Over 3,000 Students at Federal University Lokoja Receive N387 Million in Loans

More than 3,000 students at the Federal University Lokoja (FUL) have received loans totaling about N387 million from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). This support was announced by the university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Gbenga Solomon Ibileye, during a press briefing on Monday.

The loans were distributed in two parts. The first part, worth around N188 million, helped 1,631 students, while the second part, totaling about N199 million, benefited another 1,665 students. The university also refunded students who had already paid their tuition fees before their loan applications were approved.

In addition to student loans, TETFund, which supports educational development, has committed approximately N404.9 million for staff training and conference sponsorship. Out of 200 applications for conference support, 190 were approved, allowing 81 academic staff members to attend various conferences.

Of those, 49 attended international events, while 32 participated in local conferences, costing about N246.6 million. Furthermore, 109 non-academic staff members received sponsorship worth around N38.4 million.

Prof. Ibileye also mentioned that 21 academic staff members were approved for TETFund-funded training, with N158.9 million allocated for this purpose. The university has submitted over 50 grant proposals and has seen eight professors deliver inaugural lectures this year.

Looking ahead, FUL is expanding its academic offerings with 14 new programs, including Artificial Intelligence and Cyber Security, set to welcome students in the 2026/2027 academic year. Eight programs have received full accreditation, while 10 others are still in the process.

The Vice-Chancellor emphasized the university’s commitment to enhancing education and student welfare, especially as it faces rising operational costs and increasing student enrollment. A total of 5,638 students are expected to graduate at the upcoming 10th convocation ceremony on November 14.