The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to support the education of 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 federal and state institutions nationwide.
The Director of Strategic Communications at NELFUND, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, who disclosed this in a statement, said that the intervention recorded significant growth over three academic sessions, rising from ₦59.4 million in the 2023/2024 session to ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
She also revealed that the beneficiaries were drawn from nursing institutions across the country, including the Oyo State College of Nursing, Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Lagos State College of Nursing, Ogun State College of Nursing, Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kebbi State College of Nursing, Cross River State Colleges of Nursing and institutions in Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
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Speaking on the intervention, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, said the fund was investing in critical human capital needed to drive national development.
“NELFUND is not simply providing financial assistance to students; we are investing in the human capital that Nigeria needs to move forward. Every student we keep in school represents a future professional, a future healthcare worker and a potential contributor to the development of our nation,” Sawyerr stated.
He noted that the sharp increase in support for nursing and midwifery education demonstrated the impact of removing financial barriers to learning.
“The growth in support for nursing and midwifery education, from ₦59.4 million to ₦811.9 million in just three academic sessions, shows what becomes possible when financial barriers are removed from the path of young Nigerians who are determined to build a future for themselves and contribute to society,” he explained.
Sawyerr said the fund was particularly encouraged by the growing number of young women benefiting from the intervention.
“We are particularly encouraged that this intervention is reaching thousands of young women pursuing nursing and midwifery. By supporting their education today, we are opening doors to professional opportunity, economic independence and meaningful participation in Nigeria’s healthcare system,” he added.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Operations, Mr Mustapha Iyal, said NELFUND remained committed to ensuring prompt support for eligible students.
“Our focus remains on ensuring the seamless and timely delivery of support to eligible students, so that more young Nigerians can obtain the skills and qualifications the country needs,” Iyal said.
NELFUND noted that nursing and midwifery remain among Nigeria’s most female-dominated health professions, with the majority of beneficiaries being young women.
The fund said the intervention represents both an investment in education and a pathway to greater economic and professional opportunities for young Nigerian women.
It added that its latest figures reinforced its mandate of ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing and completing higher education.
With demand for student financing continuing to grow, NELFUND said it would continue expanding access while ensuring that its interventions translate into meaningful opportunities for students and national development.
