NELFUND moves to streamline student loan access with tech-driven system

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is taking bold steps toward simplifying access to student loans by developing a technology-driven system aimed at efficiency, transparency, and inclusivity.

Speaking at a Stakeholders Engagement Session and Technical Workshop held in Abuja, NELFUND Managing Director and CEO, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, assured participants that the agency is working tirelessly to ensure a seamless loan application and processing experience for students.

The workshop brought together representatives from polytechnics, monotechnics, and specialized institutes to discuss the automation of NELFUND’s loan application platform and improve collaboration with educational institutions.

In a statement,Sawyerr emphasized that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

According to the Nelfund boss,
no fewer than 320,00 students have been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

“At NELFUND, our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

Sawyerr commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, noting that besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

The MD therefore urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative.