The Edo State Government has issued a query to the Vice Chancellor of Ambrose Alli University, AAU, Ekpoma, Professor Eunice Omonzejie, over the alleged failure of students of the university to access the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND.
A copy of the query sighted in Benin City was written and addressed to the Vice Chancellor by the State Ministry of Education.
The letter, dated June 24, 2026, was signed by Omionawele P.O. on behalf of the Permanent Secretary of the ministry.
The letter, titled “Implementation of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND),” expressed concern that records available to the ministry showed that, in the 2025/2026 academic session, no student from the university had benefited from the N242 billion disbursed so far by the Federal Government for the NELFUND programme.
The ministry, which urged the Vice Chancellor to treat the letter with the urgency it deserves, said her response was expected to reach the ministry on or before July 10, 2026.
The Permanent Secretary said the Vice Chancellor’s compliance with the stipulated deadline would enable the ministry to revert and adequately brief the Governor of the state, Monday Okpebholo.
“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 the purpose of 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 (N242,000,000,000.00) Naira disbursed so far by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the NELFUND programme.
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.
“Your response is expected to reach the ministry on or before July 10, 2026, to enable us to revert and adequately brief His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Edo State. Treat this with the urgency it deserves,” the letter said.
The Edo State Government, in March 2025, disclosed that it was partnering with the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to make tertiary education accessible and affordable for students in the state’s tertiary institutions.
The then Commissioner for Education, Dr. Pally Iyamu, who announced the initiative in Benin City, urged students across the state-owned institutions to take advantage of the opportunity.
Iyamu added that the partnership would guarantee Edo students access to university and tertiary education without the immediate burden of school fees.
He also said that students would receive a monthly stipend to support their expenses while studying.
He stated that the initiative was aimed at easing the financial burden on parents, who previously had to pay hundreds of thousands of naira in school fees.
As part of efforts to raise awareness among students about the benefits of the programme, the government scheduled and organised a two-day sensitisation programme on March 11 and 12 across Edo’s three senatorial districts.
The sensitisation sessions were held at Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, for Edo South; Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, for Edo Central; and Edo University, Iyamho, for Edo North, respectively.
