NANS Urges Senate to Extend NELFUND to Students Abroad

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Turkish Zone, has appealed to the Nigerian Senate to extend the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to eligible Nigerians studying in accredited institutions abroad. This appeal was made during an engagement with Anthony Siyako Yaro, the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations.

NANS President, Daniel Okpala, emphasized the need for government attention to the welfare and educational financing challenges faced by Nigerian students overseas. He stated that the increasing number of Nigerians pursuing higher education abroad necessitates a review of government policies on education financing.

NANS called for a revision of the NELFUND framework to allow qualified Nigerian students abroad to access government-backed education loans. The association pointed out that these students are experiencing financial pressures due to rising tuition, accommodation costs, and exchange rate fluctuations.

Yaro expressed willingness to examine the proposal and explore legislative processes to broaden NELFUND's reach, acknowledging the importance of representing Nigerians in the diaspora in national policy discussions.