The Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has significantly increased its financial support for nursing and midwifery students, with funding rising nearly 14 fold to N811.9 million in the 2025/2026 academic session.
The latest figure represents a major increase from the N59.4 million provided during the 2023/2024 academic session, as the Federal Government expands efforts to reduce financial barriers facing students pursuing professional healthcare training. The new figure was disclosed by NELFUND Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, in a statement issued on Saturday.
With the latest disbursement, NELFUND’s total funding for nursing and midwifery education over three academic sessions has exceeded N1.08 billion. The funding has supported 5,381 students across 21 federal and state institutions, giving more students access to financial assistance for their professional training. NELFUND’s funding for the sector has increased steadily over the three academic sessions. It rose from N59.4 million in 2023/2024 to N205.8 million in 2024/2025 before reaching N811.9 million in 2025/2026.
“The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over N1.08 billion in the education of 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 Federal and State institutions, strengthening access to professional training while supporting the development of Nigeria’s future healthcare workforce.”
The Fund said the growth reflects its expanding intervention in nursing and midwifery education and its efforts to support the development of more healthcare professionals.
“The intervention has recorded significant growth over three academic sessions, rising from N59.4 million in 2023/2024 to N205.8 million in 2024/2025 and N811.9 million in 2025/2026, an almost fourteen-fold increase in funding,” the statement read in part.
Beneficiaries of the programme include students at institutions such as Oyo State College of Nursing, Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Lagos State College of Nursing, Ogun State College of Nursing, Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kebbi State College of Nursing and Cross River State Colleges of Nursing. Other benefiting institutions are located across Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.
NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the increased funding was part of efforts to develop the skilled workforce required to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
“NELFUND is not simply providing financial assistance to students; we are investing in the human capital that Nigeria needs to move forward,” he said.
Sawyerr also noted that the programme was creating opportunities for young women studying nursing and midwifery, while giving them greater opportunities for professional growth and economic independence. The Fund’s Executive Director, Operations, Mustapha Iyal, said NELFUND would continue working to ensure eligible students receive financial support on time. The increased support for nursing and midwifery is part of NELFUND’s wider student loan programme, which has expanded considerably since applications opened in May 2024.
As of September 3, 2026, NELFUND had processed 1,659,853 student loan applications. The Fund had also paid N192.89 billion to 319 beneficiary institutions as institutional fees and provided N162.98 billion directly to students as upkeep allowances. Total student loan disbursements stood at N355.87 billion as of the same date.
The expansion of the programme comes as NELFUND continues to address challenges involving upkeep payments. In January 2026, the Fund identified N927.98 million in unpaid allowances owed to 11,685 students because of failed transactions, network problems and unvalidated bank details. Despite these challenges, the Federal Government continues to position the student loan programme as a way to make tertiary education more accessible.
For nursing and midwifery students, the sharp increase in funding could provide greater access to professional education while helping Nigeria expand the healthcare workforce needed to meet growing demand.
