UniCross alumni decry non-inclusion on NELFUND list

The University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) Alumni Association has urged the state government to facilitate UNICROSS’s inclusion in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme.

This appeal comes after the federal government announced the eligibility of 36 state-owned tertiary institutions for the Students’ Loan Scheme, excluding UNICROSS.

Dr. Inyali Peter, the National President of the association, expressed disappointment that UNICROSS students, many of whom are from Cross River State, would be unable to access the loan scheme, despite their socio-economic challenges. He called on Governor Sen. Bassey Otu to expedite the university’s enlistment process in the scheme.

Highlighting the predominantly Cross Riverian student body and the state’s civil service economy, the association stressed the scheme’s potential to alleviate financial burdens on parents, especially following Governor Bassey Otu’s recent minimum wage increase.

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The statement also criticized the university’s management and governing council for obstructing efforts to provide scholarships to deserving students and for prioritizing internal disputes over student welfare. The alumni lamented the state government’s neglect of UNICROSS’s infrastructure, noting the absence of completed projects in over two decades.

“We believe the state government, under the central party’s leadership, should support our students,” the statement emphasized. “Despite past neglect, we are hopeful that Governor Otu’s commitment to the university, demonstrated by facilitating the administrative building before his election, will yield positive outcomes. However, we urge the state government to prioritize student welfare by ensuring UNICROSS’s participation in the loan scheme without delay.