Education
FG, ASUU resume talks Monday, students continue protests
Students of the University of Ilorin on Tuesday staged a peaceful protest to express their disappointment over the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, vowing that they would not have anything to do with the 2023 general election if the government allowed the strike to linger.
This was just as students of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, staged a similar protest on the strike in front of The PUNCH Place on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Ogun State.
The PUNCH had reported how ASUU, on Monday, extended its rollover strike by 12 weeks to provide enough time for the Federal Government to attend to its demands.
UNILORIN students, during the protest, said they planned to take their protest to major places like the Government House, roads linking Ilorin Airport, state House of Assembly, Federal Secretariat, police headquarters, and the Department of State Services, among other places, if the meeting between ASUU and the Federal Government did not resolve the lingering crisis this week.
The protesting students lamented their continued stay at home due to the strike and called on the Federal Government to meet ASUU’s demands to enable them to complete their academic activities.
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Speaking with journalists, the Students Union President, Taofik Waliu, said the protest was aimed at creating awareness among stakeholders and members of the public.
Waliu said, “We want to graduate. The Federal Government should meet ASUU’s demands. We don’t plan to move around town today. We hope that soon, the ASUU strike will be a thing of the past whereby about-to-be graduates can graduate and 300 Level students can move up, and so on.
“However, if nothing fruitful comes out after the Federal Government’s meeting with ASUU this week, we will move en masse continuously with other students of 10 educational institutions in the state to block roads to various places in the state capital to register our displeasure over the lingering strike.
“This is just to send a message to the government that we are tired and they should meet ASUU’s demands.”
The state chairman of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Salman Yisa, called on state governors to intervene, adding that the issue is beyond the Federal Government.
OAU students, who stormed the entrance of The PUNCH, said they did so because they believed their grievances would be publicised.
The President of the OAU Student Union Government, Olayiwola Folarin, in an interview with one of our correspondents, described their action as a warning, adding that they have plans to hit the streets if nothing was done soonest.
The union’s Welfare Officer, Dada Arafat, said, “We are in solidarity with ASUU, appealing for the reopening of schools and provision of funds meant for laboratories and structures.”
The union’s Clerk, Odetunde Dickson, added that students were tired of constant industrial action.
OAU orders students to vacate halls of residence
The management of OAU, however, on Tuesday directed all students to vacate their halls of residence.
A statement signed by the Dean, Division of Student Affairs, Prof. I.O. Aransi, dated May 10, 2022, said students must comply with the directive not later than Friday, May 13.
According to him, the directive was a sequel to the latest development on the ongoing strike embarked upon by all the staff unions in the nation’s federal universities.
The statement read in part, “To this end, all undergraduate and postgraduate students in the halls of residence are directed to vacate their respective hostels and go home till further notice.
“It is our hope that issues necessitating the strike action will be resolved as soon as possible.”
Government meets ASUU May 16
Meanwhile, ASUU may meet with the government side on May 16.
The Chairman of the Federal University of Technology, Minna chapter of ASUU, and member of the union’s National Executive Council, Dr. Gbolahan Bolarin, disclosed this in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.
Bolarin said, “I am aware there will be a meeting coming up next week from May 16 with the government, but we are not aware of any invitation from the Minister of Labour and Employment. Holding a meeting is not the issue, the most important thing is the implementation.
“They will call us for meetings and then say the government does not have the money. When aviation declared strike, they settled it because they are mostly affected. Once our leaders are not affected, they do not care. When bad fuel was imported, they did not really care. Our leaders are not sincere, the day the government becomes sincere, issues will be settled.
“We have given them 12 weeks and we hope that they will resolve the issues within this window. This is something they can resolve within a day if they are serious.”.
Education
Check Your Name: UNILORIN Releases Updated NELFUND Refund List for 2024/2025 Students
Check Your Name: UNILORIN Releases Updated NELFUND Refund List for 2024/2025 Students
The University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) has released a new list of students eligible to apply for the 2024/2025 NELFUND refund, according to the UNILORIN Students’ Union (SU). Students who paid school fees before NELFUND disbursed funds directly to the university are now required to check their names and submit refund requests through the proper channels.
The official refund eligibility list has been shared in an Excel spreadsheet format and contains verified student details, including full name, matriculation number, department, and eligibility status. Students can search the file using their name or matric number to confirm their eligibility.
Those whose names appear on the list are instructed to fill the official refund form and submit supporting documents, including fee receipts and bank account details, to the Student Affairs Unit (SAU) or their respective Dean’s Office. The refund disbursement is gradual and ongoing, depending on NELFUND fund release schedules.
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For students whose names are not on the current list, they are advised to check their NELFUND portal status at portal.nelf.gov.ng and ensure all records are correctly verified. UNILORIN and the Students’ Union have also clarified that this is not the final list, as additional batches of eligible students may be added as verification continues.
