or contribute to national progress because of financial limitations.
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Anita John 
Editorial Staff