The National Association of Nigerian Students, Turkish Zone, has called on the Senate to extend the Nigeria Education Loan Fund to eligible Nigerian students studying in accredited institutions outside the country.
The association made the demand during an engagement with the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Diaspora and Non-Governmental Organisations, Senator Anthony Siyako Yaro.
The students’ body said the growing number of Nigerians seeking higher education abroad had created the need for the Federal Government to review its education financing policies and ensure that students outside the country were not left out of government support.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President of NANS, Turkish Zone, Daniel Okpala, said the delegation used the meeting to draw the attention of the Senate to the welfare and financial challenges facing Nigerian students in the diaspora.
According to him, the cost of studying abroad has continued to rise, with students having to cope with high tuition fees, accommodation costs, feeding, transportation and other expenses.
He added that fluctuations in the value of the naira against major foreign currencies had made the financial burden even more difficult for many Nigerian students and their families.
“The increasing number of Nigerians pursuing higher education abroad requires corresponding attention from government in its education financing policies,” Okpala said.
The association specifically asked the Senate to review the existing NELFUND framework to allow qualified Nigerian students enrolled in accredited foreign institutions to apply for government-backed education loans.
NANS argued that students should not be denied access to educational support simply because they chose to study outside Nigeria.
“Nigerian students should not lose government-backed educational support simply because they are pursuing their studies outside the country,” the association said.
The call is coming against the background of the growing number of Nigerian students seeking education in countries across Europe, Asia, North America, Africa and other parts of the world.
Many Nigerian students have increasingly turned to foreign institutions because of factors including the search for specialised courses, international exposure, limited spaces in some programmes in Nigeria and concerns over the quality and stability of academic programmes.
However, studying abroad can place a heavy financial burden on students and their families.
Apart from tuition, students have to meet the cost of accommodation, food, health insurance, transportation, study materials and other living expenses. The depreciation of the naira has also made foreign education more expensive for Nigerian families paying costs in dollars, pounds, euros, Turkish lira and other currencies.
NANS said these challenges made it necessary for the government to consider a wider approach to education financing.
The Nigeria Education Loan Fund was established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024.
The scheme is designed to provide financial assistance to eligible Nigerians pursuing higher education, vocational training and skills acquisition.
The introduction of the student loan scheme was presented by the Federal Government as part of efforts to improve access to higher education and reduce the financial burden on students and their families.
The scheme has since attracted considerable interest from Nigerian students seeking financial assistance to continue their education.
NANS, however, said its current scope should be reviewed to take into account the needs of Nigerians studying outside the country.
The association called for the development of a legislative framework that would clearly define how eligible students in accredited foreign institutions could benefit from NELFUND.
It argued that extending the scheme would help reduce financial barriers and give more Nigerians access to educational opportunities.
The students’ body described the proposed expansion as “a significant step towards expanding educational opportunities and reducing the financial barriers faced by Nigerian students studying abroad.”
It also stressed the importance of ensuring that only students enrolled in properly accredited institutions would benefit from any expanded loan programme.
This, it said, would help protect public funds and ensure that government support was directed towards genuine educational programmes.
Responding to the proposal, Yaro expressed willingness to examine the request and explore the appropriate legislative process for broadening the reach of NELFUND.
The senator also acknowledged the need for Nigerians living and studying abroad to have stronger representation in national policy and legislative discussions.
The development could open a wider conversation about the role of the Nigerian diaspora in the country’s education and development policies.
Nigerians living abroad contribute to the economy through remittances and maintain strong social, academic and professional links with the country. Nigerian students abroad also form an important part of the country’s growing diaspora population.
NANS therefore urged lawmakers to maintain regular engagement with student communities outside the country to better understand the challenges they face.
The delegation also called for stronger cooperation between Nigerian diplomatic missions and student associations in countries with large Nigerian student populations.
According to the association, Nigerian embassies and consulates should play a more active role in supporting students, particularly during emergencies and in situations involving accommodation, immigration matters, welfare and access to relevant government information.
Stronger engagement, it said, would also allow diplomatic missions to better understand the needs of Nigerian students and communicate those needs to the Federal Government.
The students’ body maintained that education financing should be based on the needs and eligibility of students rather than simply on where they choose to study.
It said qualified Nigerians studying abroad should be given an opportunity to access government support if they meet clearly defined requirements.
The proposal, however, is likely to require careful consideration because extending a government-backed loan scheme to foreign institutions would involve issues such as accreditation, monitoring, repayment, currency differences and the enforcement of loan agreements across different countries.
The Senate would also need to determine the financial implications of such an expansion and establish safeguards to prevent abuse of the programme.
For NANS, the objective is to ensure that Nigerian students in the diaspora are included in national education policies and are not left behind as the government expands access to higher education financing.
Okpala said the association would continue to engage lawmakers, government agencies and other relevant institutions on policies affecting Nigerian students outside the country.
He said NANS remained committed to promoting the welfare of Nigerian students and ensuring that their concerns were reflected in national policy discussions.
The association also expressed hope that further discussions with the Senate and relevant government agencies would lead to concrete measures to address the financial challenges faced by students studying abroad.
As Nigeria continues to grapple with rising education costs and pressure on household incomes, the debate over student financing is expected to remain an important issue.
For Nigerian students abroad, the proposed extension of NELFUND could provide additional financial support and reduce the pressure on parents and guardians who currently bear much of the cost of overseas education.