NELFUND to Deploy IT Teams for Direct Student Loan Portal Integration

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) plans to send its IT teams to institutions across the country to enable direct integration with student portals.

Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFUND, shared this during a stakeholders’ workshop held in Abuja.

To simplify the loan application process, Sawyerr said the integration will allow students to apply for loans directly through their institutional portals, removing the need to visit NELFUND’s platform.

A Call for Stronger Collaboration

Sawyerr emphasized the importance of partnership between NELFUND and educational institutions to build a reliable loan system.

“Our goal is simple access and a system students can rely on. Transparency is important to keep every applicant informed. We count on institutions to help make this work,” he said.

He noted that every effort should focus on students, ensuring their educational journey is supported without unnecessary stress.

Addressing Financial Barriers

Sawyerr highlighted the challenges students, especially in technical institutions, face due to financial hardship.

“For too long, many have dropped out or not even applied because of money issues. This is the gap we aim to close—but we can’t do it alone. Government and private sector support are essential,” he said.

He added that NELFUND’s mission goes beyond disbursing loans. It’s about creating opportunities for every young Nigerian, no matter their background or location.

Progress and Numbers

Iyal Mustapha, Executive Director of Operations at NELFUND, reported that over 320,000 students have received funding, with more applications in progress.

“We have 576,000 registrations, but only 516,000 completed applications. Some stopped midway due to data issues or were just testing the system. We aim to close this gap and get more students fully on board,” Mustapha said.

He clarified that the institutional loan is different from the N20,000 monthly upkeep loan, as it is paid directly to institutions.