NELFUND Boss Denies Political Bias in Student Loans

Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has dismissed allegations of political bias in the student loan scheme, calling such claims “completely ridiculous.” During an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics programme, Sawyerr explained that the electronic loan application process requires only basic information, such as the student’s name and matriculation number, which does not include political affiliations. He stated that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is not focused on funding students based on party support, as many applicants are first-time voters and not party members.

Sawyerr highlighted the overwhelming demand for loans and assured that the system is transparent, granting applications to students who meet the necessary criteria without regard to gender, religion, or ethnicity. He also labeled as “fake news” a circulating image claiming that the President announced life imprisonment for students who fail to repay their loans after graduation.

The NELFUND provides interest-free loans to eligible Nigerian students in public tertiary institutions.