How Undergraduates Collect Double Tuition from Parents After Accessing Loans

An official of the Federal Ministry of Information has raised alarm over the trend of Nigerian students collecting tuition fees from their parents despite already benefiting from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Dr. Helen Nsirim, Information and Public Relations Officer at the Federal Information Centre, Port Harcourt, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). She explained that investigations revealed that some undergraduates who accessed the loan deliberately withheld the information from their parents, only to return home and still demand tuition fees.

According to her, this dishonest practice has subjected many parents to double payments, thereby compounding their financial struggles.

“This is a wrong approach, especially in these difficult times when many parents are struggling financially. The Federal Government established the loan scheme to ease the burden of tuition on both parents and students,” Nsirim said.

She advised parents to first verify the list of NELFUND beneficiaries before releasing money for tuition to their children. To make this easier, Nsirim urged NELFUND to improve transparency by publishing the names of loan beneficiaries annually through universities, national newspapers, and official social media platforms.

Such a step, she argued, would empower parents to confirm the status of their children before parting with scarce resources.

Nsirim also stressed the need for greater sensitisation on the loan scheme. While acknowledging the efforts of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), she encouraged parents to take personal responsibility in staying informed.

“Instead of spending time on social media following trends and gossip, parents should check what NELFUND is doing and encourage their children to apply if eligible,” she advised.

The NELFUND loan programme was established by the Federal Government to provide financial support to Nigerian students in tertiary institutions, with the aim of improving access to higher education and easing the burden of tuition payments.

Nsirim’s caution comes at a time when many parents are already grappling with economic hardship, sparking renewed debate over accountability, transparency, and the need for more effective management of student loan schemes.