The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) announced on Tuesday a 14-day postponement of the student loan application process for state institutions, citing ‘low data submissions’.
News About Nigeria reports that the decision aims to address the failure of numerous state-owned institutions to upload the necessary student data and fee information to the NELFUND Student Verification System.
According to a statement from the agency in Abuja, the extension was necessitated by incomplete data submissions from state institutions.
To date, only a limited number of these institutions have complied with the data submission requirements: 20 state universities out of 48, 12 state colleges out of 54, and 2 state polytechnics out of 49.
The Fund stated that it is important to complete data submissions to ensure a smooth and accurate verification process for student loan applicants.
Originally, the application window was set to open on June 25, 2024, but it will now commence on July 10, 2024.
The extension provides additional time for state institutions to meet the data submission requirements, ensuring their students can benefit from the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
NELFUND said it is important to provide accurate and complete information, including JAMB numbers, matriculation numbers, admission numbers, full names, levels, faculties, departments, programme durations, fees, and genders of all eligible students.
Incomplete or incorrect data submissions could lead to application delays and potential disqualification for affected students.
The Fund urged all state institutions to expedite their data submission processes and ensure the accuracy of the information provided.
It also warned that institutions failing to meet the revised deadline risk disadvantaging their students, who depend on these loans to support their education.
