The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged student leaders in various tertiary institutions to fully embrace and support the interest-free education loan scheme, encouraging them to take ownership and help fellow students benefit from the initiative.
  
Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made the call yesterday in Abuja during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Session & Technical Workshop with Student Union Presidents of tertiary institutions and officials of the National Association of Nigerians (NANS).
 
Sawyerr, who reassured that NELFUND was fully committed to dismantling financial barriers and creating opportunities for all Nigerian students to thrive, no matter their background, tasked them to collaborate with the agency to enhance the positive impact of the scheme.
 
“To make this work, we need you. Your voice. Your leadership. Your engagement on campus. Help us raise awareness, refine our processes, and ensure that this scheme reaches every student it was designed to serve,” he said.
 
Speaking further, the NELFUND boss noted that the event aligns deeply with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, rooted in inclusion, empowerment, and a renewed commitment to education as a national priority.
  
On his part, the Executive Director of Operations, NELFUND, Iyal Mustapha, warned institutions against delay in the verification of students’ applications.
  
According to him, once applications are verified, they are sent to institutions for confirmation, a step that has occasionally delayed disbursement due to slow responses from some schools.
 
“We need your schools to respond quickly. If they don’t confirm your status, we can’t release the funds. “You must be involved in making sure your institutions do the right thing.
 
“This is your opportunity. We are the youth, and we are here to support you. This loan is about removing barriers so you can focus on your education. “There is no interest, no guarantor, and no harassment, just commitment to learning,” he said.
 
Mustapha explained that the loan scheme was designed to tackle dropout rates due to financial hardship, offering Nigerian students access to loans that cover institutional charges, and provide monthly upkeep support.
 
“There is no reason for anyone to drop out of school,” he emphasised.   Also speaking, NANS President, Olushola Oladoja, warned institutions and individuals allegedly sabotaging the scheme.
 
Umar Lawal, a final year student of Bayero University, Kano, praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for delivering on its promise aimed at transforming tertiary education in Nigeria.