South-East governors and lawmakers in the National Assembly are making significant efforts to ensure students from their region benefit from the Federal Government’s student loan scheme. This initiative, spearheaded by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, aims to address the concerns surrounding the alleged exclusion of South-East institutions from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Kalu, in a statement on Monday, reassured students from the region that the issues preventing their participation in the loan program would soon be resolved. His statement came in response to the outcry from the South-East caucus in the National Assembly following the release of NELFUND’s list of eligible institutions, which conspicuously excluded those in the South-East.

The list revealed that institutions in the North, South-West, and South-South had successfully tapped into the loan program, leaving the South-East behind. This development sparked widespread reactions, particularly on social media, prompting NELFUND to clarify that the exclusion was due to the failure of South-East institutions to complete necessary verifications on its platform.

Kalu explained that his office had engaged with the relevant authorities to resolve the issue, identifying low student registration and errors in completing forms, such as missing Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) results, as the primary causes of the exclusion.

Efforts are already underway to rectify these issues. Institutions in the South-East have begun taking corrective measures, with regional governors also playing an active role in increasing the number of participating students. Lawmakers have been encouraged to reach out to their constituents to ensure immediate compliance.

To further raise awareness, Kalu’s office has initiated the production of informational jingles in English, Igbo, and Pidgin English. These will be broadcast across various radio stations in the region to encourage more students to apply for the loan.

The numbers underscore the urgency of the situation. For instance, Abia State Polytechnic, Aba, has 2,543 eligible students, but none could apply due to missing JAMB numbers. Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, saw only 406 applications out of 21,342 eligible students. In other institutions like Abia State University, Uturu, and the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, the participation rates are similarly low.

Kalu has urged educational institutions to actively encourage their students to apply for the loan. He also called on community stakeholders to establish registration points to facilitate the process and boost participation.

While the process is underway, Kalu appealed for patience from South-East students and residents, assuring them that the necessary steps are being taken to resolve the issue. The concerted efforts by the governors and lawmakers aim to ensure that students from the South-East will soon benefit from the federal student loan scheme, aligning the region with the rest of the country in accessing educational funding opportunities.