Nigerian Journal Sustainability Research

NELFUND Hits ₦183 Billion Disbursed — But South-East Students Are Being Left Behind

2026-03-09

Nigeria's flagship student loan scheme has now crossed a historic milestone: over ₦183 billion has been disbursed to 983,706 students across 265 institutions through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The scheme, widely regarded as one of the Tinubu administration's most tangible education deliverables, has moved from scepticism to scale.

But not everyone is benefiting equally. Reports from early March indicate that uptake in the South-East geopolitical zone remains critically low, with NELFUND officials urgently encouraging students in the region to apply for the interest-free loans before deadlines close.

 Action Required — South-East Students
NELFUND has issued a direct appeal to tertiary institution students in the South-East to apply for the interest-free loan scheme. Low awareness and administrative bottlenecks are being cited as the primary barriers. Students should visit their institution's student affairs office or the NELFUND portal immediately.

In a parallel development, NELFUND extended its student loan application portal following a surge in demand driven by nationwide sensitisation campaigns. Institutions yet to begin the 2025/2026 academic session have been asked to submit formal requests alongside approved academic calendars to remain eligible.

Sources