Oyedele urges parents to check NELFUND applications

NELFUND student funding may have reached some students without their parents knowing, according to Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Taiwo Oyedele.

Oyedele made the comment during a media briefing in Abuja after a journalist said his three children had not benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme and did not know anyone who had received support.

The minister suggested that the parent should first ask the children whether they had applied and request evidence of their applications.

“It is possible they’ve collected the money, and they are collecting from you,” Oyedele said, adding, “You need to ask your children to be honest with you.”

Oyedele encouraged parents to support their children if they had not yet applied for NELFUND student funding. He said eligible students could receive up to N1.5 million through the programme.

“If there’s anything that everyone can attest to, it is this NELFUND,” he said.

The minister also stressed that the scheme offers more than tuition support. Beneficiaries can receive monthly stipends, providing additional financial assistance while they study.

“We’ve seen video of student randomly rejoicing because it’s not only the tuition that was being paid, they get monthly stipend interest free in a high inflationary environment,” he said.

Oyedele urged parents who were unsure about the application process to help their children access the scheme. He said families could visit the NELFUND website and use the students’ details to assist with applications.

“You can go to the website. In fact, what you can do, ask any of those your three children to give you their details. Help them apply.”

The minister also revealed a regional difference in the uptake of NELFUND student funding. According to him, more students in Northern Nigeria have accessed the programme than students in the South.

He attributed part of the difference to what he described as greater scepticism towards government programmes in the South.

“Interestingly, the uptake is more in the North than in the South because we spend all our energy here doubting everything that government does,” he said.

Oyedele’s comments highlight the importance of students and families understanding how NELFUND works and checking whether eligible students have completed their applications. The scheme is designed to provide financial support to students, including tuition assistance and monthly stipends.

For parents who have not discussed the programme with their children, the minister’s advice is straightforward: find out whether they have applied, confirm their application details and provide help where necessary.

The comments also draw attention to the different levels of participation across Nigeria, with the minister urging greater awareness of the education funding programme.

Could greater awareness among parents and students help more eligible Nigerians benefit from NELFUND?