Encouraging President Bola Tinubu, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has suggested that students from private universities should also be considered for the Student Loan Scheme. Obasanjo pointed out concerns about potential corrupt practices within the scheme’s operations.
Speaking during the opening of the Asiwaju Onafowokan, Coleman Wires and Cables building at Bells University’s College of Postgraduate Studies in Ota, Ogun State, Obasanjo emphasized the importance of extending the scheme to private university students.
Expressing his views, Obasanjo stated, “The Vice-Chancellor highlighted the necessity of incorporating students from private universities into the Student Loan Scheme. I urge the authorities to heed this call and ensure their inclusion. However, I remain skeptical about the scheme being implemented without corruption issues arising, which is a separate concern.”
Being the founder of Bell University of Technology, Obasanjo stressed that the loan scheme plays a vital role in societal development and citizens’ well-being. He emphasized that excluding any particular group would be counterproductive.
On a related note, Mr Akintunde Sawyerr, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund, NELFUND, recently mentioned that students in private institutions would not be eligible for the loan scheme.