Presidency hinges push for Tinubu’s re-election on social reforms

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed N355.87 billion in student loans since the launch of its Student Loan Portal in May 2024, with 1,659,853 applications processed as of September 3, 2026.

According to the latest NELFUND Student Loan Disbursement Status Report, released yesterday, N192.89 billion has been paid to 319 beneficiary institutions as institutional fees, while N162.98 billion has been disbursed as upkeep allowances to students.

The figures represent the latest milestone in the Federal Government’s student loan programme, which was introduced to ease the financial burden of tertiary education and expand access to higher education.

The agency said the report captures disbursements made from the launch of the Student Loan Portal on May 24, 2024, to September 3, 2026.

The fund described the programme as a major component of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at supporting Nigerian students by covering institutional fees and providing direct financial assistance for upkeep.

The latest figures also show that the programme has continued to attract significant demand, with more than 1.65 million applications processed since its launch.

Of the total amount disbursed, institutional payments account for about 54.2 per cent, while upkeep allowances represent approximately 45.8 per cent.

NELFUND’s intervention comes amid persistent concerns over the rising cost of tertiary education, accommodation, transportation and other expenses confronting students across the country.

MEANWHILE, the Presidency has intensified its push for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election, arguing that the administration’s economic and social reforms are now delivering tangible prosperity, with millions of students accessing education loans, stronger GDP growth, moderating inflation and improving investor confidence.

In an article titled “From Reform to Prosperity: A Case for President Tinubu’s Re-election,” the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement, Fredrick Nwabufo, said nearly two million Nigerian students had benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a zero-interest facility designed to widen access to tertiary education and reduce dropouts caused by financial hardship.

Nwabufo said beneficiaries, who receive support for tuition and upkeep, are expected to begin repayment two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps, adding that the scheme was a historic intervention that would be remembered for generations.