Students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bali, Taraba State, are celebrating something many undergraduates can relate to—the chance to stay in school without the constant worry of school fees.
Beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) recently organized a party to appreciate the support they received through the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
According to the students, NELFUND paid their school fees directly to the Polytechnic and also provided a monthly upkeep allowance of ₦20,000, helping them cover basic living expenses on campus.
For many of them, the support came at a time when rising costs and financial pressure were threatening their education.
One beneficiary said the intervention made it possible to complete registration for the academic session, something that would have been difficult without the loan.
“The payment of our school fees and the monthly upkeep allowance have given us peace of mind. We can now focus on our studies instead of worrying about where the money will come from,” the student said.»
Another beneficiary described the programme as a “renewed hope” for students from low-income families, adding that several of their colleagues who were close to dropping out have remained in school because of the intervention.
The students also said the programme has reduced the financial burden on parents and guardians, especially during the country’s current economic challenges.
They commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for establishing and sustaining the student loan programme and praised the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, for what they described as the transparent and timely implementation of the scheme.
They also appealed to the Federal Government to continue strengthening the programme so that more students in public tertiary institutions can benefit.
For students who are eligible but have not yet applied, the beneficiaries encouraged them to take advantage of the opportunity.
NELFUND provides eligible students with institutional fee support and monthly upkeep allowances to improve access to higher education.
Across Nigeria, students and tertiary institutions have continued to acknowledge the programme’s impact, particularly through the payment of institutional charges and upkeep allowances for the 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 academic sessions.
EduTimes Africa, a product of Education Times Africa, is a magazine publication that aims to lend its support to close the yawning gap in Africa's educational development.