The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday during activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
The President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government says the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has recorded “unprecedented success” with more than half a million Nigerian students now benefitting from the initiative.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday during activities to commemorate Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary.
He described the scheme as one of the administration’s most people-centered reforms under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“As we speak, more than 500,000 students of tertiary institutions – universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, are already benefitting from the National Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), in which tuition and upkeep fees are paid for by the Federal Government. This is unprecedented in our history,” Idris said.
He stressed that NELFUND was created to remove financial barriers to higher education, thereby giving millions of young Nigerians a chance to pursue their dreams.
According to him, the scheme aligns with the President’s promise to make education a cornerstone of national development and to empower young people with the skills needed for future competitiveness.
The Minister noted that NELFUND had become a lifeline for many families struggling with tuition costs in the face of economic reforms.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, and its Eight (8) Priority Areas, President Tinubu is laying the building blocks for a national renewal anchored on prosperity, peace and unity,” he stated.
He added that government’s increased revenue from reforms, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy, had enabled it to channel funds into critical sectors like education, health, and infrastructure.
Idris maintained that the support for students through NELFUND was proof of President Tinubu’s commitment to inclusive governance.
The Minister called on young Nigerians to seize the opportunity, saying the theme of the 65th Independence Anniversary, “All Hands On Deck,” was a reminder that the future of the country depends on collective responsibility.
“This administration is working for you, listening to you, and committed to ensuring that no Nigerian is left behind,” he assured, while urging patience and continued faith in the reforms.
SaharaReporters previously reported that the House of Representatives has reopened investigations into the operations of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), following fresh allegations of irregularities in the disbursement of student loans across tertiary institutions.
The Chairman of the Joint Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships and Higher Education Financing, Banking and Other Ancillary Institutions, Anti-Corruption, and University Education, Prof. Paul Sunday Nnamchi, said the committee’s assignment is to critically examine alleged breaches in the disbursement process and ensure accountability.
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