By Chika Nwachukwu
Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has urged the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to reimburse students who paid their fees before receiving financial assistance from the Fund.
Its Managing Director, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, made the request during a recent sensitisation meeting with UNILAG students on Tuesday.
Sawyerr, who was represented by the Director of Strategic Communications, Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, stated that the refund is necessary to address complaints from students who paid their fees before the fund disbursed loan payments to the university.
Sawyerr also reminded tertiary institutions of their agreement with NELFUND not to bar students from academic activities due to non-payment of fees, particularly those who have applied for and been verified under the loan scheme.
Responding, UNILAG’s vice chancellor, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola assured students that the refund process is almost complete and urged those who are yet to receive their refunds to provide accurate bank details.
Ogunsola, who was represented by the institution’s dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Musa Obalola attributed the delay to a mismatch between NELFUND’s disbursement calendar and the university’s academic schedule.
She, however, praised the student loan scheme for providing financial relief to students, noting that many still struggle to pay fees despite the modest costs in public universities.
Also speaking, NELFUND’s Head of IT, Mr Wale Ogunleye, reported that 7,112 UNILAG students registered for the loan, with 5,566 approved and 4,636 receiving disbursements.
Ogunleye encouraged applicants to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, including Nigerian citizenship, confirmed undergraduate admission, and uploading required documents on the portal.
