Can NELFUND Sustain Itself?

A policy dialogue on financing Nigeria’s student loan scheme

Can Nigeria build a student loan scheme that expands access today and remains financially sustainable for the next generation? Join iRead To Live Initiative, in partnership with BudgIT, for a conversation on NELFUND’s financing, student loan recovery, and governance.

The discussion draws on iRead’s Policy Brief PB-002-2026, Can NELFUND Sustain Itself? Financing Nigeria’s Student Loan Scheme. It brings together perspectives from higher education, financial risk, fiscal transparency, and policy research to examine the brief’s findings and recommendations.

What we will discuss

• Access and sustainability: how to expand educational opportunity while building a fund that can support future students.
• Loan recovery: what a workable repayment system requires in a labour market with substantial informal employment.
• Clarity for borrowers: questions raised in the brief about interest-free public messaging and the wording of the 2024 student loan legislation.
• Financing and accountability: the balance between predictable statutory funding, discretionary transfers, and transparent oversight.
• Lessons from other countries: what Nigeria can learn from student loan systems in Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States.
• Practical next steps: near-term recommendations for policymakers, legislators, institutions, and civil society.

Host and speakers

Host: Temitope Ajijolaluwa

• Yomi Fawehinmi, Education, Human Resources and Change Management Consultant
• Prof. Isaac Obasi, Member, Advisory Council, iRead Initiative
• Jacob Sule, Executive Director, iRead Initiative
• Ibukunolu James, Research and Policy Analyst, Budgit IT
• Ajiboye Raphael, Credit Risk Management Expert

Who should attend?

Higher education policymakers and administrators; students and current or prospective NELFUND beneficiaries; legislators and legislative staff; university faculty and researchers; civil society and budget transparency organisations; and journalists covering education and public finance.

How the conversation will unfold

1. Welcome and introductions.
2. Presentation of the policy brief’s highlights by Jacob Sule.
3. Moderated panel discussion on financing, recovery, and governance.
4. Audience questions and answers.
5. Closing remarks and practical recommendations.

Register and attend

Complete the form on this page. We will email your registration confirmation with a direct Zoom meeting link. Use the link in your email to join the session at the scheduled time.

The confirmed schedule is shown above.

For enquiries, contact info@ireadtolive.org.