The University of Ilesa (UNILESA), Osun State, has dismissed claims that it withheld tuition refunds from students whose fees were later paid through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), insisting that hundreds of eligible beneficiaries have already received their money.
The university described reports linking it with institutions allegedly failing to refund students as false and misleading, maintaining that it has consistently processed refunds in line with the operational guidelines of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme.
In a statement signed by the Senior Assistant Registrar, Corporate Services and Information Unit, Babatunde Fanawopo, the institution reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, accountability and due process in implementing the NELFUND programme.
According to the statement, 3,993 UNILESA students benefited from the 2026 NELFUND disbursement, comprising 1,254 students in the first batch and 2,739 in the second batch.
The university added that 2,734 beneficiaries successfully accessed their loans through wallet funding, describing the figure as evidence of the institution’s effective implementation of the scheme.
It disclosed that 396 students who had earlier paid their tuition fees before the NELFUND disbursement have already received refunds.
The breakdown showed that 168 students in the first batch and 106 in the second batch were refunded, while another 122 students had their refunds processed. The university added that 133 additional refund requests are currently being processed.
“At no time has the University failed or refused to refund eligible students whose tuition fees were subsequently paid through the NELFUND scheme. On the contrary, the University has consistently and diligently processed refunds for qualified beneficiaries in strict accordance with extant financial regulations and the operational guidelines of the NELFUND programme,” the statement read.
It added that the institution would not engage in any act capable of undermining or discrediting the successful implementation of the student loan initiative.
According to the university, every genuine refund request is receiving priority attention, while outstanding cases are undergoing verification of bank account details and other administrative procedures to ensure transparency, accuracy and accountability.
The management explained that some pending cases involve beneficiaries who are yet to complete the required documentation or make decisions regarding their loan offers.
It urged students seeking clarification or assistance to visit the NELFUND Desk Office at the university’s Bursary Department for verification and resolution of outstanding issues, reiterating its commitment to ensuring that all genuine refund requests are processed promptly.
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