The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed a total of ₦3.039 billion in institutional charges to 27,640 students of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), as part of efforts to expand access to higher education and ease students’ financial burdens.
This was disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Haruna Musa, FSI, during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Soya, and his delegation to the University.
The visit, which took place on Tuesday, April 7, at the Vice-Chancellor’s Office in the Abubakar Rashid Senate Building, BUK New Site, was aimed at strengthening the existing partnership between the two institutions and addressing issues related to students’ upkeep.
Speaking during the engagement, Professor Musa commended NELFUND for its impact since inception, noting that the scheme has significantly broadened access to higher education for Nigerians who might otherwise have been unable to enroll in tertiary institutions.
Providing a breakdown of beneficiaries, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that in the 2023/2024 academic session, 113 BUK students benefitted from the scheme, with ₦1.494 billion paid directly to the University as institutional charges. He added that in the 2024/2025 session, the number of beneficiaries rose sharply to 14,539 students, accounting for ₦1.545 billion—representing a notable increase over the previous session.
“In total, 27,640 students of Bayero University Kano have benefitted from the NELFUND scheme, with institutional charges amounting to ₦3.039 billion, excluding the living costs paid directly to the beneficiaries,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
He, however, pointed out that some students experience challenges during the application process on the NELFUND portal as well as during disbursement, and expressed optimism that the visiting team would critically address these concerns.
Earlier, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Soya, introduced members of his delegation and stated that the visit was both a formal courtesy call and an opportunity to further strengthen collaboration with the University.
He assured that issues raised by students would be carefully reviewed to simplify the application and reapplication processes. He also advised the University to ensure the timely opening of its portal to enable students apply early and receive their upkeep allowances without delay.
The visit underscores the growing collaboration between NELFUND and Bayero University Kano in advancing student support and improving access to higher education in Nigeria.