The management of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko (AAUA) in Ondo State has announced a significant financial boost for its student body. The university disclosed that more than 1,100 undergraduates have now received loans from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), designed to alleviate the burden of educational costs.
Substantial Financial Support for Tuition Fees
While addressing journalists, the Vice-Chancellor of the institution, Professor Olugbenga Ige, provided concrete figures on the disbursement. He confirmed that the university has received a total sum of N144,530,000 from NELFUND to date. According to Prof. Ige, this federal government initiative provides interest-free loans specifically to cover tuition and statutory charges for eligible students in higher institutions.
"We are enjoying NELFUND in the university. It started last year, and currently, over 1,116 students have benefited and have been given NELFUND loans totalling N144,530,000. That is the amount that has been released to AAUA to date for NELFUND," the Vice-Chancellor stated. He emphasised that the programme has been instrumental in easing the financial pressure on students and their families, allowing them to focus more on their academic pursuits.
Enhanced Campus Safety Through New Hostel Projects
In a related development aimed at student welfare, Professor Ige revealed that the university administration has intensified efforts to increase on-campus accommodation. This move is a direct response to violent attacks faced by some students living off-campus in the Akungba community a few months ago, incidents that unfortunately resulted in fatalities.
The Vice-Chancellor outlined a multi-pronged strategy to build new halls of residence:
- NDDC Hostel: A hall of residence project abandoned for several years by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has been revived. "We have gone to discuss with NDDC, and they are back on campus; the work is ongoing and at the final stage of completion. It will take a minimum of 500 students," Prof. Ige said.
- OSOPADEC Hostel: Discussions are also ongoing with the new leadership of the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) to restart work on another abandoned hostel project.
- State Government Allocation: The Ondo State government has allocated approximately N500 million in its 2026 budget for the construction of a new hall of residence at the university.
- Private Partnerships: The university is actively engaging in private partnerships with individuals and corporations interested in erecting hostels. The physical planning division of AAUA is already working on these proposals.
A Long-Term Vision for Student Housing
Professor Ige shared that expanding on-campus accommodation was a primary target when he assumed office, initially hoping to utilise the TETFund template. However, TETFund had stopped interventions in the university since 2020, necessitating a shift towards private initiatives and government partnerships.
"With this, we hope we will accommodate more students in the university. There are advanced reasons why there should be a deliberate effort to bring our students in from the violent attacks that they normally face on a daily basis within the Akungba community," the VC explained. The overarching goal is to create a safer, more conducive living and learning environment by bringing as many students as possible to reside within the secured campus premises.
