Private University Students also deserve NELFund, says Bowen VC
Joseph Akande Bowen University The Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, Prof. Jonathan Babalola, has faulted the Federal Government’s exclusion of private university students from the Nigerian Education Loan Fund. Babalola said students of private and public institutions are Nigerians, deserving equal opportunities, adding that the loans given to public university students are sourced through taxes paid by private individuals. The VC stated this on Wednesday 29th October, 2025while briefing journalists on the activities of the 20th convocation ceremony of the university coming up on Saturday. NELFUND was established to implement the Nigeria Student Loan Scheme, signed into law by President Bola Tinubu in April 2024. The Tinubu-led administration’s initiative provides interest-free loans to students in public tertiary institutions to cover tuition and living expenses. The scheme, which began accepting applications in May 2024, was designed to eliminat...