Students’ loan: Comply with NELFUND’s request, National Assembly Caucus urges South East varsities
By Jeffrey Agbo
South East caucus of the National Assembly has called on tertiary institutions in the region to comply with the verification request made by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to enable students access loans.
The caucus expressed its displeasure with South East higher institutions missing from the list of over N2 billion already disbursed to 27,667 students from 19 institutions in the country.
It also encouraged students in the region who need the loan to ensure they apply, noting that it is their rights.
“The attention of the South East caucus of the National Assembly has been drawn to the glaring absence of beneficiaries from South East tertiary institutions in the list of beneficiaries of the students’ loan being disbursed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND),” a statement on Sunday by the caucus’ leaders, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Hon. Igariwey Enwo, said.
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“With a total of N2,946,927,155 already disbursed to 27,667 from 19 institutions in the country, South East higher institutions were conspicuously missing from the list.
“In its defence, NELFUND has stated that the absence of beneficiaries from South East institutions was because even though verification lists have been sent to all schools, South East institutions are yet to respond to their request for the verification of the lists sent to them. Consequently, the South East caucus of the National Assembly, wishes to urge tertiary institutions in the South East to comply with the verification request by NELFUND, so that our children can benefit from this national programme.
“We also wish to encourage all South East students who need this support to ensure they apply. This is important as it can help ameliorate some of the challenges limiting access to higher education, which we must all agree is critical to self-development and growth. It is important that as a people, we do not intentionally marginalise ourselves from opportunities which are open to all Nigerians. Those opportunities are our right and we must, like others, demand for what rightfully belongs to us.”
