Applications began on Monday, April 13, 2026, through the official TVET portal. Officials say the exercise targets young Nigerians seeking practical skills for work and for starting small businesses.

The programme runs across accredited centres in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, offering two training paths. One lasts six months under the Short-Term Certificate track and the other runs for one year under the Vocational Education and Innovation track.

Training covers more than 25 trades. These include electrical installation, welding, plumbing, ICT, automotive repair, fashion design, cosmetology, agriculture, solar installation, creative media, and hospitality services.

Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the programme focuses on long-term economic outcomes.

“In strengthening this programme, the Federal Government is investing in the productive capacity of our youth. By providing practical training and recognised certification, we are creating pathways for self-employment, innovation, and long-term economic growth,” Dr Alausa stated.

The ministry says the initiative will also expand training in the creative and cultural sectors. It is working with the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Tourism to support that goal.

Each trainee will receive support throughout the programme. The structure includes free tuition, monthly stipends, and certification after completion.

“Participants will receive a monthly stipend of N22,500 throughout the duration of their training and will be awarded a nationally recognised certification upon successful completion.

“Training will cover a wide range of high-demand sectors, including construction, Information and Communication Technology (ICT), automotive technology, creative media, agriculture, fashion and garment production, cosmetology, tourism and hospitality, catering services, and leather works, among others,” the statement partly reads.

Officials also confirmed startup grants and access to low-interest loans for graduates. The aim focuses on helping trainees move straight into work or self-employment.

The ministry requires applicants to provide a National Identification Number and Bank Verification Number during registration. It also says attendance will go through biometric checks. Only trainees who meet attendance rules will receive stipends.

How to Apply

Applications for TVET second cohort go through the website. The ministry has asked candidates to complete registration early and select approved training centres.

The programme sits within a national skills plan, aligning with efforts to reduce unemployment and expand vocational training across Nigeria.

In December 2025, the government released N4.7 billion as the first tranche of payments to trainees and accredited centres under the TVET scheme. The Education Minister announced the release through a statement shared on X.

The rollout started earlier in May last year. Since then, the government has pushed to expand participation across states.

Interest in the programme has grown. Within one week of the portal opening in 2025, officials recorded more than 90,000 applications.

Entrance examination figures also rose. Participation moved from 7,547 candidates in 2024 to 30,000 in 2025. That was an increase of nearly 300%.

The ministry also introduced an artisan-led mentorship model and now operates across 38 upgraded technical colleges. Experienced craftsmen guide trainees directly on practical tasks.

Accreditation regulations for training centres are strict. Centres must register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and must also adopt an NSQ-based curriculum and meet staffing and facility standards.

Officials still describe TVET as an important part of Nigeria’s skills drive. The programme links formal training with industry needs, seeking to close gaps between education and employment.

More updates are expected as the second cohort begins registration and screening across the country.

In a regulatory clarification issued on Friday, February 13, 2026, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, the agency’s director of Strategic Communications, stated that there is “no verified evidence” to support claims that loan disbursements were unlawfully withheld or diverted by the institution.

As NELFUND scales its operations to provide financial inclusion for Nigerian students, the agency is leaning heavily on its structured framework, a set of internal checks and reconciliation procedures designed to prevent the very leakages currently being alleged.

Institutional Channels: Funds are not released arbitrarily; they flow through approved institutional channels that require multi-level validation.

Administrative Reconciliation: NELFUND noted that delays in “crediting student accounts” are often a result of institutional reconciliation timelines rather than systemic diversion.

Audit Mechanisms: The agency maintains that its reliance on verified documentation and formal audit trails serves as a “fail-safe” against the misappropriation of the national student loan programme.

Data & Trust: The Governance Challenge

The friction at UniAbuja highlights a broader challenge for Nigeria’s emerging “GovTech“ sector: The Trust Gap. For a system that manages significant capital flow between the federal government and tertiary institutions, any perceived delay in the “last mile” of disbursement, where the fund hits the student’s ledger can trigger reputational risk.

“Where concerns arise regarding timelines of crediting student accounts or institutional reconciliation processes, NELFUND engages directly with the relevant institution to clarify and resolve such matters administratively,” Oluwatuyi explained.

Why ‘Last Mile’ Reconciliation Matters

For NELFUND to maintain its mandate of “Protection Equity” in education, the transition from Fund Release to Student Account Credit must be seamless.

By resolving these bottlenecks administratively, NELFUND aims to prove that its “Data-Aware” approach can safeguard the integrity of the scheme against unfounded media speculation.

