The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has announced that students from Nigeria’s South-East geopolitical zone will soon be eligible for the Federal Government’s student loan program. This development comes after concerns were raised by the South-East Caucus in the National Assembly regarding the exclusion of the region’s institutions from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
In a statement released on Monday, Kalu emphasized that his office has been in active discussions with the authorities managing the student loans. He expressed confidence that the issues will be resolved shortly, allowing students from the South-East to access the financial assistance they need for their education.
Kalu explained that his engagements with NELFUND directors have brought to light some of the key reasons for the initial exclusion of South-East institutions. He pointed out that low student registration numbers from the region and mistakes in completing the necessary forms, including missing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results, were significant factors.
In response, institutions in the South-East have reportedly begun taking corrective actions to ensure that their students can participate in the loan program. Additionally, regional governors are actively working to boost the number of students who can benefit from the program. Kalu also mentioned that members of the National Assembly have been urged to reach out to their constituents to encourage prompt action and compliance with the loan requirements.
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To further increase awareness and participation, the Deputy Speaker’s office has launched an awareness campaign. This includes producing radio jingles in English, Igbo, and Pidgin English, which will be broadcast across various stations in the region. Kalu stressed the importance of institutions encouraging their students to apply for the loans and urged stakeholders to establish community registration points to facilitate the application process.
Benjamin Kalu concluded by appealing to South-East students and residents to be patient, assuring them that all necessary steps are being taken to address the current challenges and include them in the NELFUND program.
