Nasarawa State University, Keffi (NSUK), has formally acknowledged the receipt of ₦84,968,722.00 (Eighty-Four Million, Nine Hundred and Sixty-Eight Thousand, Seven Hundred and Twenty-Two Naira) from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The disbursement, which represents the second batch allocation for the 2025/2026 academic session, will benefit 1,440 student loan beneficiaries of the institution.
The acknowledgement was conveyed in an official letter dated 20th February 2026, signed by the university’s Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dr. Bala I. Ahmed II, and addressed to the Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND at its Abuja office.
Second Batch Disbursement: What It Means for NSUK Students
The funds released by NELFUND are intended to cover tuition fees and other statutory charges for the 1,440 benefitting students. The intervention is aimed at easing the financial burden on students and ensuring uninterrupted access to higher education.
In the acknowledgement letter, the NSUK Registrar expressed appreciation for the timely intervention. The university assured NELFUND of its continued cooperation, transparency, and accountability in the administration of the disbursed funds.
This second-batch allocation is significant. It signals the ongoing expansion of NELFUND’s reach across Nigerian tertiary institutions and demonstrates that state universities are now firmly within the scope of the federal government’s student loan initiative.
NELFUND’s Growing National Impact
The disbursement to NSUK is part of a broader national effort. NELFUND has recorded strong progress since its launch, disbursing over ₦206 billion to more than 1.1 million students across 270 institutions, following over 1.7 million applications.
A breakdown of the disbursement shows that ₦128.84 billion has been paid directly to beneficiary institutions as tuition fees, while ₦77.45 billion has been released to students as upkeep allowances. The structure ensures that students are supported both academically and in their day-to-day living expenses.
Other institutions have also benefited from similar NELFUND disbursements this session. Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, for instance, received ₦309,315,625.00 to support 1,093 students, with the disbursement confirmed on 9 February 2026. These figures indicate a growing and consistent pattern of NELFUND releasing funds to universities across geopolitical zones in Nigeria.
Established to administer the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, NELFUND was enacted into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024. The initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses, with repayment beginning after education completion and securing of employment.
Uninterrupted Education: NSUK’s Assurance to Students
In the acknowledgement letter, the NSUK Registrar noted that the timely release of the funds would go a long way in ensuring uninterrupted academic engagement for the university’s students. The university equally pledged transparency and accountability in how the funds would be administered; a commitment that aligns with NELFUND’s broader mandate.
NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, has consistently stressed that while the Fund is committed to swift disbursement, government funding requires strict institutional processes to prevent misappropriation.
The disbursement to Nasarawa State University, Keffi reinforces the momentum of NELFUND’s operations in the 2025/2026 academic session. Applications for the current academic cycle opened in October 2025, with the scheme available to Nigerian students studying in federal higher institutions, including public universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and vocational schools.
As NELFUND continues to scale its reach, acknowledgements like the one from NSUK serve as proof of the scheme’s tangible impact — turning policy into real relief for thousands of Nigerian students.
For further enquiries about the NELFUND student loan scheme, visit the official portal at nelf.gov.ng or contact NELFUND via [email protected].