Education

UNILAG Senate meets to choose acting VC

Published

5 years ago

August 24, 2020

The Senate of the University of Lagos (UNILAG) is presently meeting to choose an Acting Vice-Chancellor despite the institution’s Registrar, Oladejo Azeez sending an email to Senate members to wait for further clarification on their assignment.

This follows President Muhammadu Buhari’s directive on Friday that due process should be followed – which is that the Senate should elect an Ag. VC as opposed to the Governing Council doing so.

The President also asked the Council-appointed Ag. VC, Prof. Theophilus Soyombo to step down

In a mail titled: “Notice to All Senate members”, Oladejjo Azeez, who has been an ally of the Governing Council chairman, Dr. Wale Babalakin, said no meeting had been summoned.

Babalakin and the embattled VC the Council removed, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, were asked to recuse themselves from the affairs of the University until the Visitation panel set up to look into the university’s affairs concludes its investigation.

Oladejo’s mail reads: “This is to inform all Senate members that no meeting of the Senate has been summoned.

“Members should await proper Notice of Meeting after the Federal Government of Nigeria has clarified some issues germane to the meeting.”

The Registrar also signed a letter addressed to the Head, Auditorium Management Unit, J.J.F Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos and pasted around the main auditorium, venue of the Senate meeting, instructing the official not to make any facility available for the Senate meeting for the same reason.

It reads in part: “It follows that you do not make any of your facilities available for any meeting until otherwise advised.”

However, the Senate convened regardless.

A member of the Senate (names withheld) told The Nation that Oladejo was not a member of the Senate.

“Oladejo is not a member of the Senate. We are about to start in the Main Auditorium,” the source said

The source said the Senate would vote one of the Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola (DVC Development Services), or Prof. Ben Oghojafor (DVC Management Services) as Acting VC.

“Meeting is ongoing. We are waiting for ballot papers to vote for the Acting VC that is Prof Folasade Ogunsola and Prof Ben Oghojafor,” the source said.

The NATION

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Education

NELFUND assures students of smart system to improve loan access

Published

1 month ago

May 7, 2025

The Gleamer

Mariam Abeeb

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has assured students it was working assiduously towards building a technology driven system that would improve easy access to its loans.

This was as the FUND disclosed that no fewer than 320,000 students have thus far been paid with many more currently undergoing verification process to enable their payments.

Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr gave the assurances in Abuja, while addressing Polytechnics , Monotechnics and Institutes at a Stakeholders Engagement Session/ Technical Workshop on NELFUND System Automation and Loan Application Processes.

Sawyerr noted that the FUND was targeting a platform where students could access loan with confidence and without stress in a manner that was transparent and accountable.

He said: “At NELFUND our mission goes beyond giving loans. It’s about opening doors, it’s about making sure every young Nigerian who is willing to learn and grow has a real shot regardless of their background, location, or chosen path of study.

“For too long, many students, especially in technical institutions, have faced steep financial barriers; some drop out, others have never even applied. This is the gap we at NELFUND are here to close. But we know we can’t do it alone.

“This is a shared mission. It belongs to all of us, government institutions and the private sector alike. This technical workshop marks a major step forward.

“We’re not only providing financing, we’re building a technology-driven system that makes it easier for students to apply, for institutions to verify, and for funds to be disbursed with speed, fairness, and accountability.

“We’re aiming for access without stress, a platform students can use with confidence; transparency and trust so that no one is left wondering where their application stands; partnership with purpose because your feedback, your data, and your cooperation are critical to making this work. We rely on you as our institutional partners to help us bring this vision to life.”

Sawyerr who commended the institutions for providing technical expertise, practical hands-on training that fuels industries and empowers communities over the years, said besides teaching skills, they have built careers, created employers and strengthened economies.

“You know your students, you understand their struggles, your insights will help us tailor this system to reflect the realities on ground, not just assumptions on paper.

“To NBTE, we value your steady leadership in shaping and regulating technical education. Your collaboration is key as we move forward fully.”

The NELFUND boss urged the institutions to partner with the FUND to deliver a system that was not just functional or sustainable, but one that was transformative

“As we move forward fully, integrating NELFUND processes with institutional systems and standards, let us remember at the heart of all of this is a student, a young Nigerian with dreams, with ambition, and the courage to pursue them. Everything we do must serve that student.

“The only way to make it happen is by working together, listening to one another, and staying grounded in real-world challenges. I encourage you all to engage fully today share what’s working and what is not, and together let’s build something that lasts.”

NELFUND ‘s Executive Director, Operations, Mr. Iyal Mustapha, disclosed that apart from the 320,000 students who have so far been paid, more verifications are currently ongoing.

Mustapha, who explained that the failure of not having the number of registered students tally with the number of students whose application process was deemed successful was from the part of students and not NELFUND, said there was an urgent need to bridge the gap.

He also disclosed that the FUND was considering connecting directly to institution’s portal to get the data they need, and how student could apply to their institutions portal without necessarily reaching out to NELFUND.

“One other thing that we’re trying to do going forward is to send some of our IT to all the institutions so that we can see how possible it is we connect directly to your portal instead of saying please send us data. How can we connect using an API which makes it easier to get the data of any student coming to us directly from your portal and not from our portal. So we don’t need to be collecting any data again.

“At the same time, we’re thinking of seeing how is it possible that a student can apply to your portal without coming to us. So it makes it so easy for the student when they’re doing registration, when they’re doing payments, they can select either to apply for NELFUND loans and the process will go through your portal. So you have all the data without ever reaching to NELFUND. All we need is for you to give assurance these are your students and if we have that, we pay you directly. It makes it simpler and faster for all the students.”

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