The Vice-Chancellor of Sokoto State University, Prof. Mohammed Yerima, has said regular disbursements from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) have significantly improved students’ resumption rates, lecture attendance and overall academic performance at the institution.
Yerima disclosed this in an exclusive interview with PUNCH Online, noting that the student loan scheme has eased financial pressures that once distracted many undergraduates from their studies.
He described NELFUND as a “transformative intervention” that has brought renewed energy to the campus, particularly after academic breaks when the university previously struggled with low student turnout.
According to the VC, many students especially those from distant states such as Oyo, Lagos, Kwara and Taraba used to spend more time hustling to survive than attending lectures or laboratory sessions.
“Before now, financial hardship forced many students to focus on survival rather than academics. This affected attendance and often resulted in poor exam outcomes,” Yerima explained.
He said the situation changed with the introduction of NELFUND, which covers both tuition and upkeep expenses. For the 2025/2026 academic session, the university received ₦89.1 million for 1,854 students under Batch A and ₦83.08 million for 1,762 students under Batch B, all of which were promptly disbursed to beneficiaries.
“The impact was immediate,” he said. “Students now resume fully after holidays, attend lectures regularly and participate actively in academic activities. The campus has literally come back to life.”
Beyond school fees, Yerima noted that students also receive regular upkeep allowances, helping them meet basic needs such as transportation without stress.
“Students can now afford transport, whether by bike or university buses. We hardly hear of anyone missing lectures because of transport fares. Eight o’clock lectures now truly start at eight. Learning is more organised and effective,” he added.
The VC also revealed that the scheme has expanded access to education by accommodating part-time undergraduate students after swift engagement with NELFUND officials.
“When I discovered that part-time students were initially excluded, we appealed. Within two to three days, NELFUND approved it. Now, part-time students are applying and benefiting,” Yerima said, adding that this has attracted working professionals and civil servants to the university.
He praised the NELFUND management team for their efficiency and responsiveness, stressing that the initiative has made education more accessible and sustained campus activity throughout the academic session.
Reacting to the development, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the fund was created to eliminate financial barriers that hinder Nigerian students from fully engaging in higher education.
According to him, the improved resumption rates and academic focus at Sokoto State University reflect the core objective of the scheme.
“Our goal is to ensure students focus on learning, not survival,” Sawyerr said, reaffirming NELFUND’s commitment to timely and transparent disbursement of funds.
He added that investing in students’ welfare remains critical to building a skilled, competitive and globally relevant Nigerian workforce.
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