The Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) and the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) are all agencies of the federal government with the mandate to support educational development with loans, grants, scholarships or provision of educational materials.
The primary role of the Federal Scholarship Board (FSB) when it was initially created in 1959 was to manage scholarships granted by foreign governments to Nigerian students. Over the years, the responsibilities of the board has increased to include:
1. Implementing and managing a variety of scholarship programs for Nigerian students at all educational levels, both within the country and internationally.
2. Supervising and monitoring Federal Government scholars in tertiary institutions domestically and abroad
3. Advising and coordinating state scholarship policies and programs through annual meetings with secretaries of federal and state scholarship boards.
4. Collaborating with foreign governments, international organizations, and donor agencies on scholarship-related matters.
5. Conducting scholarship examinations and interviews for prospective candidates
6. Disbursing scholarship funds and allowances to recipients.
7. Providing guidance and counseling services to scholars and applicants.
8. Maintaining a database of scholars and alumni.
This board provides scholarships which aim to help Nigerian students overcome financial constraints that come with studying in undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Nigeria and overseas.
The board operates under four divisions which are: Bilateral Education Agreement (BEA), Nigerian Awards, Commonwealth and Fellowship plans, and General duties. However, the Nigeria Awards covers, Postgraduate awards, Undergraduate Awards, Higher National Diploma Awards, National Certificate in Education Award, andPhysically challenged award.
Annually, the FSB opens application for scholarships into the different aforementioned categories, it has however been noticed that a major eligibility criterion for the Nigeria scholarship awards is to be studying in a public tertiary institution, students of private tertiary institutions who usually pay more than their public institution counterparts in terms of tuition fees are always excluded from benefiting from government intervention in education.
About 66 years on, certain categories of Nigerian students are still being denied access to benefit from government intervention as a result of their choice of institution. This is against section 18 (1) of the 1999 Constitution that states that the government shall direct its policy towards ensuring that there are equal and adequate educational opportunities at all levels.
Another scholarship scheme of the federal government, the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) specially designed for natives of the oil exploration communities in the country as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility. The PTDF operates similarly to the FSB, save for the ineligibility of students of state tertiary institutions who are eligible for FSB scholarships. This is limited to only students of federal institutions and other students are denied the opportunity even when they meet other criteria listed by the board.
PTDF has been awarding scholarships since the 2000s and was established to enhance expertise and technology in the Petroleum industry so as to fulfill Nigeria’s oil and gas demand.
Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) was established in 2011 by the Federal Government of Nigeria to intervene and assist in rehabilitation, consolidation and restoration of tertiary education in public universities in Nigeria.
TETFUND source of income is the 2 percent education tax paid by companies operating in Nigeria according to No 7 of Education Tax Act 1993 which was later amended in 1998. The funds generated by this intervention agency is disbursed to both the Federal and State Universities to help in restructuring education. Another discrimination on privately owned tertiary institutions which is against section 42 of the Nigeria 1999 constitution.
Section 42 of the 1999 constitution prohibits discrimination which may be based on specific characteristics, such as a particular community, ethnic group, place of origin, sex, religion, or political opinion.
Furthermore, the recent student loan pass into law is not in favor of the private institutions. In April 2024, Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) Act was signed by President Bola Tinubu , which enabled students to access tertiary education regardless of their financial incapacity.
This loan kicked off with federal institutions before a rethink to include state tertiary institutions. Like other intervention programmes, private institutions’ students have again been shut out of the initiative.
These students and their parents are Nigerians who pay taxes and the government policy to exclude them from benefiting from government intervention solely because of their choice of institution of study continues to be a source of concern over their right not to be discriminated against as enshrined in the constitution. For a better Education system, which will be in line with SDG 4 goals which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all, the federal government should revise some policies and ensure no university is left behind.
Lawal Sofiyyat Bolanle
Lawal Sofiyyat Bolanle is a dedicated member of the Research team at Cheetahs Policy Institute and a freelance journalist with a keen interest in the education system and healthcare, particularly the policies shaping these critical sectors.