From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) has drew the attention of students and its stakeholders to a fraudulent website with several misleading information to students who might want to secure education loan.
NELFund, specifically mentioned that the website was falsely claiming to offer foreign visa sponsorship, using the name and logo of NELFund, thus asking students to be aware of the website to avoid being defrauded.
A statement from the Fund, on Tuesday, indicated that the website is being promoted on Facebook, and it redirects users to a site: labari.com.ng.
The statement which was signed by Nasir Ayitogo, refuted any affiliation with the website or any similar scheme, hence students were warned against the activities of such fraudulent people on the digital space.
It said: “NELFund’s mission is to solely provide educational loans to eligible Nigerian students to further their academic pursuits within Nigeria. It, therefore, does not offer visa sponsorships or related services, and claims to the contrary are entirely false and misleading.
“Unfortunately, the fraudulent website is using NELFund’s name and logo without authorization to deceive the public, hence the Fund strongly advise everyone to exercise caution and refrain from any engagement with the website or providing any personal information.”
It, however, confirmed that it’s taking immediate steps to address the situation, and had reported the matter to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
It urged Nigerians to rely solely on information provided through NELFund’s official channels which includes the website, www.nelf.gov.ng, and other verified social media accounts.
“Communications from NELFund often come through these channels, and the public are always encouraged to verify any suspicious information directly with us.
“NELFund remains committed to supporting the educational aspirations of Nigerian students, and will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity in all operations,” it added.