FCAIB HOSTS NELFUND ASSESSMENT TEAM TO REVIEW STUDENT LOAN IMPLEMENTATION

By Ayodeji Adedokun

The Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan (FCAIB), Moor Plantation, has received a delegation from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Abuja, on an assessment visit to review the implementation and impact of the student loan scheme at the College.

In her welcome address, delivered on behalf of the Provost, Professor Jeremiah Atungwu, Dr. Mrs. Victoria E. Okpeze warmly welcomed the visiting team on behalf of the Governing Council, Management, staff and students of the College.

Dr. Mrs. Okpeze assured the team of the College’s full cooperation throughout the assessment exercise. She stated that relevant records were available for inspection and that the Management was committed to transparency in the implementation of the student loan scheme.

She explained that FCAIB had embraced the student loan initiative from the onset with the ICT, Student Affairs and Bursary units working together to ensure the verification and submission of students’ information through the appropriate portal.

She noted that a number of FCAIB students had benefited from the student upkeep and institutional loan components of the scheme. She added that the College had continued to support eligible students through the application and disbursement processes.

Dr. Mrs. Okpeze also used the opportunity to highlight the need for increased government support for Colleges of Agriculture across the country. She noted that such support would help institutions improve their infrastructure and provide better facilities for teaching, learning and practical training.

She emphasised that FCAIB, as a specialised institution for agricultural education and training, plays an important role in developing skilled manpower for the agricultural sector.

She explained that these projects are aimed at improving students’ learning experiences and equipping them with the practical skills required to contribute meaningfully to agricultural development.

Dr. Mrs. Okpeze therefore appealed to the Federal Government and relevant agencies to extend more development interventions to Colleges of Agriculture. She stressed that improved funding would strengthen infrastructure and further enhance the quality of agricultural education across the country.

The College Management also reaffirmed its commitment to initiatives that promote students’ welfare and improve access to quality education.

Speaking on the purpose of the visit, the NELFUND assessment team explained that the exercise was aimed at reviewing the implementation of the student loan scheme and documenting its impact on beneficiaries.

The team, led by Mr. Ogundeyi Adeoluwa Peter, expressed interest in examining relevant records and engaging with officials responsible for the administration of the scheme. The team also sought direct feedback from students to better understand their experiences and identify areas where the programme could be improved.

However, the College explained that students were currently not in session which made it difficult to have a large physical interaction with them. The possibility of engaging some students physically where available as well as through virtual platforms was therefore considered.

The NELFUND representatives clarified that the visit was not intended to scrutinise the College negatively but to assess the positive impact of the scheme identify challenges and gather information that could support improvements to the programme.

The team also emphasised the importance of obtaining feedback directly from beneficiaries as such information would help NELFUND understand the needs of students and institutions more effectively.

Mr elum samuel esq provided information on its participation in the scheme including the processing of its first batch of beneficiaries in 2024 and subsequent disbursement phases. He explained that eligible students who completed the required processes had received their approved payments directly.

He also disclosed that a few students still required further action on their applications before their payments could be completed.

The NELFUND team further explained that the portal was currently open to existing beneficiaries seeking subsequent disbursements while new applicants would be able to apply when the portal is officially opened for a new application cycle.

The visiting team also acknowledged the importance of functional infrastructure in institutions noting that financial assistance to students should be supported by conducive learning environments and adequate facilities.

The College used the opportunity to reiterate its appeal for Colleges of Agriculture to be included in relevant government funding interventions. The Management stressed that improved access to development funds would support infrastructure expansion and strengthen the capacity of institutions to train students effectively.

Among the College officials present during the visit were the Registrar, Mrs. Olanike A. Popoola, Mr. Samuel Elum, Esq. and Mr. Azeez alongside other members of the College team.

The visit featured further discussions on the implementation of the student loan scheme, students’ experiences and ways of strengthening collaboration between NELFUND and beneficiary institutions.

The College highlighted some of its ongoing and planned developmental projects including the construction of animal production laboratories, engineering facilities and modern workshops as well as the development of library facilities and the provision of computers and other ICT facilities.

The Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, reaffirmed its commitment to supporting programmes that promote students’ welfare and improve access to quality education while strengthening the institution’s contribution to agricultural development.

The College expressed optimism that the outcome of the assessment would contribute to further improvements in the student loan scheme and create greater opportunities for students of FCAIB and other Colleges of Agriculture across the country.

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