NELFUND Chief Assures UDUS Students of Interest-Free Loans and Post-Employment Repayment

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has assured students of Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto (UDUS), that beneficiaries of the Federal Government's student loan scheme will not be required to repay their loans until they secure employment after graduation.

Sawyerr gave the assurance during a one-day NELFUND awareness visit and Democracy Day celebration organized by the Students' Union Government Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC) at the Oba Lamidi Adeyemi Auditorium, UDUS Main Campus, on Friday.

Addressing students and other stakeholders, the NELFUND boss explained that the education loan scheme was established to eliminate financial barriers to higher education and enable students to complete their studies without undue hardship.

He emphasized that the loan is interest-free and does not require applicants to provide guarantors before accessing the facility.

According to him, the Federal Government introduced the scheme to ensure that no Nigerian student is denied access to education due to financial constraints.

“After graduation, if you do not have a job, you will not pay back the loan. Once you secure employment, the repayment process begins through your employer in accordance with the provisions of the scheme,” Sawyerr said.

He noted that education remains a powerful tool for personal and national development, describing Nigerian students as critical stakeholders in the country's future.

Sawyerr urged students to take advantage of the loan programme to pursue their academic goals and contribute meaningfully to national development.

He also conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's commitment to expanding access to education, stating that the administration remains determined to ensure that financial difficulties do not force students out of school.

Speaking on the significance of Democracy Day, he encouraged young Nigerians to actively participate in the democratic process and embrace leadership with courage, integrity, and a strong sense of responsibility.

The event attracted students, university management officials, student union leaders, and representatives of various institutions across Sokoto State.

NELFUND's visit to UDUS formed part of its ongoing nationwide awareness campaign aimed at educating students on the application process, benefits, and repayment structure of the Federal Government's student loan programme.