Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, and Chairman of the Committee of Vice Chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, has called on the Federal Government to extend the benefits of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to private universities.
Speaking at a press conference marking the university’s 20th anniversary in Ibadan, Adeyemo stressed the need for equal access to government support for private institutions, particularly in areas like loans and academic funding.
“My advice to the government is that it should encourage private universities by allowing them to enjoy the facilities that public universities benefit from, especially in terms of TETFUND,” he said. “As the chairman of the committee of private universities in Nigeria, we have made our position clear that private universities should also have access to these facilities. Our students should be allowed to access scholarships, which will help them offset some of their school fees.”
He also advocated for lecturers in private universities to benefit from such funding opportunities to foster a sense of inclusion within the higher education sector. He urged the government to create a supportive and enabling environment to ensure the survival and growth of private universities in Nigeria.
