ABUJA, Nigeria, 18 February 2026. The Educational Financial Facility Scheme (EFFS), a flagship initiative of the Read and Earn Federation for UNESCO (UNESCO REF), under the leadership of its President, Prince Abdulsalami Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, is designed to complement the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). The scheme expands access to accredited international higher education, strengthens Nigeria’s human capital, and aligns with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

NELFUND, established under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, 2024, had disbursed N242.4 billion to more than 1.38 million students across 288 Nigerian tertiary institutions by April 2026. EFFS builds on that national foundation by opening a structured, governed pathway to accredited international credentials, so that no talented Nigerian is held back by financial barriers.

Commissioned on 18 February 2026, the scheme has, according to UNESCO REF, already supported more than 6,850 beneficiaries across professional, undergraduate, Master’s and doctoral programmes. The Global University Application Portal (UAPP) participates as a strategic partner, and the scheme remains open to other credible institutions and stakeholders.

Why it matters

Les enjeux

Demand for international education among young Nigerians has never been higher. UNESCO data show the number of Nigerian students abroad nearly doubled, from 71,753 in 2020 to about 142,000 in 2023, across 21 major study destinations. For most families, cost remains the decisive barrier.

The stakes are national. Nigeria scored 0.36 on the World Bank’s Human Capital Index in 2020, meaning a child born in Nigeria could expect to reach only about a third of their full productive potential by age 18. Structured, accountable financing for higher education is one of the most direct levers for closing that gap.

Voices of commitment

Des voix engagées

How the scheme works

Le fonctionnement du dispositif

EFFS supports tuition through two routes. Online study is supported by a tuition scholarship of 86 per cent, or 75 per cent for Professional Programmes. In-person study abroad is supported by a tuition loan. Both routes cover tuition only.

Implementation proceeds in four phases:

1. Pilot phase. Initial implementation in Police Schools in Nigeria.
2. National rollout. Phased expansion across Nigeria, aligned with NELFUND.
3. Continental scaling. Integration into the African Union’s Agenda 2063 youth empowerment frameworks.
4. Global partnerships. Alignment with UNESCO’s Education 2030 agenda and the World Bank’s Human Capital Project.

The scheme commits to five impact measures:

• Access. 60,000 youth beneficiaries in the first phase.
• Equity. A minimum of 50 per cent participation by young women.
• Employability. Pre-departure modules linked to job readiness and entrepreneurship.
• Accountability. Independent audits, grievance mechanisms and transparent reporting.
• Sustainability. Integration with national and continental financing frameworks.

A governed model for education financing

Un modèle de financement de l’éducation fondé sur la gouvernance

The EFFS is a professionally governed, student-centred response to the needs of Nigerian families seeking international education. It complements NELFUND, advances Agenda 2063 and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals. With UNESCO REF providing oversight, Lichfield managing administration and pre-departure training, UAPP participating as a strategic partner and private partners supplying loan products, the scheme offers a model for equitable, transparent and sustainable education financing.

Applicants, families and prospective partners can learn more at effs.unesco-ref.org. The UNESCO REF Chartered Institute, Lichfield, is the official administrative contact point for enquiries and programme information.

ENDS