The UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) has taken a major step to reduce the financial pressure faced by Nigerian students who want to study abroad, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the United Kingdom Global University Application Portal (UAPP) in Abuja on Wednesday.
The agreement focuses on the creation of an educational financing facility designed to provide structured financial support for qualified Nigerian students seeking higher education outside the country. The initiative aims to close funding gaps that often stop talented students from accessing global academic opportunities.
According to the parties, the pilot phase of the programme will benefit students of Police Secondary Schools across Nigeria. Plans are already in place to expand it to all senior secondary schools nationwide by September this year. The current application window is presently open to students in SS1 through SS3 in Police Secondary Schools.
Speaking at the event, the President of UNESCO REF, Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, said the collaboration was structured to complement existing student financing programmes in the country. He explained that while the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) focuses mainly on students studying within Nigeria, the new financing facility is specifically designed to remove monetary barriers for students who secure admission into overseas institutions.
He disclosed that the programme maintains partnerships with more than 250 universities worldwide, creating a wide range of academic pathways for beneficiaries. According to him, the intervention aligns with broader educational strategic priorities and national development objectives aimed at expanding access to quality learning.
Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan added that eligibility cuts across all levels of study, including undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral candidates, regardless of the institution or country of choice. He announced that the admission application costs for the first 40 students from Police Secondary Schools selected under the scheme would be fully sponsored.
He further stated that the rollout of the programme would begin immediately, with designated financial partners responsible for managing payment arrangements to ensure proper structure and accountability.
In her remarks, the wife of the Inspector General of Police and President of the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun, described the initiative as a transformative opportunity. She said it aligns with ongoing efforts to expand educational access for children of police personnel and other Nigerian youths.
Dr. Egbetokun stressed that access to global education should not depend solely on financial strength. She noted that the financing facility would enable brilliant students to compete internationally without being limited by funding challenges.
She commended the partnership for introducing a transparent and structured funding pathway that combines guidance, application support, and financial solutions under one umbrella. She urged eligible students and their parents to take advantage of the opportunity.
“I am especially delighted that this initiative will be piloted in the Police Secondary Schools, institutions that have nurtured generations of young Nigerians. From this pilot, the programme will spread to other schools and institutions across the country, ensuring that no child is left behind in the pursuit of higher education and global opportunities,” she said.
“This MOU embodies transparency, accountability, and innovation. It is a partnership that gives confidence to parents, trust to society, and hope to our children. It is a practical demonstration of how the Renewed Hope Agenda can be translated into tangible outcomes for Nigerian families,” she added.
Also speaking, the Global Director of Business Development at UAPP, Alan Bahia, explained that the partnership is designed to simplify and secure the university application process while providing comprehensive, end-to-end support for Nigerian students.
He said the pilot phase includes application fee waivers, mentorship support, and priority processing for the first 1,000 students. According to him, these measures are aimed at lowering entry barriers and encouraging more young Nigerians to pursue international education opportunities.
Bahia reiterated the organisation’s commitment to transparency and measurable outcomes. He added that the long-term goal is to expand the programme across the country, creating wider access to global academic opportunities for Nigerian students.
