The Vice Chancellor of McPherson University, Professor Francis Adegbaye, on Monday described the non-inclusion of private universities as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Fund (TetFund) as unfair.

He argued that it was imperative for the Federal Government to allow private universities to benefit from accessing funds from the federal agency to address their infrastructural challenges and other critical needs.

Addressing a press conference as part of the activities lined up for the university’s combined 8th and 9th convocation ceremonies, Igbasan said, “Our major challenge is funding. Private universities have been appealing to
the Federal Government on the TetFund issue for inclusion as beneficiaries. There’s no reason why the Federal Government has excluded private universities.”

According to him, it is unfair not to include private universities as beneficiaries of TetFund. Excluding us totally from benefiting from TetFund, I don’t think it is right.

He added, “We have appealed to the Federal Government on this issue and even called on the Governing Councils of private universities to appeal to them to include private institutions in the arrangement.”

While also bemoaning the exclusion of students in private universities from the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), the VC maintained that the development was unjustifiable, stressing that “our students are also citizens of this country.”

“We also need money to develop our infrastructure and train our students. The same thing goes for the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). It is only students in public universities that are enjoying it now. I see no reason why private university students are not part of the beneficiaries.

“We are shortchanging these students because they are citizens of this country. After their education programs, they will contribute to the growth of the nation. Even though the student loan is not for every student in public universities, those that are qualified in private universities should be allowed to enjoy it,” he remarked.

Igbasan, however, disclosed that no fewer than 281 students will be graduating during the convocation ceremonies, adding that 24 students made the First Class category, while 116 will bag Second Class Upper degrees.

Others include 65 graduands in Second Class Lower, 13 in the Third Class category, 21 earning Postgraduate degrees, and 42 obtaining Diploma certificates.