A pro-democracy group based in Abia State, known as the Foundation for Environmental Rights, Advocacy and Development (FENRAD), has voiced its disapproval towards the National Assembly Education Committees for the omission of South-East universities from the loan disbursement under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) initiative, covering 19 tertiary institutions.
Expressing concerns, the group highlighted the lack of acknowledgment from the education committees of both chambers of the parliament regarding the deliberate exclusion of the South-East region from the loan program.
In a statement released on Monday by the group’s Executive Director, Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and shared with NewsNow, the group raised issues about the absence of significant legislative efforts apart from the intervention by the Southeast National Assembly caucus, underscoring the need for a broader national stance on the matter to assure students from the region of fair treatment.
FENRAD recalled past incidents, such as the discontinuation of the Presidential Special Scholarship Scheme for Innovations and Development (PRESSID) during the Buhari administration, allegedly due to inadequate representation of the North. This decision had particularly adverse consequences for South-Easterners who had secured admission for further studies abroad.
The group also criticized the limited access of some South-East universities to NELFUND due to verification issues, citing instances where technical problems hindered the process and led to delays in disbursement to deserving students.
Furthermore, FENRAD emphasized the necessity for inclusive policies to bridge educational disparities in the region, urging the federal government to ensure equitable distribution of resources to benefit students and institutions in the South-East.
Highlighting the region’s contributions through federal revenue-generating agencies, the group urged lawmakers to address the alleged exclusion and facilitate access to federal support programs for the development of the South-East.
Additionally, FENRAD called for enhanced public awareness campaigns to encourage active participation in government initiatives and foster a more inclusive approach towards addressing educational and socio-economic challenges in the region.