The Hope Alive Initiative, a pro governance group, has praised the Tinubu administration for its education sector interventions, citing the operationalisation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund and the release of N2 billion to each federal university for hostel development as defining achievements.

The Hope Alive Initiative, in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Press and Communications, Ernest Omoarelojie, described the two initiatives as part of a deliberate strategy to empower students, strengthen institutions and position education as a foundation for national development.

The group noted that NELFUND, which provides interest free loans to students in tertiary institutions, addresses a long standing barrier to higher education access. "For decades, access to higher education has been hindered by financial constraints, leaving countless talented youths unable to pursue their dreams, but today, NELFUND directly addresses this challenge by ensuring that no student is denied education due to lack of funds," the statement reads.

The initiative further described the scheme as going beyond tuition financing. "The scheme is not just about financing tuition; it is about democratizing opportunity. By removing the financial barriers, NELFUND empowers students from diverse backgrounds to acquire knowledge, skills, and competencies that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the economy," it stated.

On the hostel intervention, the group welcomed the federal government's decision to release N2 billion to each federal university across the country for the construction of 500 bed hostel facilities per institution. "This intervention is a game changer for thousands of students who have had to grapple with poor and dilapidated hostel infrastructure," the statement added.

The Hope Alive Initiative also called on university management teams to expedite the refund of school fees to students who made payments before receiving support under the student loan scheme.

The group urged Nigerians to support the administration's efforts, describing the interventions as setting a new benchmark in educational reform.