The Edo State Government has issued a query to the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Prof. Eunice Omonzejie, over the failure of the institution's students to access the Nigerian Education Loan Fund despite ₦242 billion having been disbursed nationally by the Federal Government.

The query, titled "Implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)" and dated June 24, 2026, was signed by Omionawele P.O. on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Ministry of Education, expressing displeasure that no student from the university had benefited from the programme in the 2025/2026 academic session.

"I am directed to refer to the above subject and to express the ministry's displeasure over the implementation of NELFUND in your university. For clarity, as of the 2025/2026 academic session, available records show that no student from your university has benefited from the over Two Hundred and Forty Two Billion (₦242,000,000,000.00) Naira disbursed so far by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the NELFUND programme," the letter read.

The ministry requested that the Vice Chancellor explain the challenges preventing students from accessing the loan and detail what steps the institution had taken to address those challenges.

"The Ministry is willing to know the challenge(s) faced by your students in accessing the loan and the action(s) taken by your university in resolving these challenges," the letter stated.

Omonzejie was directed to submit her response on or before July 10, 2026, to enable the ministry to brief Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo on the situation.

The query comes more than a year after the Edo State Government announced a partnership with NELFUND in March 2025, aimed at making tertiary education accessible and affordable for students across the state's institutions. The then Commissioner for Education, Dr Pally Iyamu, had urged students in state owned institutions to take advantage of the scheme, noting that it would eliminate the immediate burden of school fees and provide monthly stipends to support students during their studies.

As part of the awareness drive, the government had organised a two day sensitisation programme on March 11 and 12, 2025, across Edo's three senatorial districts, with sessions held at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen; Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma; and Edo University, Iyamho.