NIMC, NELFUND, others sign MoU on biometric-enabled cards for students

The National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and a Data Mining Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate seamless access to education loans for students through biometric-enabled cards.
The MoU was signed at NELFUND’s headquarters in Abuja by the Director General of NIMC, Abisoye Coker-Odusote; the Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyer; and the Managing Director of the Data Mining Company, Femi Akande.
Sawyer described the MoU as a significant step forward in promoting financial inclusion, transparency, and accountability in the deployment of the Government to People Service Card (G2PS-card). He emphasized that the agreement would provide Nigerian students with easy access to loans via multiple wallets, made possible by the biometric-enabled cards issued by NIMC.
Sawyer also commended President Bola Tinubu for introducing socio-economic programs aimed at transforming the experience for Nigerian students, asserting that the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda would have a lasting, positive impact on them.
In her remarks, Coker-Odusote highlighted that the biometric-enabled cards are part of NIMC’s efforts to drive digital and financial inclusion, ensuring that every beneficiary of government services, including education loans, has a verifiable identity.
She further explained that the cards offer multiple wallets for students and can be used both online and offline to access loans and other services. The cards will also enable the tracking of loan disbursements, ensuring funds are used appropriately, thus promoting transparency, accountability, and reducing bureaucratic obstacles.
“The biometric-enabled cards is unique in promoting digital and financial inclusion because of the layers of features in them. They cannot be forged or faked.
“They have features that make cash available in students wallets..the students can easily access their allowances, buy books and make transfers without waiting for banks. The cards operate online and offline”, Coker-Odusote said.