CALABAR, CROSS RIVER STATE— The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has distanced itself from the growing debate surrounding postponed tuition refunds at the University of Calabar (UNICAL).
In a firm explanation released on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, the firm mentioned that the responsibility for compensating students who had currently paid their charges before the loan dispensation lies solely with the university administration.
The declaration follows a wave of frustration amongst UNICAL trainees who claimed they are being “stranded” by the delay, despite the fund having actually remitted the tuition components to the organization.
Reacting to queries concerning the impasse, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, clarified that the company’s mandate ends when the funds are effectively transferred to the organization’s accounts.
“It’s between them and their school. It has absolutely nothing to do with NELFUND,” Oluwatuyi stated in a terse interaction.
The information effectively places the ball in the court of the University of Calabar management, which is tasked with recognizing students who overpaid and processing their particular refunds.
Frustration and Confusion on Campus
Impacted students, speaking on the condition of anonymity, explained a chaotic scenario on campus.
Lots of recipients had supposedly secured emergency situation loans or made significant household sacrifices to satisfy the preliminary tuition due dates, under the impression that the NELFUND intervention would provide instant repayment.
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One student leader noted that the hold-up is creating a financial crisis for indigent students who are now unable to repay the private loans they used to cover their initial registration.
“Up until now, no one has come out to say they have actually received any refund, yet the school is saying that payments have been made,” the student regreted.
The University of Calabar management is under increasing pressure to release a validated list of beneficiaries who have actually received refunds to douse the rising stress.
With NELFUND formally washing its hands of the hold-up, stakeholders are seeing to see if the institution will expedite its internal bursary processes or deal with more trainee presentations.
As of Thursday, May 7, the UNICAL NELFUND Desk has not issued an official schedule for the staying batches of refunds, leaving countless beneficiaries in a state of financial uncertainty.