NELFUND Extends Application Deadline for 2025/2026 Academic Session

By Divine-Mercy Abioye

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), a federal government-established agency responsible for providing interest-free student loans to eligible Nigerians, has extended the application deadline for the 2025/2026 academic session. The original closing date of January 31, 2026, has been moved to Friday, February 27, 2026.

NELFUND was created under the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act of 2024 to provide financial support for tuition costs and upkeep allowances to qualified Nigerian students attending approved public tertiary institutions and increasingly, to vocational and technical trainees. The fund aims to reduce financial barriers to higher education and improve access, operating through an online portal for applications and verification. 

In a statement released on Thursday, January 29, the agency stated the extension is designed to give prospective applicants additional time to complete and submit their applications. The management noted that the decision intends to ensure that no eligible student misses the opportunity to benefit due to timing constraints or technical delays.

Mr. Akintunde Sawyerr, the Managing Director/CEO of NELFUND, described the extension as part of the organisation’s commitment to inclusive access. “This extension reflects our commitment to inclusivity and access. We understand that some applicants may require additional time to complete their submissions, and this decision ensures that every eligible Nigerian student has a fair opportunity to benefit from the Fund,” Sawyerr stated.

The agency urged all prospective students who have not yet completed their applications to use the extended window and ensure all required documentation is uploaded correctly by the February 27 closing date. 

Senator Oluremi Tinubu to Visit OAU, Handover CNG Vehicles and Commission Dream Center

By Sanusi Fawaz 

Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, is set to host the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, on Thursday, January 29, 2026, in an official visit.

Source: Premium Times

The visit will feature the commissioning and formal handover of 50 buses and 10 tricycles donated to the university in October 2025 by the First Lady to improve campus transportation.

This comes on the backdrop of recent transportation challenges students have faced, most notably the long queues they experienced due to severe bus shortages.

 

Long Queues on Campus due to Bus Shortages

Source: ACJOAU

Also slated for commissioning is the Senator Oluremi Tinubu Dream Centre, a facility expected to support student development and community engagement.

The commissioning of the Dream Centre will be performed by the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, adding royal significance to the event.

In anticipation of the visit, the university management has announced that heightened security and restricted movement will be enforced across the campus during the programme. 

Staff and students have been urged to cooperate with security agencies, adhere strictly to official instructions, and maintain proper conduct throughout the visit.

New Beginnings as OAU Matriculates Fresh Students for 2025/2026 Session

By Salako Blessing

On Thursday, 15 January 2026, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) was filled with excitement and merriment as hundreds of newly admitted students were formally matriculated into the institution. With bright smiles and overflowing blue gowns, the students gathered at the newly renovated Amphitheatre for the ceremony, marking the beginning of a new chapter in their educational journey.

The ceremony was conducted in two sessions to accommodate all faculties. The first batch included students from the Faculties of Administration, Arts, Environmental Design and Management, Law, and Social Sciences. The second batch comprised the Faculties of Agriculture, Basic Medical Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Computing Science and Engineering, Dentistry, Education, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology.

VC Warns Against Social Vices

The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Adebayo Simeon Bamire, congratulated the new students, noting that they were selected from tens of thousands of applicants. He emphasised that OAU remains a centre of excellence and the ‘most beautiful campus in Africa’. In his address, he reiterated the University’s zero-tolerance policy towards social vices, warning that students found engaging in cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, sexual harassment, cybercrime, and violent protests will face the full wrath of the law.

‘The degree you will eventually receive is awarded to those who have been found worthy in both character and learning,’ the VC charged the matriculating students. With parents and guardians watching with joy, the matriculating students, led by the Registrar, took the matriculation oath, promising to be obedient to the university authorities, observe all codes of conduct, and refrain from acts of violence.

Mixed Reactions Among Matriculants

OAUPeeps spoke with several matriculants who expressed immense joy. Precious, a student from the Department of Biochemistry, shared her excitement: ‘I feel great today, and the highlight of the day was wearing my matriculation gown. I have been waiting for this day for 3 years, and today my dreams are finally becoming a reality.’

Another student, Odunayo from the Faculty of Law, described her feelings as overwhelming. ‘I feel thrilled and filled with so much excitement,’ she said, adding that she looks forward to a school year filled with academic excellence and meaningful connections.

For Ayomikun, a student of Science Laboratory Technology, the day was both demanding and memorable. ‘Today has been the most stressful and memorable day of my life,’ she said, boldly stating her goal to graduate with a CGPA of 5.0. She noted that the day did not go entirely as planned due to a shift in the programme schedule, with the second session starting at 10:00 a.m. instead of the expected 11:30 a.m.

However, not all students shared the same level of novelty. Joseph, a former student who was readmitted to study Law, expressed a more reserved perspective. ‘I feel indifferent about the whole process because this is not my first time,’ he said. ‘It is better this time around because I will be studying the course I actually want.’