Students are urged to act promptly, as following the prescribed procedures will ensure timely refund of fees paid in advance.
How to Check Your Eligibility
Students can confirm their eligibility by viewing the official list published by the university. To streamline verification, a table of students in the Department of Accounting and select departments is presented below.
| S/N | Matric Number | Student Name | Programme | Level | Department |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20/66MA093 | Johnson Babatunde Ogunwunmiju | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 2 | 21/66MA002 | Zainab Oreoluwa Abdulrahmon | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 3 | 21/66MA021 | Shukurat Oluwapelumi Adetunji | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 4 | 21/66MA038 | Josephine Oluwateniola Akoki | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 5 | 21/66MA049 | Vivian Member Aun | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 6 | 21/66MA054 | Yusuf Olamilekan Babatunde | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 7 | 21/66MA065 | Precious John Elijah | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 8 | 21/66MA083 | Mariam Omowunmi Issa | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 9 | 21/66MA088 | Toyosi Kolade | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
| 10 | 21/66MA091 | Ayanfe Olaoluwa Makanjuola | B.Sc. Accounting | 400 | Accounting |
Note: The above table shows a partial list for illustration. The full list includes hundreds of students across various faculties and levels.
UNILORIN NELFUND Refund List 2025/2026
Check Your Name: UNILORIN Releases Updated NELFUND Refund List for 2024/2025 Students
Education
NELFUND Refutes UniAbuja Loan Diversion Claims
NELFUND Refutes UniAbuja Loan Diversion Claims
The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has strongly refuted recent claims that officials of the University of Abuja (UniAbuja), including the vice‑chancellor and senior administrators, diverted or misappropriated student loan funds intended for indigent students.
In a detailed statement, NELFUND clarified that no verified evidence exists to support allegations that UniAbuja unlawfully withheld or diverted loan disbursements. The Fund said the speculation circulating in some media reports — which implicated the university’s vice‑chancellor, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, and other officials in the alleged diversion of multibillion‑naira funds — is unfounded and misleading.
The reports also suggested that UniAbuja failed to reimburse residual balances to students whose actual tuition fees were lower than the amounts disbursed by NELFUND on their behalf. In response, NELFUND maintained that its structured disbursement and reconciliation framework ensures that funds released for student loans are properly applied in line with its statutory mandate.
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Mrs. Oseyemi Oluwatuyi, NELFUND’s Director of Strategic Communications, emphasised that the Fund’s operations are governed by formal verification, compliance, and reconciliation protocols. According to her, loan funds are released through established institutional channels, and strict accountability mechanisms are in place to safeguard both student and institutional interests.
The Fund acknowledged that discrepancies or timing issues sometimes arise in the process of crediting student or institutional accounts, but said these are typically resolved through direct engagement with the relevant institutions, in accordance with due administrative processes.
“Where concerns arise regarding timelines of crediting student accounts or institutional reconciliation processes, NELFUND engages directly with the relevant institution to clarify and resolve such matters administratively and in accordance with due process,” the statement read.
NELFUND reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability, and rigorous audit procedures, which include reliance on verified documentation and formal reconciliation mechanisms when addressing any issue related to its student loan disbursements.
The Fund also reaffirmed its dedication to protecting the interests of eligible Nigerian students and ensuring that all disbursements are applied lawfully and effectively to support access to tertiary education.
NELFUND Refutes UniAbuja Loan Diversion Claims
Education
Supreme Court Affirms Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at Rivers State University
Supreme Court Affirms Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at Rivers State University
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ruled in favor of Muslim students at Rivers State University (RSU), affirming their constitutional right to practice Islam and perform religious activities on campus. The landmark judgment, delivered on February 10, 2026, closes a legal battle that has lasted for over a decade.
The ruling reinforces Section 38 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which guarantees freedom of thought, conscience, and religion for all Nigerians.
The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Rivers State Area Unit, hailed the judgment as a historic affirmation of constitutional rights and the rule of law.
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The case traces back to 2012, when a mosque on the university campus was demolished, leaving Muslim students without a dedicated place of worship. The matter passed through the Federal High Court in 2013 and the Court of Appeal in 2017, before finally reaching the Supreme Court.
In a statement, the MSSN emphasized that the ruling is not a victory for one religion over another but a triumph for constitutionalism, equity, and justice. The society commended Muslim students for their discipline, resilience, and peaceful conduct throughout the legal process and acknowledged the efforts of its legal team and community leaders.
The MSSN called on Rivers State University management and relevant authorities to implement the ruling promptly by providing a dedicated and befitting place of worship for Muslim students on campus. The organization also urged students to respond with gratitude and maturity, emphasizing peaceful coexistence and mutual respect within the university community.
Experts believe this decision will have far-reaching implications for religious accommodation and inclusivity in public tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Supreme Court Affirms Muslim Students’ Right to Worship at Rivers State University
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