In a proactive move to address the concerns of beneficiaries of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) for the 2023/2024 session, the University of Calabar (UniCal) has announced a series of concessions aimed at easing the financial burden on affected students.
The announcement, made on Tuesday in Calabar by Professor Tony Eyang, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), emphasized the institution’s commitment to supporting students amid the delay in NELFUND disbursements.
Prof. Eyang disclosed that beneficiaries who are yet to graduate will be allowed to register for the 2024/2025 academic session. The delayed 2023/2024 loan disbursement will be utilized to settle their tuition fees for the upcoming session.
He further explained, “The 2024/2025 loan, when released, will also be refunded to beneficiaries due to graduate within the session after their bursary clearance. Beneficiaries who paid their full fees in both the 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 sessions will be refunded the fees paid for the 2023/2024 session, pending the release of the 2024/2025 loan.”
Prof. Eyang also assured that graduates from the 2023/2024 session will receive refunds after completing their bursary clearance. He urged all beneficiaries and other eligible students to promptly register for the 2024/2025 loan as verification is ongoing.
Addressing the issue of part payments, Prof. Eyang clarified, “Beneficiaries who made part payments in 2023/2024 and have not settled the balance will have to pay it in 2024/2025.”
To streamline the process, the university’s ICT Centre will continue serving as the hub for NELFUND registration, with beneficiaries’ dashboards on the fee portal configured to reflect loan disbursements.
Encouraging students to take full advantage of the federal government’s initiative, Prof. Eyang stated, “This is a unique opportunity for students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria. I urge everyone eligible to register now.”
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) is a federal program designed to provide financial support to students in tertiary institutions, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder academic pursuits.
This initiative underscores UniCal’s commitment to fostering academic excellence by addressing financial challenges faced by its students.
