The South East caucus of the National Assembly has raised concerns about the absence of tertiary institutions from the region in the current distribution of students’ loans by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Despite funds being disbursed to students nationwide, none of the recipients are from South East universities or colleges.
NELFUND stated that the lack of response from Southeast institutions to verify student lists is the reason for this exclusion. While verification requests were sent to all schools, those in the South East have not complied, resulting in their students missing out on the loan disbursements.
In response, the South East caucus urged the region’s institutions to promptly fulfill the verification requirements to ensure that students benefit from the federal initiative aimed at easing financial burdens and enhancing access to higher education.
They emphasized the importance of South East students applying for the support, highlighting the significance of higher education for self-development and growth. The lawmakers encouraged all eligible students to participate in national programs to avoid missing out on opportunities available to other regions.
The call from the South East lawmakers underscores the challenges faced by the region in accessing federal resources and stresses the need for active engagement to prevent inadvertent exclusion from national opportunities. The National Assembly members reassured their commitment to ensuring that the South East benefits from development opportunities.