NELFUND hails LAUTECH’s top graduating student, cites loan impact on 4.89 CGPA feat

Abdullateef Fowewe

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has celebrated Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) best graduating student, Oladepo Caleb Olugbenga, spotlighting its interest-free loans as key to his stellar academic performance.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), NELFUND wrote, “Congratulations, Caleb! Your achievement is truly inspiring, and we’re proud to have played a part in your journey. This is exactly the impact we strive for. Empowering students to excel.”

Oladepo, who earned a remarkable 4.89 out of 5.0 CGPA in B.Tech, credited the agency’s financial support for allowing him to concentrate on his studies without the burden of economic hardship.

The endorsement underscores NELFUND’s core mission to broaden access to higher education across Nigeria through affordable student loans.

By sharing this first-class success story, the agency aims to demonstrate the program’s tangible role in fostering academic excellence amid rising tuition costs.

Public reactions to the post were mixed.

Supporters hailed the initiative as a game-changer for student empowerment, with comments like “This is the Nigeria we need!”

However, others voiced frustrations, urging NELFUND to accelerate disbursements for outstanding fees and upkeep allowances at LAUTECH.

Some even called for loan waivers as incentives for top performers, reflecting ongoing debates over the scheme’s implementation.

NELFUND, launched to replace the discontinued federal bursary system, has disbursed loans to thousands since its inception, though delays in payouts have drawn criticism from student unions.