UNICAL Refunds 1,089 NELFUND Beneficiaries, Processes Over 2,000 More Through New Digital System

CALABAR, Nigeria The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has confirmed that it has refunded tuition fees to 1,089 students who paid their school charges before receiving support under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), while more than 2,090 additional refund applications are currently undergoing verification through a newly deployed digital processing system.

The clarification comes amid growing concerns and speculation among students over the pace of refunds and allegations surrounding the administration of the Federal Government’s student loan programme.

Speaking in Calabar, UNICAL’s NELFUND Desk Officer, Dr Elizabeth Effiwatt, explained that the university initially processed refunds manually across nine batches before introducing an Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-driven platform designed to speed up applications, improve transparency, and reduce administrative bottlenecks.

According to the university, the transition to a digital platform has significantly increased student participation, with more than 2,090 students submitting refund requests electronically within weeks of the portal becoming operational.

UNICAL’s Director of ICT, Dr Eyo Essien, said the automated system has streamlined the submission process and enabled students to file refund applications more efficiently than under the previous manual arrangement.

However, university officials disclosed that processing of the latest digital applications has been temporarily suspended while the bursary department conducts a comprehensive reconciliation of student records with official NELFUND payment schedules.

The verification exercise is intended to ensure that only eligible beneficiaries who received federal loan disbursements after making personal tuition payments are refunded.

According to the institution:

The university stressed that NELFUND operates under a federal framework where approved tuition payments are transferred directly to institutions on behalf of students. Those who had already paid their fees before the federal disbursement are entitled to receive refunds after verification.

The university also dismissed reports alleging that students were being asked to pay ₦12,000 before obtaining refund clearance documents.

Vice Chancellor Professor Florence Obi described the reports as false, stating that neither her office nor the university bursary authorized any such payment.

She reaffirmed that UNICAL’s approved tuition fees remain unchanged, ranging from approximately ₦83,000 for students in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to ₦134,000 for Clinical programmes.

The Vice Chancellor urged students to disregard misinformation and rely only on official communication from the university.

University management noted that the temporary delay affecting the second phase of refunds is solely for verification purposes and is intended to protect the integrity of the process.

Officials assured affected students that refunds would continue once reconciliation with NELFUND records is completed.

The institution reiterated its commitment to ensuring that every qualified beneficiary receives the appropriate reimbursement under the Federal Government’s student loan initiative.