The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says no fewer than 1.5 million students across 288 tertiary institutions have benefited from its loan scheme, with more than N282 billion disbursed nationwide.

Awati Muhammed, head of Loan Repayment and Reconciliation, NELFUND, disclosed this at a Democracy Day engagement organised by student union leaders across Northern Nigeria on Friday in Yola.

The event was themed “Thank You President Tinubu for Making Democracy Work for Students”.

Mr Muhammed said the initiative aimed at bringing together students and stakeholders to discuss educational opportunities available under the Federal Government’s initiatives.

He said the Northern Project Coordination Office (NPCO), in collaboration with NELFUND and the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (PI-CNG), had commenced a sensitisation campaign across 25 universities in Northern Nigeria.

He said the campaign was aimed at educating students on the benefits of the interest-free education loan programme and other Federal Government interventions in the education sector.

“The outreach is designed to increase awareness and encourage wider participation among eligible students.

“The scheme is helping to eliminate financial barriers that have historically hindered many young Nigerians from accessing tertiary education.

“The programme aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises access to quality education and youth empowerment,” he said.

The NELFUND official reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability in the implementation of the loan scheme.

He added that the sensitisation would also provide opportunities for students to interact directly with NELFUND officials and other stakeholders.

Mr Muhammed assured students that the campaign would continue across institutions in the North to ensure that no eligible beneficiary was excluded from the programme.

Also speaking, Abdulwahab Shehu, the NELFUND Desk Officer at Modibbo Adama University, described the initiative as a major step toward promoting equitable access to higher education.

Mr Shehu urged students to seek clarification on eligibility requirements, application procedures and repayment conditions to enable them to make informed decisions.

He encouraged qualified students to take advantage of the programme, describing it as a unique opportunity to pursue their academic goals without undue financial constraints.

Abbas Aminu, a beneficiary and student of Modibbo Adama University, described the scheme as a timely intervention that had reduced the burden of tuition and other educational expenses.

Mr Aminu said the loan had enabled him to focus more on his studies, adding that the programme had significantly eased the financial challenges associated with higher education. 

(NAN)