By James Ekpo
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) was introduced as a transformative initiative aimed at reducing the financial burden on students across the country. With promises of tuition coverage and a monthly upkeep allowance of ₦20,000, the scheme was designed to support indigent students and ensure that financial hardship does not hinder access to education—particularly under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
However, the reality for students of the Institute of Management and Technology (IMT), Enugu, paints a troubling picture—one defined by frustration, uncertainty, and systemic inefficiencies.
Unlike in some institutions where disbursement processes are gradually taking shape, many IMT students who have been approved for the NELFUND loan are yet to receive their funds. This delay has triggered significant academic and administrative setbacks, especially for 100-level students who are yet to be issued registration numbers—a crucial requirement for course registration and eligibility to sit for examinations.
The situation has led to embarrassing and disheartening experiences. During the institution’s matriculation ceremony, several affected students were reportedly denied access to collect their matriculation gowns simply because they lacked registration numbers, despite having been duly admitted. This development raises serious concerns about the lack of coordination between NELFUND disbursement processes and IMT’s internal administrative systems.
Even more alarming are allegations from students who reportedly benefited from the NELFUND scheme in the previous academic session. According to multiple accounts, although the loan was said to have been credited to their school portals, the funds never reflected. Rather than addressing these discrepancies, affected students were allegedly instructed to pay their school fees again before they could be cleared—placing them under double financial strain and undermining the core objective of the loan scheme.
As a result, many students now find themselves stranded. Without registration numbers, they risk being barred from writing examinations. Without clear financial records, their academic status remains uncertain. And without access to the promised funds, they are forced to seek alternative—and in some cases, risky—means of survival.
The broader implications of this crisis are deeply concerning. Beyond immediate academic disruption, the situation threatens to widen inequality, discourage educational pursuit, and erode public trust in government-backed student support initiatives. For many young Nigerians, NELFUND represented hope. For IMT students, that hope is rapidly diminishing.
There is an urgent need for decisive intervention by the management of IMT, NELFUND authorities, and relevant government agencies. Transparent communication, proper reconciliation of disbursement records, and the prompt issuance of registration numbers must be prioritized to prevent further disruption to students’ academic journeys.
As it stands, the future of many IMT Enugu students hangs in the balance. The pressing question remains: will swift and coordinated action be taken to restore confidence in the system, or will these students continue to bear the burden of administrative failure?
