By: Abdulrasheed Olokoto

The Students’ Union President of the University of Ibadan, Covenant Odedele, on Sunday, May 25, 2025, encouraged poor and interested students to explore the NELFUND loan scheme.

The stance of the Executive Committee stands in sharp contrast to prior resolutions of the University of Ibadan Students’ Union Congress, which firmly opposed fee hikes and the perceived commercialization of education through the NELFUND loan scheme.

The Executive’s position on NELFUND, circulated abruptly on Sunday, also follows the cancellation of a Congress initially convened by the Students’ Representative Council to directly address growing concerns over tuition and related fees.

A two-page address jointly signed by Students’ Union President Covenant Odedele and General Secretary Segun Olowu outlined several resolutions, including the extension of the June 6 tuition payment deadline for students awaiting loan disbursement or otherwise unable to pay, the reversal of the N20,000 late registration fee, and the expedited processing of NELFUND refunds for affected students.

Attempting to affirm the responsibility of the federal government to fund public education, Odedele encouraged the student community to take advantage of the NELFUND loan scheme, urging eligible students to apply before the May 31, 2025 deadline.

The Union President assured applicants that disbursements would be completed ahead of the payment deadline.

“At this moment, we can confirm that over 4,800 students have applied for the loan this session, and all applications will be processed before the deadline. We encourage other students who are still interested to apply before May 31 to ensure timely disbursement,” Odedele stated.

In light of the hike in freshmen bundle fees and the general prevailing economic challenges in the country, students remain anxious about the implications of the deadline.