ASSESSMENT OF NELFUND AND SUSTAINABILITY IN A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The primary objective of this study is to assess the sustainability of NELFund in a Nigerian university, specifically through a case study of the University of Ilorin. A descriptive survey method was adopted for this study. The population of this study consisted of undergraduates enrolled at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria, during the 2024/2025 academic session. The target population consisted of undergraduate students from the Faculty of Education at the University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria. A sample of 218 students was selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using the researcher’s designed questionnaire. The collected data were analysed using frequency counts, and the questions were answered using means and standard deviations. The weighted mean of 3.11 corroborates the claim that NELFund substantially mitigates financial stability for undergraduates at the University of Ilorin, the weighted mean of 3.15, substantiates NELFund's contribution to institutional stability and sustainability among undergraduates, and the weighted mean of 3.14 reinforces a favourable viewpoint that NELFund significantly enhances students' ability to remain enrolled and successfully complete their courses. It is, therefore, recommended that students be encouraged to apply for NELFund loans and seek other forms of financial assistance to fund their studies. Additionally, the criteria for NELFund selection should focus on students with a strong academic background, and the University should improve its learning infrastructure, stable academic calendar, and quality education, as students can now afford tuition fees.