Two private-university leaders have asked the Federal Government to widen access to the Nigerian Education Loan Fund as their institutions prepare for convocation ceremonies. Bowen University’s Jonathan Babalola and Kola Daisi University’s Olajumoke Morenikeji made the appeals at separate press conferences on Monday, 2 November. The request raises a funding question for families already paying private-university fees.
Both vice-chancellors challenged the assumption that choosing a private institution proves a family is wealthy. Morenikeji argued that limited places in public universities push some qualified applicants towards private institutions. Her position is that policy should consider students’ circumstances as well as who owns the institution. It is an argument for extending support, with no new eligibility decision announced in the report.
Babalola said earlier efforts by private-university leaders to secure access had yet to produce the result they sought. He also asked for researchers in private universities to benefit from Tertiary Education Trust Fund support. His proposal was to direct assistance to individual researchers, whose work could benefit the country beyond their own campus. That research-funding request is separate from student borrowing through NELFUND.
At Bowen, the appeal formed part of preparations for the university’s 21st convocation. Babalola said 1,443 people would receive undergraduate or postgraduate qualifications, comprising 1,345 undergraduates and 98 postgraduate students. He reported 218 first-class graduates and said all eight programmes submitted for accreditation had received full accreditation. Those figures are the vice-chancellor’s account of the university’s graduating class and academic review.
Bowen’s ceremonies in Iwo, Osun State, run from 2 to 7 November. Kola Daisi’s programme in Ibadan, Oyo State, runs from 26 October to 5 November. The timing brings the financing debate into a week when students and their families are marking completed qualifications while universities discuss the next stage of their work.
What it means for you. A public appeal does not establish that a student can now obtain a loan. Families should confirm current eligibility through NELFUND and their institution before including government finance in a fee-payment plan. The statements reviewed provide no new application window, payment date or approval for private-university students.