This “grassroots offensive” is a strategic pivot to capture the remaining 53 million Nigerians required to meet the World Bank’s revised target of 180 million National Identification Numbers (NINs) by December 2026.

The Data Gap: From 127 Million to 180 Million

As of late 2025, NIMC had successfully enrolled 127 million Nigerians, a significant milestone, but still far from universal coverage.

The new ward-level strategy aims to bypass the “urban bottleneck” where registration centers are often over-capacity, by moving services directly into Nigeria’s 8,809 wards.

Target Population: Rural residents, children, and the aged people in underserved communities.

The “Free” Mandate: In line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, the commission reiterated that registration remains free of charge, a move to eliminate financial barriers for low-income citizens.

Rotational Deployment: Licensed Front-End Partners (FEPs) and NIMC staff will operate on a “rotational schedule” to ensure even the most remote wards are serviced.

Why the Ward Level Matters for the “Digital Stack”

A NIN is no longer just an ID card; it is the Foundational Identity for Nigeria’s growing digital public infrastructure (DPI). The success of this ward-level drive is critical for:

Financial Inclusion: KYC (Know Your Customer) requirements for the millions of unbanked Nigerians.

NELFUND: Seamless verification for students applying for federal loans.

Direct Benefit Transfers: Ensuring social intervention funds reach verified individuals without middleman leakage.

Nigeria’s NIN Growth & 2026 Targets

Strategic Execution: The FEP Partnership

To handle the logistical weight of a ward-to-ward campaign, NIMC is leveraging its Front-End Partners (FEPs), private sector firms licensed to conduct biometrics on behalf of the government.

“The ward enrollment schedules will guide the rotational movement of licensed front-end partners and NIMC staff,” noted Dr. Kayode Adegoke, head of Corporate Communications.

By decentralizing the process, NIMC is effectively turning the local ward into a “Digital Hub” for the duration of the exercise, utilizing community leaders and traditional rulers to build trust and drive turnout.

Titled the “Budget of Consolidation, Renewed Resilience and Shared Prosperity,” the budget reflects a clear set of national priorities that will shape policy, spending, and public expectations throughout the year.

Not unmindful of the fact that the 2025 Nigerian Appropriation Act generally covers the fiscal year ending December 31, 2025, but its capital component has seen extensions, with a recent push to run until March 31, 2026, to close out prior projects, allowing the 2026 budget to start fresh with a single fiscal cycle in April 2026, here are top government spending to track most in 2026:

1. Security and Defence: Top of the Spending Ladder

Perhaps the most striking shift in the 2026 budget, but not surprising, is the emphasis on national security.

With insecurity remaining a major drag on economic activity, social stability, and investor confidence, the government has allocated a whopping ₦5.41 trillion to defence and security sectors, making it the single largest sectoral allocation in the budget.

This allocation is designed to support modernisation of the Armed Forces; intelligence-driven policing; border and community security initiatives, and a unified national counter-terrorism doctrine.

There is a saying that ‘good fences make good neighbours’, will Nigeria build wall across its borders, starting in 2026? Well, we are watching.

Officials argue that without security, economic reforms cannot thrive, especially in agriculture, mining, and trade sectors which depend on safe environments to operate.

2. Human Capital Development: Education and Health in Focus

Human capital development is another cornerstone of the 2026 budget. While not as large as defence, allocations to education (₦3.52 trillion) and health (₦2.48 trillion) represent major commitments to Nigeria’s future workforce and overall wellbeing.

Education spending is expected to support expanded access to learning like the NELFUND student loan scheme; skills development programmes like the 3MTT, amongst others.

On the other hand, health funding is targeted at strengthening primary health care networks; disease prevention and control, especially with the U.S. Government under President Donald Trump putting an end to health-related aids to countries like Nigeria.

Essentially, maternal and child health services must be given priority.

However, critics note that these allocations still fall below international benchmarks for education and health spending, raising questions about whether the funding will be sufficient to address deep-seated gaps in public services.

3. Infrastructure: Sustaining Growth through Capital Investment

In spite of a reduced allocation from the previous year, infrastructure remains a key government spending priority in 2026, with ₦3.56 trillion earmarked for transport, power, energy, and logistics development.

Government officials have reaffirmed that infrastructure underpins economic activity by reducing the cost of doing business; improving market access, and enhancing competitiveness.

But the downward adjustment compared to 2025 levels has sparked debate among stakeholders about the pace and scale of national development projects.

4. Capital Expenditure and Productive Investment

Overall, capital expenditure, investment in long-term assets like roads, ports, and factories, accounts for over ₦26 trillion of the total budget.

This signals the government’s continued focus on boosting productive sectors that can generate jobs and stimulate growth.

The 2026 budget also reflects efforts to attract private capital into strategic sectors; expand agricultural productivity through mechanisation and irrigation programmes, and support value chains that can reduce food insecurity.

5. Fiscal Discipline, Deficit and Debt Management

The government has emphasised fiscal discipline as a central theme of the 2026 budget. With projected revenue of ₦34.33 trillion and total spending of ₦58.18 trillion, the budget carries a deficit of ₦23.85 trillion, one of the largest in Nigeria’s history.

To manage this gap, the government has pledged:

• Tighter budget execution
• Stronger revenue mobilisation through tax reforms and improved compliance
• Greater oversight of Government-Owned Enterprises

Experts warn that heavy reliance on borrowing and weak social spending could compound inequality and slow inclusive development if not carefully managed.

6. Agriculture and Economic Diversification

Although not as headline-grabbing, agriculture and economic diversification remain important priorities. The 2026 budget includes measures to support smallholder farmers; enhance food value chains; and promote rural mechanisation and climate-resilient farming

These allocations reflect ongoing efforts to reduce Nigeria’s overdependence on oil revenues and stimulate broad-based economic growth.

The Big Picture:

The 2026 Appropriation Bill reveals a government balancing immediate security needs with long-term investments in human capital and economic infrastructure.

While critics caution that social sector funding lags behind global benchmarks, the government’s emphasis on discipline, transparency, and implementation efficiency could be defining features of public finance in the year ahead.

Through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Tinubu said in his 65th (Nigeria’s) Independence Day speech, said that the government is easing financial barriers to higher education, enabling young Nigerians to dream big, innovate, and build careers across science, technology, sports, and the creative industries.

So far, about 510,000 students in 228 institutions across the 36 states and the FCT have benefited, with total disbursements reaching ₦99.5 billion, including ₦44.7 billion in upkeep allowances as of September 10, the President listed as NELFUND’s achievements.

Techeconomy presents key facts about NELFUND:

What is NELFUND?

NELFUND stands for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, the body established to administer student loans under the Students Loan (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal & Re-enactment) Act, 2024.

It is a corporate body with powers to sue or be sued, and to hold property, enabling it to carry out its mandate as an autonomous institution.

Akintunde Sawyerr is the first managing director appointed to operationalize and steer the Fund’s implementation.

Mission, Scope & Mandate

NELFUND’s core objective is to remove financial barriers for qualified Nigerian students by providing interest-free loans to cover tuition, institutional charges, and upkeep (living expenses) in public tertiary institutions and approved vocational institutions.

The loans are disbursed in two parts: institutional charges (paid directly to schools) and upkeep (paid to students) after verification.

Because public tertiary institutions operate on different academic calendars, NELFUND has clarified that upkeep payments align with academic sessions to prevent duplicate payments.

Eligibility is limited to students in public tertiary institutions (federal and state), private institutions are not yet covered in initial phases.

Timeline & Early Implementation

The enabling law was signed into effect in April 2024 by President Tinubu.

The portal for NELFUND applications opened starting May 2024.

By its first anniversary, NELFUND had disbursed about ₦56.85 billion in student loans to 298,124 beneficiaries across 198 institutions. Of that, ₦30.18 billion was for institutional (tuition) and ₦26.63 billion for upkeep.

In that same period, over 600,000 students had registered on the portal, and more than 550,000 applications were successfully processed (≈ 92% processing success).

Amount Spent & Financial Breakdown

• ₦56.85 billion disbursed in first full operational year.
  • ₦30.18 billion went to institutions for institutional charges.
  • ₦26.63 billion went to beneficiaries as upkeep allowances.
• The scheme has recorded hundreds of thousands of applications, with a high conversion (approval) rate.
• For example, NELFUND recently disbursed ₦6,972,000 across 10 students at the African Aviation & Aerospace University (AAAU), reflecting how the scheme is being applied even in niche institutions.

Governance, Structure, and Oversight

NELFUND is overseen by a board of directors chaired by Jim Ovie, the founder of Zenith Bank, with representation from ministries (Education, Finance), regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders.

The operational management is distinct, led by the MD (Sawyerr) and staff who execute day-to-day tasks.

Guidelines for operations, verification, disbursement, and repayments are publicly documented in official guidelines.

Challenges and Risks

Verification delays by tertiary institutions have been flagged repeatedly as a bottleneck to timely disbursement.

Because institutions have different academic calendars, aligning upkeep payments fairly is complex, risking duplications or gaps.

Ensuring sustainability is a concern: whether NELFUND can maintain funding levels if demand grows exponentially.

