The UNESCO Read and Earn Federation (UNESCO REF) and the United Kingdom Global University Application Portal (UAPP) have entered into a strategic partnership aimed at providing complementary education loans and structured guidance for Nigerian students seeking higher education abroad.
The agreement, which also involves the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA), was formalised in Abuja through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding under UNESCO REF’s Strategic Intervention Programme – ALPHA (SIP–ALPHA), Categories 2 and 15.
Police Secondary Schools have been selected to lead the pilot phase of the initiative.
Speaking at the ceremony, President of UNESCO REF, Prince Abdulsalam Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan, described the partnership as a deliberate effort to convert ambition into measurable achievement. He explained that a key component of the collaboration is the creation of an Educational Financing Facility — a structured system designed to support Nigerian students pursuing international university education.
According to him, the initiative goes beyond facilitating overseas university applications by establishing the financial structure required to make global education accessible. He said the collaboration combines UNESCO REF’s strategic vision with UAPP’s international reach to remove barriers, widen access, and create a comprehensive support framework that aligns students’ aspirations with available resources.
The event, themed “Enhancing the Renewed Hope Agenda on Education in Nigeria,” highlighted education as a catalyst for national renewal, social stability, and global competitiveness.
Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan noted that financial limitations have long prevented capable students from accessing global opportunities. He stated that SIP–ALPHA is designed to ensure that no determined and qualified Nigerian student is denied international education due to lack of funding.
He also acknowledged the contributions of Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, National President of POWA and National Advocate for SIP–ALPHA, whose advocacy he said played a crucial role in actualising the partnership.
Expressing confidence in the initiative’s alignment with national policy, he said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would likely welcome the programme, as it complements the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the Federal Government’s student loan scheme designed to expand access to tertiary education financing.
He described NELFUND as a bold intervention to dismantle financial barriers and democratise higher education, adding that the new partnership reinforces that national objective.
The pilot phase will be implemented in Police Secondary Schools nationwide, which he described as institutions recognised for discipline and academic excellence. He explained that the pilot would serve as a foundation for broader nationwide expansion to guarantee inclusive access for Nigerian students.
As part of the operational framework, The Lichfield Partners and Associates LLC will manage the development of a complementary loan repayment platform for students who secure admission. The system will integrate financial literacy training, entrepreneurial education, and career guidance to ensure repayment remains structured and manageable.
Ladigbolu-Oranmiyan stressed that the programme is not solely about financing education but about equipping students with the skills and support systems necessary to thrive in international academic environments long after admission.
In her remarks, POWA President and wife of the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. Elizabeth Egbetokun, said the initiative reflects collective efforts to align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which places education at the centre of national transformation.
She expressed satisfaction that Police Secondary Schools would pioneer the initiative and noted that the programme would eventually expand to other institutions across the country to ensure inclusivity.
She also called on government institutions, private sector stakeholders, civil society groups, and community leaders to collaborate in driving the initiative forward.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of UAPP, Mr. Md Shamim, stated that the organisation would facilitate structured pathways for Nigerian students to access study opportunities in the United Kingdom, including selected bachelor’s degrees, top-up programmes, and master’s qualifications aligned with Nigeria’s workforce demands.
He added that, recognising affordability challenges, the programme includes a student loan structure offering one of the lowest interest rates in the UK, along with flexible repayment options designed to ease upfront financial pressure.
According to him, the financing model aims to reduce entry barriers while maintaining compliance with UK institutional standards.
