Obasanjo, Bells University VC Urge Federal Government to Include Private Universities in Student Loan Program
Both the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, and the Vice-Chancellor of Bells University of Technology, Professor Jeremiah Ojediran, have recently expressed their desire for the federal government to include students attending private colleges in the planned student loan scheme.
They articulated this desire during the commissioning of the Asiwaju Onafowokan, Coleman Wires and Cables Building at Bells University’s College of Postgraduate Studies in Ota, Ogun State.
Obasanjo voiced his support for the vice chancellor’s request and highlighted that the government has to address issues over the exclusion of students attending private universities from the loan program.
He cautioned that unscrupulous practices could impede the execution and emphasized the importance of ensuring the initiative’s success.
During the course of his speech, Ojediran lauded the achievements that private institutions in Nigeria have made and emphasized the need to include them in efforts undertaken by national governments.
He voiced his disapproval of the decision to exclude students attending private institutions from the student loan program, as well as the exclusion of private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).
Through his argument, Ojediran contended that these judgments were not in line with the contemporary realities of society and the aspirations of the people.
During his speech, he discussed the difficulties that parents have in terms of finances when it comes to keeping their children enrolled in schools, regardless of whether they are public or private.
A number of private institutions, including BellsTech, have been praised by the vice chancellor for their efforts to reduce the amount of financial strain placed on parents. He placed a strong emphasis on the significance of private colleges in terms of their role in contributing to the broader economy and promoting the growth of the nation’s workforce.
Ojediran made a plea to the government to acknowledge private colleges as partners in development. He pointed out that graduates from private universities play a key role in the advancement of the nation’s economy.
Obasanjo, Bells University VC Urge Federal Government to Include Private Universities in Student Loan Program
