The federal government has announced that no fewer than 396,000 students have benefited from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) tuition loans under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The disclosure was made on Friday in Lokoja during a town hall meeting held to highlight the key achievements of President Tinubu’s administration in the last two years, with special focus on Kogi State.
In his presentation, the guest speaker, Lawal Shuaibu, who represented the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the federal government’s initiatives have positively impacted the lives of Nigerians, especially students.
“One notable achievement is the NELFUND tuition loan scheme, which has benefited over 396,000 students as of August 7, 2025. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to ensure they complete their education and have a secure future,” Shuaibu said.
He added that the Kogi government had attracted investments worth over N900 billion, with 7,800 hectares of land cleared for farming.
On industrialisation, he revealed that the government had commenced the construction of five mini-LNG plants in Ajaokuta, valued at over $500 million. “This project is expected to create job opportunities, provide energy for many states, and position Nigeria as a key player in the global energy market,” he stated.
Shuaibu further said the state government had rolled out plans to train 25,000 youths to take the lead in mineral exploration and contribute to the state’s economic growth.
Earlier, the Head of the Federal Information Centre in Lokoja, Sabina Abalaka, explained that the programme was designed to sensitise the public on the federal government’s achievements.
She said the Tinubu administration had taken bold steps to address economic challenges, including the removal of fuel subsidy, to set Nigeria on a path of sustainable growth. “Despite initial hardships, the government’s decisions are expected to positively impact economic growth and national development,” Abalaka said.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Kogi governor, Ismaila Isah, also spoke on the administration’s achievements in agriculture and housing. He said the president had implemented the Renewed Hope Agricultural Mechanisation Programme (RHAMP) with the commissioning of 2,000 tractors and 9,022 specialised implements.
“This is the largest single mechanisation drive in Nigeria’s history. The programme has also led to the cultivation of over 55,000 hectares of land and created 60,000 jobs,” Isah said.
He added that in Kogi State, Governor Ahmed Ododo had distributed fertilisers to 30,000 farmers and initiated a tractor refurbishment programme, saving the state N20 billion.
Isah noted that the government had also allocated 100 hectares of land to the Federal Housing Authority for the construction of a 1,000-unit housing estate under the Renewed Hope Housing Project. Represented by Oyiza Bello-Salami, he reiterated the state government’s commitment to supporting the president’s reforms and development programmes.
“Governor Ahmed Ododo praised the president’s visionary leadership and bold policies, which had started to yield positive results. The state government is working to implement programmes that align with the federal government’s agenda, including the creation of a Ministry of Livestock Development,” he said.
The Maigari of Lokoja, Ibrahim Gambo, also commended the president for reforms that have positively impacted the lives of citizens. Represented by the Matawale of Lokoja, Ademu Muhammed, he hailed the NELFUND initiative, noting that it had relieved the burden of school fees and upkeep for students and parents.
He called for the extension of the initiative’s benefits to the grassroots and appreciated the government’s efforts in improving Nigeria’s foreign reserves.