Risk of “debt burden” if economic conditions worsen and graduates struggle with repayment.

Tracking transparency and misuse is critical, public reporting and audit mechanisms must be strong.

Why Tinubu Highlights NELFUND as a Major Achievement

In his Independence Day speech, President Tinubu re-echoed these NELFUND’s achievements, underscoring its strategic importance in his “Renewed Hope” agenda.

The scale and rapid deployment, in just over a year, make it a flagship social program aimed at inclusion, education empowerment, and human capital development.

The disbursements and uptake already seen provide tangible evidence of delivery, helping build public trust and political capital.

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What are the outstanding NELFUND’s achievements for you? Tell us in the comment section:

From Promise to Reality

When President Tinubu signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act in April 2024, few could have fully predicted the scale of impact it would soon generate .

Today’s announcement brings that law to vivid life, converting legislative intent into tangible aid for nearly half a million students across Nigeria.

Stories Behind the Numbers

Imagine a first-year engineering student in Onitsha, Onitsha, previously faced with the real possibility of abandoning school mid-semester, now able to pay her tuition and housing bills, thanks to her NELFUND loan.

Across the country, hopeful minds in remote communities, technical colleges, and vocational training centres are likewise experiencing a renewed sense of possibility.

Systemic Reach, Individual Impact

This isn’t a one-off dispersal, rather, it’s part of a growing continuum. Just back in February, NELFUND had already extended institutional loan support amounting to ₦22.7 billion for 215,514 students for the 2023/2024 academic year .

The latest disbursement now significantly broadens that scope, both in scale and inclusivity.

What This Means for Nigeria’s Future

Amplified Access: Undeniably, ₦86.3 billion rightfully earned the label “transformative.”

By bringing nearly half a million students into the fold, NELFUND is widening higher-education access in a way previously unthought-of.

Economic Ripple Effect: Beyond tuition, these loans buffer expenses for books, living costs, and skill development, fueling markets and nurturing local economies across urban and rural areas alike.

Hope Becomes Tangible: For parents, caretakers, and students, financial obstacles no longer have to determine academic fate. This funding turns distant aspirations into concrete realities.

Looking Ahead

As Nigeria’s youth press forward, armed with education and determination, the question turns to sustainability.

Will NELFUND maintain this momentum? How will the repayment plans and administrative systems evolve to ensure long-term viability?

Still, for now, the spotlight is rightly on the students, those who can now look toward graduation with renewed hope and purpose.

Within the last 24 hours, NELFUND under the leadership of Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the managing director/CEO, recorded a total of 9,687 student registrations, of which 7,975 are completed loan applications.

According to a statement signed by Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, director, Corporate Communications, Nigerian Education Loan Fund, this marks the highest in one day since the launch of the student loan application portal on the 25th May 2024.

“This overwhelming surge in interest, underscores the critical role that NELFUND plays in enabling access to higher education, for students facing financial challenges.

“The high number of applications confirms the fact that financial constraints is a major issue that many aspiring higher education students are facing. It reinforces the importance of NELFUND’s work in providing the necessary support to Nigerian youth.

“The Fund recorded this significant milestone in its mission to support students struggling with tertiary education financing across the nation. It is in line with the vision and action of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR).

Since the opening of the student loan application portal, NELFUND has recorded and steady and consistent influx of applications, highlighting the pressing need for financial assistance among Nigerian students.

“The Fund hereby urges all students who are experiencing financial difficulties to take advantage of this well-intended opportunity provided by The President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“Eligible students are therefore encouraged to apply for the loan through the NELFUND portal.

“NELFUND’s streamlined application process is designed to be user-friendly, ensuring that students can easily access the support they need.

“The dedicated support team is available to assist applicants throughout the process, providing guidance and answering any questions they may have.

“This milestone is not just a testament to the effectiveness of the Fund’s outreach and the trust that students place in the program and the President’s pronouncement, but also a call to action for those who have not yet applied.

The management of these institutions have successfully submitted their student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).

“We urge all other state-owned tertiary institutions to submit their complete student data to the NELFUND Student Verification System timely to enable their students benefit from the scheme”, the Fund said.

