The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is developing specialised software to enhance access to its student loan scheme for individuals with disabilities in higher institutions.
Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of NELFUND, made this known during a stakeholders’ meeting in Benin City, Edo State.
He emphasized that the initiative, in collaboration with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), aims to simplify the loan application process for visually impaired students and others with special needs.
“Our goal is to ensure that visually impaired students can apply seamlessly. We are exploring specific software solutions to facilitate this process,” Sawyerr stated.
The student loan scheme, established under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, is positioned as a major step in making tertiary education more inclusive.
Sawyerr reassured attendees that financial difficulties would not hinder students from accessing funds.
READ ALSO: NELFUND Urges More Female Participation in Zero-Interest Education Loan Program
He also clarified that the loan scheme has safeguards in place. “If a beneficiary passes away, the loan does not transfer to their family—it is completely written off,” he added.
Edo State’s Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, praised the initiative, acknowledging the roles played by Tinubu and former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, in bringing it to fruition.
“Many families have struggled with tuition fees in the past,” Idahosa remarked. “As a state government, we will actively engage in sensitization efforts to ensure students fully benefit from this opportunity.”
The move aligns with NELFUND’s broader mission of creating equal educational opportunities and improving access to higher learning for all Nigerian students.