HESLB, NIDA team up to enforce NIN for loans

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) has announced that the National Identification Number (NIN) will be a mandatory requirement for all students applying for higher education loans with effect from 2025/2026 academic year.

HESLB Managing Director Mr Bill Kiwia told reporters yesterday during a joint press briefing with the National Identification Authority (NIDA) held at the HESLB office in Dar es Salaam that NIN will be required for all applicants as a basic requirement for providing loans.

“We would like to inform the public that our two institutions have taken important steps to ensure the loan application process is carried out efficiently and on time. Starting from the upcoming 2025/2026 academic year, NIN will be required for all applicants. We plan to open the application window next month to give eligible students ample time to apply,” said Mr Kiwia.

Mr Kiwia said that the integration of NIN into the loan application process is a key step towards promoting transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the management of student loans.

He urged all prospective applicants to secure their NINs as early as possible before the application window opens.

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“NIN is a reliable form of identification that will help us accurately verify applicant information and enhance the efficiency of loan processing,” he said.

He added: “For us, NIN will strengthen our ability to access accurate and unique data for each student. It will also enhance our capacity to trace and recover loans from beneficiaries. Since the board’s mandate is to provide loans to Tanzanian citizens, the use of NIN will help safeguard applicant’s data and prevent the misuse of false or incorrect information.”

He also called on the public and key stakeholders including parents, students and academic institutions to support efforts in raising awareness about the importance of acquiring a NIN within the designated timeframe.

On his part, NIDA Director General Mr James Kaji reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to providing efficient services and continuing its collaboration with HESLB to ensure that students are registered in time to access loans.

He encouraged prospective applicants to register early in order to streamline the processs.