NELFund vows to deal with criminal elements within it’s ecosystem
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has pledged to intensify efforts against fraudulent activities within its ecosystem by collaborating with anti-corruption, military, paramilitary, and other relevant agencies. The initiative aims to establish whistleblower systems, real-time data verification tools, and joint audits to ensure transparency and accountability in its loan scheme.
Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, made the declaration during a workshop in Abuja, marking the conclusion of a five-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Session. The event brought together education administrators, vice chancellors, and student union leaders to align on building a transparent and efficient student loan system.
Sawyerr emphasized that NELFUND is committed to establishing robust mechanisms for due diligence, applicant verification, and fund tracking to prevent fraud. “Integrity is not just the absence of corruption but the active presence of systems and partnerships that prevent malfeasance before it occurs,” he stated.
Highlighting the student loan scheme as a key pillar in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Sawyerr noted that the initiative seeks to eliminate financial barriers to education for Nigerian youth. He revealed that NELFUND has implemented a fully automated, data-driven loan application system, engaging over 400 institutions to harmonize student data and streamline workflows.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, represented by Air Commodore Friday Bassey, urged NELFUND to prioritize children of fallen military heroes, citing the financial struggles faced by families of deceased officers in funding education.
Sawyerr called for a collective effort to protect the integrity of the loan scheme, asserting, “With your partnership, NELFUND can become a beacon of trust, a model of efficiency, and a flagship for the Renewed Hope Agenda.”