A university teacher, Prof Luke Onuoha, has restated a call for the inclusion of private universities in Tertiary Education Trust Funds (TETFund), using quality, research and output as parameters.

Onuoha argued that since TETFUND revenue comes from taxpayers, it should be available for all academics, whether in public or private universities, with acceptable research proposals.

“Enough of making private university lecturers play second fiddle in the matter of research engagement. TETFund should stand out as a strategic partner to all academics, irrespective of whether they teach in public or private universities,” he said

Onuoha, who spoke on the topic: “Financing higher education in Nigeria: A call for critical review and sustainable funding engagement,” advised the agency to inaugurate an inspection unit that would visit universities to ascertain the judicious application of appropriations made to them.

He said the report of the inspection unit would guide the agency in making future disbursements to the institutions.

Citing countries like the United Kingdom, United States and South Africa, where higher education funding is determined based on research reality and output, Onuoha enjoined TETFund to take a cue from them and review its style of disbursing funds to the institutions.  “That is the way our higher institutions can be repositioned as proud centres of excellence, producing graduates with cutting-edge skills requisite for the country’s development,” he stated.

He also tasked the Federal Government to set up scholarship awards to brilliant students, not minding whether they are enrolled full time in public or private universities.

Onuoha also urged university managers to begin to take well-considered risks to generate funds for general operations.

“The university space is a huge market that, if well harnessed, would fund many operations of the system without waiting for government or other hand-outs,” Onuoha added.

The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ademola Tayo, urged both private and government-owned institutions to seek innovative means of generating funds.

Tayo tasked each institution to devise means of generating funds that would be able to sustain the university.