The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says more than 500,000 Nigerian students have applied for loans through its portal in one year.

This is contained in a statement on Friday by NELFUND’s spokesperson, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi.

Mr Oluwatuyi quoted the fund’s managing director, Akintunde Sawyerr, as saying the milestone achieved within just 11 months of operations underscored the critical need for accessible student financing in Nigeria.

Mr Sawyerr stated that it also highlighted the widespread trust in NELFUND’s mission to democratise access to tertiary education.

“We are witnessing a nationwide demand for opportunity, and NELFUND is proud to be at the heart of this transformation.

“Since the launch of the portal, students across the country have actively engaged with the application process for both institutional and upkeep loans, demonstrating the relevance and urgency of the fund’s efforts,” he said.

The managing director reiterated NELFUND’s commitment to ensuring transparency, accessibility and efficiency as the process continued.

He called on stakeholders to support the fund’s vision of equitable education for all.

(NAN)