The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum (CISF) has strongly condemned the exclusion of higher institutions in the South-East from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan disbursement, describing it as “a joke taken too far.”
“This is not how to manage a diverse and multicultural society like Nigeria. What impression does Mr. President want Nigerian students schooling in the Southeast to have about their place in the scheme of things?” the group questioned.
CISF leader noted that the claims by NELFUND that “there is no consideration of geopolitical zones in the disbursement” is “not sustainable and unfounded.” He wondered how students from every other geopolitical region made it to the first batch of disbursement except their counterparts in the South East.
“The claim by NELFUND about the late compliance with verification by institutions in the Southeast is also unfounded. Provided that at least one institution in the Southeast had complied before the recent release of the list by beneficiaries, it is enough to coopt the institution in the first batch to demonstrate FG’s commitment to the Federal Character principle.”
The group warned that “this cannot be a coincidence but simply a case of negligence” and called on President Tinubu to recall the list and order the inclusion of three to four institutions from the Southeast.
“It should be noted that Igbos are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and must be respected as such,” the group emphasized.