“Include private varsities in TETFUND disbursement ” – VC begs FG

From: Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

 Vice Chancellor (VC) of  Enugu based  Renaissance University, Ugbawka, Nkanu West local government area, Prof. Charles Onochie, has called on Nigeria’s Federal Government to include private universities in the disbursement of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).

Prof. Onochie noted that allocating funds from the interventionist agency to only pubic universities was not proper and does not help the growth of  the nation’s tertiary educational system.

The varsity Don noted that “whereas graduates produced from both public and private universities feed the labour needs of the nation and the world at large, only the public universities get funding from the tax payers funds via channels like tertiary Education Trust Fund.

Speaking during the maiden combined convocation ceremonies of Renaissance University, weekend, the Vice Chancellor, said the development had been responsible for the higher fees payable in private universities in Nigeria, appealing to relevant authorities to address the issue.

According to him, “I wish to use this medium to reiterate the long standing clamour for granting private universities a percentage of the fund from such platform like TETFUND”.

He noted that because private universities “have continued to supplement the efforts of the federal and state governments of Nigeria to provide tertiary education to the teeming Nigerian youths who are seeking university admissions today, it is also pertinent to state here that both private and public universities are partners in progress, they are not rivals. Rather, they serve to train future workforce and leaders and advance research that will promote growth and technological advancement in the country.”

The Vice Chancellor, who charged the convocating graduates to be good Ambassadors of their Alma matter and  country, said “the nation and world are at your feet to explore and   exploit, go and make us proud.”

A total of 18 graduates of the institution from various departments and different years, smiled home with 1st class honours degrees.

In his remarks, Pro- Chancellor  and Chairman, Governing Council of the ivory tower which commenced academic activities in 2007, Most Rev (Dr) Emmanuel Chukwuma, had congratulated the graduates, especially those with 1st class.

Chukwuma, who is also the ArchBishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of the Enugu Anglican Communion, warned the students against cultism  drug abuse,  and other nefarious conducts in the campus.