NELFUND Disburses ₦1.08bn to 5,381 Nursing, Midwifery Students
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to support the education of 5,381 nursing and midwifery students across 21 federal and state institutions in Nigeria.
The Fund said the intervention had recorded a substantial increase over three academic sessions, with funding rising from ₦59.4 million in 2023/2024 to ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025, before reaching ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
Director of Strategic Communications, NELFUND, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, describing the development as an almost 14-fold increase in funding for nursing and midwifery students within the period.
The beneficiaries are drawn from institutions including 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, as well as institutions in Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, said the intervention was part of the Fund’s broader investment in the human capital required to drive national development.
According to him, NELFUND’s intervention goes beyond providing financial assistance, as it helps students remain in school and acquire professional qualifications that could contribute to the country’s economic and social 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 said.
He said the significant increase in funding for nursing and midwifery education demonstrated the impact of removing financial barriers confronting young Nigerians seeking professional qualifications.
Sawyerr noted that the rise in funding from ₦59.4 million in 2023/2024 to ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026 reflected the opportunities that could be unlocked when financial constraints no longer prevented students from pursuing higher education.
He particularly highlighted the significance of the intervention for young women, who constitute a substantial proportion of Nigeria’s nursing and midwifery workforce and the beneficiaries of the programme.
The NELFUND chief executive said supporting their education would not only expand their access to professional opportunities but also strengthen their capacity to contribute to the country’s healthcare system.
The Executive Director, Operations, NELFUND, Mr Mustapha Iyal, said the Fund remained committed to ensuring that eligible students received financial support seamlessly and on time.
“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 said nursing and midwifery remained among Nigeria’s most female-dominated health professions, noting that the majority of beneficiaries under the intervention were young women.
It said the programme therefore represented both an investment in education and a pathway to greater professional and economic opportunities for young Nigerian women.
The Fund added that the intervention was consistent with its mandate of ensuring that financial constraints did not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing and completing higher education.
NELFUND said it would continue to expand access to student financing as demand grows, while focusing on ensuring that its interventions translate into meaningful opportunities for beneficiaries and contribute to national development.
