By Remilekun Enitan Oyelowo
Team 60/60 Media Campaign for Asiwaju
Across Nigeria today, debates continue over what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has achieved since assuming office. While his administration’s projects, policies and interventions are visible in different parts of the country, the demands of daily life mean that some Nigerians may not have had the opportunity to witness or fully understand the impact of these initiatives firsthand.
This is the motivation behind the _60 Days, 60 Stories: Taking Asiwaju’s Achievements to the Grassroots_ campaign, an initiative of Team 60/60 Media Campaign for Asiwaju designed to bring the stories of government policies, projects and interventions closer to Nigerians through television, digital and print media.
On Day Two, the campaign focuses on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a student loan initiative introduced under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to help eligible students access higher education despite financial challenges.
As part of the campaign, our team visited some states to interview NELFUND beneficiaries and hear directly from students about their experiences, the challenges they faced before receiving support, and how the intervention has influenced their educational journeys.
*A Graduate’s Story Of Struggle, Hope And Opportunity*
Among the accounts gathered was the emotional testimony of a student who graduated this year. Recounting his experience, he disclosed that he was an orphan who struggled to survive while pursuing his education, with little hope of completing his studies.
According to him, there were periods when his financial situation became so difficult that he depended on friends for food and handouts simply to get by. The struggle became overwhelming, and he was already contemplating dropping out of school when the NELFUND programme came into the picture.
His story offers a glimpse into the difficulties some students encounter while trying to obtain a university education, particularly when they lack the financial support needed to meet essential expenses.
For a student standing at the edge of abandoning his academic dreams, access to financial assistance can represent an opportunity to continue the journey towards graduation rather than allow financial hardship to determine his future.
The graduate commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the intervention, expressing appreciation for a programme designed to ease some of the financial pressures facing eligible students in tertiary institutions.
His experience adds a human dimension to the national conversation about access to higher education. Beyond policy announcements and public discussions, stories such as his help Nigerians understand why financial assistance can matter to students striving to complete their education against difficult odds.
Other beneficiaries interviewed by the team also commended the President for introducing the initiative, sharing their experiences and perspectives on the importance of financial support in helping students pursue their educational goals.
*Taking The Beneficiaries’ Voices To Nigerians*
The full video interviews will be broadcast across all our media partners’ platforms and Team 60/60 Media Campaign for Asiwaju’s media platforms, bringing the beneficiaries’ voices and personal experiences directly to Nigerians.
NELFUND provides eligible students with interest-free loans to support institutional fees and approved upkeep expenses, subject to the programme’s guidelines. The initiative is intended to reduce financial barriers to higher education and help students remain in school when meeting educational costs becomes difficult.
Students and parents seeking official information about eligibility, applications and programme requirements can visit the NELFUND website at https://nelf.gov.ng/.
Through Day Two of this campaign, Team 60/60 Media Campaign for Asiwaju highlights not only the policy itself but also the human stories behind it. Beyond official announcements and public debates, the experiences of beneficiaries provide an opportunity for Nigerians to hear directly from those who have accessed the programme.
As the 60-day campaign continues, Team 60/60 Media Campaign for Asiwaju will spotlight more policies, projects and interventions, and the Nigerians whose lives they are touching.
