The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has distributed over N5.09 billion in institutional fees to 59 federal and state tertiary institutions

 The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has distributed over N5.09 billion in institutional fees to 59 federal and state tertiary institutions, and has launched a nationwide awareness campaign to inform schools about the program.

So far, a total of 45,440 students have benefited from these institutional fees. According to The Guardian, NELFund has visited 10 tertiary institutions, including Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Anambra, Federal Polytechnic Nekede in Imo, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture in Abia, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Ogbomosho, and Ignatius Ajuru University of Education in Port Harcourt.

Other institutions included the University of Calabar, Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, University of Port Harcourt, Niger Delta University in Bayelsa, and the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Delta.

The awareness campaign, conducted in collaboration with the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), is intended to educate both schools and students about the loan scheme, its goals, and how they can benefit from it to improve access to education.

During a visit to the University of Port Harcourt, NELFund Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr emphasized the importance of the loan program in helping Nigerian students overcome financial obstacles to education.

Sawyerr noted that the campaign aims to encourage students who may hesitate to apply due to a lack of information. He explained that the Fund is dedicated to reaching all parts of the country, ensuring that no region is left out. He urged students to take full advantage of the loan, which covers tuition and provides monthly stipends.

Accompanying Sawyerr to UniPort were several Fund officials, including the Executive Director of Operations, Mustapha Iyal; Director of Corporate Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi; Special Assistant to the MD, Nasir Ayitogo; and NANS Senate President, Babatunde Akinteye. Sawyerr reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to fairly distributing the loan facility.

In response, the university's Vice Chancellor, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, praised the Federal Government for easing the financial burden on students. He encouraged students to wisely manage the funds provided through the loan scheme.