The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has urged the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to prioritise children of fallen military personnel in its student loan programme.
General Musa appealed on Friday, May 9, during a workshop organised by NELFUND in Abuja, which brought together heads of anti-corruption agencies, the military, paramilitary, and other government bodies.
He noted that many children of deceased service members face significant challenges in continuing their education following the loss of their primary breadwinners.
According to Musa, who was represented by Air Commodore Friday Bassey, Deputy Director of Training at Defence Headquarters, prioritising these children would encourage officers to give their best in their services to the nation.
Earlier, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, declared his agency’s avowed commitment against corruption.
The event marked the conclusion of a five-day Stakeholders’ Engagement Session, which brought together education administrators, vice-chancellors, and student union leaders to align on a common goal: establishing a student loan system that is transparent, efficient, and trusted by Nigerians.
Describing the participants as guardians of accountability, transparency, and national security, Sawyerr highlighted the need for the partnership, explaining that it would strengthen the Fund’s “internal controls by co-developing mechanisms for due diligence, applicant verification, identity protection, and fund tracking”.
“As custodians of public trust, your institutions are vital to NELFUND’s long-term credibility and sustainability. Our objectives today are threefold: to fortify the NELFUND ecosystem against fraud, manipulation, or misuse by tapping into your expertise in compliance, enforcement, and digital forensics; To strengthen our internal controls by co-developing mechanisms for due diligence, applicant verification, identity protection, and fund tracking; and to build sustainable frameworks for inter-agency collaboration, policy alignment, and joint public education on the consequences of abuse and the benefits of lawful access,” he explained.
He further said, “The Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is a core pillar in the realisation of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, an ambitious, people-centred vision to create equal opportunities for all Nigerians, particularly our youth. The launch of the student loan scheme is not just a financial intervention; it is a social contract, one that seeks to eliminate the barrier of poverty from the path of education.
“But with great vision comes great responsibility. Access without integrity breeds inefficiency. Expansion without oversight invites exploitation. That is why today’s engagement is so critical.”
He emphasised that “integrity is not merely the absence of corruption; it is the active presence of systems, partnerships, and culture that prevent malfeasance before it occurs.”
Sawyerr told the participants that over the past few months, NELFUND has made significant strides by designing a fully automated, data-driven loan application and management system and engaging with over 400 institutions, including universities and polytechnics, to harmonise data, onboard student profiles, and test end-to-end digital workflows.
“We are on track to commence disbursements within the stipulated timelines and are committed to ensuring that every step is audit-compliant and fraud-resistant.
“These milestones are not by accident; they reflect deliberate planning, deep consultation, and our unwavering resolve to execute this national assignment with excellence,” he added.
He called on his guests to commit to strong and collective collaboration to ensure that “no fraudulent actor, insider threat, or technical loophole undermines the integrity of this noble initiative.”
“As we close this week-long engagement, I am reminded that while policies may be written in government offices, their success is delivered by institutions and sustained by integrity.
He said that with their partnership, NELFUND could become a beacon of trust, a model of efficiency, and a flagship for the Renewed Hope Agenda—one where every Nigerian child, regardless of background, would be able to dream boldly and achieve greatly.
