The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced a 14-day postponement for the application process of student loans for state-owned institutions.
The delay is attributed to the insufficient data submissions from these institutions, making it difficult to verify loan applicants.
Originally scheduled to commence on June 25, 2024, the application window will now open on July 10, 2024. NELFUND revealed that out of the 48 state universities, only 20 have completed the data submission process. Similarly, only 12 out of 54 state colleges and 2 out of 49 state polytechnics have successfully submitted the necessary data.
“To date, only a limited number of state-owned institutions have successfully completed the data submission process. These include 20 state universities out of 48, 12 state colleges out of 54, and 2 state polytechnics out of 49. While we acknowledge the efforts of these institutions, the failure to submit data from the remaining state institutions poses significant challenges to ensuring a seamless and accurate verification process for student loan applicants,” read the statement released by NELFUND in Abuja.
The fund emphasized the importance of comprehensive data submission, including JAMB numbers, matriculation numbers, admission numbers, full names, levels, faculties, departments, duration of programs, fees, and gender of all eligible students. Incomplete or incorrect data submissions could result in application delays and potential disqualification for affected students.
NELFUND urged all state institutions to expedite their data submission processes and ensure the accuracy of the information provided. The fund warned that institutions failing to meet the revised deadline risk disadvantaging their students who rely on these loans to support their education.
The extension aims to provide additional time for state institutions to comply with the data submission requirements, ensuring their students can benefit from the Federal Government student loan scheme.
“To facilitate an efficient and error-free application process, it is crucial that all state institutions provide complete and accurate information,” NELFUND added.
