VC Decries Low Participation of Southeast Students in NELFUND

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Professor Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, has expressed concern over the low participation of South-East students in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, saying the region’s uptake remains far below expectations. He said the numbers were worrisome and urged students, parents and communities to make better use of the interest-free scheme.

Ortuanya said the issue became clearer after recent discussions involving higher institutions in Enugu State, where the statistics were described as disappointing. He noted that the total number of beneficiaries from the entire South-East is still lower than what one state in the North-East has recorded, which he described as a troubling imbalance.

At the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, he disclosed that about 7,201 students have benefited from the loan so far, though the figure continues to change as applications are processed. Even with that number, he suggested that the university and the region are still not taking full advantage of a scheme meant to reduce the financial burden of tertiary education.

The concern is not new. Other university leaders have previously said that students in the South-East and South-South are slower to embrace NELFUND because many families are uncomfortable with the word “loan,” even when it is interest-free. In some communities, the cultural preference is to avoid debt entirely, which makes awareness and reassurance especially important.

NELFUND itself has repeatedly called for more participation from the South-East. The fund says the low numbers may reflect weak awareness, mistrust of the scheme or confusion about eligibility and repayment, and it has been trying to increase sensitisation across institutions and communities.

The low uptake matters because the student loan scheme was created to help more young Nigerians remain in school without being forced out by tuition and living costs. If eligible students do not apply, they miss an opportunity to ease the pressure on families that may be struggling to fund higher education.

The regional gap also raises broader questions about access and communication. Universities in the South-East may need more direct engagement, clearer explanations and stronger advocacy at the community level so that students understand the scheme and trust its terms.

Ortuanya’s message is ultimately one of urgency rather than criticism. He is asking the region to treat the loan as a practical support tool, not a burden, and to recognise that the money is intended to help students complete their education. In a country where the cost of schooling keeps rising, his warning is that leaving such support unused could deepen the pressure on already stretched families.