NANS Protests Exclusion from NELFUND Board



The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has raised a protest over its exclusion from the board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This was made known in a letter dated February 13, 2025, which was addressed to the managing director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, and the chairman of the board, Jim Ovia. The letter was signed by NANS president Lucky Emonefe.

In the letter, Emonefe called the exclusion of students from the scheduled NELFUND board meeting “completely unacceptable” and described it as a serious oversight. NANS, which represents over 50 million students across Nigeria, expressed deep concern over being sidelined in decisions about the fund that directly impacts the student body.

Emonefe emphasized that, as the principal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the NELFUND, students must have a say in the deliberations about how the fund is managed and allocated. He compared the exclusion to "shaving a man’s head in his absence," underscoring the gravity of the situation.

  • NANS, as the apex body for Nigerian students, insists on being included in any decision-making regarding student loans.
  • The protest letter, referenced as NANS/VOL1/GA1/A254, demanded the immediate inclusion of a student representative in the board meeting.
  • Failure to meet this demand would result in NANS organizing a mass mobilization to shut down the venue and prevent the meeting from taking place.

Emonefe also made it clear that this was not merely a request but a demand for rightful inclusion. He further stated that NANS would not stand by while critical decisions affecting students’ futures are made without their input.

In a statement, Emonefe said:

"This fund was created for Nigerian students, and we will have a voice in how it is managed."

The student leader also emphasized that NANS was prepared to take drastic action if their demands were not met, which would include ensuring that no meeting could proceed without the inclusion of students.

The NELFUND was established following the April 2024 assent by President Bola Tinubu to the student loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024. The law provides for the inclusion of members from various ministries, regulatory bodies, and representatives of the student body on the board.

It is important to note that the law calls for the inclusion of representatives from various relevant bodies, such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as well as a representative from tertiary institutions.

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was set up to provide access to loans for Nigerian students in tertiary institutions. It aims to ease the financial burden on students and allow them access to higher education regardless of their financial status. However, NANS has raised concerns about the need for direct student participation in the management of this fund.


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