A final-year student of the University of Calabar (UNICAL), Obong Obasi Nwem Okon, has expressed heartfelt appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, for what she described as a transformative intervention in the educational journey of Nigerian students.
In a heartwarming video, the final-year student thanked the President and the NELFUND leadership for providing financial support that, according to her, has given renewed hope, ambition and confidence to young Nigerians pursuing higher education.
“Obong Obasi Nwem Okon, and I am a final-year student of Cross River State Calabar. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the President and the Director of NELFUND for their invaluable support in students’ educational pursuit.
“Your financial assistance has made a huge difference and has inspired hope and ambition in countless young people. I truly appreciate your dedication to building a brighter future for us all,” she said.
Her message captures the human side of the Federal Government’s student-loan initiative, which is increasingly being felt across tertiary institutions as students seek support to meet the financial demands of higher education.
For many beneficiaries, the significance of NELFUND goes beyond the payment of institutional fees. The provision of monthly upkeep allowances has offered students practical support for feeding, transportation, data subscriptions and other academic expenses, making it easier for them to remain focused on their studies despite rising living costs.
The growing impact of the scheme reflects President Tinubu’s decision to place student financing at the centre of his administration’s efforts to expand access to higher education. By creating a system through which eligible students can access interest-free financial assistance, the administration has sought to ensure that financial hardship no longer becomes a barrier to academic dreams.
The programme has continued to expand at an impressive pace. As of August 2026, NELFUND had processed more than 1.6 million applications, while total disbursements had surpassed N322 billion, covering institutional fees and upkeep support for students across participating tertiary institutions nationwide.
At the operational level, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr has been instrumental in driving the Fund’s expansion through digital processing, institutional verification, improved transparency and wider access for students. Under his leadership, NELFUND has evolved from a newly introduced policy into one of Nigeria’s most significant education financing initiatives.
Recent testimonies from students across the country continue to reinforce the programme’s growing impact. A final-year student of the University of Ibadan recently revealed that about 70 per cent of students in the institution are benefiting from the scheme, describing the upkeep allowance as a major relief for students facing rising living expenses.
For Obong Obasi Nwem Okon, however, the impact is deeply personal. She believes the student loan and upkeep support have given hope to students across Nigeria and made it increasingly difficult for financial constraints alone to deny determined young Nigerians the opportunity to pursue higher education.
Her message reflects the experience of many beneficiaries who now see NELFUND not merely as a government programme, but as a life-changing investment in Nigeria’s future.
While the scheme continues to grow under President Tinubu’s vision and Sawyerr’s leadership, many believe NELFUND is laying the foundation for a more inclusive, sustainable and opportunity-driven higher education system, where talent, not financial hardship determines how far a student can go.
