The Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Professor Timothy Abiodun Adebayo, has expressed support for the Federal Government’s consideration of including students from private tertiary institutions in the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) scheme. This development follows the announcement by NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, during a strategic engagement session in Enugu on May 15, 2025.
Sawyerr indicated that the student loan programme might be expanded to private institutions within the next three years.
Professor Adebayo described the proposed inclusion as a positive move that would bridge the gap between public and private tertiary institutions regarding access to government support. He noted that many students in private universities come from low- or middle-income backgrounds and often face financial challenges.
He further remarked that extending the loan scheme to private universities could alleviate the pressure on public institutions by encouraging more students to consider private universities, knowing they can access financial support.
Also, Professor Adebayo called on the Federal Government to review the policies guiding the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to allow private institutions to benefit from its intervention programmes.
He stated that private universities make a significant contribution to the national education landscape and should have equitable access to such support.