Students of Yobe State University (YSU) have taken to social media to celebrate after receiving their NELFUND monthly upkeep allowances, with videos showing jubilant scenes as beneficiaries confirmed receipt of backlog payments covering May, June and July. The celebrations quickly went viral, drawing reactions from students across Nigeria who are still awaiting their own disbursements.
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) recently resumed the payment of delayed upkeep allowances after weeks of complaints from beneficiaries. According to the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), the agency began processing June and July payments in batches, assuring students that all outstanding backlogs would be cleared.
At Yobe State University, many beneficiaries received three months’ upkeep payments at once, prompting celebrations across campus. Videos shared online showed students cheering, dancing and thanking the Federal Government for the intervention, with many saying the money would help cover transportation, feeding and other living expenses.
The university’s Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Sani Isa, confirmed that most eligible students had received their allowances. He explained that a small number of students who did not receive the upkeep component had failed to complete the required registration step during their application, though their tuition payments remained intact.
NELFUND pays approved students in two parts: tuition fees are sent directly to institutions, while a ₦20,000 monthly upkeep allowance is paid into beneficiaries’ personal bank accounts. The scheme has expanded rapidly since its launch, with more public tertiary institutions joining the program and thousands of students now benefiting nationwide.
The viral celebration has also sparked fresh calls from students in other universities urging NELFUND to speed up payments to their schools. NANS has maintained that disbursements are ongoing in batches and encouraged beneficiaries who are yet to receive alerts to remain patient as processing continues.
