Review laws excluding private varsities from TETFund, NELFUND, UI ex-VC tells FG

A former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan (UI), Prof. Idowu Olayinka, has urged the Federal Government to review the laws that prevented private universities from benefiting from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) and eligible for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

Olayinka made the call while delivering the 17th convocation lecture of Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan, themed: “Resolving the Trilemma of Access, Affordability and Quality in the Nigerian University System: A Role for the Entrepreneur,” which was held at the Adelibe Hall of the institution in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The former VC noted that although private universities were not established by the government, they are public entities that serve the public good.

He said that despite their private origins, these universities contribute significantly to the public education system and should be treated as such in terms of funding and support.

Olayinka maintained that private operators in the education sector in the country should be encouraged to complement the government’s efforts in providing quality education for Nigerians.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Kabiru Adeyemo, called for partnership between academia, industry, and government.

Adeyemo said that the theme of the lecture was both timely and profoundly relevant, saying: “It speaks to the heart of the challenges that universities across the nation grapple with daily. This trilemma poses significant questions that demand innovative and collaborative solutions.

”At Lead City University, we are deeply committed to addressing these challenges. We believe that the answer lies in fostering partnerships between academia, industry, and government”.

He added that the lecture would provide valuable insights into how entrepreneurship could play a transformative role in resolving this trilemma.