Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has declared a total mobilization of students in Ondo State to benefit from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Receiving the NELFUND management team in Akure yesterday, the governor hailed the initiative as a historic intervention by President Bola Tinubu.
The visit marks the agency’s first South-West stop of the year, signaling a reinforced push to ensure no Nigerian youth is denied a university degree due to poverty.
Aiyedatiwa emphasised that the interest-free loan scheme serves as a critical safety net, working alongside existing state bursaries and scholarships.
“You can no longer say your parents are poor or that nobody is helping you,” the governor told students. “The government has created a platform for everyone to have access to a university degree.”
To ensure maximum participation, the governor directed the Commissioner for Education, Igbekele Ajibefun, to spearhead an aggressive sensitization campaign across all public tertiary institutions in the state.
Aiyedatiwa urged NELFUND to adopt a data-driven strategy by comparing school enrollment figures with loan application rates.
This, he argued, would help identify which students are being left behind and where further campus-based engagements are needed.
“This scheme will not only ease the financial burden on parents but also instill responsibility and financial discipline in our students,” Aiyedatiwa added.
The Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, provided key clarifications to debunk misconceptions about the scheme, which was signed into law on April 4, 2025.
He said the applications are strictly online; no personal connections or godfathers are required to secure approval, and institutional fees are paid directly to the schools, while students receive separate stipends for upkeep.
Sawyerr added that repayment is non-punitive and only begins two years after the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) via income-based deductions and the scheme is designed to empower, not to burden students with debt
READ ALSO: Aiyedatiwa unveils ₦50m lifeline for widows of fallen heroes
The meeting was attended by the top brass of the state government, including Olayide Adelami, Deputy Governor, Taiwo Fasoranti, Secretary to the State Government, Olukayode Ajulo, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.
The NELFUND team presented a progress report to the governor for appraisal, as both parties agreed that increased transparency and institutional support are vital to the program’s success.
For more details, visit New Daily Prime at www.newdailyprime.news.
