RSU Records Low Student Loan Applications—NELFUND

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has raised concerns over the low number of student loan applications from Rivers State University (RSU), urging immediate collaboration to address the situation.

This was disclosed by NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, during a strategic engagement and sensitisation campaign held in Port Harcourt.

Represented by the Director of Administration, Dr. Zino Ugboma, Sawyerr noted that an internal review of loan applications revealed troubling statistics.

According to data presented, the University of Port Harcourt recorded over 3,000 applicants, while Rivers State University registered only 1,500 applications—despite having nearly 40,000 students.

“Going through our records, we discovered something concerning. For a university of this size, the number of applicants is significantly low. The Managing Director directed that we meet with the university’s management to understand the reasons behind this,” Ugboma said.

He stressed that the funds are readily available and meant to be accessed by students, calling for stronger institutional collaboration to identify barriers and boost uptake.

In response, the Vice Chancellor of RSU, Professor Isaac Zeb-Obipi—represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Professor Victor Akujuru—acknowledged the gap and pledged full cooperation to resolve the issue.

“We appreciate NELFUND for drawing attention to this shortfall. The Vice Chancellor has tasked relevant units, including the Director of ICT and the Head of Student Affairs, to be present and engage on solutions. The current figures are indeed a cause for concern,” Akujuru said.

Also speaking, Professor Sunny Orike, Director of ICT at the university, attributed the low application rate to the complexity of the application process, which many students struggled to complete.

“We’ve created designated spaces within the city where students can interact with our systems, and we’re committed to improving accessibility and user experience,” Orike explained.

He added that the ICT department is developing a more structured support system to guide students through the application process. This includes tagging students for follow-up, assisting with forms, ensuring compliance, issuing memos, and maintaining clear communication channels.

Orike further emphasized the importance of continuous training for both students and staff as the university transitions to more centralized, digital academic processes.