NELFUND to Launch National Job Portal by 2026 to Support Student Loan Beneficiaries
NELFUND to Launch National Job Portal by 2026 to Support Student Loan Beneficiaries
In a bold move to bridge the gap between education and employment, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to launch a centralised job portal by 2026. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance the impact of the student loan programme and help graduates transition more smoothly into the workforce.
The announcement was made by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, during a press briefing held in Abuja to commemorate the first anniversary of the student loan scheme.
According to Sawyerr, the planned job portal will serve as a dedicated employment hub for student loan beneficiaries—connecting them with job opportunities across Nigeria and even internationally.
“We don’t just give a loan and leave students on their own,” Sawyerr said. “This job portal is our way of supporting their journey towards economic stability.”
While the agency doesn’t guarantee employment, the portal is expected to aggregate job listings from both the public and private sectors, as well as multinational organisations seeking skilled Nigerian talent.
Sawyerr also addressed growing concerns about repayment, reassuring graduates that the system is designed with fairness and flexibility in mind.
“Repayment only begins after NYSC and when you secure gainful employment. If you don’t have a job, you don’t pay,” he stated. “And when you eventually get a job, your repayment starts fresh.”
He further explained that once employed, 10% of a beneficiary’s monthly salary will be automatically deducted and remitted to NELFUND through a verification process tied to the agency’s employment registry. This ensures transparency and helps reduce default rates.
The proposed job portal is seen as a critical step in aligning education financing with national employment goals. Analysts say it could also boost graduate employability and reduce youth unemployment, which remains a pressing issue in Nigeria.
As the countdown to 2026 begins, stakeholders are watching closely to see how this digital platform could redefine post-graduation support in Nigeria’s higher education system.