The Alimosho Next Generation Forum (ANGF) has called on Nigerian youths, parents and guardians to take advantage of opportunities provided by the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying financial difficulties should not force young Nigerians to abandon their education.
The group made the call in a statement signed by its Convener, Michael Ibuoye, while highlighting the financial pressures confronting families seeking to keep their children in tertiary institutions.
According to the forum, the rising cost of school fees, accommodation, feeding, transportation, textbooks and other educational expenses has made it increasingly difficult for many families to sustain the education of their children.
It said NELFUND could provide financial relief to eligible students and families by helping to address some of the immediate costs associated with tertiary education.
“For many Nigerian parents, one of the greatest challenges is not the desire to educate their children, but the ability to continuously meet the financial demands of higher education,” the organisation said.
The forum argued that when parents are unable to meet education-related expenses, the consequences can extend beyond the immediate financial difficulty, potentially forcing students to suspend their studies or abandon their academic ambitions.
“A parent’s financial challenge should not automatically become a child’s educational limitation,” it said.
ANGF further said the significance of student financing goes beyond the payment of school fees, arguing that access to education can provide young Nigerians with opportunities to acquire knowledge, develop professional skills, pursue careers and participate more meaningfully in the economy.
It said the effect of keeping young people in school could extend to their families and communities, particularly where graduates go on to become professionals, entrepreneurs, employees, employers or contributors to community development.
The organisation, however, said greater awareness was needed because some students and parents who could potentially benefit from NELFUND may not have sufficient information about the programme or how to access it.
It therefore called on youth organisations, parents, community leaders, student associations, educational institutions, religious organisations and civil society groups to help disseminate verified information about the student loan scheme.
The forum’s intervention on NELFUND also took a political dimension as it acknowledged the role of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the establishment and development of the fund.
ANGF said it recognised NELFUND as part of the education interventions introduced under the Tinubu administration and pointed to figures released by the State House regarding the number of students reached and funds disbursed through the programme.
The organisation said the importance of the intervention should ultimately be considered from the perspective of individual students and families facing financial pressure.
“Every student who gets the opportunity to remain in school represents a family with greater hope and a young Nigerian with another opportunity to build a better future,” the forum said.
The statement subsequently moved from its assessment of the education programme to an explicit political declaration.
“As a youth-focused organisation committed to education, empowerment and the future of the next generation, Alimosho Next Generation Forum (ANGF) hereby declares its support for the re-election of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for a second term in the 2027 presidential election,” the group stated.
The declaration places the forum’s discussion of NELFUND alongside its position on the 2027 presidential election, making the student-loan programme a central part of the organisation’s stated justification for supporting the President.
ANGF also urged young Nigerians to remain informed about government programmes, participate actively in democratic processes and engage constructively with issues affecting the country.
The forum said its position was consistent with what it described as its commitment to education, youth empowerment and opportunities for the next generation.
It concluded by urging parents not to allow immediate financial difficulties to determine the educational future of their children, while encouraging eligible young Nigerians to seek accurate information about available education-financing opportunities.
The statement was signed by Michael Ibuoye, Convener, Alimosho Next Generation Forum.
“The next generation starts now,” the organisation said.