556 students applied for NELFUND student loan – UNIZIK

The management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State said about 556 students of the institution applied for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund.

According to the institution, the applications were submitted on August 14, adding that out of the 556 that applied, 304 students were approved by NELFUND on August 16, 2024.

The Special Adviser to the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Dr Emmanuel Ojukwu, disclosed this to our correspondent, in Awka, on Thursday.

He added that the Student Affairs Unit of the institution is currently scrutinising the list of applicants.

Recalled that the South-East caucus of the National Assembly has raised concerns over the exclusion of beneficiaries from South-East tertiary institutions in the ongoing disbursement of student loans by NELFUND.

The loans, intended to support students across Nigeria, have so far amounted to N2bn benefiting 27,667 students from 19 institutions nationwide.

However, the caucus said it observed that none of these institutions are located in the South East.

But in his reactions, Ojukwu insisted that UNIZIK is not left out on the NELFUND as it is being speculated.

He said, “This is to inform the general public that UNIZIK is not left out on the NELFUND as it is being speculated.

“The true position is that 556 students applied, while 304 students were approved by NELFUND on August 16, 2024.

“The student affairs unit of the university is currently going through the list to confirm the applicants as bona fide students before disbursement by NELFUND.”