The Acting Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro, Mikhail Akinde, has commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), revealing that the institution has received about N32 million to support students.

Akinde said the intervention has enabled many students who might have dropped out due to financial challenges to remain in school and complete their studies.

According to him, about 233 students of the institution have already benefited from the fund, especially during recent examinations.

He noted that NELFUND has had a direct impact on access to education, stating that some students who would have been unable to sit for exams were able to do so after being captured under the scheme.

The vice chancellor also used the opportunity to call on investors to partner with the institution in mass-producing locally fabricated machines developed by staff and students.

He listed innovations such as solar-powered tricycles, palm oil digesters, PET bottle shredders, maize dehuskers, and incubators, noting that they could help reduce reliance on imported machinery and boost local production.

Akinde stressed that as the institution transitions into a university, it will continue to prioritise practical and technical education to bridge Nigeria’s technological gap and create employment opportunities.

He added that the university remains committed to producing graduates with hands-on skills capable of contributing meaningfully to national development.

The vice chancellor further announced plans to honour notable figures, including Dapo Abiodun and Dikko Radda, during the upcoming convocation ceremony.