The Nigerian government’s latest move to exclude higher institutions in the South-East from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) student loan disbursement is a glaring example of systemic marginalization and a slap in the face to the people of the region.
This blatant disregard for the principles of federal character and inclusivity is a joke taken too far.
It is even precarious for the much-hyped need for unity in the country.
The claim by NELFUND that geopolitical zones were not considered in the disbursement is a weak attempt to justify this egregious error.
How convenient that students from every other region made it to the first batch of disbursement, except those from the South-East?
The excuse about late compliance with verification by institutions in the Southeast is equally unconvincing, especially when at least one institution in the region had complied before the list was released.
The Concerned Igbo Stakeholders Forum is right to demand that President Tinubu recall the list and order the inclusion of three to four institutions from the Southeast. Anything less would be a further indication of the government’s disdain for the region.
The Igbos are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian project and deserve to be treated with respect and dignity.
This shameful snub must be addressed, and concrete steps taken to ensure that the South-East is not left behind in the disbursement of educational loans.
The government’s actions must reflect the principles of equity, justice, and inclusivity that Nigeria claims to uphold.
The exclusion of South-East institutions from the loan disbursement is a clear example of how the region is consistently marginalized in Nigeria.
The government must take immediate action to address this injustice and ensure that the South-East is given its rightful place in the Nigerian project. Anything less would be a betrayal of the trust and confidence of the people.