The Vice Chancellor of Lead City University, Ibadan, Professor Kabiru Adeyemo, has called for Federal Government support, advocating for the inclusion of private universities as beneficiaries of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).
Adeyemo made this known at a world press conference in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of Lead City University in Ibadan on Monday.
He stressed the need for the encouragement of the management and students of the private universities especially in the area of loan access and others.
“My advice to the government is that the government should try to encourage private universities by allowing them also to enjoy the facilities that most of this public universities do enjoy, especially in terms of TETFUND.
“And as the chairman of committee of private universities in Nigeria, we have made our position known that private universities also should enjoy these facilities.
“Our students should be allowed to access scholarship, which will assist them to offset some of their school fees. Apart from that, lecturers in private universities should also be allowed to enjoy these facilities, so that at the end of the day, they have a sense of belonging.
“At least, TETFUND money is tax payers money, and should not only be enjoyed by the public universities alone,” he said.
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Adeyemo said government should create a very good and enabling environment for private universities for them to survive, emphasising that National Universities Commission (NUC), Federal Government and all other stakeholders must give private universities a very good motivation to be able to achieve academic excellence.
While reeling out the achievements of the institution in the last 20 years, the VC stated that what sets Lead City apart from its peers is the university’s vision and mission, which he said was commitment to excellence.
“Our commitment to excellence is second to none. The staff are loyal to the system. Our teamwork, relationship, commitment, unity of purpose sets us apart.
“We operate an open door policy, have zero tolerance for misconduct and we are student-friendly. We are not producing job-seekers, but wealth creators. All these set us apart from the rest,” he said.
Adeyemo, who noted that programmes at the university have increased from 40 to about 120, said there is hardly any programme that people want to study at Lead City University that is not available.
“With the support of the council and chairman of the council, the management and both the teaching and non- teaching staff, we are able to be where we are today.
“We will not lower the standard, we shall continue to maintain the standard and ensure that quality assurance that has been laid down by NUC and stakeholders are adhered to,” the VC stated.
He explained that the university has made tremendous impact in the areas of expansion and academic research, adding that the student population had increased from 4,000 to over 20,000.
According to Adeyemo, the university’s expansion is driven by a vision to create a dynamic, inclusive, and innovative academic environment that empowers both students and staff for excellence.
He said the continuous training and positive positioning of staff members are fundamental to building a world-class institution.
“Our primary goal is to enhance the capacity, efficiency, and motivation of our workforce, ensuring they remain at the forefront of academic excellence, innovation, and service delivery,” he added.
The highlight of the event was the unveiling of the 20th anniversary logo by the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, Professor Jide Owoeye.
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