In a move to strengthen Nigeria’s educational financing framework, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, recently held strategic consultations with key members of the National Assembly.
Mr. Sawyerr met with Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, Senate Leader, and Senator Hassan Ibrahim Dankwambo, former Governor of Gombe State and a notable voice on educational reform in the legislature. The high-level discussions focused on deepening legislative collaboration to support the effective implementation and sustainability of the student loan scheme, a flagship initiative of President Bola Tinubu’s administration under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to NELFUND’s leadership, the engagement is part of a broader consultation effort to ensure that the educational loan programme is backed by robust legislative support and stakeholder alignment. Mr. Sawyerr emphasized the fund’s commitment to transparency, inclusiveness, and ensuring that indigent students across Nigeria can access quality higher education without financial hindrance.
“The commitment of the National Assembly is critical in ensuring that no Nigerian student is left behind due to economic constraints,” Sawyerr stated during the meeting.
Senator Bamidele, while expressing support, underscored the importance of sustained funding and proper oversight to ensure accountability and the scheme’s long-term success. Senator Dankwambo also highlighted the need to align the loan disbursement process with evolving educational realities, particularly in under-resourced areas.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund was established to provide interest-free loans to students in tertiary institutions, with disbursement expected to commence fully in the 2024/2025 academic year. The fund is expected to boost human capital development and reduce the number of school dropouts caused by financial hardship.
Further engagements with civil society, state governments, and academic institutions are expected in the coming weeks as NELFUND scales up its operational framework nationwide.
