NELFUND’s operational processes can be better!

One of the best things that ever happened to Nigeria is the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

There is no doubt that the scheme has brought noticeable relief to hundreds of thousands of Nigerian families. Many students who previously struggled with school fees or risked dropping out due to financial difficulties now focus on their studies with greater peace of mind. Parents and guardians have also been spared the heavy burden of raising large sums at the beginning of every academic session, especially in the face of rising inflation and living costs.

However, the scheme is not without challenges. As laudable as the scheme is, many students still experience delays in receiving their upkeep allowances, forcing some to pay fees from personal sources while waiting for refunds. This should not be! Approval of loans is usually delayed, even when the loan has been disbursed by NELFUD. “In a bid to beat late registration, I had to force my parents to pay,” a student said. Technical issues on NELFUND’s portal, document verification problems and slow responses from some institutions have also caused frustration for applicants; this calls for immediate attention.

More so, the programme currently covers only public institutions, leaving students in private universities excluded. Do they not also reserve the right to enjoy this opportunity?

In light of these challenges, seemingly rendering this laudable initiative ineffective, I hereby want to suggest that further attention should be given to strengthen the operational processes of NELFUND.

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This may include investing in better technology so that student checks are faster, tracking is smoother and payment come in line with school calendar schedules. There should be reviewing of the upkeep allowance to meet up with current cost of living as things are really expensive these days. For instance, students have a lot of, expenses to cover from feeding to transportation; data subscription, purchase textbooks, toiletries and the likes.

I want to strongly advocate that, NELFUND should be extended to students in private schools; it will equally help more families who are groaning under the weight of rising fees. Some parents chose private universities when fees were lower, but now many struggle to pay after the schools increased their fees generally.

Though NELFUND has already proven to be a valuable tool in expanding access: to education, and reducing financial stress for many students, with continued commitment and thoughtful improvements, it can fully realise its potential as a sustainable pillar of educational equity in the country.

By Mercy Ayankunle, from the Department of Mass Communication, UNILORIN.