The National Assembly Caucus of members from the South East has protested the Nigerian Education Loan Fund’s (NELFUND) refusal to include students from that geopolitical zone in loan disbursements.
In a statement by the leaders of the Caucus, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe and Hon igariwey Iduma titled, “Re-Non-inclusion of Beneficiaries from South East Tertiary Institutions in the Disbursement of Students’ Loans by NELFUND,” the group noted that it’s attention has been drawn to the glaring absence of beneficiaries from South East tertiary institutions in the list of beneficiaries of the students’ loans being disbursed on behalf of the Federal Government by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
It stated that, with a total of N2,946,927,155 already given to 27,667 from 19 institutions across the country, South higher education institutions were noticeably absent from the list.
The Caucus went on to say, “In its defence, NELFUND has stated that the absence of beneficiaries from South East institutions was due to the fact that, despite having sent verification lists to all schools, South East institutions have 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.”
Continuing, the group stated, “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 marginalize 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.”