Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand the Student Loan Scheme to include students of private universities in Nigeria.
Obasanjo made this appeal during the inauguration of the Asiwaju Onafowokan, Coleman Wires and Cables building at Bells University’s College of Postgraduate Studies in Ota, Ogun State.
The proprietor of Bell University of Technology emphasized the importance of the loan scheme for the development of society and the welfare of its citizens.
He expressed doubts about the potential for corruption in the implementation of the scheme but stressed that excluding a group of students would be counterproductive.
Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, Akintunde Sawyerr, had previously announced that students in private institutions would not benefit from the loan scheme.
This exclusion has raised concerns among stakeholders in the education sector.
Obasanjo's advocacy for the inclusion of private university students in the Student Loan Scheme highlights the need for equitable access to educational opportunities and financial support for all students, regardless of the type of institution they attend.
