The Nigerian Educational Loan Fund (NELFUND) has said it would disburse the sum of ₦850m to tertiary institution students today (Wednesday).
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NELFUND: Tertiary Institution Students To Get ₦850m Loan Today
The Managing Director of the Fund, Akintunde Sawyer, made this known during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Akintunde, this is apart from the over ₦1.7bn that has been disbursed to about 20,000 students.
“The sum of N850m will be leaving the account of NELFUND today to institutions. This is apart from the N1.7bn naira that has already been disbursed.”
Earlier, Sawyer revealed that the Fund had disbursed institutional fees to 20,000 students through their institutions.
He also noted that a total of 260,000 loans including institutional fees and upkeep have been approved.
No fewer than 1.2 million students are expected to benefit from this cardinal programme of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
It would be recalled that President Bola Tinubu had approved ₦35bn for the take-off of the scheme after signing the law backing the scheme on April 3.
See Full Address By Sawyer Below:
ADDRESS BY MR AKINTUNDE SAWYERR, MANAGING DIRECTOR/CEO OF THE NIGERIAN EDUCATION LOAN FUND (NELFUND) ON WEDNESDAY, 31st JULY, 2024.
Protocols.
It is with immense pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that I stand before you today to announce a significant milestone in our collective efforts to enhance the educational landscape of our great nation.
This occasion marks a testament to our shared commitment to ensuring that higher education is accessible to all deserving Nigerians, regardless of their financial background.
Firstly, I would like to acknowledge the presence of the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu who is with us today on a one-day working visit.
Your presence, Honourable Minister, underscores the importance of this initiative and highlights the government’s unwavering support for the advancement of education in Nigeria. We are honored to have you here and grateful for your continuous advocacy and leadership in the educational sector.
I must also extend our Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR). His visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the advancement of education in Nigeria have driving forces behind this initiative.
Under his administration, we have seen a renewed focus on the empowerment of our youth through education, and today’s announcement is a direct result of his commitment to this cause.
Mr. President, your steadfast support and belief in the potential of Nigerian students have made this possible, and we are deeply grateful.
I am delighted to share that following Mr President’s directive, NELFUND has been able to disburse students’ institutional fees amounting to N1,172,388,340.00 for 20,000 students (100% paid) in esteemed institutions across the country.
These institutions were carefully selected based on their academic calendar. Disbursement to other institutions will be made at the beginning of their sessions to ensure a transparent and equitable distribution of resources.
Number of Beneficiaries
Within these institutions, a total of 11,083 students are the beneficiaries who applied for the loans and their tuition was paid 100 per cent.
This financial aid will enable them to focus on their studies without the added burden of financial worry. It is our belief that by investing in these students, we are investing in the future of Nigeria.
Upkeep/Stipend
In addition to the tuition charges, we are also cognizant of the need for upkeep support. The payment of upkeep stipends will be conducted in the coming week with the utmost transparency and security.
We are collaborating with several key agencies and institutions to ensure this. The Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), the Department of State Services (DSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) will work alongside the various banks involved in this process.
Furthermore, We are excited to announce that we will be launching a series of new skills training programs in the coming weeks. These programs are designed to empower Nigerians with the knowledge and expertise needed to excel.
Ensuring Accountability
Our collective aim is to minimise any potential leakages and to prosecute any wrongdoing swiftly and effectively.
All parties in the value chain are committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability. By doing so, we aim to build and maintain the trust of all stakeholders involved in this initiative.
Acknowledgment of Partners
We cannot overlook the critical roles played by our various partners too numerous to mention in this initiative. Their collaboration has been instrumental in setting up a robust and transparent system for the disbursement and management of funds.
Additionally, the support from the institutions themselves has been invaluable in ensuring that the process is smooth and that the students receive their funds promptly.
Today’s announcement is a testament to President Tinubu’s unwavering dedication to the education sector and the future of our youth.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our partners, institutions, and stakeholders for their invaluable support in making this vision a reality.
Chelsea reliable defender, Marc Cucurella may join Spanish giant, Real Madrid before the end of the current transfer window.if information from transfer journalist, Fabrizio Romano are anything to go by.
Romano In a latest transfer update, said Real Madrid has reached verbal agreement to sign Marc Cucurella from Chelsea.
“Verbal agreement in place between all parties, player too — he’s the left back wanted by Mourinho” the update read.
FIFA has come under scrutiny after several high-profile players, including Achraf Hakimi and Vinicius Junior, were discouraged from speaking Spanish during media engagements at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States.
The issue first surfaced ahead of Morocco’s Group C clash with Brazil when a Spanish-speaking journalist attempted to question Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi in Spanish.
Despite Hakimi, who grew up in Madrid and speaks the language fluently, indicating he was comfortable answering in Spanish, event officials reportedly insisted that questions be asked in English.
Hakimi attempted to reassure organizers that language would not be a barrier, but officials maintained that no Spanish translator was available for the session. A compromise was eventually reached, with the reporter asking the question in Spanish while Hakimi responded in English.
The controversy intensified during Brazil’s media session when Vinicius Junior was also interrupted while responding to a question in Spanish.
The Real Madrid forward, who is more comfortable speaking Portuguese or Spanish than English, was reportedly asked by organizers to switch languages.
Rather than continue in Spanish, Vinicius opted to answer in Portuguese before turning his attention back to Brazil’s World Cup preparations.
The incidents sparked widespread debate among journalists and fans, many of whom questioned why Spanish—a language spoken by millions across North America—was effectively restricted at a tournament being hosted largely in the United States.
According to Spanish media outlet El País, FIFA only provides Spanish-language translation services at World Cup press conferences involving Spanish-speaking nations such as Spain, Mexico, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, Ecuador, and Paraguay.
For all other teams, questions and answers are expected to be conducted either in English or the official language of the participating country.
The policy has generated criticism online, with many supporters arguing that multilingual communication should be encouraged at a global event like the World Cup.
The backlash was particularly strong in Vinicius’ case, as the Brazilian forward appeared visibly uncomfortable being asked to communicate in English.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a highly anticipated encounter between Brazil and Morocco, which ended in a 1-1 draw.
With the issue now drawing international attention, FIFA may face increasing calls to review its media language guidelines as the tournament progresses.
Human rights advocate, Femi Falana, has warned federal and state governments against negotiating with and rewarding terrorists.
According to Falana, the practice is illegal.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address at the Amnesty International Second Annual General Meeting in Abuja on June 13, 2026.
Falana claimed it is public knowledge officials of the Federal Government and some State Governments have been holding meetings and negotiating with terrorists and bandits, which has led to thousands of ‘repentant’ criminals being forgiven and given cash gifts of undisclosed sums of money.
Asserting that the “satanic Boko Haram sect and similar bodies have been proscribed” under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, Falana insisted that “their members and allies shall be prosecuted and not pampered and forgiven by the Nigerian State.”
Highlighting the legal consequences, he quoted Section 22 of the Act, stating: “A person who knowingly—(a) arranges, manages, assists in arranging or managing, participates in a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, (b) collects, or provides logistics, equipment, information, articles or facilities for a meeting or an activity, which in his knowledge is concerned or connected with an act of terrorism or terrorist group, or (c) attends a meeting, which in his knowledge is to support a proscribed entity or to further the objectives of a proscribed entity, commits an offence, and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term of at least 20 years.”
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