By Ike Uchechukwu, Calabar

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) on Monday held an important sensitization and stakeholders engagement meeting in Calabar with the theme “Expanding Access to Higher Education: The Role and Impact of NELFUND in Cross River State.”

The event, organized by the Office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, took place at the College of Health Technology and brought together heads of institutions, ICT directors and students from across the state.

Kelvin Enyam, Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs, explained the motivation behind the programme. He said the initiative was necessary because of the growing inquiries from students seeking financial support.

“I have gone round schools across the state. I have held a number of engagements and students often ask how they can access financial assistance to pay their fees and support their studies. 

“The objective of this engagement is to create more access and opportunities for our students to benefit from higher education funding in the state,” Enyam said.

He reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to quality education, noting that the administration will continue to work with relevant agencies to ensure that young people in Cross River State have unhindered access to education and other opportunities.

Speaking on the impact of NELFUND in the state, the Technical Assistant to the Managing Director of the Fund, Nasir Ayitogo, presented data showing the immediate benefits of the loan scheme.

Ayitogo gave a breakdown of loan applications received from higher institutions in the state. 

He disclosed that the University of Calabar had 7,434 applicants expecting a disbursement of about N711 million, while the University of Cross River State had 7,530 applicants expecting approximately N585 million.

He also highlighted figures from smaller institutions. The Federal College of Education, Obudu, recorded 868 applicants anticipating N51.2 million, while the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, had 42 applicants.

Ayitogo described the progress as the result of extensive work by the NELFUND team. He said, “If I do not present this impact, I would not be doing justice to the Managing Director and the executive directors of NELFUND because they put in so much effort to make this possible.”

He further provided details of actual disbursements to date. The University of Calabar has received disbursements for 5,246 students amounting to N509 million. 

The University of Cross River State has received disbursements for 6,515 students totalling N507 million. The Federal College of Education, Obudu, has received N49.7 million for 710 students, while the Federal Polytechnic, Ugep, has received N1.69 million for 32 students.

Ayitogo who urged eligible students to take advantage of the scheme emphasized on  the benefit of the monthly upkeep allowance and the direct payment of school fees. 

His words : “Do not be afraid. Apply and receive it. The twenty thousand naira upkeep that comes into your account every month helps a lot and your school fees will be paid.”

He also explained the roles of institutions and students in the application process. He highlighted the use of the Student Verification System for institutions to upload student data and the Student Loan Application System for student applications.

In her goodwill message, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cross River State, Professor Francisca Bassey, commended the state government and NELFUND for convening the programme. 

She described the initiative as timely and strategic because it provides a structured pathway for students to benefit from sustainable educational financing.

“This initiative is timely and strategic as it provides a structured pathway for students to benefit from sustainable educational financing.

” At the University of Cross River State, we recognize that funding remains a major barrier preventing many young people from realizing their academic dreams. 

“Programmes such as NELFUND are critical to bridging this gap, improving learning outcomes and promoting inclusion across all segments of society.”

She added that the engagement provides an opportunity to strengthen collaboration between tertiary institutions and NELFUND so that students and administrators fully understand the processes, benefits and obligations of the scheme.

On her part, the Director of Teaching Practice at the University of Calabar, Dr Virginia Ironbar, said the event reaffirmed their shared commitment to making quality higher education accessible to every Nigerian youth regardless of financial background.

She described the theme of the event as timely and transformative, especially at a time when many students face serious financial constraints. 

Her words :  “NELFUND has emerged as a strategic national response, offering hope, equity and opportunity to countless learners. 

“As Director of the Teaching Practice Directorate at the University of Calabar, I see every day the aspirations and resilience of our young people and the challenges they face. This initiative not only eases their financial burden but also empowers them to pursue their academic dreams with confidence and dignity.” she said.