NELFUND Increases Funding for Nursing and Midwifery Students

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has expanded its financial support for students studying nursing and midwifery across Nigeria, with thousands of students in federal and state institutions benefiting from the scheme.

NELFUND has disbursed more than ₦1.08 billion to 5,381 nursing and midwifery students across 21 institutions, according to figures released by the Fund.

The funding has increased significantly over the last three academic sessions. NELFUND recorded ₦59.4 million in funding for nursing and midwifery students in the 2023/2024 academic session. This rose to ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and reached ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.

The latest figure represents a major increase in the amount of financial support going to students in these professional healthcare programmes.

Beneficiaries are enrolled in institutions across different parts of the country, including nursing and midwifery institutions in Oyo, Lagos, Ogun, Katsina, Kebbi, Cross River, Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.

NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the funding is intended to reduce the financial barriers faced by students pursuing professional healthcare training.

He said the increased support reflects the Fund’s effort to invest in the human capital needed by the country.

NELFUND Executive Director, Operations, Mustapha Iyal, said the Fund was also focused on ensuring that eligible students receive financial support in a timely manner.

The intervention forms part of NELFUND’s broader student financing programme, which is designed to help eligible Nigerians access and continue their higher education despite financial difficulties.

For nursing and midwifery students, the figures show that NELFUND’s support for their programmes has grown considerably since the 2023/2024 academic session.

However, the ₦1.08 billion is the total amount disbursed to the reported beneficiaries. It is not a fixed payment that every nursing or midwifery student is automatically entitled to receive.

Students who want to benefit from NELFUND support should check the current eligibility requirements and application information provided by NELFUND and their respective institutions.