The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has intensified efforts to expand access to higher education financing, engaging the Sokoto State Government on ways to increase awareness and participation in the Federal Government’s student loan programme.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, made this known during a courtesy visit to the Governor of Sokoto State, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, as part of the Fund’s ongoing stakeholder engagement activities.
During the meeting, Sawyerr highlighted NELFUND’s mandate and reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that no qualified Nigerian student is denied access to tertiary education due to financial constraints.
He stressed the importance of collaboration between NELFUND, state governments and other education stakeholders in driving awareness, uptake and effective implementation of the student loan scheme.
According to him, stronger partnerships at the state level are essential to ensuring that more eligible students benefit from the programme.
Responding, Governor Aliyu commended the Federal Government’s efforts to expand access to education through NELFUND and expressed Sokoto State’s readiness to support initiatives aimed at increasing students’ participation in the scheme.
The governor noted that improving access to educational opportunities remains critical to human capital development and socio-economic growth.
Also present at the meeting were the Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and the Permanent Secretary of the State Scholarship Board.
The visit forms part of NELFUND’s broader strategy to deepen engagement with state governments and other stakeholders in order to improve access to higher education financing for Nigerian students.
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