By OGENE ROMANUS CHIZOBA
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has taken another significant step onto the continental stage after receiving a Certificate of Observership from the Association of African Higher Education Financing Agencies (AAHEFA) at the Association’s 6th International Conference and Annual General Meeting in Accra, Ghana.
The recognition followed NELFUND’s active participation in the high-level gathering, which brought together representatives of higher education financing agencies and key stakeholders from across Africa to share experiences, innovations and strategies for building sustainable and inclusive financing systems.
Held under the theme, “Digital Transformation in Higher Education Financing: The Role of Technology Advancements in Ensuring Sustainable, Inclusive and Resilient Higher Education Financing Systems in Africa,” the conference placed technology and innovation at the centre of discussions on the future of higher education financing on the continent.
Representing NELFUND during the countries’ presentations at the third day of the Annual General Meeting were Ms. Monalisa Dike and Ms. Stephanie Abughdyer, who contributed to the exchange of institutional experiences and perspectives on student financing.
With representatives from 18 African countries participating in the AGM, the platform provided an opportunity for countries to examine emerging challenges and share practical approaches to improving the sustainability, accessibility and resilience of higher education financing.
NELFUND’s active engagement in the continental dialogue subsequently culminated in its formal recognition through the Certificate of Observership, presented to the Fund’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr.
Receiving the certificate, Sawyerr described the recognition as a significant milestone for NELFUND, noting that the observership would further strengthen the Fund’s visibility and recognition within Africa’s higher education financing community and beyond.
The NELFUND chief also commended Ms. Monalisa Dike for her commitment to advancing the Fund’s engagement and representation within the AAHEFA platform, stressing the importance of international collaboration and peer learning in strengthening student financing systems.
According to him, platforms such as AAHEFA provide NELFUND with valuable opportunities to learn from counterpart institutions while also contributing its own experiences to the broader conversation on sustainable higher education financing.
The recognition comes as NELFUND continues to deepen its focus on technology, data, digital transformation and strategic partnerships as tools for expanding access to education financing and improving the experience of beneficiaries.
Beyond the certificate itself, NELFUND’s participation in the Accra conference signals a growing engagement with African counterparts and provides a platform for knowledge exchange on how student financing agencies can build systems that are more inclusive, transparent, sustainable and resilient.
The AAHEFA observership therefore represents a new chapter in NELFUND’s continental engagement, positioning the Nigerian Fund to participate more closely in conversations shaping the future of higher education financing across Africa.
