South-East Lawmakers Express Concern Over Alleged Exclusion from Federal Student Loan Program
South-East lawmakers have expressed concern that students from the region are not benefiting from the Federal Government’s student loan program. NELFUND clarified that the delay is due to incomplete verification processes by some South-East institutions. Universities in Enugu and Anambra confirmed they are now compliant, while other institutions are still gathering information.
Faith Orji 
On Sunday, the South-East caucus of the National Assembly raised alarms about the apparent exclusion of students from higher education institutions in the South-East from the Federal Government’s student loan program. This concern comes amid claims that no students from the region have benefited from the N2.95 billion disbursed by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) so far.
NELFUND responded to these claims on Friday, clarifying that the delay in disbursement is due to some South-East institutions not completing the required verification processes. According to NELFUND, while verification requests were sent to all schools, those in the South-East have yet to finalize their submissions.
Dr. Harrison Madubueze, Public Relations Officer of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, confirmed that his institution registered on the NELFUND portal on August 10 and was shortlisted on August 14. He emphasized that the university is now focused on raising awareness among students about the application process.
Similarly, Dr. Ikechukwu Ezeanioma, Public Relations Officer for Enugu State University of Science and Technology, reported that their verification process was completed three weeks ago but was only uploaded successfully on Friday night due to technical issues.
In contrast, Emmanuel Ojukwu, Public Relations Officer of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, stated he lacked specific details about the loan applications but promised to provide information soon. The Deputy Public Relations Officer of the Student Union Government at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Hilary Chinedu, also mentioned uncertainty about student participation in the loan program.
Efforts to reach the University of Nigeria Nsukka for comment were unsuccessful.
The South-East caucus, led by Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Rt. Hon. Igariwey Enwo, has urged regional institutions to expedite the verification process and ensure students apply for the loan. They stressed the importance of equal access to opportunities and called for active participation in federal initiatives to secure development and advancement for the region.
The caucus emphasized that the South-East must engage fully in national programs to avoid being left behind in future federal benefits.
