Daud Olatunji
The Vice-Chancellor of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Prof. Ayodeji Agboola, has praised President Bola Tinubu’s Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), saying it has enabled thousands of students to complete their studies without financial interruptions.
Prof. Agboola disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists ahead of the university’s 35th convocation ceremony next week at the Senate Building.
“Before NELFUND, between 3,000 and 4,000 students annually applied for leave of absence due to financial difficulties. Today, we have not received a single application on that ground,” he said, describing the initiative as a “major boost to access to quality tertiary education.”
He revealed that a total of 5,808 students are set to graduate, including 147 First-Class degree holders. Of the remaining graduates, 2,051 secured Second Class Upper, 2,927 Second Class Lower, 571 Third Class, 26 Pass degrees, while 86 others were uncategorized.
He disclosed that Ajayi David Bamidele, a Civil Engineering graduate with a CGPA of 4.89, emerged as the overall best graduating student.
Prof. Agboola noted that for the 2025/2026 academic session, NELFUND had paid the tuition of 5,613 students, with another 1,270 awaiting payment, bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 6,883.
“This scheme allows our students to focus fully on learning without worrying about fees,” he added.
The Vice-Chancellor also announced that the university would continue its practice of issuing certificates and transcripts on convocation day, and will confer an honorary Doctor of Science degree on Mr. Ayo Ojuroye, founder of Optimus Bank and Chairman of Mango Asset Management, in recognition of his contributions to national development.
He further said OOU had introduced eight new academic programmes, including Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Marketing, Advertising, Food Technology, Film and Multimedia Studies, Journalism, Broadcasting, and Public Relations, and had leveraged partnerships to enhance infrastructure, research, and innovation.
While fielding questions from journalists, the VC said that all the overall best students had received the cash awards promised to them.
“All of them have collected their money. No one is left. The governor has paid the amounts promised during the convocation,” he said.
Activities lined up for the convocation include a health walk, cultural parade, agriculture and engineering exhibitions, and a novelty match.
The convocation lecture, titled “Repositioning Nigerian Universities as Innovation Hubs for Entrepreneurship and National Development,” will be delivered by the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani.
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