Professor of Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Adeniyi Olatunbosun, has called on the Federal Government to amend Student Loan (Access to Higher Education Act) 2023 to accommodate private universities in the country.

Olatunbosun, who is the Vice Chancellor, Kola Daisi University (KDU), Ibadan, argued that both private and public universities produce graduates for the transformation of the country.

According to the VC, it is imperative to consider the critical roles of private universities in the country, maintaining that education should be for all, saying products of these institutions together transform the society.

Olatunbosun made the call at a press conference heralding the third convocation of the university, adding the event would include award of excellence to students, who made best results in the institution.

He said those expected at the convocation include a former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Prof. Julius Okojie, who will deliver the convocation lecture titled: “Nigeria Education System at the Crossroads”, adding that the guest lecturer would examine challenges, prospect and strength of education system.

He said: “123 students are graduating, 12 of the graduates have first-class, 50 have second-class upper division, 39 with second-class lower division and 22 with third-class degrees.”

Olatubosun maintained the loan should not be restricted to Federal Government-owned universities but to many students who desire higher education but are constrained by funds.

“The loan scheme is meant to assist parents to pay school fees for their children. But by and large, it does not cover private universities. Education is a public good. In that regard, we urge the Federal Government to extend the scheme to cover all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

“Education is for all, there should not be any demarcation between federal, state and private universities because we are all providing services to the generality of Nigerians. The student loan should be made to cover all institutions in Nigeria. The products of private universities are for the country. The products of the schools are to better transform the society’’.