The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, has called for greater government support for private universities, arguing that they contribute significantly to Nigeria’s human-capital development.
Here are some reasons behind his call:
1. Private universities also contribute to national development
Adeniyi argued that graduates of private universities eventually join the same workforce as graduates of public institutions and contribute to Nigeria’s economy.
2. Running a university requires huge investment
According to the Vice-Chancellor, private universities spend heavily on recruiting qualified academic staff, providing infrastructure, purchasing equipment, paying for utilities and maintaining academic programmes.
He therefore argued that describing private universities simply as profit-making ventures overlooks the substantial costs involved in running them.
3. Government support could strengthen quality education
Adeniyi believes government intervention could help private universities improve their capacity to provide quality education and sustain their academic programmes.
He specifically expressed openness to support from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), particularly in research.
4. Private universities help reduce pressure on public universities
Nigeria’s public universities face challenges including overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure and growing demand for university admission. Private universities provide additional spaces for students seeking tertiary education.
5. They contribute to human-capital development
Private universities are also involved in producing graduates who enter different sectors of the Nigerian economy. Supporting them, therefore, could contribute to the country’s broader human-capital development goals.
6. Government support could boost research
Adeniyi described research as the “hallmark of development” and said Baze University was strengthening its research partnerships. Broader government support, he argued, could help private institutions expand their research activities and contribute more to national development.
7. Private universities are increasingly developing practical skills
Beyond academic qualifications, Baze University is seeking to equip students with entrepreneurial and transferable skills through initiatives such as its partnership under the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme.
For Adeniyi, supporting private universities should not necessarily mean treating them the same as public institutions. Rather, he believes interventions in areas such as research and capacity development could strengthen the entire Nigerian tertiary education system.
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