APC Hails NELFUND’s Expansion of Student Loan Scheme To Vocational Institutions
The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for extending its student loan scheme to vocational and technical training institutions, describing the move as a major milestone in Nigeria’s drive toward skills development and economic growth.
In a statement issued on Monday by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the party described the expansion as a “bold and visionary” decision that would close long-standing gaps in the nation’s education and workforce development framework.
Oladejo noted that for decades, millions of young Nigerians pursuing technical and vocational skills in areas such as engineering trades, digital technology, construction, creative industries, agriculture, and manufacturing had been excluded from structured financial support systems. He said the new policy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises competence and practical skills alongside formal academic qualifications.
“With this expansion, no Nigerian youth will be denied opportunity because of financial barriers. Skill is finally taking its rightful place beside formal academics,” the statement said.
The APC spokesman added that NELFUND’s decision represents a direct investment in the “productive energy of the youth,” which he described as the engine of Lagos and the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economic future. According to him, the initiative will boost job creation, deepen innovation, reduce unemployment, and expand the country’s skilled workforce.
Oladejo contrasted the development with what he described as “empty rhetoric” from opposition parties, stating that while critics “organise conventions that resemble final funeral rites,” the APC-led administration continues to implement strategic reforms that strengthen the nation’s economic foundation.
He urged young people, particularly in Lagos, to take full advantage of the expanded loan scheme, saying the state’s tech hubs, creative districts, industrial clusters and MSME corridors stand to benefit tremendously from a more skilled and well-equipped workforce.
The Lagos APC also commended NELFUND’s management for “rising above the limitations of the past” to deliver a policy that serves the broader population rather than a privileged minority, describing the initiative as “Renewed Hope in motion.”
Reaffirming the party’s commitment to President Tinubu’s development agenda, the statement emphasized the APC’s vision of a Nigeria where youth empowerment and expanded opportunity remain central to governance.
