Abuja, Nigeria
– The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has introduced a new policy
mandating that upkeep loan disbursements to students will now be strictly
aligned with the academic session of their respective institutions.
The policy was disclosed in Abuja on Thursday by Mrs.
Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, in a
statement released to the press.
“In line with this directive, students
shall only be entitled to upkeep loans for their current academic session. Upon
the conclusion of an institution’s academic year, upkeep payments for that
session shall automatically cease,” Oluwatuyi said.
She further explained that students transitioning into
a new academic year will no longer receive upkeep disbursements tied to the
previous session. Instead, loan applicants will now be required to reapply
at the start of each academic session to access both tuition and upkeep
benefits for that year.
To support the implementation of the new directive,
NELFUND has updated its loan management portal.
“To ensure accuracy and transparency, the
NELFUND loan portal is being automated to reflect this adjustment. The portal
will henceforth display only the upkeep loans collected by each student within
the relevant session,” Oluwatuyi noted.
Academic calendar submission crucial
NELFUND also urged Nigerian universities and other
higher institutions to upload their academic calendars and sessional details
promptly. This, Oluwatuyi stressed, would guarantee that students enjoy the
full upkeep benefits due to them throughout an academic year.
She reaffirmed NELFUND’s commitment to transparency
and efficiency in its operations:
“NELFUND remains committed to its mandate
of providing accessible, transparent, and efficient loan support to Nigerian
students, and counts on the cooperation of all stakeholders in the smooth
implementation of this directive.”
For further inquiries, the agency advised students and
institutions to contact NELFUND through its official communication channels,
including info@nelf.gov.ng, @nelfund
on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Beyond tuition: Expanding NELFUND’s impact
In addition to funding tuition and upkeep, NELFUND has
broadened its scope to include vocational and technical training loans,
aimed at equipping Nigerian youths with hands-on trade skills. The scheme’s pilot
phase ran in Enugu between June and July 2025, supporting participants in
acquiring market-ready skills.
Looking ahead, NELFUND has announced plans to launch a
centralized job portal by 2026, designed to help graduates access
employment opportunities both locally and internationally.
With these initiatives, the Fund is positioning itself
as not just a financier of education but a key partner in shaping the career
pathways of Nigerian students and graduates.
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