As part of its ongoing mission to expand access to higher education and ease financial pressures on students pursuing specialised fields such as aviation and aerospace studies, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the release of N6.97 million to support 10 students of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja.

NELFUND, in a statement on Tuesday, said the disbursement demonstrates its resolve to back institutions that play a strategic role in Nigeria’s economic and technological advancement.

“We are committed to ensuring that no student is denied the opportunity to learn because of financial constraints,” it stated.

Confirming receipt of the funds, the Registrar of AAAU, Mustapha Abdul, explained that the support, which was credited on Monday, July 21, 2025, would go a long way in helping the beneficiaries remain focused on their academic programmes.

He described the intervention as both timely and impactful.

“This will significantly reduce the burden on families and enable the students to concentrate fully on their studies,” he said.

The development comes at a time when the federal government has scaled up student loan disbursements nationwide.

Figures released this week show that more than N59 billion has already been accessed by over 600,000 students across various tertiary institutions since the scheme was launched.

NELFUND was created under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024.

The programme is designed to provide sustainable financial support for young Nigerians, combining tuition loans with opportunities for skill development in priority sectors.

At a recent briefing in Asaba, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasised that the government remains firm in its resolve that “no qualified Nigerian should miss the chance for tertiary education on account of fees.”