The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, has revealed that more than one million students across Nigeria are currently benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), receiving a monthly stipend of ₦20,000 alongside support for their school fees.
Yilwatda made the disclosure during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics programme, where he described the NELFUND initiative as a life-changing intervention for students and families struggling with the rising cost of education.
He noted that many Nigerian students are forced to abandon their studies due to financial difficulties, a situation he said the student loan scheme is designed to address. With the NELFUND programme, he explained, eligible students can now access loans to fully cover their tuition fees while also receiving a monthly allowance of ₦20,000, paid both during academic sessions and holidays.
“Most students in Nigeria have difficulty paying their school fees. I know of many who had to withdraw from universities because they couldn’t afford it,” Yilwatda said.
He added that the impact of the scheme goes beyond the beneficiaries themselves, as many students also support their families. According to him, some recipients help their parents with farming, invest in small ventures, and even assist in paying the school fees of younger siblings during holiday periods.
Yilwatda disclosed that the programme is open to all Nigerian students facing financial hardship, urging those in need to register their institutions and apply for the loan scheme.
“It’s available to anybody in Nigeria. If you’re a student struggling with school fees, register your university and put your name forward to access the student loan. We offset your entire school fees, and you get ₦20,000 every month,” he said.
Describing NELFUND as a critical social protection mechanism, the APC chairman said the scheme provides relief not only to students but also to households and parents nationwide. He noted that the ripple effect of supporting over one million students translates into economic and social relief for millions of families.
“These are households, these are parents. Over a million students have access to it, and all their parents are looking forward to more support through NELFUND,” he stated.
Yilwatda also referenced other government-backed social welfare initiatives, including the national health insurance programme, which he said has already benefited between four and five million Nigerians.