The recent discovery that the Federal Polytechnic Ede in Osun State is engaged in an act to blocking its students from accessing the federal government student loan is not only cruel but also highlights the inhumane treatment that Nigerians are inflicting on fellow Nigerians.
For instance, HND 1 students, who have already paid over N30,000 as an acceptance fee, were not given matriculation numbers—a prerequisite to accessing the federal government’s student loan initiative. This is wickedness, to say the least.
Ede Poly is not the only higher institution engaging in this condemnable behavior; other institutions should reconsider such draconian practices. Every year, millions of Nigerians gain admission without any clear hope of how they will fund their tuition fees. NELFUND is a life-saver for them.
During the launch of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in July 2024, President Bola Tinubu stated that he wanted the student loan to “thrive on fairness and equity and promote inclusiveness,” making it accessible to every Nigerian in public higher institutions, regardless of their status.
However, FEDPOLY Ede is not making it possible for its ND 1 and HND 1 students to submit applications for the initiative. There are also reports that some universities across the country withhold the matriculation numbers of their students, even after these students have paid thousands of naira in acceptance fees.
As a federal institution, FEDPOLY Ede should be a solution provider, supporting the government’s initiative by making the application process seamless for students. Instead, it is acting as a stumbling block to this promising initiative.
In the early months following the launch of the initiative, NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, and his staff traveled from South to North, covering nearly all institutions and educating heads of institutions and students on the benefits of the student loan initiative.
At one point, Akintunde even urged heads of institutions to ensure timely uploads of student data to the NELFUND. NELFUND and its management should be commended for fulfilling their role. Now, the ball is in the court of institutions across Nigeria to stop using the issuance of matriculation numbers to block students’ access to this life-changing financial aid.
It is possible to automatically generate matriculation numbers upon the payment of the acceptance fee. Payment of the acceptance fee indicates that an applicant has graciously accepted the admission offered to them.
The government has already removed all barriers that could prevent access to the student loan signing into law Access to Higher Education Bill on April 3, 2024, repealing the Student Loan Act, 2023. Federal Polytechnic Ede, along with other institutions that make things difficult for their students, should turn a new leaf. The loans—covering tuition and upkeep—mean so much to millions of Nigerians.
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