The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed over N1.08 billion to support the education of 5,381 student nurses and midwives across 21 Federal and state institutions.

The Fund disclosed this in a statement on Saturday, signed by the Fund’s Director, Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi. The agency said the intervention was aimed at strengthening access to professional training and supporting the development of Nigeria’s future healthcare workforce.

According to NELFUND, funding for nursing and midwifery education has increased almost 14 fold over three academic sessions, rising from N59.4 million in 2023/2024 to N205.8 million in 2024/2025 and N811.9 million in 2025/2026.

The statement explained that the beneficiaries are students in nursing institutions across the country, including Oyo State College of Nursing, Shehu Sule College of Nursing, Lagos State College of Nursing, Ogun State College of Nursing, Katsina State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Kebbi State College of Nursing, Cross River State Colleges of Nursing and institutions in Bauchi, Anambra, Kaduna, Taraba, Zamfara and the Federal Capital Territory.

Speaking on the intervention, NELFUND Managing Director and Chief Executive, Akintunde Sawyerr, said the Fund was investing in the human capital required to move the country forward.

“NELFUND is not simply providing financial assistance to students; we are investing in the human capital that Nigeria needs to move forward,” he said.

Sawyerr said the increase in support for nursing and midwifery education from N59.4 million to N811.9 million in three academic sessions showed what was possible when financial barriers were removed for young Nigerians seeking professional training.

He added that the Fund was particularly encouraged by the number of young women benefiting from the intervention, noting that nursing and midwifery were among Nigeria’s most female dominated health professions.

According to him, supporting their education would provide them with opportunities for professional advancement, economic independence and meaningful participation in the country’s healthcare system.

The Executive Director, Operations, Mustapha Iyal, said NELFUND remained focused on ensuring the seamless and timely delivery of support to eligible students.

“Our focus remains on ensuring the seamless and timely delivery of support to eligible students, so that more young Nigerians can obtain the skills and qualifications the country needs,” he said.

The agency said the intervention was part of its broader mandate to ensure that financial circumstances did not prevent eligible Nigerians from accessing and completing higher education.