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Abstract

This article examines the introduction of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) under the Student Loan Act It raises questions about the promises of the scheme in enabling participative (in)equity in Higher Education (HE) and the potential risks that await the future of the policy if not properly implemented and equitably administered.

By evaluating the promises and pitfalls of NELFUND, this article contributes to the ongoing discourse on educational financing and access in Nigeria and the broader implications of neoliberal approaches to HE in developing countries.

Introduction

In May , the Nigerian government introduced the long-awaited Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) under the Student Loan (Access to Higher Education) Act , a measure billed as a game changer in increasing access to HE.

This Act places Nigeria into the larger worldwide trend of neoliberalising HE — a tendency that shifts HE from a public good to a market-driven commodity. While the gove