Kashim Shettima
Bolatito Mercy
Vice President Kashim Shettima has described the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a major intervention by the President Bola Tinubu administration aimed at easing financial challenges faced by students from less-privileged backgrounds seeking higher education.
Shettima said the scheme had become a significant tool for social empowerment and poverty reduction by providing financial support to students who may have been unable to continue their education due to economic difficulties.
The Vice President made the remarks on Wednesday in Abuja when he received the management team of the University of Abuja, led by its Vice Chancellor, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
A statement issued by Stanley Nkwocha, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, quoted Shettima as saying NELFUND was created to give disadvantaged students an opportunity to pursue tertiary education without being restricted by financial limitations.
He explained that the initiative provides assistance for tuition fees and monthly upkeep allowances, adding that it was designed to ensure that poverty does not prevent qualified students from accessing higher education.
“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, recalling his own experiences as a student at the University of Maiduguri.
The Vice President also expressed optimism that Nigeria had entered a new phase of sustainable economic growth under the Tinubu administration.
He pointed to recent improvements in the country’s sovereign credit ratings, stronger foreign exchange reserves, increased oil production, higher federal allocations following the removal of fuel subsidy, and ongoing economic reforms as indicators of progress.
Shettima commended the leadership of the University of Abuja under Professor Fawehinmi, saying the institution had recorded improved stability and was now positioned for further growth.
He assured the university’s management that the Federal Government would continue to provide the needed support to strengthen the institution.
Earlier, Fawehinmi praised the Vice President for his contributions to the development efforts of the Tinubu administration and described him as a mentor whose guidance had supported the university’s Governing Board.
The Vice Chancellor also acknowledged the impact of NELFUND, saying the programme had helped bring stability to the education sector by enabling students to remain in school despite financial challenges.
Fawehinmi added that the university’s management and Governing Council appreciated the support received from the Vice President and would continue to work with the government to advance the institution.
