NELFUND ‘One Of The Greatest Things’ For Nigerian Education — Ekiti Varsity VC
The Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology and Environmental Sciences, Iyin Ekiti, Prof. Gbenga Aribisala, has described the students’ loan initiative under the aegis of the National Education Loan Fund as “one of the greatest things to happen to university education in Nigeria”.
Aribisala said a good number of students of the newly established university were already benefiting from the National Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, commending President Bola Tinubu for the initiative.
He spoke in Iyin Ekiti on Monday during the maiden press conference of the institution, where he highlighted developments in the university and called for support from well-meaning individuals and organisations to complement government’s efforts to further develop the institution.
Aribisala also commended Tinubu for the establishment of the university in 2025, describing it as “first of its kind in Nigeria as part of the Federal Government’s effort to boost the production of high-level manpower development in the country’s technological and environmental science sector”.
The VC, who said NELFUND had, since inception, enabled many more Nigerians to access qualitative tertiary education, said, “A good number of our students are already benefiting from the NELFUND. The President is highly commended for this great initiative”.
Aribisala said the university, which began academic activities with 1,564 students in January 2026, had 35 departments and four faculties: Natural and Applied Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Computing and Information Technology, and Environmental Sciences.
He said, “Plans are underway to begin Anatomy, Physiology, Nursing and Medicine in no too distant time. There is also plan to add Artificial Intelligence, Telecommunication Science, and Tourism and Hospitality Management. The development of the permanent site is ongoing.
“As a result of the institution’s remarkable giant strides, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board has increased the university’s admission quota to 3,300,” the VC said, adding that the university management had instituted stringent measures and policies to admit students only on merit.
Aribisala, who hailed the Senate President, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, and the Oluyin of Iyin Ekiti, Oba Adeola Ajakaye, for provisions to the institution, called on “all public-spirited people and organisations to come to our Macedonia and help us in the provision of facilities for learning and research. Those interested in public private partnership are also welcome”.
He said the take-off grant for the university, which began activities at the proposed site of the Government Science College, Iyin Ekiti, contributed immensely to its rapid development within one year in the “provision of laboratory equipment, office and classroom furniture, solar power installation and the ongoing 250-capacity ICT building”.
The VC listed other infrastructural developments to include completion of hostels for students at the take-off site, ongoing construction of hostels at the permanent site, and ongoing TETFund intervention in hostel accommodation, office furniture, lecture theatre, laboratory and workshop equipment.
Aribisala, who said he was laying a very solid foundation for a 21st-century world-class university, stressed the institution’s strong commitment to research, academic excellence, provision of accommodation and a conducive environment to help the students “to fulfil their aspirations and develop game-changing solutions for the development of the country”.
The VC said, “It was part of my vision to make it residential. I am not joking with the residential vision, not only for now but for the future of the university to inculcate culture into the students. I envisioned is a university that is residential and ICT compliant.
“A university that will produce quality graduates that will create jobs. A university that will attract research stars that are globally visible and carry out cutting edge research. A university that will contribute to the socio-development of the immediate community. A university that will be one of the leading universities globally within the first 10 years of its establishment,” he said.
The VC said the institution placed premium value on a stable academic calendar, ensuring timely completion of students’ academic journeys, saying, “I am happy to inform you that the university completed the first academic session (2025/2026) this month (August), while the 2026/2027 academic session will begin on October 12, 2026.
He reiterated his commitment to staff welfare, adding that “the university is up-to-date in the new salaries as agreed between the Federal Government and the different unions”.
The VC stated that the institution had also placed priority on research for academic staff members to respond to the evolving demands for technology and environmental science education for national development.
“A team headed by Dr Solomon Popoola won the NRF research grant. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has also pledged funds for research to the tune of ₦1bn in the next five years. The university has also established multi-disciplinary research groups that can attract research grants and we are also working with Morgan State University, USA on collaboration,” the VC said.
