Anchor VC Urges NELFUND to Extend Loans to Private University Students

The Vice-Chancellor of Anchor University, Lagos, Prof. Samuel Bandele, has called on the Federal Government to extend the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to students of private universities.

In a statement issued on Monday, Bandele argued that excluding private university students undermines the goal of equitable access to higher education.

“There is no doubt that the education loan fund has brought relief to many students whose parents could not afford to send them to higher institutions,” he said. “This government initiative has restored hope to countless Nigerian students seeking higher education, and I hope successive governments will sustain it.”

Currently, NELFUND prioritises students in public institutions due to generally lower tuition fees and broader financial need, according to Akintunde Sawyerr, Managing Director of the fund.

However, Bandele expressed concern that the policy excludes private university students, despite the fact that they, along with their lecturers, contribute to national development.

“Parents whose children attend private institutions pay taxes and contribute to the country’s growth. Lecturers in these institutions are building human capital, and they too should benefit from government programmes aimed at supporting education,” he said.

Bandele clarified that his call did not imply government intervention in private university infrastructure, which remains the responsibility of proprietors. Rather, support could be provided through student loans, research funding, and scholarships. “Continuous exclusion of students in private schools amounts to a disservice to the nation,” he added.

Under current NELFUND policy, loans are available only to eligible students in public universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. Bandele believes a review of the policy to include private universities would strengthen human capital development and promote inclusiveness in Nigeria’s education sector.