Senate Committee, NELFUND Take Student Loan Campaign to Northeast as UNIMAID Emerges Top Beneficiary

The Federal Government’s effort to remove financial barriers to higher education received a major boost on Monday, 31st August 2026, as the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund led a high-powered delegation to Maiduguri for a regional sensitization on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.  

Held at the University of Maiduguri’s Muhammadu Indimi Conference Centre, the event brought together vice-chancellors, rectors, provosts, traditional rulers, and student leaders from across the Northeast.  

The gathering is part of an ongoing nationwide campaign aimed at deepening awareness, addressing misconceptions, and guiding eligible students on how to access the student loan scheme.  

For the Northeast, where economic challenges have often threatened educational aspirations, the intervention comes at a critical time. The programme provided a direct platform for students and school administrators to receive firsthand information on eligibility criteria and application procedures.  

Declaring the session open, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, said the outreach was part of the lawmakers’ oversight responsibilities. He stressed that ensuring institutions develop and government interventions reach the masses remains a top priority for the Senate.  

According to him, by providing unhindered access to student financing, the government aims to drastically reduce the number of youths forced out of school due to unpaid tuition.  

Senator Dandutse clarified that the sensitization was non-partisan, adding that the goal was to equip parents, students, and management boards with accurate information. He noted that many eligible Nigerians miss out on government programmes simply because they do not understand the application process.  

He said the initiative supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of democratizing access to tertiary education.  

In his goodwill message, the host and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Maiduguri, Professor Mohammed Laminu Mele, commended the Federal Government and the Senate Committee for choosing UNIMAID as the focal point for the regional dialogue.  

Highlighting the impact of the scheme, Professor Mele disclosed a major milestone for the institution.  

"Before NELFUND, a lot of students could not afford to pay their tuition fees. But today, thanks to the introduction of this scheme, 100 percent of tuition fees have been paid for our eligible students, making the University of Maiduguri the highest beneficiary of NELFUND among tertiary institutions," he said.  

He noted that the financial intervention has eased the burden on families and enabled students to focus on their studies without the anxiety of unpaid fees.  

Speaking during the closing session, a member of the Committee, Senator Professor Adedayo Francis Faduyile, reiterated the current administration’s commitment to investing in the youth. He urged eligible students across the Northeast to take full advantage of the opportunity by seeking correct information and completing their applications properly.  

The sensitization concluded with interactive sessions where students and administrators asked questions and sought clarification on grey areas in the loan application process.