FUK Vice-Chancellor Hails NELFUND as Transformative, Confirms N1.73bn Disbursed to Over 8,000 Students
Prof. Umar Pate praises student loan scheme ahead of university’s combined convocation ceremony, says it’s easing financial pressure on students.
The Vice-Chancellor of Federal University Kashere (FUK), Professor Umar Pate, has applauded the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) as a game-changing intervention for tertiary education in Nigeria.
Speaking at a pre-convocation press briefing on Tuesday at the university campus in Gombe State, Professor Pate revealed that 8,266 students of the institution have benefited from the NELFUND scheme, with total disbursements reaching N1.73 billion.
He explained that the funds—allocated for service charges and monthly upkeep—were aimed at relieving the financial burden on students and ensuring uninterrupted academic progress.
“This is one of the best things that has happened to Nigerian students in recent times,” Pate said, commending President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the federal government for initiating the interest-free loan programme. He described the scheme as a bold step toward inclusive and sustainable human capital development in the country.
The announcement comes as the university prepares to hold its combined 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th convocation ceremonies, where thousands of graduates across various disciplines will be awarded degrees.
The NELFUND programme, launched by the federal government, aims to provide interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions, reducing dropout rates caused by financial hardship and broadening access to higher education.
Prof. Pate urged continued support and transparency in the implementation of the scheme, emphasizing its potential to reshape the future of education in Nigeria.
