The management of the University of Ibadan has announced that the Nigerian Education Loan Fund has approved loans for 3,283 students at the institution.
However, the university has yet to receive the disbursed funds.
According to The PUNCH, in an internal memo issued on Wednesday, UI’s Registrar, G. O. Salisu, directed department heads to allow students whose loan applications were approved to sit for their first-semester examinations.
The decision follows student protests over a recent tuition fee hike.
The memo stated, “Although the funds have not yet been received by the university, the list of the affected students has been sent to the departments. All Heads of Departments have been instructed to allow these students to sit for the 2023/2024 first-semester examinations.”
This move comes after protests erupted last Friday, with students expressing dissatisfaction over the university’s decision to increase tuition fees.
The protest, which started at midnight, was a response to a circular issued by the university’s governing council that approved a new schedule of fees for both returning and newly admitted undergraduates.
The circular, signed by the Council’s Secretary, G. O. Saliu, noted, “After a meeting on Thursday, the council considered the reviewed schedule of levies for newly admitted and returning undergraduate students in the 2023/2024 academic session and approved it as recommended by the university Senate.”
Students were also reminded to complete their registration before the start of examinations. “Those who are yet to pay and complete their registration exercises are advised to do so on or before Wednesday, September 4, 2024,” the circular added.
The approval of the education loans offers some relief to the affected students, but tensions remain high as protests over the fee hike continue.
