Comr. Asefon Sunday Dayo ,the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement has said that no reasonable or responsible political actor would criticize the introduction of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund).
Responding to the statement credited the former Labour Party Presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi ,the President aide said” NELFund is not a wasteful venture, but a strategic investment in human capital development, deliberately designed to provide unflinching access to tertiary education for Nigerian students, irrespective of socio-economic background.
According to him ,NELFund had emerged as one of the most popular and impactful government initiatives, with direct, measurable impact on Nigerian youths and the student community.
Asefon described the Obi’s remarks as deeply unfortunate and one does not reflect the realities on ground nor the aspirations of millions of Nigerian youths who depend on access to tertiary education for national progress.
Outlining the gains of NElfund,Asefon said it had reduced
youth unemployment and desperation,, decline in crime rates linked to school dropouts, promotion of social inclusion and equal opportunity and strengthening of Nigeria’s future workforce and leadership pipeline
“No reasonable or responsible political actor should dismiss an intervention that is transforming lives at this scale.
Beyond access to education, NELFund delivers far-reaching social benefits, including:
“Education remains the strongest foundation for sustainable development, social stability, and economic growth.
It takes a visionary leader like His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who clearly understands the critical role of education funding as the only guaranteed pathway to quality and inclusive education, to initiate and sustain an intervention of this magnitude.
“Policies of this nature are not driven by politics but by foresight, compassion, and national interest.
“It is therefore unbecoming of the status of His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, for such a sweeping condemnation to be made against an initiative that has directly benefited over 940,000 Nigerian students across 218 tertiary institutions nationwide, covering both tuition fees and student upkeep.
“As at today, Wednesday, 28th January 2026, the total amount disbursed under the NELFund scheme exceeds ₦174.5 billion, with billions more set to be accessed by eligible Nigerian students who meet the required criteria.
“Regardless of political affiliations or interests, NELFund is a national asset that should be supported by all patriots.
It is a policy that deserves national applause, not political dismissal. We therefore urge His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi, to refrain from making disparaging comments on mass-oriented and people-centered policies that are clearly delivering hope and opportunity to millions of Nigerian families.”