Over 3,100 students of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, have received financial assistance under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), designed to support indigent students.
This was disclosed by the university’s Student Union Government (SUG) President, Fahad Abdullahi, during an interview on Tuesday. Abdullahi revealed that the NELFUND disbursed ₦256 million to the university to assist students in paying tuition fees and providing upkeep allowances.
“Out of our student population of 25,000, 3,100 applied and benefited from the scheme. The funds covered institutional loans and allowances, enabling these students to continue their education without financial hindrance,” he stated.
The SUG President further noted the union’s proactive efforts in promoting the scheme. “We have scaled up sensitisation activities to encourage participation. Additionally, we visited the NELFUND office to address challenges affecting smooth applications,” Abdullahi added.
Among the challenges highlighted were:
Non-provision of certain banks on the application portal.
Absence of students’ JAMB admission numbers.
Lack of an editing column for applicants to correct errors during the application process.
He expressed optimism that these issues would soon be resolved, as the fund promised to introduce user-friendly features to simplify the application process.
Mixed Reactions from Beneficiaries
Beneficiaries of the scheme have expressed gratitude for the financial lifeline. One of them, Adetoye Olubunmi, praised the initiative, saying, “This gesture provides us with an opportunity to further our education and inspires academic excellence.”
However, Mohammed Hassan, another beneficiary, pointed to low participation in the program, attributing it to students’ preference for sponsorships over repayable loans. “Many students shy away from loans because they have to be repaid. Comprehensive sensitisation is needed to create awareness and encourage more students to take advantage of the scheme,” Hassan suggested.
As the federal government continues to roll out initiatives like NELFUND, stakeholders are hopeful that improved processes and awareness campaigns will boost student participation, ensuring more indigent students access quality education.
