President Bola Tinubu yesterday launched the digital disbursement platform for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a initiative aimed at providing financial access to higher education for Nigerian students.
Speaking at the launch, President Tinubu emphasized the importance of education in combating poverty, insecurity, and societal ills.
He reiterated his commitment to ensuring inclusiveness and equity in the disbursement of the loans, urging the NELFUND leadership to prioritize fairness and equity in the distribution of funds across the six geopolitical zones.
According to the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the portal has received over 110,000 applications since its opening on May 25, 2024, with more than 164,000 visits. He assured that there are sufficient funds to meet the initial requests of students across the country.
The President presented cheques to some of the students and institutions that had already been processed by NELFUND. The loan scheme provides stipends for students’ upkeep, while tuition fees are paid directly to the institutions.
The launch of the digital platform marks a significant step towards realizing President Tinubu’s campaign promise of promoting inclusive access to higher education.
