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From Fred Ezeh, Abuja
The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, has called for greater government support for private universities, arguing that they contribute significantly to the development of Nigeria’s human capital alongside public institutions.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday when Education Correspondents in Abuja visited the university.
He said private universities face enormous financial obligations in providing quality education, maintaining infrastructure, recruiting qualified personnel and complying with regulatory requirements.
“To this end, private universities should not be regarded merely as profit-making ventures, because the cost of running a university was substantial.
“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,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor said graduates of private universities ultimately joined the same workforce and contributed to the Nigerian economy alongside their counterparts from public institutions. “We are all citizens of this country. I don’t mind if TETFund wants to support us,” he said.
He commended the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Sonny Echono, for initiatives aimed at extending some research programmes to private universities.
Adeniyi, however, urged the government to expand such interventions, saying increased support would enhance the capacity of private universities to sustain quality education and contribute more effectively to national development.
He also highlighted Baze University’s strategic location in Abuja, saying its position in the Federal Capital Territory made it accessible to students from different parts of the country.
“The university was established about 15 years ago by its Founder and Chancellor, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, with the vision of redefining tertiary education in Nigeria and building an institution capable of competing with leading universities globally.
“The university had deliberately invested in creating a serene and conducive learning environment while keeping its fees competitive despite receiving no direct government allocation,” he said.
He said the institution had ensured compliance with regulatory requirements set by the National Universities Commission (NUC) the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Vice-Chancellor said Baze University was also strengthening its academic standards by recruiting scholars from different parts of the world and planning to introduce external examiners from abroad to assess the work of its faculties and make recommendations based on global best practices.
“Baze University has a strong partnership with the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme as part of efforts to equip young Nigerians with practical and entrepreneurial skills,” he said.
He confirmed that the institution has students from Nigeria and other African countries, particularly within the West African sub-region, while efforts were ongoing to strengthen collaborations with institutions and stakeholders in countries such as Sierra Leone and Kenya.
He assured that Baze University would continue to grow steadily and systematically while remaining guided by the requirements of its regulators and its broader commitment to Nigeria, Africa and the global community.
