Why Students in South East Institutions couldn't access NELFUND - Fmr VC, Prof. Nwajiuba
By Omaka OKOH (Abakaliki)
Fresh facts have emerged on why students in South East tertiary institutions could not access Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Recall that the loan scheme was introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and is aimed at alleviating the financial burdens faced by students amid the nation’s economic challenges.
However, not a single student from tertiary institutions in the Southeast has successfully obtained the loan, a development that has raised eyebrows across the academic and political landscape.
This ugly development has raised deep concern from relevant stakeholders who are wondering why the apparent lack of interest from students in the Southeast in accessing the NELFUND loan programme.
According to Prof. Chinedum Nwajiuba, the former Vice-Chancellor of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo and a visiting Professor at National Universities Commission (NUC), the inability of tertiary institutions in South East to submit data record to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is one of the key reasons students cannot access the loan.
In a statement titled “To Tertiary Institutions in the Southeast: No Student from the Southeast Obtained the Federal Government Loan So Far Disbursed,” Prof. Nwajiuba expressed worry that despite the significant number of students in financial distress across the region, none had accessed the loan during the first round of disbursements.
According to him, this unfortunate outcome is largely due to internal factors within the institutions themselves, citing the situation at Imo State University (IMSU), where the student data record has not been submitted to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
"Consequently, students from IMSU are ineligible to apply for the loan, as their records are not available in the system. Similarly, at Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education, only 1,109 student records were submitted, a figure that pales in comparison to the college’s actual student population.
"Additionally, only 12 students from Alvan have applied for the loan, and NELFUND is still awaiting verification from the Acting Provost before disbursing any fund.
"The situation is not entirely bleak, as Prof. Nwajiuba noted that five institutions in the Southeast, including Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Ebonyi State University, Abia State University, and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, have responded to the verification list sent by NELFUND. However, the overall lack of engagement from the region’s educational institutions remains a significant concern."
Prof. Nwajiuba’s message is not merely a critique but a call to action. He urged the leaders of these institutions, as well as religious, political, and other stakeholders, to mobilize students and ensure that they take full advantage of the opportunities provided by the student loan scheme. He also expressed regret over the dissolution of the Association of Vice-Chancellors of Southeast Universities, an initiative he spearheaded during his tenure, which could have played a pivotal role in addressing such issues.
As the nation watches and history records, Prof. Nwajiuba’s plea is clear: Southeast institutions must rise to the occasion, or risk being left behind in a rapidly changing educational landscape. The future of countless students depends on the actions taken today.
