“We Are Yet To Receive NELFund Loan For School Fees” – OAU Students Lament

• “Is It Until We Start Crowdfunding For School Fees?”

Some students of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, have raised concerns over the school management’s failure to disburse student loans, leaving many stranded as the deadline for payment of school fees draws closer.

Findings by Osun Defender indicated that the student loans, which the federal government claimed are intended to support financially disadvantaged students, have only covered the upkeep allowances received by the students, while the loan for school fees payment has not been released, sparking frustration and anxiety across the university community.

Data obtained from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund) revealed the total sum of Fifty Million, Four Hundred and Fourteen Thousand Naira (₦50,414,000) had been disbursed to Obafemi Awolowo University.

However, Osun Defender observed that the university had only disbursed upkeep allowances to some verified students.

The medium also gathered from the students that the first upkeep payment, which is ₦20,000, was sent on September 25, 2024, and further payments were made twice in November.

For many students, the loans are critical for covering tuition fees and other essential expenses.

However, many approved students are yet to receive their upkeep money. Similarly, students whose loans have been verified are yet to receive funds for school fees payment, even as the deadline looms.

In separate interviews with Osun Defender, several students expressed their frustration about the non-disbursement of both school fees and cash for upkeep.

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Akinwumi Adio, a student from the Department of Geology, voiced skepticism about the process. According to him, “NELFund claimed tuition fees have been disbursed to OAU since August.

“OAU bursary will say they’re yet to receive the money; NELFund will say they’ve disbursed it. Who’s lying to who? And our Students’ Union is just mute. Other Students’ Unions (OOU, UNILORIN, etc.) have called out NELFund on Twitter, and they were replied.

“Course registration will end soon (if it hasn’t already). People who were granted accommodation will have it revoked on Friday. Is it until we start crowdfunding for school fees?”

Similarly, a 300-level student from the Faculty Education, who craved anonymity said: “I applied for the loan in June when the link was first launched.

“To be honest, the delay in disbursing the school fees loan is already affecting two critical aspects of my academics: course registration and hostel accommodation.

“I would like to urge the school management to regularly provide updates on their social media platforms and share timely information about the loan and other related topics. After all, a person without information is as good as no person at all,” she said.

Daniel Ogunleye, another student from the Department of Geology, shared similar concerns. “We were assured that the loans would be available before the semester began, but now we are facing the possibility of missing tests or deferring the session entirely,” he lamented.

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Another student, Abdulquadri Fasasi, a 200l student from the Department of Management
and Accounting, stated that his students loan has been verified by Nelfund but the school is ywt to disburse both the upkeep allowances and school fees loan to his account.

“Although, to me, the student loan is a good initiative if properly implemented.

“I applied in August and I got verified October 31st. I am yet to see any disbursement.

“It almost affected my school fee payment, although I have paid now (part payment), looking forward to NELFund disbursing the school account and also getting a refund from the school.

“If the delay is from the school, it would be much appreciated if the school can fasten up the process, so as let everyone who applied for the loan be at par (school fee payment) with those who didn’t.

With the payment deadline approaching, students whose loans were verified are appealing to the school management for a deadline extension to ease the pressure while awaiting disbursement of the loans.