The Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund, in collaboration with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), hosted the South-West Zonal Sensitisation Programme on Friday, June 26, 2026, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) to boost enrollment in the Federal Government’s student loan initiative.
The high-level engagement brought together federal lawmakers, university administrators, education regulators, student union leaders, and institutional heads across Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, and Ekiti States to expand public awareness, address misconceptions, and streamline application pathways for eligible students.
Leading the Senate delegation, Committee Chairman Senator Muntari Mohammed Dandutse noted that the South-West was prioritized for the second phase of the nationwide sensitization drive following reports of comparatively low student uptake in the region.
“NELFUND is more than a student loan scheme; it is an investment in Nigeria’s future,” Senator Dandutse stated. “Our responsibility is to ensure that every eligible student understands how the programme works and is empowered to take advantage of it. No talented Nigerian should abandon the dream of higher education because of lack of funds.”
Delivering remarks on behalf of Senate President His Excellency Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, GCON, Committee Vice-Chairman and Senate Minority Leader Senator Abba Moro reiterated the 10th National Assembly’s commitment to expanding equitable access to higher education through sustainable funding mechanisms.
Host Vice-Chancellor, Professor Folasade T. Ogunsola, OON, FAS, described the initiative as timely, emphasizing the need to dispel persistent myths surrounding loan repayment structures that have caused hesitancy among prospective beneficiaries in the South-West. She highlighted that UNILAG continues to conduct campus-wide advocacy to encourage eligible students to apply.
Reassuring applicants of system efficiency, the Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, affirmed that the platform is fully digitized and user-friendly.
“The application process is simple, technology-driven, and designed to ensure that every eligible Nigerian student can access higher education without financial constraints,” Sawyerr noted.
The South-West zonal session follows the successful launch of the campaign in the North-Central zone. The Senate Committee confirmed that the sensitization drive will proceed across all remaining geopolitical zones to ensure no eligible student is left behind.
Dignitaries in attendance included representatives from the National Universities Commission (NUC), executive heads of tertiary institutions, student leadership delegations, and members of the Senate Committee, including Senator Afolabi Salisu (Ogun State).
