NELFUND, university registrars partner on data verification, loan awareness
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and the Association of Registrars of Nigeria Universities (ARNU) have announced a partnership to ensure seamless student data verification and strengthen loan awareness as part of efforts to enhance the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
The collaboration was sealed at a meeting in Abuja between NELFUND’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, and the leadership of ARNU, with a focus on deepening engagement with tertiary institutions nationwide.
Speaking during the engagement, Sawyerr described university Registrars as critical stakeholders in the successful rollout of the programme, noting that their offices serve as custodians of accurate student records and institutional data.
He emphasised that seamless verification of applicants’ academic status and admission records is essential to ensuring transparency, efficiency and timely disbursement of loans to eligible students. According to him, accurate and prompt data verification protects the integrity of the scheme and prevents unnecessary delays.
Sawyerr also stressed the need to leverage university platforms, including student portals, orientation programmes, faculty notice boards and alumni networks, to broaden awareness about the scheme. “Our collaboration with university Registrars is pivotal. Accurate and prompt data verification not only protects the integrity of the scheme but also guarantees that funds reach the right beneficiaries without unnecessary delays,” he said.
The NELFUND boss reiterated that the student loan programme was established under the directive of President Bola Tinubu as part of his Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at removing financial barriers to tertiary education and promoting equal access to learning opportunities nationwide.
He assured ARNU of NELFUND’s commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement and technological upgrades, noting that the Fund is working towards a more integrated digital ecosystem to harmonise institutional data systems with its loan management platform.
In their response, ARNU leaders commended Sawyerr for initiating direct engagement with Registrars, describing the forum as timely and necessary for aligning institutional processes with the Fund’s operational framework.
