The Federal Government has disbursed N2.086 billion through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to support 20,919 students across the North-West region, marking a major boost for young Nigerians struggling with tuition and living expenses.
The announcement was made in Katsina by Alhaji Mukhtar Lawal-Tsagem, a senior official of the National Orientation Agency, during a sensitization program organized by the Federal Ministry of Information. He described the initiative as a direct demonstration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring that no Nigerian student is denied education due to financial hardship.
The loans, which are interest-free, will allow thousands of undergraduates to focus fully on their studies without the pressure of unpaid fees or survival struggles. According to officials, the scheme is designed to give disadvantaged students a fair opportunity to complete their education and position themselves for future employment and leadership roles.
While the initiative has been welcomed with enthusiasm, questions remain over whether other regions of Nigeria will receive similar levels of support and how far the loans will go in addressing the country’s deep-rooted educational challenges. For now, the North-West appears to be leading the way in NELFUND’s rollout, creating hope that more students will benefit as the program expands nationwide.
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Beyond education, the Federal Government has also injected resources into agriculture and infrastructure in the North-West. Farmers have received N1.6 billion in support, with wheat farmers in Kebbi and ginger farmers in Kaduna among the beneficiaries. Projects such as the N2 billion Yawuri Water Project are also underway, underscoring the administration’s strategy of combining educational access with food security and rural development.
Adamu Muhammed, a lecturer at Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, urged students and communities to seize the opportunities offered by NELFUND, stressing that progress will only be sustainable if beneficiaries show commitment and accountability. He also called for better management of resources at state and local government levels, warning against the diversion of funds meant for students and farmers.
With 20,919 students already benefiting and more support initiatives in the pipeline, the government is banking on the NELFUND scheme to transform the educational landscape of the North-West. The bigger question now is whether these investments will translate into better graduation rates, stronger employment opportunities, and a new generation of leaders emerging from the region.
