By Matthew Johnson
The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Turkish Zone, has urged the Senate to extend the Nigeria Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, to eligible Nigerian students studying in accredited institutions outside the country.
NANS made the demand during an engagement with the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro.
President of The National Association of Nigerian Students , NANS, Turkish Zone, Daniel Okpala, who led the delegation, said the meeting focused on the welfare, educational financing and representation of Nigerian students in the diaspora, particularly those studying in Turkey and Northern Cyprus.
In a release on Tuesday, Okpala said the growing number of Nigerians pursuing higher education abroad required corresponding attention from the government in its education financing policies.
He said Nigerian students studying abroad faced significant financial pressures arising from tuition fees, accommodation costs, exchange-rate fluctuations and other educational expenses.
According to him, students should not be denied access to government-backed educational support simply because they are studying outside Nigeria.
The statement read: “ NANS, called for a review of the existing NELFUND framework to accommodate qualified Nigerians enrolled in accredited foreign institutions.
NANS appealed for stronger diplomatic support to address welfare, administrative and other challenges confronting Nigerian students in the Turkish Zone and the wider diaspora.
The students also drew attention to the impact of the depreciation of the naira on families funding education abroad, noting that exchange-rate pressures had substantially increased the cost of tuition, accommodation and other necessities.
It described the proposed expansion as a significant step towards widening access to education and reducing the financial burden on Nigerian students and their families.
The NANS leadership pledged to sustain engagement with lawmakers and relevant government institutions on policies affecting the education, welfare and representation of Nigerian students abroad.
The delegation further raised concerns over the level of engagement between Nigerian diplomatic missions and student communities in countries with large Nigerian populations.
They argued that Nigerian students abroad remained an important component of the country’s human-capital development and should, therefore, be captured in policies aimed at strengthening access to education.
The delegation said the realities facing students overseas should be reflected in national education policies, especially as increasing numbers of Nigerians seek higher education opportunities in foreign universities.
It expressed optimism that the proposed NELFUND expansion would receive legislative consideration and eventually provide a framework for supporting eligible Nigerians studying in accredited institutions outside the country.
NELFUND was established under the Student Loans ,Access to Higher Education, Repeal and Re-enactment Act, 2024, to provide loans to eligible Nigerians for higher education, vocational training and skills acquisition.” The statement said
The association urged the Senate to consider an appropriate legislative framework that would enable eligible Nigerian students abroad to benefit from the scheme.
Yaro, according to the statement, expressed willingness to examine the proposal and explore the appropriate legislative process for broadening the reach of NELFUND.
He acknowledged the need to ensure adequate representation of Nigerians in the diaspora in national policy and legislative discussions.