3,296 FUL students get N387m NELFUND loans

…As TETFund commits N404.9m to staff development By Boluwaji Obahopo, Lokoja The Federal University Lokoja (FUL) has disclosed that 3,296 students benefited from about N387 million disbursed through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) in two tranches, easing the financial burden of higher education. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, disclosed this on Monday during a press briefing ahead of the university’s 10th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday, November 14.

Ibileye said the first tranche of approximately N188 million benefited 1,631 students, while the second disbursement of about N199 million supported another 1,665 students. He explained that the university also refunded students who had paid their tuition fees before their loan applications were approved and the funds subsequently released. Beyond student support, the Vice-Chancellor said the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) committed approximately N404.9 million to staff development through academic training and conference sponsorship.

He disclosed that 190 of the 200 applications submitted by staff for conference sponsorship were approved, representing a 95 per cent approval rate. According to him, 81 academic staff members benefited from the sponsorship, comprising 49 who attended international conferences and 32 who participated in local conferences, at a cost of approximately N246.6 million.

He added that 109 non-academic staff members also received conference sponsorship valued at about N38.4 million, bringing the total expenditure on conference sponsorship to approximately N285 million. Ibileye further disclosed that 21 academic staff members received approval for TETFund-funded academic training, with N158.9 million committed to the programme.

On research development, he said the university had submitted more than 50 grant proposals following the appointment of its first Grants Officer. He added that eight professors had delivered inaugural lectures since February, bringing the institution’s total number of inaugural lectures to 47. The Vice-Chancellor also announced the expansion of the university’s academic programmes, saying 14 new programmes admitted pioneer students for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The new programmes include Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Data Science, Software Engineering, Psychology, and Criminology and Security Studies. He said eight academic programmes had secured full accreditation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), while accreditation processes were ongoing for 10 others. Ibileye noted that the university was recording the progress amid rising operational costs, increasing student enrolment and growing demands for infrastructure, laboratories, accommodation and digital facilities.

He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to improving teaching, research and student welfare, adding that 5,638 students would graduate at its 10th convocation ceremony.