The Kano State Government has provided clarification on the recent increase in registration fees at Northwest University from ₦17,000 to ₦57,000, following concerns raised by students.

According to state officials, the fee adjustment is directly connected to the university's participation in the Federal Government's Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) program.

Deputy Governor Explains Fee Structure

Comrade Aminu Abdussalam Gwarzo, Kano State Deputy Governor and Commissioner for Higher Education, provided this explanation on Thursday while meeting with members of the National Association of Kano State Students (NAKSS). The student representatives had visited to offer condolences following a tragic accident that claimed the lives of 22 athletes from the state who were returning from a sports event in Ogun State.

Gwarzo emphasized that students are not required to pay the increased fee directly. Instead, they need to enroll in the NELFUND scheme, after which the university will receive funding directly from the federal government.

"The school is not requesting money from students. What is required is evidence of enrollment, as the university will receive the funds directly from NELFUND," he clarified.

Funding Disparities Among Universities

The Deputy Governor highlighted significant disparities in NELFUND allocations among universities, noting that Bayero University, Kano received over ₦900 million due to high student enrollment in the program, while Northwest University received only ₦4 million.

"Some universities in other regions received more than ₦1 billion. This situation compelled us, as administrators, to make the decision to increase the registration fee, in order to encourage all students to register under NELFUND," Gwarzo explained.

He added that the arrangement would benefit both the institution and students, as "the university will receive its share of the funds, and students will also receive monthly stipends."

Loan Repayment Terms

Addressing concerns about loan repayment, the Deputy Governor assured students they shouldn't worry about the loan aspect of NELFUND. "Repayment only begins after the student gets a good job and has worked for two years," he stated.

Gwarzo encouraged students experiencing difficulties with registration to consult the university's NELFUND desk officers for assistance. He also urged student leaders to educate their colleagues about the program's benefits and support each other during the enrollment process.