The management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced a 14-day postponement of the application process for student loans from state-owned tertiary institutions due to low data submissions.
The applications, which were supposed to begin on June 25, will now start on July 10, 2024.
In a statement by the head of media and public relations, Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Nasir Ayitogo, said the decision to shift the date was necessitated by the failure of several state-owned institutions to upload the required student data and fees information to the NELFUND Student Verification System (SVS).
The statement said: “To date, only a limited number of state-owned institutions have successfully completed the data submission process. These include 20 state universities out of 48, 12 state colleges out of 54, and 2 state polytechnics out of 49.
“While we acknowledge the efforts of these institutions, the failure to submit data from the remaining state institutions poses significant challenges to ensuring a seamless and accurate verification process for student loan applicants.
“The application window, initially set to open on June 25, 2024, will now commence on July 10, 2024.”
According to NELFUND, the extension would provide additional time for state-owned tertiary institutions to comply with the data submission requirements and ensure their students can benefit from the Federal Government student loan scheme.
The statement added: “To facilitate an efficient and error-free application process, it is crucial that all state institutions provide complete and accurate information.
“This includes JAMB numbers, matriculation numbers, admission numbers, full names, level, faculties, and departments, duration of program, fees, and gender of all eligible students.
“Incomplete or incorrect data submissions will result in application delays and potential disqualification for affected students.
“The fund urges all state institutions to expedite their data submission processes and ensure the accuracy of the information provided.
“Institutions that fail to meet the revised deadline risk disadvantaging their students, who depend on these loans to support their education.
“The fund appreciates the cooperation of institutions that have already completed their submissions and encourages others to follow suit promptly.”