Students from the following institutions can now apply:

1. Adamawa State University, Mubi
2. Ramat Polytechnic, Maiduguri
3. Borno State University
4. Mohammet Lawan college of Agriculture, Borno State
5. Edo State University, Uzairue
6. Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti
7. Gombe State University
8. Kingsley Ozumba Mbadiwe University, Imo State
9. Imo State University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Umuagwo
10. Nuhu Bamalli Polytechnic, Zaria
11. Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano
12. Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina
13. Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management
14. Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aliero
15. Confluence University of Science and Technology, Kogi state
16. Lagos state university of education
17. Lagos State University
18. Nasarawa State University, Keffi
19. Tai Solarin University of Education, Ogun state
20. University of Medical Sciences, Ondo
21. Osun State University
22. University of Ilesa, Osun State
23. GTC, ARA Osun State
24. GTC, GBONGAN Osun State
25. GTC, IJEBU-JESA Osun State
26. GTC, ILE-IFE Osun State
27. GTC, INISA Osun State
28. GTC, IWO Osun State
29. GTC,OSU Osun State
30. GTC, OTAN AYEGBAJU Osun State
31. Osun State College of Education, Ila-Orangun
32. Government Technical College, Ile-Ife
33. Osun State College of Technology
34. Taraba State University, Jalingo
35. Umar Suleiman College of Education, Gashua, Yobe State
36. Zamfara State University, Talata Mafara

This decision was made on Wednesday during its inaugural meeting.

The agency’s spokesperson, Nasir Ayitogo, disclosed this in a statement. “By approving the immediate disbursement of the loans, NELFUND is taking a critical step in fulfilling its mission to support education and empower the next generation of leaders,” he said.

Techeconomy reported that the agency is set to pay over N35 billion to 70,000 applicants approved for loans in the first phase of the scheme for students of federal government-owned tertiary institutions.

The agency will also pay a N20,000 monthly stipend to successful students.

Meanwhile, the commencement of the second phase of the application process, which will accommodate students from state-owned institutions, has been postponed for 14 days.

The postponement was necessitated by the failure of most state institutions to upload their students’ data on the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).

NELFUND said only 20 of 48 state universities, two of 49 polytechnics, and 12 of the 54 colleges of education have uploaded their data.

“The application window, initially set to open on June 25, will now commence on July 10,” the NELFUND spokesperson said.

During Wednesday’s meeting, chaired by the Founder of Zenith Bank Plc, Jim Ovia, the approval for the disbursement of loans topped the agenda.

It was the first meeting of the board since Mr. Ovia’s appointment in April.

Mr. Ayitogo said the inaugural meeting also set the stage for future initiatives aimed at enhancing educational opportunities and providing comprehensive support to students across various disciplines.

He said members of the NELFUND management, led by Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr, and representatives of member organizations were also part of the meeting.

“The meeting marked a significant milestone in the organization’s commitment to empowering students through financial support,” Mr. Ayitogo said.

“Under the leadership of the Board Chairman, Mr. Jim Ovia, the top agenda item was the approval for disbursement of student loans to successful applicants.

“This decision underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dedication to providing timely and essential financial assistance to students in need, enabling them to pursue their educational goals without undue financial stress.”

Led by President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is ensuring economically disadvantaged students get access to quality education.

During an address at the Nigeria Institute of Legislative and Democratic Studies in Abuja, Akpabio described the Student Loan Scheme as one of the most important pieces of legislation passed by the tenth Assembly.

He highlighted that the bill is designed to help underprivileged children pursue higher education without the burden of financial constraints.

“One of the most important bills for the tenth Assembly was the bill sent to us by President Bola Tinubu. The Student Loan Bill enables vulnerable Nigerian students, the less privileged, to obtain higher education. And as I speak to you now, over 30,000 Nigerian students have already been selected to benefit from that scheme. That is one of the bills I will say appeal to me the most,” Akpabio said.

In addition to discussing the student loan scheme, Akpabio spoke on Nigeria’s old national anthem, “Nigeria, We Hail Thee,” which was abolished in 1978. He pointed out that retaining the old anthem could have helped prevent issues such as banditry and insecurity.

“The other impactful bill signed by the National Assembly is the reverting to our old national anthem. A lot of people are not aware that there was a panel set up and made up of Nigerians to receive input from all over the world in 1959.

“So when people are saying we’re bringing in colonial anthem, they need to look into the history of ‘Nigeria, we hail thee.’ If we had kept to that anthem, we probably would not have banditry today in Nigeria because if you take your neighbour as your brother, you will not want to kill him,” Akpabio added.

The revised Student Loan Act 2024 aims to remove financial barriers and make education more accessible to all Nigerian students, regardless of their economic background.

Funded through an innovative amalgamation of government revenues, including taxes and natural resource profits, NELFUND is set to provide comprehensive financial support covering tuition, fees, and living expenses.

With a repayment grace period extending two years post-NYSC program completion, the scheme comes with a good approach to financial aid, ensuring that today’s scholars can become tomorrow’s leaders without the issue of debt.