More than 5,000 student nurses and midwives across Nigeria are receiving financial support as the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) increases its investment in nursing education.
NELFUND said it has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to support 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 federal and state institutions.
The funding has grown significantly over the past three academic sessions, rising from ₦59.4 million in 2023/2024 to ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
This represents an almost 14-fold increase in funding within three academic sessions.
The beneficiaries are students from nursing institutions across different parts of the country, including the Oyo State College of Nursing, Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Lagos State College of Nursing, Ogun State College of Nursing, Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kebbi State College of Nursing, Cross River State Colleges of Nursing and several institutions in Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, said the intervention goes beyond financial assistance, describing it as an investment in the country’s future healthcare workforce.
He said removing financial barriers could help more young Nigerians complete their education and prepare for professional careers in healthcare.
Sawyerr also highlighted the large number of young women benefiting from the intervention, noting that supporting their nursing and midwifery education could create opportunities for professional growth and greater participation in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The Executive Director, Operations, Mr Mustapha Iyal, said NELFUND would continue to focus on ensuring that financial support reaches eligible students seamlessly and on time.
Nursing and midwifery remain among Nigeria’s most female-dominated health professions, and NELFUND said the majority of beneficiaries covered by the intervention are young women.
For these students, the funding could provide financial relief and help them complete the training required to enter the healthcare profession.
NELFUND said the latest figures reflect its broader goal of ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing and completing higher education.
With demand for student financing continuing to grow, the Fund said it would focus on expanding access while ensuring that its interventions create meaningful opportunities for students and contribute to Nigeria’s development
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