Chairman Senate Committee on NELFUND, Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, Leads Oversight Visit to Kashim Ibrahim University

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, and TETFund, Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed, has led other members of the Senate on an oversight visit to Kashim Ibrahim University, KIU, Maiduguri.

The visit was part of the Committee’s oversight responsibilities to assess the implementation of the Federal Government’s student loan scheme under NELFUND, inspect projects being executed through the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund, and engage the University management on developments, challenges and other issues affecting the institution.

Speaking during the visit, Senator Dandutse Muntari Mohammed expressed appreciation to the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Babagana Gutti, and the management of Kashim Ibrahim University for the warm reception accorded to the delegation.

He commended the University for its impressive infrastructural development and the visible transformation taking place across the campus.

Senator Muntari stressed the importance of education to national development, particularly in view of the current economic and social realities facing the country. He noted that Nigeria, with a population of more than 200 million people across six geopolitical zones, must continue to invest in education as one of the major pathways to sustainable development.

According to him, the delegation was in the North-East as part of its statutory oversight mandate to engage directly with universities and obtain first-hand information on the implementation of government programmes. He explained that the Committee was particularly interested in assessing the impact of NELFUND interventions, as well as inspecting the standard and quality of TETFund projects being implemented at Kashim Ibrahim University.

"We are here to interact with you and have first-hand information on the implementation of these programmes. We also want to see the projects being executed through TETFund and assess their quality, standard and level of completion," Senator Muntari said.

The Chairman also commended the Executive Governor of Borno State for his continued commitment to the development of the education sector and for supporting infrastructural development at Kashim Ibrahim University.

He equally praised the Vice-Chancellor and his management team for their leadership, hospitality and commitment to transforming the University into a modern institution capable of providing quality education to students in the region.

Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of Kashim Ibrahim University, Professor Babagana Gutti, warmly welcomed Senator Muntari and members of the Senate Committee to the University. He described the visit as historic, noting that it was the first time in the history of the institution that such a large number of serving senators had visited the University for an official engagement.

Professor Gutti assured the delegation that Kashim Ibrahim University remains a safe and secure environment. He explained that the University has strengthened its security architecture through the deployment of security personnel across the campus and the installation of CCTV surveillance systems covering strategic areas of the institution.

The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that although the University is currently on vacation, all students who graduated during the 2025/2026 academic session have been mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC. He described the development as part of the University's commitment to ensuring that its graduates are properly prepared for national service and the next stage of their professional careers.

Professor Gutti also highlighted the University's ongoing digital transformation, stating that management is progressively moving its academic and administrative operations to digital platforms. He said major University activities are being captured and managed through a centralised database to improve efficiency, accountability, transparency and service delivery.

On NELFUND, the Vice-Chancellor said the University has fully embraced the Federal Government’s student loan initiative and is working in line with the policy. He explained that eligible students benefiting from the scheme are supported through NELFUND, with the University receiving the applicable payments from the Fund in accordance with the established arrangement.

He further expressed appreciation for the intervention of NELFUND, noting that the scheme has the potential to significantly improve access to university education by reducing the financial burden on students and their families.

The oversight visit provided an opportunity for the Senate delegation and the University management to exchange views on NELFUND, TETFund projects, infrastructural development, student welfare, security, digital transformation and other matters relating to the growth and sustainability of higher education in the North-East.

The visit concluded with a renewed commitment by the Senate Committee and the University management to strengthen collaboration and support initiatives aimed at improving access to quality education, enhancing infrastructure and contributing to the overall development of Nigeria’s education sector.