The Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Prof. Samuel Bandele, has renewed calls on the Federal Government to extend the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to students of private universities.
Bandele, in a statement issued on Monday, said the exclusion of students in private universities undermines the broader objective of ensuring equitable access to higher education.
“There is no doubt that the education loan fund has brought succour to many students whose parents could not afford to send their children to higher institutions,” he said.
“This government initiative has restored hope to many Nigerian students who crave higher education. I hope successive governments will sustain it.”
Recall that the Managing Director of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, had earlier explained that students of private universities were excluded from the scheme for now because the fund was prioritising support for students in public institutions, where tuition fees are generally lower and financial need is more widespread.
However, Bandele expressed concern that the current NELFUND framework restricts access to students in public tertiary institutions, leaving out their counterparts in private universities.
According to him, students and staff of private universities are Nigerians who contribute to national development and should not be excluded from government intervention programmes aimed at supporting education.
Bandele said, “The fact remains that parents whose children are in private institutions pay taxes and contribute to the development of the country. This also includes lecturers who are working assiduously to build human capital in our ivory towers.
“So, I can confidently say that these categories of people are qualified to benefit from all government programmes without exception.”
He argued that while private university proprietors should remain responsible for infrastructure development, government support could be extended through student loans, research funding and scholarship schemes.
“I am not talking about government building structures in private institutions, as that is the responsibility of the owners, but the government can sponsor research for lecturers and award scholarships to students in private institutions. Continuous exclusion of students in private schools amounts to a disservice to the nation,” he added.
Under the current NELFUND policy, loans are available to eligible students in public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education, with students of private institutions excluded from the scheme.
Bandele said a review of the policy would promote inclusiveness and strengthen human capital development in the country.
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