...Transparency in figures underscores Sawyerr’s commitment to delivering Tinubu’s student financing vision
Ogene Romanu Chizoba
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has reinforced its commitment to transparency and accountability with the release of detailed disbursement figures showing how Plateau State benefited from approximately ₦11.34 billion in student loan support across 14 higher institutions.
The disclosure provides a clear breakdown of funds allocated to institutional charges and student upkeep, offering the public an opportunity to assess the reach and impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s student financing initiative.
According to the released report, approximately ₦6.37 billion was disbursed for institutional charges, while ₦4.97 billion went towards student upkeep across the academic sessions covered. The records span the 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/2026 sessions, with an additional institutional payment listed for 2026/2027.
Beyond announcing headline figures, the publication of the breakdown reflects the importance NELFUND places on making information about public-facing programme delivery accessible and verifiable. It enables students, parents, institutions and other stakeholders to see how the intervention is being implemented across the state.
The figures show a steady increase in institutional disbursements, rising from approximately ₦1.28 billion in 2023/2024 to ₦2.07 billion in 2024/2025 and ₦3.01 billion in 2025/2026.
Corresponding session-based institutional beneficiary figures also increased from 11,348 to 18,912 and 25,547 respectively. These are session-specific records and should not be interpreted as unique cumulative beneficiaries.
Upkeep support stood at approximately ₦1.48 billion in 2023/2024, ₦1.37 billion in 2024/2025 and ₦2.12 billion in 2025/2026, providing eligible students with additional financial assistance to manage the everyday costs of pursuing their education.
The University of Jos recorded the largest institutional allocation in each of the three main academic sessions, receiving approximately ₦2.02 billion in 2025/2026. Other institutions featured in the report include Plateau State University, Bokkos; Federal University of Education, Pankshin; College of Education, Gindiri; and Federal College of Forestry, Jos.
The report also records ₦5.57 million for 64 institutional beneficiaries at the National Film Institute, Jos, in 2026/2027, representing the payment captured for that entry rather than a complete session-wide total.
The disclosure further highlights the leadership of NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, whose stewardship continues to translate President Tinubu’s vision of expanding access to higher education into measurable programme delivery.
By publishing institution-by-institution and session-by-session figures, NELFUND is demonstrating that transparency is not merely about announcing achievements, but also about providing details that allow stakeholders to understand and scrutinise programme implementation.
President Tinubu deserves commendation for introducing a student financing framework designed to reduce financial barriers to higher education, while Sawyerr and the NELFUND management deserve recognition for driving its implementation and making disbursement information available to the public.
For students and families in Plateau State, the reported ₦11.34 billion represents substantial financial support. For the wider public, the published breakdown offers an important measure of accountability and a clearer picture of how the President’s education financing vision is being delivered.
Tinubu provided the vision; under Sawyerr’s leadership, NELFUND is demonstrating the delivery, with transparency helping to make the results visible.