Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the Nigerian Federal House of Representatives, has assured that students from the Southeast geopolitical zone will soon be included in the Federal Government’s student loan program.
This assurance comes after the South-East Caucus in the National Assembly protested the region's exclusion from the list of institutions eligible for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Kalu's statement aims to address concerns raised by the region and ensure equitable access to educational funding.
Recall that the list, released recently, sparked concerns about regional equity in the distribution of the loan benefits nationwide.
In a statement issued on Monday by Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, the statement disclosed that the Deputy Speaker has actively engaged with the authorities responsible for the disbursement of student loans. Kalu expressed optimism that the concerns raised will be resolved in the coming days.
The Deputy Speaker has already held discussions with the directors of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUN) regarding the issue.
During these discussions, it was revealed that the low registration of students from the Southeast, relative to the total student population in schools within the region, has been identified as a key factor for the exclusion of their names from the shortlist.