Nigeria’s drive to expand access to higher education has received a major boost as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has commended the management of Delta State University for adopting a student-friendly policy that supports beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
In a statement issued in Abuja on March 9, 2026, the Fund praised the university for allowing students whose status on the NELFUND portal shows “Verified” or “Disbursed” to participate in their first-semester 2025/2026 examinations, provided they present evidence confirming their loan status.
The directive, communicated through an internal memorandum from the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), is seen as a practical step toward ensuring that students awaiting the completion of the loan disbursement process are not denied the opportunity to continue their academic programmes.
Reacting to the development, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyer, described the policy as a commendable demonstration of institutional collaboration in support of Nigerian students.
According to him, the initiative reflects a clear understanding of the objective behind the student loan programme — to ensure that financial constraints do not prevent qualified Nigerian students from accessing higher education.
“We warmly welcome this student-centred approach by Delta State University. It reflects a clear understanding of the purpose of the NELFUND scheme, which is to ensure that no Nigerian student is denied access to education because of financial limitations,” Sawyer stated.
He further noted that such measures help maintain academic continuity for students who have completed the application process while awaiting final loan processing.
NELFUND also encouraged other tertiary institutions across the country to adopt similar supportive measures that prioritise students’ academic progress while the loan process continues to provide the financial assistance required for tuition and upkeep.
The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with universities, polytechnics and colleges of education nationwide to ensure the smooth implementation of the student loan programme and safeguard the educational aspirations of Nigerian students.
Loan Programme Expands Nationwide
Meanwhile, the latest daily dashboard report released by NELFUND shows that the student loan initiative, introduced under the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, continues to record strong uptake across the country.
Since the launch of the loan application portal on May 24, 2024, the programme has received 1,734,985 applications, with 1,164,222 students already benefiting from the scheme.
The report also indicates a 0.1 percent increase in applications, representing 1,910 new submissions recorded over the previous day.
Financial records further reveal that a total of ₦206.29 billion has been disbursed under the scheme. Of this amount, ₦128.84 billion has been paid directly to 270 tertiary institutions as tuition support, while ₦77.45 billion has been released to students as upkeep allowances.
Officials say the intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen human capital development and remove financial barriers to tertiary education.
Education stakeholders have described the partnership between NELFUND and institutions such as Delta State University as a positive sign that universities are aligning with national efforts to ensure that no student’s academic journey is interrupted due to economic hardship.
The initiative remains a key component of the government’s strategy to empower young Nigerians and expand access to quality higher education across the country.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
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