PG Students also Matriculated

The ceremony also saw the matriculation of postgraduate students, including high-profile figures such as Alhaji Ashiru Bola Oyebamiji, the former manager of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), highlighting OAU's continued pull as a centre of academic excellence.

With the ceremony concluded, yesterday marked the beginning of years filled with learning, growth, and new opportunities for the newest members of the ‘Great Ife’ community.

OAU Issues Ultimatum to Students with Manually Allocated Bedspace

By Sanusi Fawaz

The Division of Student Affairs (DSA), Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has released a special directive to all students who received accommodation through manual allocation. The notice urges these students to make the necessary payments within the approved timeframe or risk losing their allocated bed spaces.

In the notice dated 12 January, the DSA clarified that students assigned accommodation during the period the e-portal was down for maintenance must complete their payments strictly through the university’s e-portal. The Division emphasised that no other payment channels will be recognised. 

This release follows the recent temporary shutdown of the school e-portal for maintenance, which began around 24 November. This situation, previously reported by OAUPeeps, prevented many students from accessing the portal to register courses and pay fees until its restoration on 19 December 2025.

The deadline for affected students to complete their payment is Monday, 19 January. After payment, students are expected to submit their bed space clearance forms at the Division of Student Affairs for proper documentation and endorsement.

Furthermore, students whose manually allocated bed spaces are yet to appear on their e-portal accounts are directed to report to Room 4, Division of Student Affairs, on or before 16 January. These students must bring valid proof of school charges payment, specifically their clearance certificate.

The Division emphasised that failure to comply with these instructions within the stipulated deadlines will result in the automatic forfeiture of the allocated bed spaces.

OAU Declares Two-Day Lecture-Free Period for Freshmen Ahead of Matriculation

 By Pipeloluwa Ojelade

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, has declared Wednesday, 14 January 2026, and Thursday, 15 January 2026, as lecture-free days for all new students of the institution. The announcement was contained in a special release issued on January 13, 2026.

According to the release, the decision aims to enable newly admitted students to complete their document verification and clearance processes within their respective faculties. The lecture-free days will also allow new students to participate fully in the matriculation ceremony scheduled for Thursday, 15 January 2026.

Relief for Freshmen

Reactions from fresh students across various faculties revealed mixed but largely positive feelings toward the announcement. 

Oloko Mariam, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Arts, said the announcement brought relief to many new students still adjusting to campus life. ‘Everything is still new for me, and moving from one office to another for clearance can be stressful. The lecture-free days reduce pressure and help us focus on important registration activities,’ she said.

Similarly, Samuel Adeyemi of the Faculty of Social Sciences noted that balancing lectures with clearance and payment processes would have been difficult. ‘This decision will really help us prepare properly for matriculation without feeling rushed,’ he stated. 

Blessing Okorie, a 100-level student in the Faculty of Education, emphasised the importance of the policy in ensuring full participation in matriculation. ‘Nobody wants to miss matriculation. Having these days free gives us enough time to sort out our documents and be fully prepared,’ she said.

Mixed Reactions on Campus

Daniel Ogunleye, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Science, described the move as a practical step. According to him, ‘The clearance process can be tiring, especially for students coming from far places. Without lectures, it is easier to move around and complete everything on time.’

Zainab Bello, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Pharmacy, also commended the decision, noting that it reflected an understanding of the challenges faced by newly admitted students. She also said, ‘The lecture-free days will help me avoid missing classes because of clearance and registration. It also helps me skip early 8 a.m. classes while still preparing for Matriculation on Thursday.’

However, Ahabe Joy, a 100-level student from the Faculty of Administration, said the lecture-free days felt like a normal period for her, having already completed her registration. 

‘Since I have finished my clearance and registration, it does not really change much for me. It just feels like a normal day,’ she explained.

The lecture-free days are expected to ease administrative processes and contribute to a successful matriculation exercise for the university’s newly admitted students. However, all fresh students must complete payment of all necessary fees to participate successfully in the matriculation exercise.

OAU Directs 100-Level Students to Activate Portal Accounts for 2025/2026 Session

 By Salako Blessing

The management of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) has instructed all newly admitted 100-level students to log into the student portal to activate their accounts for the 2025/2026 academic session. This directive appeared as a ‘Very Urgent & Important Information’ pop-up on the official University Student Information Portal.

According to the notification, this step is mandatory for all 100-level students to ensure their accounts are officially activated for the upcoming session. This activation is a prerequisite for students to access essential academic services, including course registration, fee payment, and other critical student-related updates.

Students are advised to visit the official university portal and log in using their admission details to complete the process. The university emphasises that failure to activate accounts promptly may result in delayed registration or restricted access to various academic activities and services.

This move aligns with the university's recent efforts to realign the academic session for newly admitted students and integrate new curricula into the Course and Curriculum Management System (CCMAS). All affected students are encouraged to complete the activation process promptly to avoid potential administrative delays.