The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on the Federal Government to ensure proper monitoring of loans disbursed to students through the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to guarantee the funds are used effectively.
This plea was made by NANS’ Senate President, Babatunde Akinteye, during the group’s 86th national Senate sitting and pre-convention event at Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, which saw over 5,000 student leaders from various campuses across Nigeria in attendance.
Akinteye stressed that providing billions of naira in the form of loans to schools under NELFUND is not sufficient unless the government follows up on how these funds are utilized. “It is not enough for the federal government to provide billions to schools in the name of NELFUND loans without following it up to know how they are utilizing the funds,” he stated.
NANS National President, Lucky Emonefe, commended Nigerian students for their continued support of the union and assured them that his team would remain dedicated to serving their interests. Emonefe also voiced concerns about alleged plans to abolish the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), emphasizing the crucial role the agency plays in supporting the country’s tertiary institutions.
Reflecting on the achievements of his administration, Emonefe announced that NANS’ next national convention, where new leaders will be elected, is set to take place in March 2025.
Samuel Eze, Chairman of the Council of Students’ Union Presidents in the South-East Zone, praised NANS for fostering national unity among students and highlighted the organization’s importance in uniting students across the country.
He also commended the Federal Government for its resolution of the recent crisis at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa, which had caused significant concern among students fearing potential disruptions to academic activities.
