The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement, Hon. Comr. Asefon Sunday Dayo, has issued an official statement countering recent remarks credited to former presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, describing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as wasteful.
In the statement written with his offical letterhead, Asefon described the comment as “deeply unfortunate” and stressed that it 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.
According to the statement:
“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.”
The statement further emphasized the role of education in national development, noting that:
“Education remains the strongest foundation for sustainable development, social stability, and economic growth.”
Asefon credited the initiative to the foresight of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, stating:
“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.”
He added that policies of such scale should not be viewed through a political lens, noting that:
“Policies of this nature are not driven by politics but by foresight, compassion, and national interest.”
Reacting directly to the alleged criticism by Mr. Obi, the statement read:
“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.”
Providing data on the scheme’s impact, Asefon stated:
“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.”
He warned against dismissing the programme, adding:
“No reasonable or responsible political actor should dismiss an intervention that is transforming lives at this scale.”
The statement further highlighted the broader social benefits of NELFUND, including:
“Reduction in youth unemployment and desperation; significant decline in crime rates linked to school dropouts; promotion of social inclusion and equal opportunity; strengthening of Nigeria’s future workforce and leadership pipeline.”
Describing the scheme as one of the most impactful government initiatives, Asefon noted:
“NELFUND has emerged as one of the most popular and impactful government initiatives, with direct, measurable impact on Nigerian youths and the student community.”
He concluded by urging restraint in public commentary on the initiative, stating:
“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.”
The statement reaffirmed bipartisan support for the scheme, adding:
“Regardless of political affiliations or interests, NELFUND is a national asset that should be supported by all patriots.”
The statement was officially signed by Hon. Comr. Asefon Sunday Dayo, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Student Engagement.
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