The Management of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has refuted the website circulating an offer of foreign visa sponsorship to students.
NELFUND disclosed that it has no alliance with the website and scheme – and asked the public to disregard the ‘fraudulent website’.
In a statement signed by the Agency’s Director, Corporate Communications, Nasir Ayitogo on Tuesday, NELFUND noted that those behind the fraudulent act are using its name and logo to publicise the website on Facebook.
The statement partly reads: “The website, which is being promoted on Facebook, redirects users to a site: labari.com.ng. NELFUND categorically state that it has no affiliation with this website or any similar scheme.
“NELFUND’s mission is to solely provide educational loans to eligible Nigerian students to further their academic pursuits within Nigeria. NELFUND therefore does not offer visa sponsorships or related services, and any claims to the contrary are entirely false and misleading.
“The fraudulent website is using NELFUND’s name and logo without authorization to deceive the public, and the fund strongly advise everyone to exercise caution and refrain from engaging with this site or providing any personal information.”
The agency said that it is taking immediate steps to address the situation – and has reported the matter to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
“We urge the public to rely solely on information provided through NELFUND’s official channels, including website, nelf.gov.ng, and verified social media accounts.
“Any communication from NELFUND will be through these channels, and the public are encouraged to verify any suspicious information directly with us.”
NELFUND reiterated its commitment to supporting the educational aspirations of Nigerian students, adding that it “will continue to uphold the highest standards of integrity in all our operations. We thank the public for their continued trust and support.”
