The Bayelsa State Directorate of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has called on the Federal Government to revise the eligibility criteria for its Student Loan Fund Scheme, urging broader inclusion of institutions and students.
The recommendation comes after an investigative assessment by the agency into the implementation of the loan scheme at Niger Delta University (NDU), Amasoma. The scheme is managed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
According to the NOA, its investigation involved structured interviews, focus group discussions and informal interactions with academic, administrative and bursary staff at NDU.
The findings highlighted the need for a comprehensive review of the scheme’s policies and implementation processes to enhance effectiveness.
Despite identifying a generally transparent application process, the NOA report flagged issues in the disbursement phase, specifically, incomplete payment of school fees to institutions on behalf of beneficiaries.
Crucially, the investigation found no evidence of data falsification, collusion between students and university staff, ethnic or religious discrimination in the selection process, bribery or misappropriation of funds.
The NOA emphasised the importance of sustaining the NELFUND initiative, noting that it has begun to yield positive results but requires fine-tuning to maximise its impact.