The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to launch a centralized job portal by 2026, aimed at linking student loan beneficiaries with employment opportunities both within Nigeria and abroad.
This initiative is part of NELFUND’s broader efforts to improve the effectiveness of the student loan programme and support graduates in achieving financial independence.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja to mark the scheme’s one-year anniversary, NELFUND’s Chief Executive Officer, Akintunde Sawyerr, emphasized that while the fund does not guarantee employment, the portal is designed to ease graduates’ transition into the workforce.
“The portal will compile job listings from public and private sectors, as well as from international employers interested in hiring Nigerians,” Sawyerr said.
He added, “We’re not just offering loans and walking away. This platform is our way of supporting graduates in their journey towards economic stability.”
Sawyerr also clarified that loan repayments will only begin after beneficiaries have completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and secured gainful employment.
“If you don’t have a job, you don’t start repaying. Once employed, 10% of your monthly income will be automatically deducted by your employer and remitted to NELFUND, verified through our employment register,” he explained.
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