Why FG should include private universities in TETFund, NELFund arrangement —Professor Francis Igbasan, VC, McPherson University

Professor Francis Igbasan is the Vice-Chancellor of McPherson University, Seriki Sotayo, Ogun State. In a press conference preceding the recently held eighth and ninth convocation ceremonies of the university, he answered questions from the media on the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund), the progress recorded by the university in recent times, and his advice to the graduating students. Kingsley Alumona brings excerpt.

This past February, McPherson University marked its 13th anniversary. Looking back, how would you describe the university’s journey so far?

The Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, having established nursery, primary, and secondary schools in Nigeria, decided to expand its educational goals and to complement the government’s efforts in producing highly skilled human resources. To this effect, on February 28, 2012, McPherson University — named after Aimee Semple McPherson, an American lady evangelist and founder of the Foursquare Gospel Church — was founded and licensed by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as the 49th private university and the 121st university in Nigeria.

The licensing of McPherson University was a joyous moment for the proprietor of the university. The vision of the university is ‘To build a people of excellence and integrity for service’, and its mission is ‘To provide qualitative, functional, and sound education with Godly virtues that will prepare men and women for leadership and positive impact on society.’

The first set of matriculating students of the university was 42 and were admitted into three colleges. This year, we matriculated 1,010 students, the highest in our history. We have grown into many departments and colleges, built many structures for learning and research, and graduated many students who are doing well for themselves and society. I am proud to say that McPherson University has and continues to impact, in many ways, its immediate community with respect to corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Looking back, I would say these accomplishments and feats are commendable.

 

One major problem facing private universities in Nigeria is funding. How is McPherson University managing its funding challenges?

Everybody knows that as a tertiary institution, our major challenge is funding. Everything is funding. But we thank God that, in the last few years, we have been able to manage ourselves. We have been able to pay regular salaries and embark on some projects that have been completed, and some are ongoing. We want to thank the proprietor of the university, the Foursquare Gospel Church of Nigeria, for its regular subversion. Even though the subvention is not enough, at least it is regular. We have learnt to manage the country.

However, there are areas where we want the government to also come to our aid, and it is in the area of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

 

But private tertiary institutions do not benefit from TETFund or the Federal Government’s students’ loans. What is your take on this?

Private universities have been appealing to the Federal Government to include them as beneficiaries of the TETFund. Private universities pay taxes. Our students will graduate and work, and contribute to the economy of the country. So, there is no reason why the Federal Government should exclude private universities from the TETFund.

Even though it is once in two or five years, let us benefit from it. For instance, if a state has two or three state-owned universities, TETFund funds one every year. It is the state that would choose which particular university TETFund would fund each year. For instance, I come from Ondo State. There are three state universities there. The state government has already informed TETFund which one to fund each year.

This kind of arrangement can be extended to private universities. We will know how to manage ourselves. But excluding us from these benefits, I do not think it is right. It is not right. I am appealing to our council of private universities to appeal to the Federal Government to include private institutions in this arrangement. We also need money to develop our infrastructure and to train our students.

The same thing goes for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFund). It is only public universities that are enjoying it now. I see no reason why private universities are not part of this arrangement. They are short-changing private university students. They have rights. We have the rights. They are citizens of this country.  There is no reason why they should be excluded from the loan.

Probably, one day, I think what we will do is to form an association and sue the Federal Government to court. If the government is taken to court on this basis, I do not think it will come out of it because they are short-changing private university students who are also citizens of this country, and who will also contribute to the economy of the country when they graduate.

Since it is not everyone in public universities is qualified for the NELFund, those who are qualified in private institutions should be allowed to enjoy it.

The press is supposed to do us a favour in this regard. Please, let our voices be heard. You are the one who will help us. What we are talking about today, if you do not report it, no one will hear it. But if you report it, those in power — the president, Minister of Education, and other stakeholders will know that we are trying. Private universities are trying.

 

What do you want the Federal Government to do in this regard?

The Federal Government should come to our aid. TETFund is our money. It is not private or individual money. It is the tax collected from industries in this country, and parents of students of private tertiary institutions also contribute to the tax. We all contributed to the fund. So, the fund should not be for public universities alone.

Every year, the Federal Government allocates money through the budget. The implication of that is that the money is meant for some sections of the country, not for everybody. And, it is not good. If I see the president today, I will tell him it is not right. They should extend the fund to private tertiary institutions. Every student should have the opportunity to access the fund.

 

If the government is not supporting McPherson and funds from the Foursquare Gospel Church to the university are not enough, what other ways does the university source funds for its projects?

McPherson University produces table water and bread for the university community and its neighbouring communities. We have also embarked on agricultural projects by cultivating hectares of land for pineapple, plantain, cassava, maize, and other crops. We also do livestock farming of pigs and cattle. All these internally generated revenue (IGR) ventures also serve as a platform for entrepreneurial skill acquisition programmes for our students.

 

What effort is the university making to ensure that all of its courses and programmes are accredited?

Last year alone, the university presented 11 programmes to the National Universities Commission (NUC) for accreditation and reaccreditation, and we recorded success in all of them. The accredited programmes are Mass Communication, English and Literary Studies, International Relations, Computer Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Nursing Science, Medical Laboratory Science, Religion and Peace Studies, Cyber Security, and Software Engineering. Also, a few months ago, the NUC approved that we commence a new undergraduate programme in Data Science. We also received approval to commence postgraduate programmes in Religious Studies and Accounting.

Before next year’s convocation, in 2026, we intend to establish programmes in Telecommunication Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Industrial Relations, and Pharmacy.

 

Staff welfare and management are important in managing a university, especially a private university, where teaching and administrative staff could be limited due to funding. With limited resources, how do you manage, train and retain staff?

We have continued to expose our staff to a series of top-notch capacity-building programmes. Academic staff have been encouraged to attend academic seminars, training, workshops, and conferences, both locally and overseas. Aside from academic staff, the university has also made a giant leap in exposing non-teaching staff to a series of professional administrators’ training in our quest to reposition our university.

Aside from our determination to consistently expose our staff to quality training, we have adopted a new approach to measure performance and productivity, and we are seeing positive results. These initiatives were designed to encourage and motivate all members of staff and to retain the best talent in the university.

By the grace of God, the tradition of regular monthly payment of staff salary has not been broken for once since I took over the reins of leadership, and it will not.

 

Apart from the core academic courses, are there other programmes through which the students are trained or prepared for the labour market?

As a vision-driven university, we have established the Directorate of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. We have funded the directorate and installed the relevant machines there. We are training our students in fashion design, barbing and salon services, paint production, phone repairs, shoe making, among others. All our students are trained in different vocations of their choice for four years, and certificates are awarded to them for participating in the entrepreneurship programme.

 

What is your charge to the convocating students of the university?

The convocation is not the end of the phase of their academic journey, but the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities, challenges, and responsibilities. The world demands excellence, and I urge them to rise to the occasion. As proud alumni of McPherson University, they should distinguish themselves through integrity, diligence, and purpose, and be prepared for the demands that will be placed upon them. The reputation of the university is now in their hands. They should carry it with honour. Finally, I encourage them to stay connected with the university alumni association and contribute to the development of the university.

 

What are your concluding thoughts?

February 28, 2025, marks my 974th day in office as the second substantive Vice-Chancellor of McPherson University. It is a great honour to lead the management of the university at a time like this, and we remain committed to positioning it among the best in Nigeria and Africa. Our goals are ambitious. But with the dedication of the university management team, I am confident we will achieve them.   

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