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From Taiwo Oluwadare, Ibadan
As Augustine University, Ilara-Epe (AUI), prepares for its 7th Convocation Ceremony on Thursday, the Vice-Chancellor, Rev. Fr. Prof. Anthony Akinwale, OP, has stressed the critical role of the private sector in driving sustainable development in Nigeria through investment in quality education.
Speaking during a press conference on Tuesday at the university campus, Prof. Akinwale said that private universities are essential partners in national progress, providing stability, innovation, and excellence where public institutions are constrained by inadequate funding and frequent disruptions.
“Private universities are the engines of sustainable development because they combine efficiency with purpose. They operate without strikes, maintain consistent academic calendars, and produce graduates equipped with both technical and ethical competence,” he stated.
He noted that the establishment of private universities like Augustine University represents one of the most effective contributions of the private sector to nation-building, adding that sustainable national growth cannot be achieved without massive private participation in education.
“If you want to build a country, build education. Government alone cannot fund the kind of educational revolution Nigeria needs. The private sector must be empowered to complement government efforts, and private universities should not be excluded from national education support initiatives,” Akinwale added.
The Vice-Chancellor lamented that private universities in Nigeria still do not benefit from interventions such as the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), despite their contributions to national development.
“The students in private universities are Nigerians too. They will contribute their quota to the nation’s growth. It would be fair and beneficial for government to support private universities through funding mechanisms or student vouchers, just as it does for public institutions,” he said.
Highlighting the institution’s progress, Akinwale said Augustine University, established a decade ago with only 55 students, now has over 1,200 students and continues to attract more applicants based on its reputation for quality and discipline. He also announced that 148 students will receive first degrees, while 21 will be awarded diplomas at this year’s convocation, with Miss Anne Ifeoluwa Adeyera, a Biochemistry student, emerging as the overall best graduating student with a CGPA of 4.90.
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Prof. Akinwale explained that the sustainability of development depends on producing morally grounded professionals who can drive innovation and accountability in governance and business.
“Nigeria’s development needs to go beyond technocrats; we need technocrats with ethical competence. The private sector, especially in education, can fill this gap by producing disciplined, creative, and morally upright citizens,” he emphasized.
On the call by some quarters that Nigeria has too many universities, Akinwale countered that the country’s population justifies even more private investment in higher education.
“With over 230 million people, Nigeria still has fewer universities than smaller countries. The solution is not to limit private initiatives but to expand capacity. Private universities are not a threat to public ones; they are complementary forces in achieving sustainable development,” he argued.
He compared Nigeria’s educational challenges to the country’s telecommunications sector, saying that liberalization and private investment transformed communication in the country and could do the same for education.
“Once upon a time, it took months to get a telephone line in Nigeria, but when the private sector was allowed in, things changed. If we apply that same approach to education, Nigeria will flourish,” he said.
In her closing remarks, the Registrar, Mrs. Margaret Aziba, reinforced that private universities have redefined the standards of education in Nigeria through quality assurance, discipline, and strong moral foundation.
“The success of our graduates has proven that private universities are not alternatives but models for sustainable educational growth. Augustine University is a testament to what private initiative can achieve when guided by vision and values,” she stated.
The 7th Convocation Ceremony, which also marks 10 years of Augustine University’s establishment, will celebrate the institution’s contribution to human capital development and its growing role as a private-sector-driven model for sustainable national progress.
