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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Vice Chancellor of Coal City University, Enugu, Prof Afam Ucha Ituma, has called on the Federal Government to extend intervention programmes, such as TETFund and NELFUND, to private universities.
He equally dismissed recent reports suggesting management only acted after public outrage over an altercation involving a staff member and a student.
Prof. Ituma, who spoke at a press conference in Enugu, yesterday, stressed that private universities remain critical contributors to Nigeria’s human capital development despite receiving no institutional support from government. He said private universities across the country have repeatedly appealed to the Federal Government to include them in key education intervention initiatives, but their requests have yet to receive favourable consideration.
“We have made several requests and written position papers asking the federal government to also consider private universities in its very noble initiatives. For instance, the TETFund intervention by the federal government, which is very beneficial and available to public institutions, is not available to private institutions,” he said.
Prof. Ituma noted that institutions like Coal City University have continued to invest heavily in producing quality graduates who are contributing both within and outside Nigeria, despite relying solely on internal support structures.
“Everything you see here is largely based on the support of our Board of Trustees. We do not receive any form of support in terms of finance or any other intervention, whatsoever, and that is not too good, given the fact that we are providing human capital and training manpower for the broader labour market,” he stated.
The Vice Chancellor also expressed disappointment over the exclusion of students in private universities from the Federal Government’s student loan programme under NELFUND, saying the decision unfairly affects students who desire quality education but face financial limitations.
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“We participated in several meetings and we were very optimistic that this issue would be revisited. But, unfortunately, we were disappointed when it became clear that students of private institutions are not eligible to benefit from NELFUND. We find that very discouraging,” he said.
He urged both federal and state governments to recognise the role private institutions play in advancing education and provide the necessary support, especially as many private universities continue to face tax burdens and operational pressures.
Speaking on the recent controversy involving a viral video showing a confrontation between a university staff member and a student, Prof. Ucha-Ituma rejected reports suggesting the university only responded after the incident attracted media attention.
He clarified that management had already initiated disciplinary procedures immediately after the June 10 incident occurred, long before the matter became a subject of public discussion.
“The suggestion that the university acted in response to media reports is incorrect. We have established procedures that ensure prompt, fair and transparent handling of all such matters as they arise,” he said.
He said all individuals directly connected to the incident were immediately suspended pending investigation, while an independent review committee was set up to carry out a comprehensive inquiry and make recommendations.
He added that the institution remains concerned about what it described as inaccurate and incomplete media reports capable of creating false impressions about the university’s operations.
