Aare Afe Babalola, founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), has called on the Federal Government to include private universities in the recently established Students Loan Scheme.
His remarks came during the opening ceremony of the International Hydrogen Summit 2024, held at ABUAD, which focused on advancing green hydrogen development in Nigeria.
Babalola emphasized that all Nigerian students, regardless of their university affiliation, should have access to the loan scheme.
He expressed frustration over the government's failure to allocate research funding to private institutions, questioning why private universities are excluded from financial support programs like TETFund.
“The Federal Government has launched a Students Loan Scheme, yet students from private universities are left out. Are they not Nigerians?” he asked.
He also pointed out that while public universities receive research funds, ABUAD has not benefited despite its significant contributions to research.
Highlighting the summit's importance, Babalola urged attendees to ensure that the resolutions made are implemented, stating, “Ideas rule the world, but only those who implement their ideas are deemed successful.”
In a keynote address, Minister of State for Environment Iziaq Salako acknowledged the government's recognition of green hydrogen's potential as part of Nigeria's Energy Transition Plan, emphasizing its role in diversifying the country's energy supply and contributing to global decarbonization efforts.