The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has earned continental recognition after receiving a Certificate of Observership from the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA).
The recognition was presented during the Association’s 6th International Conference and Annual General Meeting held in Accra, Ghana.
The conference, themed “Digital Transformation in Higher Education Financing: The Role of Technology Advancements in Ensuring Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Higher Education Financing Systems in Africa,” brought together higher education financing agencies and stakeholders from across the continent to discuss the future of student financing in Africa.
NELFUND participated in the conference alongside representatives from 18 African countries, contributing to discussions on sustainable, inclusive and technology-driven approaches to higher education financing.
The Fund was represented during country presentations at the Annual General Meeting by Ms. Monalisa Dike and Ms. Stephanie Abughdyer, who shared Nigeria’s experiences and perspectives on student financing.
According to the organisers, the meeting provided a platform for participating countries to exchange ideas, policy approaches, technological innovations and practical strategies for strengthening higher education financing systems across Africa.
NELFUND’s active participation in the discussions contributed to its formal recognition through the award of a Certificate of Observership by AAHEFA.
The certificate has presented to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr.
Reacting to the recognition, Sawyerr described it as a significant milestone for the Fund, noting that it further strengthens NELFUND’s visibility within the African higher education financing community.
He said the recognition would create additional opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange and engagement with peer institutions across the continent.
Sawyerr also commended Ms. Monalisa Dike for her role in advancing NELFUND’s engagement within the AAHEFA platform, noting that such partnerships provide valuable opportunities to learn from other institutions while contributing to efforts aimed at improving student financing systems in Africa.
The recognition highlights NELFUND’s growing role in continental conversations on higher education financing and reflects its commitment to leveraging technology, digital transformation and strategic partnerships to expand access to education funding.
NELFUND said its participation in the conference aligns with its broader objective of building a more inclusive, sustainable, transparent and resilient education financing ecosystem for Nigerian students while supporting efforts to strengthen higher education financing across Africa.
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