The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is developing specialized software to ensure that students with disabilities in higher institutions can fully access its loan scheme.
Managing Director/Chief Executive of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, announced this initiative during a stakeholders’ engagement on student loans in Benin City, Edo State. He emphasized that the Act establishing NELFUND guarantees equal opportunity for all students and that the organization will collaborate with the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD) to promote inclusivity.
Sawyerr stated, “We want to see how we can make it easier for those visually impaired, so that they can actually apply for the loan. We are looking at a specific software we are going to use.”
Addressing concerns about loan repayment in the event of a beneficiary’s death, Sawyerr clarified that the law does not transfer the debt to the family, stating, “If the very person dies, that loan is not transferred to the family or anyone else. The loan is wiped out.”
Edo State Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, commended the Federal Government for making the loan scheme a reality, acknowledging that many families previously faced challenges in paying school fees.
This initiative underscores NELFUND’s commitment to making tertiary education accessible to all Nigerian students, regardless of physical challenges.
