The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has urged tertiary institution students in the South-East to take advantage of its student loan programme to support their academic pursuits.

The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made the appeal during the 44th matriculation ceremony of 7,523 students at Abia State University (ABSU), Uturu, on Friday.

Represented by the Abia State Deputy Director of the scheme, Ugoeze Azubuike, Sawyerr encouraged especially the newly admitted students to access the loan facility.

He stated, “NELFUND is committed to providing accessible, transparent and sustainable student loan support to enable students focus on their academic goals without the burden of financial hardship.

“We are working closely with institutions, including Abia State University, and state governments across the federation to expand awareness and ensure that eligible students benefit from this initiative. I encourage you to take advantage of the opportunities provided through NELFUND.”

According to recent reports by The PUNCH, the South-East accounts for the lowest percentage of applications under the scheme. An analysis of 1.67 million applicants between May 2024 and February 23, 2026, revealed that the region contributed only six per cent of total applications — the lowest among the six geopolitical zones.

Meanwhile, NELFUND on Monday announced that its student loan application portal would remain open beyond the initial February 27, 2026 deadline. The extension was attributed to increased awareness and nationwide demand generated by ongoing sensitisation campaigns, as well as the need to allow more eligible students complete their applications.

The scheme was established in April 2024 after President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act into law. It offers interest-free loans aimed at expanding access to tertiary education across Nigeria.

Addressing the matriculating students, the ABSU Vice-Chancellor, Ndukwe Okeudo, advised them to avoid excessive engagement in social media content creation and other anti-social activities, urging them to focus on their academic goals.

He disclosed that 7,523 candidates were admitted for the 2025/2026 academic session, describing it as an unprecedented increase attributed to reforms in the university’s admission process.

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council, Agwu U. Agwu, assured students of continued student-friendly policies to promote a conducive learning environment.

Governor Alex Otti, represented by the Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Uche Eme, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the education sector and urged students to embrace what he described as the “new Abia mindset.”