The Nigerian Education Loan Fund has reported more than ₦1.08 billion in support for 5,381 nursing and midwifery students across 21 institutions. The figures stand out because they connect education finance directly with a workforce shortage that affects the health system.
NELFUND said annual support increased from ₦59.4 million in 2023/2024 to ₦205.8 million in 2024/2025 and ₦811.9 million in 2025/2026.
Why nursing finance matters
Professional training can be expensive, and students who cannot meet fees may delay or abandon their education. Supporting nursing and midwifery students therefore has a potential multiplier effect: funding education today can expand the healthcare workforce tomorrow.
The next test is coverage. Thousands of beneficiaries represent meaningful progress, but Nigeria has a much larger population of students and a broad need for trained health professionals.
There is also a need for transparency around eligibility, payment timing and institutional participation. Students should be able to understand the process without navigating unnecessary uncertainty.
Education financing works best when it is predictable, transparent and tied to real labour-market needs. Nursing is a strong example of how targeted student support can connect social policy with economic productivity.
Sources: NELFUND statements and Nigerian media reports published September 12–14, 2026.
