UNICAL Denies NANS Refund Claims, Says 1,089 NELFUND Beneficiaries Have Received Payment
By Benjamin GBOR
The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has rejected claims that it is among tertiary institutions yet to refund students who paid their school fees before benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.
The institution said it has already refunded 1,089 students in nine batches, while efforts are ongoing to process payments for other eligible beneficiaries.
The clarification followed a list released by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), which named 39 higher institutions allegedly yet to reimburse students who settled their fees before receiving NELFUND disbursements.
Reacting to the claim, UNICAL NELFUND Desk Officer, Mrs Elizabeth Otu Effiwatt, said the report does not represent the situation at the university.
She disclosed that more than 3,000 UNICAL students have benefited from the NELFUND loan scheme, adding that the institution has received N979,891,400.00 for 10,071 students across different departments.
According to her, students who had paid their fees before accessing the loan facility are being refunded, with 1,089 beneficiaries already receiving their payments.
She explained that the university initially managed the refund process manually but has introduced an automated system through the Directorate of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve efficiency and transparency.
“The system was designed based on operational experiences and challenges encountered in administering NELFUND refunds. This approach ensures the portal addresses identified bottlenecks and provides a more efficient and technology-driven process.”
The desk officer added that the new portal has received 2,090 refund applications, which are currently being processed for payment.
She noted that the digital platform was created with validation measures and controls to ensure that only qualified applicants are approved, while promoting accountability in the refund process.
UNICAL consequently urged students and members of the public to disregard reports suggesting that the university has failed to refund NELFUND beneficiaries, assuring that all eligible students would receive their payments.
