The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to unveil a centralized job portal by 2026 aimed at connecting student loan beneficiaries with employment opportunities both locally and internationally.
The initiative, according to NELFUND, is designed to boost the effectiveness of the student loan scheme by helping graduates transition smoothly into the workforce and achieve financial independence.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja to mark the one-year anniversary of the student loan scheme, NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, explained that while the agency does not guarantee employment, the upcoming job portal will serve as a crucial support system for graduates entering the labour market.
“We don’t just give a loan and leave students on their own. This job portal is our way of supporting their journey towards economic stability,” Sawyerr said.
He added that the platform will feature job listings from both public and private sector employers, as well as international organizations seeking to recruit Nigerian talent.
Sawyerr also clarified that loan repayment will only begin once beneficiaries secure employment and have completed their National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) obligations.
“If you don’t have a job, you don’t pay. And when you eventually get a job, your repayment starts fresh,” he emphasized.
Upon employment, 10 per cent of a beneficiary’s monthly income will be automatically deducted by their employer and remitted to NELFUND after verification through the agency’s employment register.
The move is seen as a step forward in ensuring that Nigeria’s student loan recipients are not only educated but also empowered to succeed in the job market.
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