Engineering, medical courses to be prioritised in student loan disbursement – NELFUND
The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to revise the eligibility criteria for the federal government’s interest-free student loans, potentially excluding certain courses from the scheme.
Akintunde Sawyerr, NELFUND Managing Director, revealed the changes during a virtual conference organised by The Renewed Hope Global, titled “Student Loan Masterclass: Why, What, and How?” He stated that the new direction is intended to align loan disbursement with Nigeria’s developmental priorities.
“At the moment, all courses are treated the same, because we are providing loans to students in their 300 and 400 levels, and we do not want to discriminate,” Sawyerr explained.
“However, there are certain fields that are more aligned with the country’s needs, such as engineering and medical courses, which are more practical and essential for our development.”
Sawyerr emphasised that the fund aims to prioritise courses that equip students with practical and employable skills critical to national growth. While fields like language studies may be considered less urgent, he added that NELFUND remains committed to supporting programmes that enhance graduates’ global competitiveness and their ability to contribute economically through remittances.
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Since its establishment, NELFUND has provided loans to 335,000 students in 127 tertiary institutions. However, the fund is shifting its focus to ensure that future loans are strategically directed toward courses with higher economic and employment potential, particularly in sectors like engineering, healthcare, and other practical disciplines.
This proposed policy shift emphasis on NELFUND’s mission to balance educational access with the country’s development needs, paving the way for a more targeted approach to funding higher education in Nigeria.
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