Victoria Mbangwa
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has expanded its reach to specialized institutions, disbursing ₦6.97 million to 10 students of the African Aviation and Aerospace University (AAAU) in Abuja.
The intervention, confirmed by the university on Monday, July 21, 2025, marks a significant boost for students pursuing careers in the highly technical aviation and aerospace sector.
“We deeply appreciate this timely intervention, which will significantly ease the financial burdens of our beneficiaries and enhance their ability to focus on their academic pursuit,” AAAU’s Registrar, Mustapha Abdul, said in a statement.
Established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act signed by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024, NELFUND aims to ensure that no qualified Nigerian is denied access to higher education due to financial constraints.
So far, the Federal Government has disbursed over ₦59 billion through the Fund, with more than 600,000 students already onboarded nationwide. At a recent briefing in Asaba, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu, reaffirmed that the initiative is central to government’s vision of equitable access to education.
For the aviation university, the disbursement represents more than just financial relief. It underscores the government’s recognition of the importance of training young Nigerians in critical fields like aviation and aerospace industries vital to the country’s technological advancement and global competitiveness.
