Extend TETFund to private varsities, VC urges govt

The Acting Vice Chancellor, Trinity University, Yaba, Lagos, Prof. Clement Olusegun Olaniran Kolawole, has reiterated the call to add private universities to the beneficiaries of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), saying this is the way to go for the advancement of education in Nigeria.

He said the promoters and the managers of private universities are Nigerians and paying their taxes, as the parents of their students are also paying their taxes. Private universities should therefore not be excluded from a commonwealth such as the TETFUND.

The Acting VC made this known in Lagos at a media briefing to announce the convocation ceremonies of the institution.

Speaking at the event, the vice chancellor pointed out that
to leave private institutions to source for fund in the bank at commercial rates is not healthy for the educational development of the nation.

Kolawole explained that it is time for the government to review, update and upgrade the Nigerian educational architecture. “It is time to begin to challenge the status quo, to ignite new thinking and freshness into the nation’s educational landscape.”

He also stated that the development of the nation is anchored on the well-being of the Nigerian universities. “The relationship and collaborations between government, industries, universities and other stakeholders must be deliberately cultivated and articulated in a framework and made actionable in the interest of the nation.

Kolawole said the students are going into the world guided by the sound value system the university had ingrained in them, including godliness, academic excellence, professionalism, responsibility, integrity, leadership and discipline.

He said the institution is releasing them to the world as the true stars that they are. “At Trinity University, we raise every one of our students as a star. We believe in them and in their potentials. They are all stars with bright shining lights. We raise them to pursue excellence always, with impeccable character and practical competencies, in any field of their endeavours.”

The VC said remarkably, the students are also becoming the first set of the school alumni as the alumni body of the University will be inaugurated as part of the highlights of the ceremonies on Friday, February, 23 2024.

“We look forward to these pioneers putting up their structure and framework for mutual collaboration between the alumni body and the alma mater in the interest of promoting learning and the advancement of humanity”.

Kolawole noted that in five years of existence, the institution had matriculated five sets of students and now, it is convocating two sets.

He said the school is a growing institution with the greens evident across intellectual, technical, administrative, physical and infrastructural spheres. “We are a dynamic and evolving institution, both in term of the growing number and the quality of resources. Our impact as a teaching and learning community in these past five years has been felt both within our immediate environment.”

The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Board of the institution, Samuel Olatunji, said drive and dedication has seen the University through hard and difficult time.

He said Trinity University is run on good corporate governance with structures well established and this is part of the reason for the success. “Our Governing Council, made up of some of the most accomplished Nigerians, is one of the most robust and most productive in the country,” Olatunji said.