The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has taken the ongoing sensitisation campaign on the Federal Government’s student loan scheme to Ekiti State, urging parents to encourage their children to take full advantage of the opportunity to access higher education without financial barriers.
In a statement released on Friday by NELFUND, Mr. Sawyerr reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to removing the financial burden of tertiary education from parents. He described the student loan scheme as a transformative policy designed to expand educational access for millions of Nigerians.
Speaking during his visit to the Palace of the Oore of Otun Ekiti and Paramount Ruler of Moba Land, Oba Adekunle Adeagbo, the NELFUND boss appealed to parents to motivate their children enrolled in public tertiary institutions to apply for the loan scheme. He explained that the initiative would not only support individual aspirations but also contribute to national growth through education-driven empowerment.
“Nigerians are yearning for knowledge; they want to know, they want to learn. We are a very curious people,” Sawyerr said. “The student loan policy has given people access and the opportunity to further their education to the tertiary level.”
The NELFUND CEO disclosed that the response to the scheme has been overwhelming, noting that “in the last 24 hours, we have had 12,000 applications for the student loan.” He added that since May 2024, nearly 700,000 students have benefited from the initiative, while over one million applications have been received nationwide.
According to Sawyerr, the massive turnout reflects the pent-up demand for educational opportunities and underscores the visionary leadership of President Tinubu. “It shows the political acumen of President Bola Tinubu to identify what the country truly needs. If this country gets itself educated and on its feet, nobody will be able to threaten Nigeria. We are the greatest country in the world,” he said.
He also commended Oba Adekunle Adeagbo for his proactive engagement and commitment to the educational advancement of his people. Sawyerr revealed that the monarch had personally visited NELFUND’s headquarters to ensure that none of the 13 kingdoms under his domain were excluded from the benefits of the student loan programme.
“As soon as I saw that gesture, it was incumbent upon me to ensure that I came here as fast as possible,” Sawyerr said. “The paramount ruler is so proactive and action-oriented. Already, he has set up structures for us to work effectively. We are delighted because this is the kind of traction President Tinubu is looking for across the country.”
The NELFUND chief further explained that the student loan initiative was designed not just to ease access to education, but also to stimulate economic growth. By reducing the financial strain on households, he noted, parents could redirect their income towards business investments and family welfare.
“President Tinubu has taken the burden of committing a high percentage of household income to the education of children away from parents,” Sawyerr said. “They can now use that money to start businesses and invest in other things that will further uplift their families and communities.”
He assured that NELFUND would continue to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, and educational institutions to ensure that no Nigerian student is left behind in accessing the scheme. Sawyerr reiterated that the Fund’s mandate was to make tertiary education available to every qualified and willing Nigerian, regardless of financial background.
Oba Adeagbo, in his remarks, commended the Federal Government and NELFUND for their efforts, expressing optimism that the initiative would have a far-reaching impact on the lives of youths in Moba land and across Nigeria. He pledged continued collaboration with NELFUND to ensure that eligible students in his domain benefit from the loan scheme.
The Ekiti sensitisation visit marks another major step in NELFUND’s nationwide campaign to raise awareness about the student loan initiative, which aims to promote inclusive access to tertiary education and drive Nigeria’s socio-economic development through knowledge and innovation.
