By: Tunde Ojerinola

As financial hardship continues to maintain its superpower in Nigeria, many students at the University of Ibadan rely on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme for the payment of their fees. Despite being portrayed by the federal government as a means to remove financial barriers to public education, the fund has been characterized by distressing inconsistencies.

Several University of Ibadan students, in the course of application for the loan scheme, have encountered technical challenges, including receiving inadequate or excessive funds, being debited twice for a transaction on the student portal, late disbursements, and delays in refunds.

These issues, combined with the looming school fees payment deadline (now extended to June 27, 2025) have severely taken to a mental toil. As of press time, quite a number of students are yet to clear the bloated school bills, due to NELFUND issues.

The Struggle 

Opening up to IndyPress, some affected students expressed frustration over the state quo. Despite having logged complaints to relevant authorities, their issues remain unaddressed.

Kemzy, a 200-level student of Special Education, said, “I applied for the student loan in January. Yet, I haven’t been verified. It’s been displaying the 2023/2024 academic session, but as of yesterday, it displayed the 2024/2025 academic session. I haven’t received any money.”

When asked if she lodged complaints to relevant authorities, Kemzy said, “So many times. They aren’t doing anything. I have given up. I told them how I applied, my status and everything. The year and the changes.”

Another affected student, who prefers to be identified as P Stone, a 200-level student from Arts and Social Sciences Education, who had applied for the loan scheme on May 21st, also shared his challenges.

“Late disbursement of loan. Upkeep not paid yet. Basically, slow disbursement. I have been credited, but they debited my money twice,” he said.

Echoing the same sentiment, Hype Man, as he is fondly called, a 100 student of Microbiology, told IndyPress that he was debited twice for technology fee despite initiating payment for utility fee.

“My technology fee was debited twice, amounting to a total of ₦20,000. This amount was originally intended for the payment of my utility fee, and the deadline for that payment is fast approaching,” he noted.

“I sincerely request an urgent resolution to this issue. I will be truly grateful if it can be attended to as soon as possible. We were told to raise a ticket on the portal but it’s not giving any solution nor responding,” Hype Man appealed.

A female student, Morenike, from the Department of Linguistics, Faculty of Arts, complained that the disbursement amount was below her fees.

“My school fees are more than what they sent, that is the only issue I have with NELFUND. I plan to visit there (ITEMS) tomorrow ”

IndyPress also observed that on a WhatsApp NELFUND group, Morenike asked: “Please everyone, how can I add money to the one on my wallet? The money given to me by NELFUND is not complete, so I need to make the payment myself.”

Responding to Morenike’s question, Success, a student of Agricultural and Environmental Engineering, explained, “We were given a procedure to top up the wallet last session but in this session, there is nothing like that. I guess you should make more enquiries at ITEMS, because someone said it earlier that ITEMS said it is not possible. Meanwhile, we did that last session.”

However, following the initial interviews with IndyPress, some of the affected students later confirmed that their loan disbursements had been successfully credited to their e-wallets with minimal or no issues. For instance, two previously mentioned students, P. Stone and Hypeman, told IndyPress that they eventually received their loan payments. Meanwhile, others, such as Kemzy, still report that their student loan applications remain unapproved.

“Complaints raised by students being addressed”- ITEMS 

While many issues stemmed from technical malfunctions on the NELFUND portal, some students are architects of their plights.

For instance, some applied very late and missed being on the first approved list, causing delays. In an interview with IndyPress, an ITEMS official who requested anonymity, explained that students who made some changes in their course registrations were short paid, and others were debited twice because they double-clicked the payment icon.

The ITEMS personnel further explained that they received numerous complaints, which, according to the official, are being addressed.

“Anything about NELFUND is not under Students’ Affairs Division”- Professor Adekeye Abiona, UI Dean of Students

In an interview with IndyPress , the Dean of Student, Professor Isaac Adekeye Abiona, explained that addressing NELFUND-related issues is not under the jurisdiction of the Students’ Affairs Division. “Anything about NELFUND is not under the Students’ Affairs,” Professor Fakeye Abiona, the Dean of Students said.

He, however, directed IndyPress to the Deputy Vice Chancellor Academics, who he said is saddled with the responsibility of addressing NELFUND-related issues.

Efforts by IndyPress to reach DVC Academics were unsuccessful as he was not on seat while the Press visited her office.

When contacted by IndyPress, regarding a circulated claim that ₦50,000 was deducted from refund payments issued to some students who applied for refunds last session, the Financial Secretary of Faculty of Education, Orekoya Suilayat, explained that due to late disbursements in 2023/2024 academic session, many students who paid fees with personal funds applied for refunds through the Students’ Division Affairs.

According to her, Instead of receiving the full sum of ₦113,850 disbursed by NELFUND, there was deduction of #50000.

In a bid to address the situation, the Financial Secretary noted that she was directed to gather the details of affected students in her faculty by the Students’ Union Treasurer.

In an interview with IndyPress, the NELFUND Support Office directed students with refund issues to visit the office at Digital ICT Park along Tech Road, to lodge complaints.

‘Team Auspicious’- Students’ Union Intervention 

In an interview with IndyPress, the Students’ Union President, Covenant Odedele, said, “If they (students with complaints) go to ITEMS they will be sorted.” He confirmed that ITEMS, the Bursary Unit, and the Treasury Unit have been making immense efforts to address the situation. “Some people in the Bursary Unit stay up to 10pm every day. Same with the Treasury Unit.They are working,” he said.

He encouraged students to visit the appropriate offices and follow the guidelines to have their issues resolved.

On his WhatsApp status, Covenant Odedele, the Students’ Union President, on June 22, also directed students with NELFUND issues to email the university or visit ITEMS.

“If you have any challenges with any issue around registration, payment etc, please email ugportal@stu.ui.edu.ng,” Odedele wrote.