The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has dismissed circulating reports that beneficiaries of the federal government’s student loan scheme have been asked to start repayment, stating that the claims are false, misleading, and likely to cause unnecessary panic among students.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, NELFUND clarified that it has not issued any directive mandating students to repay their loans, contrary to claims circulating across social media and some media platforms. The Fund reaffirmed its commitment to engaging stakeholders and providing clarification whenever necessary.
The clarification followed a public disclaimer by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Prof. Edoba Bright Omoregie, SAN, who disowned a circular purportedly detailing repayment procedures for NELFUND loans.
The university stated that the document did not originate from UNIBEN and emphasized that no repayment guidelines have been issued by NELFUND or the federal government. Further addressing the issue, NELFUND explained that loan repayment terms are clearly outlined in its Establishment Act, which protects beneficiaries from repayment obligations while they are still in school or unemployed after graduation. “For the avoidance of doubt, no student is required to repay the loan while in school. “Repayment does not commence until the beneficiary is gainfully employed, in line with the law,” the Fund stated.
Reiterating its dedication to widening access to higher education, NELFUND stated that the student loan scheme is structured to be transparent, equitable, and student-focused. It added that any official updates on loan administration or repayment would be issued solely through its verified channels and authorized government platforms.
The Fund also advised students, parents, tertiary institutions, and the general public to ignore the fraudulent circular and refrain from spreading unverified information that could increase anxiety among students across the country.
NELFUND also reassured beneficiaries of its dedication to due process, accountability and the welfare of Nigerian students, while calling on stakeholders to rely solely on credible sources for information concerning the loan scheme. “All official updates will come directly from NELFUND through recognised channels,” the statement emphasised.