No fewer than 91 students have graduated with first class honours from the Federal University of Kashere (FUK), Gombe State, out of the 6,870 students who will receive degrees during the institution’s combined sixth to ninth convocation ceremonies.
This was disclosed on Tuesday by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Umaru Pate, during a press briefing held at the university campus in Kashere.
Giving a breakdown of the graduating class, Pate said, “Out of the total 6,870 students graduating, 91 have earned first class degrees, representing about one percent. We have 1,899 in second class upper, 3,917 in second class lower, 960 in third class, and three students graduating with a pass.”
He also noted a gender imbalance among the graduates, with 4,791 being male and 2,079 female. “This is a wake-up call. We need to do more to encourage female enrolment in the university system,” Pate said.
The Vice Chancellor further praised the Federal Government for the launch and impact of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), revealing that over 8,000 students of the university had already benefited from the scheme, receiving a total of more than one billion naira.
“In just one year, 8,266 of our students have accessed a total of N1,073,966,500 through NELFUND. This is a bold step by the government and one of the most effective educational interventions we’ve seen in decades,” he said.
He added, “The Federal Government deserves commendation. Not only have they provided tuition support, but the loan also covers service charges and monthly upkeep for our students. It’s truly a game-changer in expanding access to higher education.”
Pate said the university was optimistic that even more students would benefit from the scheme in the coming years, noting, “There hasn’t been a programme in the last 10 to 20 years that has impacted the lives of students like NELFUND. We are confident that the numbers will continue to grow, giving more young Nigerians the opportunity to pursue their dreams.”