The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over N1.08bn for the education of 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 Federal and State institutions.
The Fund said this is to strengthen access to professional training while supporting the development of Nigeria’s future healthcare workforce.
A statement signed by NELFUND”s Director, Strategic Communications, Mrs Oseyemi Oluwatuyi on Sunday, the intervention has recorded significant growth over three academic sessions, rising from N59.4m in 2023/2024 to N205.8m in 2024/2025 and N811.9m in 2025/2026, an almost fourteen-fold increase in funding.
The beneficiaries are drawn from nursing institutions across the country, including the Oyo State College of Nursing, Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Lagos State College of Nursing, Ogun State College of Nursing, Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kebbi State College of Nursing, Cross River State Colleges of Nursing, and institutions in Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara, the FCT and other locations.
Speaking on the intervention, the Managing Director and Chief Executive of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said NELFUND is not simply providing financial assistance to students but investing in the human capital that Nigeria needs to move forward.
He noted that every student kept in school represents a future professional, a future healthcare worker and a potential contributor to the development of the nation.
Sawyerr said the growth in support for nursing and midwifery education, from N59.4m to N811.9m in just three academic sessions, shows what becomes possible when financial barriers are removed from the path of young Nigerians who are determined to build a future for themselves and contribute to society.
He added that the Fund is particularly encouraged that the intervention is reaching thousands of young women pursuing nursing and midwifery, and that by supporting their education today, doors are being opened to professional opportunity, economic independence and meaningful participation in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Also speaking, the Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Mustapha Iyal, said the focus of the Fund is still on ensuring the seamless and timely delivery of support to eligible students, so that more young Nigerians can obtain the skills and qualifications the country needs.
“Nursing and midwifery are among Nigeria’s most female-dominated health professions, and the NELFUND report shows that the majority of beneficiaries covered are young women.
“The intervention therefore represents both an investment in education and a pathway to greater economic and professional opportunity for young Nigerian women.
“The Fund’s latest figures reinforce its broader mandate of ensuring that financial circumstances do not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing and completing higher education.
“With demand for student financing continuing to grow, NELFUND said its focus remains on expanding access while ensuring that its interventions translate into meaningful opportunities for students and the nation,” the statement said.
