The Vice-Chancellor of Borno State University (BOSU), Prof. Babagana Gutti, has said that many students of the institution struggled to pay their school fees before the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the scheme as a major relief for students from low-income backgrounds.
Speaking to Nigerian Impact on the process of the student loan disbursement on Monday February 2, 2026, the Vice-Chancellor noted that the Fund’s disbursement process is seamless, adding that about 80 percent of his students that applied for the loan have got their school fees paid and also have received their monthly stipend.
Financial hardship had for years posed a serious challenge to access and retention in higher education across Nigeria, particularly for students whose parents depended on subsistence farming, petty trading or informal sector jobs.
Prof. Gutti noted that before NELFUND, a large number of their students could barely pay their school fees. “We had cases of students deferring their studies, skipping examinations, or dropping out entirely because they simply could not raise the required fees,” he said.
According to him, the introduction of the Federal Government-backed student loan scheme has begun to change the narrative, offering students a structured and transparent means of financing their education without placing unbearable pressure on their families.
He explained that since the rollout of NELFUND, BOSU has recorded increased confidence among students, improved attendance, and reduced anxiety around fee payment deadlines.
“With NELFUND, students can now focus more on their studies rather than worrying about where the next school fees will come from. This is a significant step towards promoting equity and inclusiveness in our tertiary education system,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor commended the management of NELFUND, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, for what he described as very overwhelming effort. He stated further that NELFUND has done excellently well, and pray that the next administration after President Bola Tinubu, should sustain the Fund.
NELFUND was established to provide interest-free loans to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions, in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to quality education and building human capital for national development.