Arewa Female Students Seek More Support for Indigent Girls, Students with Disabilities
The Arewa Female Students Association (AFSA) has honoured the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, with an Award of Excellence in Educational Transformation and Youth Empowerment, in recognition of his contributions to expanding access to higher education in Nigeria.
The award was presented on Monday, October 12, 2026, when four members of the association, drawn from tertiary institutions across Northern Nigeria, paid a courtesy visit to the NELFUND headquarters in Abuja.
During the engagement, the association commended NELFUND for its digitalised and transparent student loan system, which enables the direct payment of approved institutional fees to tertiary institutions and the provision of monthly upkeep allowances to eligible beneficiaries.
AFSA said the initiative had helped address financial barriers that prevent students from accessing higher education, particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In its award citation, the association highlighted figures indicating that more than 1.2 million applications had been received and over ₦154 billion disbursed to 788,947 students across 262 institutions within the first 19 months of the programme.
The citation also referenced subsequent reports showing that disbursements had exceeded ₦174 billion, benefiting more than 800,000 students across 263 institutions.
Beyond the financial support provided to students, AFSA commended Sawyerr’s position against arbitrary tuition fee increases and his insistence that institutions refund students who had paid their fees before their approved loans were disbursed.
The association also acknowledged NELFUND’s awareness campaigns involving traditional rulers, state governments and tertiary institutions, noting the importance of sustained public sensitisation in helping students understand and access educational financing opportunities.
Particular recognition was given to efforts aimed at promoting girl-child education in Northern Nigeria, where financial constraints can limit educational opportunities for many young women.
Speaking during the presentation, Sawyerr expressed appreciation to the association for the recognition and commended its members for taking an active interest in educational development and youth empowerment.
He urged the students to remain focused on their academic pursuits, stressing that educating the girl-child was essential to national development.
According to him, no girl should be denied the opportunity to acquire an education because of financial difficulties.
The NELFUND chief executive further encouraged the students to draw inspiration from accomplished women leaders, remain committed to academic excellence and prepare themselves for leadership positions in their chosen professions.
He reaffirmed the Fund’s commitment to expanding access to student loans, particularly for female students in Northern Nigeria, to enable them to pursue their education and complete their studies without being held back by financial constraints.
As part of the engagement, AFSA proposed areas of collaboration with NELFUND to strengthen awareness and improve access to educational support among female students.
The proposed initiatives include expanded sensitisation campaigns across tertiary institutions in Northern Nigeria, financial literacy programmes for loan beneficiaries, and internship and capacity-building opportunities for members of the association.
AFSA also advocated targeted support for indigent female students and students with disabilities to ensure that financial hardship and other barriers do not prevent deserving students from accessing higher education.
The proposals are expected to provide opportunities for further engagement between NELFUND, AFSA and other relevant stakeholders in promoting inclusive education, youth development and financial awareness among students.
The recognition of Sawyerr highlights the growing role of student organisations in engaging public institutions on policies that directly affect their members and in advocating measures to make higher education more accessible.
For NELFUND, the engagement also presents an opportunity to strengthen collaboration with student groups, improve awareness of the loan scheme and identify areas where additional support may be needed.
While Nigeria continues to pursue broader access to tertiary education, sustained cooperation among government agencies, educational institutions and student associations remains important in addressing financial barriers and ensuring that more young Nigerians, particularly girls and vulnerable students, have the opportunity to fulfil their academic ambitions.
