It is not news that the Federal Government of Nigeria under the presidency of Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a loan scheme to be given to tertiary institutions students. The loan which is under Nigeria education loan fund (Nelfund) aims to support students that have financial difficulties in meeting their academic expenses.
Bayero University (BUK), Kano; University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID), Borno; Federal University, Dutsin-Ma (FUDMA), Katsina; University of Ibadan (UI) Oyo; University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), Kwara; and University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo are part of the institutions that are already captured on the beneficiary list.
Recently, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto UDUS was removed from Nelfund’s application portal after some of her students have applied. The sudden removal was shocking to interested students who are yet to apply for the loan.
While speaking with this reporter, Alhassan Mudathir, a third year student of Physical and Computing Sciences expressed concern when UDUS was removed from Nelfund’s portal. “I was still contemplating on whether to apply for the loan or not when I heard that UDUS students can no longer apply. In fact, I was surprised and it gave me a reason to doubt the scheme,” he said.
Alhassan is very excited that his school got back on the list and gave him another chance to apply for the financial opportunity.
Not Only Alhassan, John Paul, a fourth-year student of Agriculture had a peculiar experience with Alhassan when the removal news got to him. Though he has already applied for the loan, his thought was that the removal would affect every successful applicant.
“It is good news to hear that Danfodiyo students can still apply for the loan. At least, it will give an opportunity for more students including my friends to apply as we expect the disbursement,” John expressed blissfully.
Intervention of Students’ Union
In a circular released by the UDUS Student Union, In a circular dated, Thursday, 15th of August, 2024, the Students’ Union Caretaker Committee (SU-CTC) announced that UDUS has been reincluded in the Nelfund’s application portal.
When speaking with PEN PRESS UDUS, the chairman of the union, Comrade Abdullahi Sanusi explained, “Immediately we heard about the removal, we stood into action to ensure it’s rectified. Alhamdulillahi Danfodites can now apply for the loan.”
He advised interested students of UDUS to apply as soon as possible, as the loan is available on a first-come, first served basis.
