Students at Delta State University, Abraka, who are awaiting loan disbursements under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme will not be barred from sitting their first semester examinations for the 2025/2026 academic session, following an internal directive from the University that has drawn National attention and praise from the fund itself.
The directive, issued through the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic), permits students whose NELFUND Application status shows either "Verified" or "Disbursed" to sit their examinations upon presenting evidence of that status, effectively removing financial clearance as a barrier to examination access while the loan process is ongoing.
NELFUND Managing Director Akintunde Sawyerr welcomed the move, describing it as a practical demonstration of what Institutional support for students should look like. "We warmly welcome this student centred approach by Delta State University. It reflects a clear understanding of the purpose of the NELFUND scheme, which is to ensure that no Nigerian student is denied access to education because of financial constraints," he said.
The fund used the commendation to make a broader appeal to other Institutions across the country. NELFUND encouraged universities, polytechnics, and Colleges of Education to adopt similar measures that allow students who have engaged with the loan application process to continue their academic activities without interruption while disbursements are processed.
The Delta State University directive addresses a gap that has quietly undermined the loan scheme's effectiveness since its launch. Students who apply in good faith and receive verified status should not face academic consequences for administrative delays. When Universities treat loan processing timelines as the student's problem, the scheme loses much of its practical value.
NELFUND said it remains committed to working closely with Institutions to protect the academic progress of students, depending on the loan programme.
