The Enugu State Government has intensified efforts to drive mass participation in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) Education Support Programme across tertiary institutions in the state.
Governor Peter Ndubuisi Mbah on Monday, August 10, 2026, hosted a strategic sensitisation and implementation meeting with the Executive Management of NELFUND, led by its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, as well as Vice Chancellors, Rectors, Provosts and senior representatives of tertiary institutions across the state.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Enugu State Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Enugu MSME & Startup Agency, is aimed at ensuring that every eligible student in the state is aware of the Federal Government’s education financing programme and receives the necessary support to apply and complete the verification process.
The state government said the move became necessary following what it described as low uptake of NELFUND support across Enugu State and the South-East.
As part of the strategy, institutions are expected to adopt an institution-by-institution approach to mobilise eligible students, address misconceptions about the programme and assist applicants through the application and verification stages.
The NELFUND programme provides eligible students with financial support for school fees and upkeep, helping to reduce financial pressure on families, improve student retention and strengthen the ability of institutions to receive their approved fees.
Governor Mbah stressed the need for all tertiary institutions in the state to fully key into the programme by establishing dedicated support desks, mobilising students and ensuring that applications are processed and verified promptly.
The governor said the initiative was ultimately about widening access to education and ensuring that eligible students were not excluded from available opportunities.
The state government therefore urged students in public tertiary institutions to take advantage of the programme and apply through the official NELFUND portal.
Eligible students can apply here: NELFUND Official Application Portal
