Trainees who stop working to comply are now dealing with hazards of being disallowed from taking evaluations or required to leave completely.
A questionable policy at the Enugu State College of Education (Technical), Enugu (ESCET), has actually stimulated outrage after an internal memo and dripped WhatsApp discussions exposed that the organization has actually made making an application for the Federal Government’s Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) necessary for trainees.
Trainees who stop working to comply are now dealing with hazards of being disallowed from taking evaluations or required to leave totally.
According to an internal memorandum solely gotten by SaharaReporters, the college management has actually mandated that all trainees, both at the Nigeria Certificate in Education (NCE) and degree levels, need to register and access the NELFUND loan.
The memo, dated October 6, 2026, and signed by the Acting Registrar, Patrick A. Aneke, states: “This is the give the understanding of all College trainees and certainly the College Community that it is now required for every single trainee (both in NCE and Degree programs) to register and access the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFund).
“Consequently, all fresh and continuing Students are thus needed to go to the workplace of the College NELFund Desk Officer Dr. Rufina Agu and get the fund, for the 2026/2027 scholastic session.”
“All Deans/Directors, HODs (Academics) and the Student Union Government are by this memo needed to notify the trainees appropriately,” it included.
The policy has actually activated a heated dispute on a WhatsApp platform committed to college details, where the Dean of Students Affairs, Dr. Bertrand Ekwe, recognized in the chat as Dr. @Sing Hu, protected the regulation, verifying that an invoice revealing registration for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) plan is now a requirement for evaluation clearance.
When a worried trainee asked what would occur if their moms and dads declined to permit them to obtain the loan, the account connected with the dean responded: “Then it may be really challenging for you to continue in ESCET.”
The trainee challenged the policy, arguing that NELFUND was developed to help economically disadvantaged trainees which trainees who might not produce school costs invoices would be not able to get clearance to sit their evaluations.
The dean consequently validated that trainees without NELFUND invoices would not be enabled to take their assessments.
“So without the nelfund invoice or whatever, I will not compose examination,” the trainee asked.
The dean responded: “Yes in the meantime or if management alter their choice.”
The WhatsApp group likewise ended up being a source of debate over liberty to reveal opposing views, as the dean threatened to get rid of members who criticised the policy.
When another user prompted the organization not to oblige trainees who were unenthusiastic in the loan plan to use, the account connected with the dean cautioned: “Don’t dissuade others through this platform. We promote State Government interest here. If you continue, I will eliminate you.”
Some trainees revealed aggravation over the instruction, declaring that the policy was being driven by interests besides their well-being. One message flowing in the group likewise implicated the school management of pumping up charges showed on the NELFUND control panel.
“In as much we are supporting nelfund-loan, it should not be obligatory for all the trainees, nelfund loan was developed for the less fortunate trainees,” the message read.
“We should not make it required due to the fact that of self-centered interest. A scenario where school management will be gather above regular school charges from the trainees in trainees nelfund loan dash board. School charges, will be # 8500k however school management will increase it to 9500k in trainees nelfund loan dash board. Is unfair oooo.”
With the school management apparently preserving its position, impacted trainees are requiring the policy to be evaluated to enable those who do not want to access the federal loan plan to pay their costs straight and continue with their scholastic activities.
When the initial variation of the law called the Students Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Act, 2024 or Students Loan Act, 2024, was passed in 2023, it was clearly targeted at “indigent” trainees (those from modest backgrounds who might not pay for costs).
It even brought a stringent household earnings limitation of less than 500,000 each year.
To avoid having a hard time trainees from being locked out due to documentation or small earnings variations, the Students Loans Act, 2024 eliminated the rigorous earnings cap.
Formally, the text specifies its function as “broadening the scope of access to students’ loans for higher education” for all certified Nigerians. Both the federal government and NELFUND’s public interactions clearly advise trainees from simple backgrounds who are actively “stressed by school fees” to focus on utilizing the plan so they do not need to leave of school.
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