Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has commended President Bola Tinubu for introducing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, describing the initiative as a significant intervention capable of expanding access to higher education for Nigerian students and reducing the financial barriers that prevent qualified young people from pursuing tertiary education.
The commendation was contained in a statement issued by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mustapha Muhammad, on Sunday. Yusuf spoke on Saturday at the second and third combined convocation ceremony of Al-Istiqama University, Sumaila, Kano State, where a total of 1,101 students graduated from various academic programmes. “May I also use this opportunity to extend our profound appreciation to the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for its immense support for the education sector, particularly through the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,” Yusuf said. “This important initiative provides students and parents with greater opportunities to finance education across Nigerian tertiary institutions and represents a significant step towards expanding access to higher education.”
The governor urged the graduands to translate the knowledge and skills acquired during their academic journey into productive ventures and meaningful contributions to their communities, Kano State and Nigeria at large. He also commended the management and staff of Al-Istiqama University for their contributions to the development of higher education in Kano State. Yusuf said investments in education constituted investments in the future of Kano State and Nigeria, noting that a well-educated and skilled population remained essential to achieving sustainable development, economic growth and social progress. The convocation ceremony featured the conferment of honorary degrees on Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil and Alhaji Abdulmumini Mai Shanu, while a posthumous doctorate degree was conferred on the late Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata in recognition of his contributions.
The governor’s endorsement comes as NELFUND consolidates its position as one of the Federal Government’s most consequential social interventions. Since the launch of its student loan portal in May 2024, the Fund has disbursed a total of N355.87 billion to Nigerian students and tertiary institutions, with 1,659,853 applications processed as of September 3, 2026. Of the total amount disbursed, N192.89 billion has been paid to 319 beneficiary institutions as institutional fees, while N162.98 billion has been released directly to students as upkeep allowances. The figures represent the latest milestone in the programme, which was introduced to ease the financial burden of tertiary education and expand access to higher education.
Kano State has emerged as one of the programme’s most significant beneficiaries. Bayero University Kano alone has seen approximately 17,000 students access the loan facility, with the university inaugurating a standing committee to oversee the implementation and monitoring of the programme within the institution. The institution has received a total of N3.039 billion in institutional charges for 27,640 students, reflecting the scale of participation in the state. At Aliko Dangote University of Science and Technology, Wudil, NELFUND has disbursed N180,346,256 to 2,152 students for the 2025/2026 academic session, with payments made in four batches. Kano State also ranks among the highest in the country for the number of NELFUND applications, with students from the state consistently emerging as top applicants since the scheme’s inception.
The Fund has expanded its coverage in recent months. In April 2026, NELFUND announced the inclusion of postgraduate students in its loan scheme, marking a significant broadening of access to financial support. The expansion was disclosed during an engagement between NELFUND and the Students’ Union Government of Bayero University Kano, held as part of the agency’s official visit to the institution. NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyer has described the loan programme as a social investment designed not only to provide financial support but also to move young Nigerians off the streets and into institutions of learning. He said the initiative represents a strategic intervention by the Federal Government to broaden educational opportunities for young Nigerians while equipping them with the knowledge and skills required to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The scheme has not been without operational challenges. Students at Bayero University Kano and Northwest University Kano have appealed to NELFUND to fast-track the payment of outstanding monthly upkeep allowances, saying the delays are affecting their studies and daily living. The President of the BUK Students’ Union Government said about 30,000 students of the university are enrolled in the NELFUND scheme, and attributed the backlog to a mismatch between the university’s academic calendar and NELFUND’s payment schedule. He disclosed that some students had started receiving payments, with Batch A beneficiaries recently credited with N20,000, while others are expected to receive theirs in subsequent batches. Sawyer has acknowledged that certain operational challenges were encountered, particularly when a large number of students apply simultaneously, leading to pressure on the system and delays in processing payments. He said the Fund was working actively to improve its technological infrastructure and administrative processes.
The governor’s endorsement also reflects the broader alignment between federal and state education priorities in Kano. Governor Yusuf declared a state of emergency on education in 2023, and the sector has consistently received over 30 per cent of the state’s budget since then. The state government has facilitated NELFUND registration drives for students at Kano State Polytechnic and other institutions, with the Office of the Special Adviser on Student Matters coordinating on-site registration to ensure that successful school registration, a mandatory prerequisite for accessing the loan, does not become a barrier for prospective beneficiaries. The state has also approved N2 billion to support Kano indigenes studying in public universities nationwide and directed all state-owned tertiary institutions to reduce registration fees by 50 per cent for the 2023/2024 session.
A policy brief released in September 2026 by the iRead To Live Initiative warned that the N355.87 billion disbursed by NELFUND to about 850,000 beneficiaries could be difficult to recover under the existing repayment architecture. The think tank recommended integrating NELFUND with Nigeria Revenue Service income data to strengthen recovery capacity, particularly for self-employed graduates and those outside formal payroll systems. It noted that Nigeria has roughly 18 months before the first cohort of beneficiaries completes the mandatory two-year post-National Youth Service Corps grace period and becomes subject to enforcement around 2028. Sawyer has dismissed claims that beneficiaries could face life imprisonment for failing to repay their loans, describing such reports as misinformation. The earliest cohorts will not begin repayment until two years after completing the National Youth Service Corps, and the framework is designed to be sustainable and fair to beneficiaries.
For the 1,101 graduands at Al-Istiqama University, the governor’s message was one of encouragement and responsibility. He urged them to uphold discipline, integrity and the values acquired during their academic journey, and to embrace innovation, entrepreneurship and lifelong learning. “Investments in education constitute investments in the future of Kano State and Nigeria,” he said. “A well-educated and skilled population remains essential to achieving sustainable development, economic growth and social progress.” As the 2027 general elections approach and the debate over the future of Nigeria’s education financing intensifies, the governor’s endorsement places Kano firmly behind the federal loan scheme, even as questions about its long-term sustainability and the pace of disbursements remain unresolved.
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