The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has appealed to the Minister of Education to urgently facilitate the disbursement of all outstanding federal government scholarship payments owed to beneficiaries from 2024 to date.

The continued delay in the payment of these scholarship awards, according to NANS, has become a matter of concern to students and their families across the country.

In a statement signed by the NANS National Public Relations Officer, Obidah David, the association said its National Secretariat had received numerous complaints and appeals from affected beneficiaries whose academic pursuits and personal welfare had been significantly impacted by the prolonged delay.

“For many students, the Federal Government Scholarship Scheme represents more than financial assistance; it is a vital support mechanism that enables them to pursue their education without the burden of overwhelming financial constraints.

“Unfortunately, the non-disbursement of these funds has left many beneficiaries struggling to meet tuition obligations, accommodation expenses, research costs, and other essential educational needs.”

Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), Prof. Uchenna Ortuanya, has said that no fewer than 7,201 students have benefitted from the Federal Government’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in the past three years, lamenting the Southeast’s poor attitude towards the initiative.

Ortuanya, who lauded the initiative as providing Nigerians access to higher education, said that available records show that the South-East remains the lowest in accessing the programme.

However, the VICE Chancellor (VC) of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU), Abia State, Prof. Ursula Ngozi Akanwa, yesterday, directed the university Bursary to immediately commence the process of refunding the school fees paid by students before they received the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) facility.

The VC gave the directive while inaugurating the newly elected Students’ Union Government (SUG) Executives, tasking the Bursary to ensure that all the students who paid their fees before the release of their NELFUND loan would not be denied the benefit of the scheme.

She directed the students to promptly register their courses on the resumption of the 2026/2027 academic session, underscoring that early registration would cause unnecessary delay of academic activities.

She charged the new SUG executives to provide responsible student leadership that would work in alignment with the university management and ensure desired peace, harmony, and the welfare of not only students, but the entire university community. (The Guardian)

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