...As Tinubu’s Students’ Engagement Aide, Asefon Commends ABU Undergraduate, Calls for Support for Youth-Led Innovation
A 300-level International Studies student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Abdullahi Adam Usman, has developed an independent mobile application designed to simplify the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) application process and help students and parents better understand the education loan scheme.
The innovation has attracted commendation from the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement, Hon. Asefon Sunday Dayo, who described the undergraduate’s initiative as an example of how Nigerian youths can contribute practical solutions to challenges affecting public services.
In a statement celebrating the development, Asefon said Usman, a beneficiary of NELFUND, had transformed his personal experience with the student loan scheme into an initiative aimed at helping other students navigate the process more easily.
According to him, the application seeks to address common questions surrounding the scheme, including application requirements, institutional fee payments, upkeep allowances, application status and the expected disbursement process.
He noted that although NELFUND has expanded access to financial assistance for students across the country, the scale of the programme makes accessible information increasingly important, particularly for first-time applicants and families unfamiliar with digital application procedures.
Asefon explained that unclear information about application stages and payment processes could create unnecessary anxiety among students and parents, potentially discouraging eligible applicants from pursuing available educational support.
He said Usman recognised the need for clearer guidance and took the initiative to develop a digital tool that could help bridge the information gap.
“What makes this achievement remarkable is not simply the technology. It is the discipline behind it,” Asefon said, noting that the student was studying International Studies rather than Computer Science.
He added that the application reflected the undergraduate’s self-learning, curiosity and determination to use technology to solve a practical problem, demonstrating that innovation could emerge from any academic discipline.
The presidential aide said the development also highlighted the importance of encouraging young Nigerians to complement government programmes with independent ideas and solutions capable of improving service delivery.
According to him, citizen-led innovations such as Usman’s application do not replace NELFUND’s official operations but could help extend public awareness and make information about the scheme easier to understand.
Asefon linked the initiative to the broader need to create an enabling environment where young Nigerians can access mentorship, funding, incubation opportunities and markets to develop their ideas into sustainable solutions.
He also referenced engagements surrounding the proposed Innovation Hub and Innovation Grid, which he said could help create opportunities for emerging innovators to connect with structured support systems and turn their ideas into impactful ventures.
The presidential aide called on relevant authorities in the education and digital technology sectors to take a closer look at Usman’s application, assess its potential and explore appropriate ways to support, refine and expand citizen-led innovations.
He stressed that government institutions should be willing to engage with solutions developed by the people they serve, while ensuring that any collaboration gives due recognition to the innovators responsible for such initiatives.
Asefon further challenged Nigerian students to move beyond identifying problems and take practical steps towards solving them, urging them to explore opportunities in digital literacy, technology training and other innovation-focused programmes.
He maintained that students do not have to wait until graduation or occupy prominent positions before making meaningful contributions to national development.
Commending Usman directly, the presidential aide described his initiative as an act of citizenship, noting that the student had responded to the educational support he received by developing a tool intended to assist others.
He encouraged the young innovator to continue learning, improving the application and exploring ways to make it more useful to students and parents across the country.
“What you have done is more than a technical accomplishment; it is an act of citizenship,” Asefon said.
He added that Usman’s example demonstrated the potential of Nigerian youths to contribute to national development when their abilities are recognised and supported.
The development comes amid continuing efforts to expand access to tertiary education financing and improve students’ understanding of available support mechanisms.
While the application is an independent initiative, its potential value will depend on its accuracy, accessibility, security and ability to provide information consistent with official NELFUND procedures.
The presidential aide’s commendation has therefore drawn attention to the role of young innovators in strengthening public awareness and helping students navigate educational opportunities.
For Usman, the initiative represents an attempt to turn personal experience into a practical solution for others, underscoring the growing importance of youth participation in technology-driven problem-solving and national development.
Hon. Asefon Sunday Dayo
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students’ Engagement
