No fewer than 3,100 indigent Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University students have benefited from the federal government’s loan scheme.

Fahad Abdullahi, president of ATBU’s student union government, said this in an interview in Bauchi on Tuesday. 

He said that 3,100 out of the 25,000 student population of the university applied for the loan under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Mr Abdullahi said the fund disbursed N256 million to the university to cover school fees for about 3,300 students.

He said the students benefited from the institutional loan and upkeep allowances, adding that the union had scaled up sensitisation activities to mobilise participation in the programme. 

The SUG president said the union also visited the NELFUND office to address challenges impending seamless application by its members.

He listed the challenges, including the non-provision of some banks on the application portal, the lack of students’ JAMB admission numbers and an editing column to enable the applicant to effect corrections in the process.

According to him, the fund promises to introduce new features on the portal to ease cumbersome application processes.

One of the beneficiaries, Adetoye Olubunmi, lauded the gesture, adding that it would give them opportunities to further their education and encourage academic excellence. 

Also, Mohammed Hassan attributed the low participation in the scheme to the students’ lack of interest.

Mr Hassan said that many students prefer sponsorship rather than loans, which are repaid.

He called for comprehensive sensitisation to create awareness and mobilise participation in the scheme.

(NAN)