The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to broadening access to higher education for Nigerian students through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), ensuring support regardless of socio-economic background.
The announcement was made by Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, Managing Director of NELFUND, during Democracy Day celebrations at Bayero University, Kano (BUK). The event, organised by students’ union leaders across Northern Nigeria, was themed “Thank You President Tinubu for Making Democracy Work for Students.”
Represented by Lami Suwaid, Director of Loan Allocation and Distribution, Sawyer highlighted that the NELFUND student loan programme promotes inclusion, opportunity, justice, and equal access to national development. She emphasized that the scheme is designed to ensure no Nigerian student is denied access to tertiary education due to financial constraints.
Also speaking, Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, noted that NELFUND has significantly reduced financial burdens on parents, enabling thousands of students to continue their studies. He described the initiative as evidence of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to sustainable, people-oriented policies aimed at improving citizens’ welfare and economic well-being.
The Students’ Union Government (SUG) Presidents of Bayero University, Northwest University, and Yusuf Maitama Sule University of Education praised the programme, highlighting that it has expanded access to tertiary education without financial hindrance. They commended the Federal Government for prioritizing education and youth development, stressing that NELFUND has eased financial pressures on families and created new opportunities for young Nigerians.
