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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Culture & Society

Support private universities, Baze varsity VC urges govt

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

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  • The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, called for increased government support for private universities.
  • He argued that private institutions contribute to national human-capital development and face significant financial pressures.
  • Adeniyi highlighted the need for support to maintain quality education and sustainability, noting that private universities are not solely profit-driven.

Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, Vice-Chancellor of Baze University in Abuja, is urging the government to provide greater support to private universities, emphasizing their crucial role in national human-capital development.

Adeniyi stated that private institutions, like public ones, contribute to the nation's workforce and economy. However, he highlighted the substantial financial challenges they face in maintaining quality education, infrastructure, and regulatory compliance. "Anybody who thinks it is a profit-making organisation is just making a mistake," Adeniyi said, detailing the high costs associated with staffing, facilities, utilities, and capital projects.

Anybody who thinks it is a profit-making organisation is just making a mistake. Look at what it entails to hire staff, buy facilities, provide utilities and execute huge capital-intensive projects. It is difficult.

— Prof. Abiodun AdeniyiVice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, explaining the financial pressures on private institutions.

He advocated for private universities to be considered for support, similar to public institutions, suggesting that interventions like those from TETFund could strengthen their capacity. Adeniyi also pointed out Baze University's strategic location and its founder's vision to redefine tertiary education in Nigeria, aiming for global competitiveness. Despite receiving no direct government funding, the university strives to keep fees competitive while ensuring compliance with national educational standards and exploring international best practices through external examiners.

We are all citizens of this country. I don’t mind if TETFund wants to support us.

— Prof. Abiodun AdeniyiVice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, expressing a desire for support from TETFund.
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Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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