Nigeria's Vice President Kashim Shettima has said the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has eased the financial burden on poor students, according to Punch. He stated that the initiative has provided crucial financial relief and removed barriers preventing disadvantaged Nigerians from accessing higher education. The remarks highlight the government's position that the student loan scheme is delivering on its goal of expanding educational opportunities for low-income students across the country.

Nigeria's Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said that under President Tinubu's administration, poverty is no longer an excuse for children not to attend school. According to Tribune Online, Shettima credited the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) with providing financial relief to children from poor families and removing financial barriers to higher education. The remarks highlight the government's education financing initiative as a key policy achievement.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has dismissed as fake news a circulating image claiming that President Bola Tinubu announced life imprisonment for graduates who fail to repay their student loans. In a post on its official X account, NELFUND said the image, which appeared to show the front page of a newspaper report, was doctored, and urged the public to disregard the claim. The agency did not announce any such penalty for loan defaulters.

Despite rising oil wealth in Nigeria, many poor students continue to face financial hardship, prompting renewed scrutiny of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) and its effectiveness in supporting access to education. According to Legit.ng, the contrast between the country's growing petroleum revenues and the ongoing struggles of disadvantaged students raises fresh questions about whether the fund is fulfilling its intended role in expanding educational opportunities for those most in need.

A PM News editorial urges the Nigerian government to safeguard the student loan scheme from failure, as NELFUND has disbursed N355.87 billion since opening its loan portal in May 2024. According to the report, the funds have covered institutional fees and students' upkeep, with more than 1.65 million applications processed by early September. The editorial frames the scheme's scale as a reason for stronger oversight to ensure its sustainability.

The National Association of Ogun State Students (NAOSS) has requested an investigation into alleged discrepancies in the disbursement of student loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) at D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic in Ogun State.