The Managing Director of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, has assured that no eligible student will be denied the opportunity to sit for examinations, despite recent verification delays affecting some tertiary institutions. In an interview with ARISE News, Sawyerr emphasized the agency’s commitment to student welfare, stating that it remains the top priority of NELFUND.
Concerns arose after reports surfaced indicating that some final-year students were barred from taking their exams, despite claims that their tuition fees had been paid through NELFUND. Sawyerr clarified that this federal education loan scheme, initiated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, aims to eliminate financial barriers to tertiary education by providing interest-free loans with flexible repayment options.
“We started this scheme to provide students with loans—interest-free loans—with very soft terms,” Sawyerr explained. He highlighted the longstanding issue in Nigeria, where many individuals are unable to pursue or complete their tertiary education due to financial constraints.
While NELFUND is dedicated to ensuring rapid disbursement of funds, Sawyerr noted that government funding necessitates strict procedures. “These systems require proper processes when disbursing government funds. It is crucial to implement the approved processes to prevent misappropriation,” he stated.
The scale and complexity of the program are significant, with NELFUND having already disbursed funds to 265 tertiary institutions across Nigeria. Currently, the agency is processing approximately 1.5 million applications and supports just under one million beneficiaries each month.
Verification Delays and Institutional Coordination
Sawyer addressed the verification delays that particularly affected the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH). He explained that institutions must confirm beneficiary lists before funds can be released. “We batch applications by institution and expect them to verify the list of students. In the case of LAUTECH, over 12,000 students needed to be verified,” he said.
He acknowledged the operational challenges arising from differing institutional calendars, as universities and colleges set their own application and examination dates. “Students apply on their own schedules—we do not enforce an application date,” he added.
To mitigate the impact of these verification delays, NELFUND has appealed to various institutions to permit affected students to sit for their exams while the verification and payment processes are completed. “We have negotiated with many institutions to allow students to write their exams if their applications were delayed,” Sawyerr noted.
When questioned about potential communication failures with institutions like LAUTECH and the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Sawyerr firmly dismissed such claims. “No, absolutely none of that. There are multiple deadlines and applications. It’s never going to be perfectly in sync,” he stated, reinforcing that NELFUND maintains constant communication with institutions regarding student welfare and fee verification.
Increasing Applications and Future Prospects
Sawyer reported a growing number of applications as confidence in the NELFUND program increases. “In the last 24 hours alone, we received about 8,000 applications,” he revealed. With over 1.5 million applications currently in the system and nearly one million beneficiaries, the program’s popularity is evident.
The Managing Director concluded by reiterating NELFUND’s commitment to transparency and accountability in its operations. “We aim to ensure that students who have the capacity and desire to remain in school can stay until they graduate and have access to education,” he said.
As NELFUND continues to navigate the complexities of funding and institutional collaboration, its focus remains steadfast on supporting Nigerian students in achieving their educational goals.
