The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, has urged parents to find out whether their children have applied for or are benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND. Oyedele made the remark while responding to a parent who said that none of his three children in school had benefited from the student loan scheme. The minister suggested that the children may have applied for the programme without informing their father and encouraged him to ask them for evidence of their applications. According to Oyedele, NELFUND support goes beyond the payment of tuition, as eligible students may also receive monthly stipends. He said the programme could provide students with up to N1.5 million in support, depending on their circumstances and eligibility. Oyedele encouraged parents whose children have not applied to assist them with the process and said applicants can access the relevant information through the official NELFUND platform. He also offered to direct people to the appropriate government channels if they needed help with the application process. The minister said the government had seen evidence of students receiving financial support and celebrating after their applications were approved. He further disclosed that uptake of the programme has been higher in northern states than in southern states. NELFUND was established to help reduce financial barriers to higher education by providing eligible Nigerian students with access to education financing. The scheme has attracted considerable public attention as families continue to face rising education costs. Oyedele’s comments are likely to encourage more parents and students to examine the programme and determine whether they meet the requirements. Students and their families are advised to use official NELFUND channels for accurate information and application procedures. The minister’s remarks also underline the importance of students communicating openly with their parents about financial support available to them.
