NELFUND Has Removed Financial Barriers to Higher Education, Says Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a landmark initiative of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, saying the scheme is providing critical financial support to students from less-privileged backgrounds and helping to make higher education more accessible.
Shettima stated this in Abuja when he received the management team of the University of Abuja, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
The Vice President said NELFUND had become an important tool for social inclusion and poverty reduction by helping students meet tuition and living expenses while pursuing tertiary education.
According to him, the initiative was designed to give children from poor and vulnerable families the opportunity to obtain higher education without being prevented by financial difficulties.
“NELFUND is a very beautiful initiative by the leadership of this country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, created to give respite and breathing space to the children of the poor,” Shettima said.
He recalled his experience as a student at the University of Maiduguri, noting that rising costs of food and other necessities could make it difficult for students from disadvantaged backgrounds to remain in school.
The Vice President also said Nigeria was increasingly moving towards sustainable economic development under the Tinubu administration, citing improvements in the country’s sovereign credit ratings and outlooks by international rating agencies.
He attributed the developments to factors including stronger foreign exchange reserves, increased oil production, higher federal allocations following the removal of the petrol subsidy and ongoing macroeconomic reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Shettima commended the management of the University of Abuja for restoring stability and improving the institution’s administration under the leadership of Professor Fawehinmi.
He assured the university of the Federal Government’s continued support, stressing that the administration would do everything within its capacity to strengthen the institution.
Earlier, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, commended Shettima for his support for the University of Abuja and the broader development agenda of the Federal Government.
Fawehinmi described the Vice President as a mentor whose leadership and guidance had contributed to the effective management of the institution.
He also acknowledged the impact of NELFUND on students, saying the scheme had contributed to greater stability in the education sector by helping students meet the financial demands of remaining in school.
The Vice Chancellor said the university’s management and Governing Council considered it important to appreciate the Vice President for his continued support, particularly as the institution works to overcome challenges inherited from previous administrations.
He disclosed that the current management had, within its first eight months, focused on restoring stability and strengthening the university’s operations.
The meeting further underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education while strengthening institutions and supporting students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds.
NELFUND Has Removed Financial Barriers to Higher Education, Says Shettima