The management of the University of Ibadan has confirmed that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, has approved loan applications for 3,283 students at the institution.
In an internal memo issued on Wednesday, the management noted that while the loans had been approved, the funds had yet to be received.
The memo, signed by the institution’s Registrar, G. O. Salisu, instructed the heads of departments to permit students whose loans had been approved to sit for the first-semester examinations.
“Further to our circular number REG/13/I.26 of 13 September 2024, I write to inform the University of Ibadan community that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has provided a list of 3,283 students whose loan applications have been approved.
“Although the funds have not yet been received by the university, the list of the affected students has been sent to the departments. All Heads of Departments have been instructed to allow these students to sit for the 2023/2024 first-semester examinations.
“This is for information and strict compliance by staff and students,” the memo read.
Recall that students at the University of Ibadan had embarked on protest after the university governing council endorsed the tuition fee hike by the management.
The demonstrations, which began at midnight last Friday, were said to have been triggered by a circular issued last Thursday by the council’s secretary, G.O. Saliu.
The circular, sighted by Chronicle NG, stated that after a meeting on Thursday, the council had “considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”
It further noted, “Consequently, students who are yet to pay and complete their registration exercises are advised to do so on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024, to enable departments to download lists of registered students in preparation for the first-semester examination.”