The Provost of Harvarde College of Science and Management Studies, Obada, Abeokuta, Dr. Oluwatosin Adebayo, has opposed calls for the extension of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to students of private institutions, arguing that most parents who enroll their children in such schools can afford the fees.
Speaking during a media parley and tour of the college’s facilities on Wednesday, Dr. Adebayo maintained that education loans should focus on students in public institutions, where the majority of financially disadvantaged students study.
“I won’t support those calling for the extension of NELFUND to students of private institutions because the poor people won’t send their children to where they are paying as much as N6 million, especially these private universities. These are well-to-do parents,” he said.
Instead, he suggested that the federal government should consider extending the benefits of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to private institutions to support infrastructural development.
“The government can allow private institutions, just like their public counterparts, to begin to enjoy TETFund to develop their infrastructure,” he said. He also advised that, due to alleged corruption in student loan disbursement, funds should be paid directly to students after their institutions confirm their enrollment and eligibility.
Dr. Adebayo praised the federal government’s recent approval for polytechnics to offer the National Diploma (ND) in Law, describing it as a significant step forward for technical education.
“Some people just want to study law not because they want to practice, and I think this approval by the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) will help many people realise their ambition and develop themselves. It’s also a boost to polytechnic education, and it’s good that not only universities can run such courses,” he stated.
He revealed that NBTE has already granted approval to three polytechnics, including Kwara Polytechnic, to begin offering ND in Law, while Harvarde College awaits similar approval.
Addressing a previous controversy surrounding Harvarde College’s unapproved Nursing and Law programmes two years ago, Dr. Adebayo attributed the crisis to “some bad elements” but confirmed that the institution has moved past the issue.
He explained that the college had discontinued those programmes but has since re-applied for approval, expressing optimism that all regulatory matters would soon be resolved.
Dr. Adebayo affirmed the college’s commitment to regulatory compliance, stating that all existing programmes are accredited by NBTE. He listed the accredited courses as Accountancy, Economics and Management, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Business Administration, Crime Management, Public Administration, Banking and Finance, among others.
Highlighting Harvarde College’s ongoing investments, the provost noted that the institution is focused on enhancing both human resources and infrastructure, ensuring students receive quality education with modern teaching aids.
He appealed to the media for continued support in holding educational institutions accountable and promoting the development of quality manpower for the country.
