By Isaac Mission
Students and parents across the South-East have identified delays in disbursement, fear of indebtedness, inadequate awareness and uncertainty over repayment as major factors discouraging participation in the Federal Government's Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
The concerns were raised by students, parents and university officials in Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi states during separate interviews on the level of participation in the education loan scheme.
Many students acknowledged that while the initiative has the potential to reduce financial barriers to higher education, delays in processing applications and releasing funds have weakened confidence in the programme.
Enugu students seek timely payments
At the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, the Students' Union said slow processing of applications had forced some students to pay their school fees themselves before examination deadlines, despite applying for the loan.
The union also noted that concerns over future repayment obligations have discouraged many students from applying. However, it described the scheme as beneficial for financially challenged students, pointing out that several beneficiaries have had their tuition paid while also receiving upkeep allowances.
At the State University of Medical and Applied Sciences, Igbo-Eno, students commended the initiative but expressed dissatisfaction over irregular payment of monthly upkeep allowances. They called on the Federal Government to ensure consistent payment of stipends and strengthen collaboration with students' unions to improve awareness.
Similarly, the Students' Union of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) said the institution had recorded improved participation because of active sensitisation by the university management. Despite this, it disclosed that only about 2,828 students had applied for the scheme out of a population exceeding 20,000.
According to the union, fear of loans, limited awareness and challenges with the application portal remain the biggest obstacles to enrolment.
A parent also highlighted another challenge, explaining that his son had not benefited from the programme because he was yet to obtain a Bank Verification Number (BVN), a key requirement for registration.
The Special Assistant to Governor Peter Mbah on Youth and Students' Affairs attributed the low participation in the South-East partly to cultural attitudes, noting that many people in the region prefer self-reliance and are reluctant to embrace loan schemes.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), expressed concern that only about 7,201 students of the institution were benefiting from NELFUND. He urged more students to take advantage of the interest-free loan, saying financial challenges should no longer prevent qualified students from accessing university education.
Anambra students, parents call for more awareness
In Anambra State, students from Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU), Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU) and Federal Polytechnic, Oko, said misconceptions about the scheme, poor internet access, technical challenges and inadequate information discouraged many applicants.
Some students admitted they were unsure about the loan's repayment conditions, while others feared it could attract future financial obligations despite being interest-free.
Parents also expressed reservations, saying they preferred to support their children's education personally rather than expose them to debt after graduation.
Despite these concerns, COOU management reported a steady increase in participation, revealing that student applications had grown significantly over the past three academic sessions. The university credited the improvement to sustained sensitisation campaigns and the establishment of a dedicated NELFUND support desk to assist applicants.
The management of NAU also confirmed that thousands of students had benefited from the scheme, attributing the rising participation to continuous awareness programmes organised by the institution.
Ebonyi beneficiaries commend initiative
In Ebonyi State, beneficiaries at Ebonyi State University (EBSU) and Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), described NELFUND as a lifeline for students from low-income families.
They said the programme had enabled many undergraduates to continue their education by covering tuition fees and providing monthly upkeep allowances.
Although they acknowledged occasional delays in disbursement, they attributed the challenges to verification processes, data mismatches and other administrative procedures.
The beneficiaries encouraged prospective applicants to ensure that their application details were accurate to minimise processing delays.
Across the three states, stakeholders agreed that the education loan scheme remains a valuable intervention but urged the Federal Government to improve awareness, simplify the application process and ensure timely release of funds and upkeep allowances to encourage greater participation.
