Ohanaeze Council Condemns Exclusion of South-East from NELFUND
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Condemns Exclusion of South-East from Student Loan Disbursement
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, a prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization, has voiced its displeasure over the exclusion of the entire South-East region from the initial phase of the student loan disbursement.
This reaction comes amidst allegations that tertiary institutions in the South-East have been marginalized by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Last week, the Federal Government, through NELFUND, announced the disbursement of N2.9 billion to 27,667 students, representing the first set of beneficiaries across 19 tertiary institutions in the country. Notably, no institutions from the South-East were included.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the National President of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, condemned the exclusion as unacceptable. He argued that the reasons provided by NELFUND were unjustifiable and defied logic, particularly the claim that no South-East tertiary institution met the criteria for the loan.
“We completely reject the justification given by NELFUND for the exclusion of the South-East in this first phase of the Federal Government loan disbursement,” Okwu stated. “This is yet another example of the longstanding marginalization of the Igbo people by certain elements who do not wish to see progress in this country.”
He further asserted, “The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide rejects in its entirety the explanations offered by NELFUND and demands that the South-East be fully included in the program.”
Okwu expressed concern over the continued treatment of the Igbo as second-class citizens and urged the current administration, which he noted has enjoyed significant support from the South-East, to rectify the situation.
He also called on the authorities of the various tertiary institutions in the region to ensure they fulfill all requirements and do not hinder their students’ future.
“All those involved in the verification process must act promptly and responsibly,” he warned. “Failure to do so will result in them being marked as enemies of the youth. Our future should not be compromised any longer.”