NELFUND Urges Ministries, MDAs to Deepen Awareness of Student Loan Scheme as Disbursement Tops N375bn

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has urged Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to intensify awareness of the student loan scheme to ensure that its benefits reach eligible Nigerian students.

Sawyerr said MDAs were critical stakeholders in disseminating accurate information about the initiative, particularly to parents and guardians who may not be fully aware of the opportunities available under the scheme.

He made the call on Wednesday during a sensitisation roadshow organised by NELFUND at the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Federal Secretariat, Abuja.

The roadshow was aimed at deepening awareness and understanding of NELFUND’s mandate, operations and application processes, as well as addressing misconceptions surrounding the student loan scheme.

The NELFUND chief executive expressed appreciation to the ministry for providing an opportunity to engage its management and staff, stressing that ministries had an important role to play in ensuring that the Federal Government’s initiative reached its intended beneficiaries.

He also commended participants for their active engagement, constructive contributions and interest in the programme.

Speaking at the event, the Director of SERVICOM at NELFUND, Olusola Fowobaje, explained that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs was selected for the sensitisation exercise because of its grassroots connections and poverty-reduction responsibilities.

He noted that although many civil servants might have encountered information about NELFUND through television and social media, they might not have a comprehensive understanding of the scheme due to their demanding work schedules.

According to him, civil servants are also parents and guardians who need detailed information about the scheme to guide their children and wards in accessing the financial support.

“One fortunate thing about this product is that we are not selling it. We are providing loans to our students, our children in federal and state government institutions, without interest. That is why the CEO directed that we should take the information to the doorsteps of our people,” he said.

Fowobaje disclosed that the sensitisation team had previously visited the Ministry of Regional Development, adding that engagements were also being planned for security agencies and military barracks.

He said the initiative became necessary following concerns that some students were accessing NELFUND loans while their parents, unaware of the arrangement, continued paying their school fees.

“Some students collect this loan and still collect school fees from their parents because the parents, most of whom may be educated, are not aware. That is why we are bringing the information directly to the ministries, departments and agencies,” he explained.

The SERVICOM director described the scheme as an intervention designed to expand access to tertiary education for financially disadvantaged Nigerians, irrespective of their parents’ economic backgrounds.

He said the initiative was intended to ensure that children from less privileged households could access educational opportunities without being limited by their parents’ financial circumstances.

“The fact that someone is my gateman should not mean that his children should only open the gate for my children. That is the essence of this initiative. The children should not start where their fathers stopped. The Federal Government has made funds available for them to go to school,” he said.

Fowobaje added that NELFUND’s management was working to make the application and disbursement processes seamless while strengthening access to financial assistance for eligible students in public tertiary institutions.

He said the fund remained committed to reducing student dropouts caused by financial difficulties, promoting human capital development and national productivity, and advancing inclusive and equitable access to quality education.

NELFUND disclosed that as of the end of October 2026, it had disbursed more than N375 billion to students nationwide.

The amount comprises over N194 billion for institutional fees and more than N180 billion in student upkeep allowances.

During the engagement, participants were taken through the NELFUND application portal, eligibility requirements and disbursement procedures.

The sensitisation team also addressed questions and concerns relating to the sustainability of the scheme, the death of a loan beneficiary, repayment periods and the process of repaying loans after securing employment.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Olubumi Olusanya, represented by the Assistant Director, Training and Staff Welfare, Eweje Ololade Modukpe, commended NELFUND for bringing the sensitisation exercise to the ministry.

She described the presentations as an eye-opener, noting that they had provided staff with a better understanding of the scheme and dispelled some misconceptions about its existence and operations.

“Some say it is real, some say it is political propaganda, but here they are today. That is to tell us that it is real, that the office exists and that the programme is real,” she said.

Olusanya explained that there were initially reservations about the ministry’s participation because its staff were not students. However, she said the engagement provided an opportunity for employees to understand how their children, wards and other dependants could benefit from the scheme.

She urged staff members to use the knowledge acquired to create awareness and become advocates of NELFUND within their communities.

The sensitisation exercise forms part of NELFUND’s broader efforts to expand public understanding of the student loan scheme and ensure that eligible Nigerian students take advantage of the financial support available to them.