The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa CON, has reaffirmed the determination of the Federal Government to assure the general public of the credibility of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund), while addressing recent concerns about its long-term effectiveness.
At a session held at the Minister’s Conference Room, Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja, Dr. Alausa received the official submission of the Committee on Harmonization of NELFund Administration and Charges, chaired by the Permanent Secretary of Education, Mr. Abel Olumuyiwa Enitan, and co-chaired by the Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Abdullahi Ribadu. Other distinguished members of the committee included Professor Akintunde Sawyerr, Mustafa Abdullahi, and Professor Folasade Ogunsola.
In his remarks, the Minister congratulated the committee members for completing what he described as one of the most significant assignments in the country. He stressed that education remains dear to the heart of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who has placed it at the centre of national development and demonstrated this commitment by instituting the student loan scheme within the first few months of his administration.
Dr. Alausa noted that NELFund has become a flagship program of the present administration but emphasized that earlier challenges arose from poor institutional communication and the absence of standardized processes across tertiary institutions. He acknowledged that the committee’s work, which began on May 14, 2025, was a timely intervention to address public concerns and reposition the loan scheme as a reliable and transparent support system for Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.
The Minister expressed deep appreciation to the committee for developing new guidelines aimed at improving transparency, strengthening accountability, and enhancing communication between institutions and the public. He affirmed that the new guidelines will be implemented immediately, with emphasis on ongoing monitoring of NELFund’s engagement with institutions and consistent public communication to improve awareness of the scheme’s benefits and processes. He praised the dedication of the committee in producing a forward-looking report that restores confidence in the student loan scheme and repositions it as a strong pillar of inclusive education in Nigeria.
Earlier on in the presentation of the report, Co-Chairman of the committee, Prof. Abdullahi Ribadu, while thanking the Minister for the opportunity given to serve, presented the key recommendations. These include streamlining and harmonizing fee nomenclature across institutions, creating clear timelines for processing student loan applications, and ensuring effective institutional engagement in loan disbursement. The report further highlighted the importance of leveraging technology in loan processing and repayment, expanding collaboration with financial institutions and stakeholders, establishing robust feedback mechanisms to address beneficiaries’ concerns, enforcing repayment structures for sustainability, and implementing capacity-building initiatives alongside periodic policy reviews.
The Ministry remains committed to ensuring that the student loan program fulfills its promise of breaking financial barriers, guaranteeing access to quality education for all Nigerians, and advancing the administration’s vision of a more equitable and prosperous nation.
Signed
Boriowo Folasade
Director, Press and Public Relations
