Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, yesterday, hinted that the student loan programme might be expanded to private tertiary institutions in Nigeria within three years.

Sawyerr stated this during a strategic engagement and sensitisation campaign with heads of institutions and other stakeholders in Enugu.

The NELFUND boss, while emphasising the need to first address the pressing demands of students in public universities and colleges, noted that the long-term goal is to ensure that all Nigerian students, regardless of institution type, have access to financial support for their education.

“We have only been going for one year. We need to really address the public sector first,” he said.

He highlighted the challenges the Fund is facing to include misunderstanding, misinformation, people not being sure, or feeling that it’s designed not to work for them or that something is stopping them.

On his part, Special Adviser on Education Innovation to the Enugu State Governor, Dr Chinyere Onyeisi, emphasised the importance of the loan, citing the vast and attention-demanding nature of the education sector.