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Demand for student loans has been ‘overwhelming’,  Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Akintunde Sawyerr, said yesterday.

Sawyerr, who spoke on a national television, said that the scheme has provided a lifeline for students who would otherwise struggle to finance their education.

He said: “The demand has been overwhelming, because clearly a lot of people have struggled to get into these institutions. They are hanging on by the skin of their teeth to stay in the institution, and this programme came as a rescue for them.”

He also explained why the scheme has not been restricted to Nigerians classified as poor or indigent, pointing out that parental wealth should not determine a young person’s access to educational support. NigerianPartnership Consulting

According to him, the circumstances confronting students could be more complex than family background.

Young Nigerians, he noted, should be treated as adults capable of making decisions about their education and future.

“You need to start treating Nigerian youths as adults. The fact that they come from a wealthy family, or maybe stand to benefit from a big inheritance, does not preclude them from needing support,” he said. NigerianPartnership Consulting

NELFUND, Sawyerr said, was analysing the growing demand and the figures around its disbursements to better understand the financial requirements of the scheme.

The NELFUND boss noted that the scheme has so far disbursed N162 billion in upkeep allowances to students, as the government-backed scheme continues to expand its reach across public tertiary institutions.

He said the programme was also beginning to influence competition among tertiary institutions, as students gained greater financial flexibility in choosing where to study.

Sawyerr also dismissed claims that the fund favours children of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing the allegation as “completely ridiculous”. TrackCongressional Bills

He said the system was designed “without bias”, political affiliation or other considerations, stressing that beneficiaries were determined according to the established criteria.

Speaking on how the fund identifies students who are unable to pay their fees, Sawyerr said NELFUND relies on information and established processes to determine eligibility.

He also cited research indicating that the scheme had contributed to a reduction in student dropout rates, saying it has “reduced by 20 per cent.”

On repayment, he maintained that paying back the loans should not constitute an undue burden for beneficiaries, noting that the system was structured around beneficiaries’ ability to repay.

He added that beneficiaries would become increasingly traceable as the repayment system develops.

The NELFUND chief executive also hinted about President Bola Tinubu’s announcement about the use of funds recovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to support the student loan scheme. He said the funds had not yet been received by NELFUND.

The student loan scheme, established under the Student Loans Act signed into law by President Tinubu in April 2024, provides interest-free financial support to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions. NigerianPartnership Consulting

The scheme covers approved institutional charges and upkeep allowances, with repayment scheduled to begin two years after completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme.