Rivers
VC Blames Cultural Resistance For Student Loan Scheme Under-Subscription
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Port Harcourt, Prof. Owunari Georgewill, says the Nigerian student loan programme records low participation in the South-South and South-East regions because of deep-rooted cultural resistance.
Speaking at a Strategic Engagement and Sensitisation Campaign by the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in Port-Harcourt, Georgewill said families in these regions are reluctant to associate their children with debt, even as the loan was interest-free.
He, therefore, advised the government to make the programme a repayable grant, noting that this would make parents feel their children are not going to school through loan.
“Despite our advocacy, the word `loan’ is really discouraging students from participating in the scheme.
“We can coin it to be a repayable grant which will make parents feel their children are not going to school through loan”, he said.
On the allegations of fraud associated with the scheme, he said they were baseless and the purveyors were misguided.
The Vice Chancellor cautioned against such reports, adding that it could potentially damage a critical national initiative.
He said the University of Port Harcourt has maintained a clean record since the programme’s inception.
According to him, UNIPORT charges N78,000 tuition per year which is one of the lowest among federal universities.
He said the low tuition fee made it easier for many families to afford the payment, without subscribing to the loan scheme.
Georgewill disclosed that of the institution’s student population of 40,000, only 1,800 were currently benefiting from the loan scheme.
A former National Secretary, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), David Bariereka, corroborated the Vice Chancellor, that UNIPORT had not been the subject of any official complaint regarding misappropriation of NELFUND disbursements.
The Managing Director, NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, reiterated the agency’s commitment to transparency.
Represented by Dr. Zino Ugboma, Director, Administration, NELFUND, Sawyerr said media narratives on the alleged fraud were prematured and could do more harm than good.
“The system may not be perfect, but we are trying to make it as humanly effective as possible.
“Sabotage and misinformation can ruin what should be a transformative programme for the country”, he said.
Sawyerr warned against sensationalism and urged stakeholders to focus on refining the system for the benefit of Nigerians.
He disclosed that the number of students that signed up for the loan on NELFUND portal in UNIPORT had increased to 4,000, making the school the highest among institutions in Rivers State.
“As of this morning, we have about 600,000 students nationwide who have registered for the programme. Uniport’s 4,000 students are a major part of that success.
“Of all the higher institutions in Rivers State, Uniport has the highest number of registrants”, he said.
The Tide’s source reports that the NELFUND’s officials also visited Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. (IAUOE), Port Harcourt, for its sensitisation campaign.
Theresa Frederick & Charity Amiso
Rivers
Rivers High Court Restrain Trustees, Knights of St. John International, Others From Conducting Election
The High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has restrained the registered trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria, and four others from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920 CIWA, Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery elections, and Supreme Subordinate elections of the Knights of St John International, Nigeria, pending the determination of the substantive matters before them.
Justice G.C. Aguma and Justice V.C. Ugoji, in their separate interim orders of injunction issued in Suit No: PHC/4410/CS/2025 and Suit No: PHC/4359/CS/2025, respectively, restrained the defendants, whether by themselves, their privies, agents, servants, or any person or group of persons working under them, from conducting elections into Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA Port Harcourt, District 48 Commandery, Port Harcourt Commandery, and Supreme Subordinate of Knights of St John International, Nigeria.
The claimants, Sir Njoku Chukwuemeka Andrew and Sir Chukwuemeka Martin Mba, in separate suits, through their legal representatives, dragged the defendants to court, seeking an order to restrain them from appointing or installing any interim caretaker executive or leadership to run or pilot the affairs of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Rosary Local Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The defendants in the matter are: Registered Trustees of Knights of St John International, Supreme Subordinate Commandery, Nigeria; Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Ufuoma Okene, the Grand President, Port Harcourt Grand Commandery, Knights of St John International; Noble Brother Viktor Benebo, the Chairman Investigation Committee set up by the 2nd Defendant to investigate the claimants; Sir Architect Prempeh Ebiware, the District 48 Commander, Knights of St John International, Port Harcourt; and Sir Harry Oruma, member of Knights of St John International, Our Lady of Holy Commandery No 920, CIWA, Port Harcourt.
The two judges, after listening to the counsels in the matter, granted the claimants’ request and adjourned the matter to 10/12/2025 and 16/12/2025, respectively, for hearing of the motion on notice.
