Ahead of NIJ’s 7th Convocation, Provost Urges FG to Extend Student Loan Scheme to Private Institutions

The Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Ogba, Mr Gbenga Adefaye, has urged the federal government to extend the Student Loan Scheme to include students of private tertiary institutions, stating that no Nigerian student should be left behind. Mr Adefaye appealed during a media briefing on campus in Ogba, before the institution’s seventh convocation ceremony.

He opined that enrolment in post-secondary education across the country would increase if the government allows students from private tertiary institutions, not just public ones, to benefit from the scheme operated by NELFUND.

According to him, inadequate funding remains the institution’s biggest challenge, though not unique to NIJ, underscoring the urgent need for government and well-meaning individuals to prioritise investment in the sector.

Adefaye maintained that NIJ remains a top-notch training ground for journalism and mass communication in the country, noting that students who had already obtained a B.Sc from universities were admitted to PGD classes for further exposure.

The provost believes that, despite numerous challenges, the institution is still living up to the founding fathers’ dreams, as it remains one of the most sought-after destinations by Nigerians wishing to pursue higher education.

Regarding the topic for discussion by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Adefaye stated that it was of public and national importance, as ICT and Artificial Intelligence significantly impact our public lives.

According to him, the customs boss will provide insight into survival and the impacts of technology on their activities, while stressing that it will open the students’ minds to positively maximise the opportunities therein.

The convocation, slated for May 5–6, 2025, at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Resource Centre on campus, will feature a keynote lecture by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, on the theme “AI and Public Governance.” Former Ogun State Governor and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, will lead the main convocation ceremony.

A total of 707 students will graduate across the National Diploma, Higher National Diploma, and Postgraduate Diploma categories for the 2022–2024 academic sessions, with 60 of them finishing with distinctions.