By Chima Ugwuanyi
iN recognition of the total importance attached to education by the world as the bedrock for the development of society, the government of President Bola Tinubu quickly set machinery in motion for the national loan scheme for the Nigerian students, to provide ample opportunity for indigent families to have their children and wards benefit from tertiary education – which would, otherwise, have been impossible without such loan facility.
The arrangement for the scheme to commence in October, 2023, just five months into the life of the Tinubu administration, suffered some deferments, but it was eventually enacted/signed into law by the President in April 2024 and the portal for loan application opened on 24th May, 2024.
So far, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) says it has disbursed a total of two billion, nine hundred and forty six million, nine hundred and twenty seven thousand, one hundred and fifty five naira (N2,946,927,155) to 19 institutions nationwide that have responded. This was disclosed in a release this last Friday, via the fund’s X handle.
According to the release, the following institutions received the following approved amounts for their students:
1. University of Maiduguri – N589,001,500
2. University of Ibadan –N201,114,650
3. University of Ilorin – N52,897,890
4. University of Benin – N24,412,500
5. Federal University,
Dutsin-Ma – N304,961,800
6. Bayero University, Kano – N853,775,000
7. Federal College of Education,
Abeokuta – N1,945,700
8. Federal University of Technology,
Minna – N62,928,600
9. Obafemi Awolowo University,
Ile Ife – N50,414,000
10. Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro – N8,347,465
11. University of Lagos – N122,494,400
12. University of Jos – N209,320,000
13. Federal College of Education (Tech nical), Gusau –N15,600,200
14. Federal College of Education
(Special), Oyo – N18,502,500
15. Federal University,
Dutse – N207,106,000
16. Federal University,
Birnin-Kebbi – N130,002,800
17. Modibbo Adama University,
Adamawa – N83,837,850
18. Federal Polytechnic,
Bauchi – N7,218,800
19. Federal Polytechnic,
Mubi – N2,045,500
Total Amount – N2,946,927,155.00
Considering the apparent high degree of sincerity of the federal government towards this loan scheme, the level of response from the universities and polytechnics across the 36 states of the federation is still quite low after three months of its take-off – a negligible total of 19 federal institutions so far, out of a total of 274 federal and state universities, 75 federal and state polytechnics and 84 private universities, excluding accredited vocational institutes across the country.
One is left wondering why the heads of these institutions – vice chancellors and rectors – have not been able to key into this highly laudable programme, which is totally interest-free, intended to assist in bringing about very reasonable economic relief or succour to Nigerian families who have students and wards in dire need of the loan, especially against the backdrop of a litany of economic hardships brought upon Nigerian families by the ongoing economic reform policies of government.
Quite curiously, this apparent lack of interest to respond and key into this loan scheme appears to be worst among the tertiary institutions in the South East region of the country, because, out of the 19 institutions that have benefited so far, not even one is from the South East.
Already, tongues have begun to wag in some quarters that this non-participation of any tertiary institution in the South East might be associated with sheer discrimination against them by this federal government agency, NELFUND.
What appears to have sharpened the suspicion of discrimination is that notable tertiary institutions in the South East like the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka (UNIZIK), Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), among others, have had none of their students benefitting from the scheme; indeed, many of the students of the above-named institutions interviewed reported bitterly that their series of attempts to apply for the loan have hit a brick wall, as NELFUND keeps telling them in the application portal that their JAMB admission details were not found, indicating clearly that their institutions have not keyed in or responded to the scheme let alone uploading the students’ admission details, which are a ‘conditio sin qua non’ in the application process.
NELFUND has, in very recent publication, debunked any form of discrimination in the disbursement of the student loans to institutions in the South East. It clarified that geographical zones are not a factor in the loan disbursement process, adding that it had sent a Verification List to all eligible institutions, and any further action regarding access to the loan depended on institutions that have responded to the Verification List/ formal invitation.
The fund emphasized that it was unfortunate that they have not received any response from any of the tertiary institutions in the South East.
There are millions of Nigerian students who are in serious need of this very liberal loan from the federal government, which goes straight to bring relief to parents and guardians, and NELFUND has clarified that all it takes these tertiary institutions for their students to be able apply and benefit is to respond to the Verification List already sent to them, and upload students admission details.
The tertiary institutions across the country should hurry up and do the needful in order not to be seen or viewed as deliberately trying to truncate government’s noble objective of promoting maximum access to education by Nigerian youths, who are the leaders of tomorrow, because good education is one of the veritable tools of preparing the tomorrow of the youth.
Heads of tertiary institutions in the South East hitherto totally absent in the scheme should now key into the scheme as soon as possible, to assuage the expectations of indigent parents/guardians of students in the region, who are waiting in bated breath.
• Ugwuanyi is Media Consultant in EnuguYahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer