The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced plans to launch a centralised job portal by 2026 aimed at connecting student loan beneficiaries with employment opportunities within and outside Nigeria.
Speaking during a media briefing in Abuja to mark one year since the commencement of the student loan scheme, NELFUND Managing Director, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, said the job portal is part of the agency’s efforts to support beneficiaries beyond financial aid.
“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,” he said.
According to Sawyerr, the portal will feature job listings from both public and private sector employers, as well as international organisations seeking to recruit Nigerian graduates. He noted, however, that NELFUND will not guarantee employment but will serve as a bridge between job seekers and opportunities.
He further clarified that loan repayment will only begin after a beneficiary has completed the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) and secured gainful employment.
“If you don’t have a job, you don’t pay. And when you eventually get a job, your repayment starts fresh,” he stated.
Sawyerr added that 10 percent of a beneficiary’s monthly income will be automatically deducted by their employer and remitted to NELFUND, following verification via the agency’s employment register.
The proposed job portal is expected to enhance the long-term success of the student loan scheme and align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to create more employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
