The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has disbursed N1.17 billion to 20,000 students across five public tertiary institutions, with plans to expand to additional institutions based on applications. Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr highlighted that the fund aims to assist undergraduate students with limited opportunities, providing loans for both institution charges and upkeep. Meanwhile, concerns about back-to-school costs are rising in Ireland, where a Barnardos survey reveals that one in five secondary school parents fears needing loans to cover expenses. The average cost for secondary school uniforms has reached €211, prompting calls for more government support to reduce educational costs. In the U.S., the number of borrowers with six-figure student loan debts is increasing, with 2.4 million borrowers owing between $100,000 and $200,000, and 1 million owing over $200,000, reflecting the rising costs of higher education, particularly for graduate students.