{
  "id": 2122936,
  "title": "Your children may be collecting NELFUND without telling you – Oyedele",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/your-children-may-be-collecting-nelfund-without-telling-you-oyedele-2122936",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-20T11:38:50.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/your-children-may-be-collecting-nelfund-without-telling-you-oyedele/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Minister of Finance, Taiwo Oyedele, has raised concerns that some students might be receiving funding from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) without their parents' awareness. Oyedele made this statement during a media briefing in Abuja, responding to a question from a member of the audience who claimed that his three children attending school had not received any NELFUND funding and were unaware of any of their friends who had received the financial support.\n\nAt the briefing, Oyedele urged the journalist to ask his children if they had applied for the scheme and to request proof of their applications. He emphasized that the possibility exists that they have indeed received the money. The minister also suggested that the children should be honest with their parents about their financial circumstances.\n\nOyedele further stated that the journalist could assist the children in applying for the scheme if they had not done so already. He added that the NELFUND also provides more than just tuition support, offering interest-free monthly stipends to recipients in a high-inflationary environment. The scheme covers up to N1.5 million, and Oyedele encouraged parents who were unsure about the process to help their children apply.\n\nThe minister also mentioned that the uptake of NELFUND support is higher in the northern part of the country compared to the southern region. He suggested that this could be because people in the north are more willing to seek government assistance due to a general sense of distrust in the government. Oyedele also recounted his own experience of supporting indigent students through a personal foundation, noting that many beneficiaries continued to seek help even after he directed them to apply for available support, as they had received alerts about the scheme.",
  "summary": "Finance Minister Oyedele suggests some students may be receiving NELFUND loans without informing their parents. Learn how to check and apply for the Nigeri Read More: https://punchng.com/your-children-may-be-collecting-nelfund-without-telling-you-oyedele/",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Your children may be collecting NELFUND without telling you – Oyedele",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/your-children-may-be-collecting-nelfund-without-telling-you-oyedele",
        "published": "2026-08-20T11:30:50.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}