 has expressed concern over the alleged non-disbursement of student loans by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).){kind=link}
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed concern over the alleged non-disbursement of student loans by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
NANS expressed disappointment that, despite claims that the funds have already been released, the loans have not been disbursed to students.
The issue came to light following findings by the Community Orientation and Mobilisation Officers of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), which were based on reports from a meeting between Mallam Issa-Onilu, the Director General of NOA, and Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director of NELFUND.
According to a statement from NOA spokesperson Paul Odenyi, NELFUND indicated that several institutions failed to notify students about the loans granted to them, yet still demanded tuition payments.
In response, Samson Adeyemi, NANS’ National Public Relations Officer, described such actions as “deceptive and a betrayal of trust by the universities.”
He stressed that these actions could worsen the challenges Nigerian students are already facing. Adeyemi pointed out that failing to inform students of loan disbursements while continuing to demand tuition payments was not just misleading, but also a betrayal of trust placed in the institutions.
NANS views these practices as a direct attack on the rights and welfare of Nigerian students, many of whom rely on the loans to pursue higher education and ease financial burdens.
The statement noted, “Such actions exacerbate the challenges faced by students and undermine the federal government’s efforts to provide accessible education through the student loan programme.”
NANS warned that it would not hesitate to protest against any institution found guilty of these practices.
The association also urged affected students to report any such cases to their state leadership. NANS assured that it would take swift action, including mobilizing protests and legal measures, to ensure that students receive the financial support they are entitled to.
NANS called on the relevant authorities, including NELFUND and NOA, to intensify efforts to investigate and address these malpractices. It reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights and welfare of students across Nigeria, urging all affected students to report any irregularities for support.