Federal Government Commits ₦90bn Through NELFUND to Support Over 400,000 Tertiary Students

The Federal Government has allocated over ₦90 billion to support the education and welfare of more than 400,000 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

This was revealed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, in a statement released in Abuja on Wednesday. During a courtesy visit from the platform of State Commissioners of Information, led by Borno State Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, Prof. Usman Tar, the Minister highlighted the impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) initiative.

Introduced by President Bola Tinubu, NELFUND aims to increase access to higher education and ease the financial burden of tuition and living expenses for students and their families. Since its launch, the scheme has emerged as a key component of the administration’s education policy, offering direct financial aid to students at risk of dropping out due to financial hardship.

According to Minister Idris, the financial support goes beyond tuition, as it also includes upkeep allowances. He emphasized President Tinubu’s vision to ensure that every Nigerian child can pursue higher education, regardless of political affiliation or religious background.

“The Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu has committed ₦90 billion to NELFUND. His vision is clear—no Nigerian child should be denied the opportunity to attend a tertiary institution due to financial constraints,” Idris stated.

“This support isn't just for tuition fees. It also includes living expenses for over 400,000 students across various institutions nationwide,” he added.

Idris further stated that Nigeria is on a path to prosperity under President Tinubu’s leadership and called on Nigerians to judge government programs based on their merit rather than politics.

As of the daily status report on September 3, a total of 780,089 students had registered on the NELFUND platform, with 788,842 applications submitted. So far, 449,039 students have benefitted from the initiative.

By August 6, 2025, total disbursements had reached ₦86.3 billion—₦47.6 billion allocated to cover institutional fees across 218 institutions, and ₦38.7 billion paid directly to students as upkeep allowances.

Idris encouraged Nigerians to assess the initiative based on its impact, saying, “Even if you won’t listen to me because I was appointed by President Tinubu of the APC, remember that your children need NELFUND to stay in school. And your people battling cancer need access to the Cancer Screening and Treatment Centre provided under this administration.”

He concluded by reaffirming that the Tinubu-led government is committed to the welfare of all Nigerians, regardless of religion or political party.

#UTVAfrica#