Nigeria’s Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has stepped up efforts to safeguard its student loan programme, bolstering its system against misappropriation and ensuring smoother access for eligible applicants, an official said on Wednesday.
Dr. Aliyu Muhammad, NELFund’s Team Lead and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, said the agency is working closely with security and anti-graft authorities to ensure only qualified students benefit from the fund.
“We’ve been working seriously with the security agencies and the graft agencies,” Muhammad said during a sensitisation session at the Technical and Practical Institute (TPI) in Ibadan.
“You’ve heard allegations, and I guess at the same time, you’ve heard that these allegations are false. Yes, it’s confirmed to be false. So the process is seamless and we don’t have any issues moving forward,” he said.
Loan process under constant review
Muhammad said NELFund is constantly reviewing and strengthening its internal systems to prevent abuse and reassure applicants of the integrity of the process.
“The system is being strengthened and improved from time to time,” he added, noting that the application process remains transparent and accessible.
Raising awareness among students
Wednesday’s event in Ibadan was part of a broader sensitisation campaign targeting tertiary institutions across the country. The programme is designed to educate students on how to access the education loans and clarify the scheme’s objectives.
“This is to sensitise the students on the impact and what they intend to achieve with the NELFund loan. Yes, that’s the essence of our visit here,” Muhammad said.
