NELFUND Boss Decries Low Student Loan Uptake at Rivers State University

NELFUND Boss Decries Low Student Loan Uptake at Rivers State University

The Managing Director of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, has expressed disappointment over the low number of loan applications from students at Rivers State University. According to Sawyerr, while the University of Port Harcourt had 3,000 applications, Rivers State University had only 1,500.

Sawyerr, represented by Dr. Zino Ugboma, Director of Administration at NELFUND, stated that the low registration rate was a concern that needed to be addressed. “Going through our records, we discovered something that is not too pleasant in relation to your university,” he said. “For some institutions, we have up to 4,000 applicants—students who have registered with our team.”

The NELFUND boss emphasized the importance of identifying and resolving the challenges that were hindering students from accessing the loan. “We want to understand what the problem is. The funds are available—they are meant to be disbursed to these young people. Let us work together to solve this,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, acknowledged the gap in student engagement and pledged transparency and collaboration to address the issue. “We are grateful that you flagged our university’s situation and took the time to visit us to understand why we are lagging behind,” he said. “I must admit that the figures reflect a serious concern—1,500 out of nearly 40,000 students is a significant gap.”

The university’s Director of ICT, Prof. Sunny Orike, explained that the application process involves multiple steps that many students fail to complete. “We communicate and share information on our platforms. We’ve also designated a space in the city centre where students can come in and engage with our systems,” he said. “We are committed to making that experience seamless, consistent, and accessible.”

The President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Rizi Owabie, reaffirmed the union’s support for the government-backed funding programme, emphasizing continued efforts to raise awareness among students. “We will intensify awareness campaigns about the importance of the loan,” he promised.

NELFUND and the university have agreed to work together to address the issue and increase the number of loan applications from students. The university has set up designated systems and spaces where staff can assist students in real-time, and the ICT team is developing a more structured approach to ensure that students are supported throughout key academic processes.