The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has addressed recent complaints from some students who are facing challenges while trying to apply on the Student Loan Application portal.
These complaints poured in shortly after Nairametrics announced that it had launched the first phase of the application portal for the student loan scheme, which targets students from federal institutions nationwide.
The loan website went live early Friday and became accessible for students of federal tertiary institutions as part of the scheme’s pilot phase.
However, various complaints were noted on NELFUND’s ‘X’ handle, which has necessitated NELFUND to address some of the issues.
These complaints bordered mostly around troubleshooting and verification processes.
NELFUND’s response to complaints
Here are the broad categories of complaints from the student applicants, and advice from NELFUND:
- On Institution not listed
NELFUND’s Response: Applicants are to contact the school’s ICT department to reach out to NELFUND, check the internet connection, or refresh the browser.
- On JAMB number verification issues
NELFUNDs Response: Students are to contact their school to ensure their admission is supported by JAMB if their number cannot be verified.
- On State-owned institutions not seen in drop-down list
NELFUNDs Response: NELFUND’s initial roll-out does not include federal institutions, therefore, students from state-owned institutions are advised to wait.
- On email verification failure
NELFUND’s Response: Students are to ensure that the correct email address is entered if account verification via email fails.
- On matriculation number verification
NELFUND’s Response: If the number cannot be verified, applicants should contact the school’s ICT department to upload records to the Students Verification System (SVS).
Background
President Bola Tinubu first introduced the student loan policy in June 2023, with the aim of providing interest-free loans to students. Nasir Ayitogo, the fund’s media spokesperson, confirmed the roll-out of the funds.
- Although the scheme was initially set to launch in October 2023, it was postponed and re-enacted in April 2024. Finally, Ayitogo announced that the loan application and issuance portal would open on May 24, 2024.
- Students of federal universities were urged to visit NELFUND’s website at nelf.gov.ng and apply early
- During a pre-application sensitization in Abuja, he indicated that the scheme’s pilot phase would only be open to federal tertiary institutions.
- The programme was designed to roll out in phases to ensure effective and efficient management.
- The requirements for the application includes having one’s National Identity Number (NIN), Bank Verification Number (BVN), Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admission letter, and a properly filled application form on the website.
- Upon receiving the loan, it would be paid directly into the institution’s account, and students would receive monthly stipends for their upkeep.
