The Vice Chancellor of Afe Babalola University Ado Ekiti (ABUAD), Prof. Smaranda Olarinde, has expressed discontent over the continued exclusion of private universities from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) .
The ABUAD management deemed this exclusion as unfair and unacceptable, asserting that private institutions play a vital role in providing alternative and complementary education to the public sector.
Prof. Olarinde highlighted the significant contributions of private universities in increasing accessibility and enhancing the quality of education. She emphasized that despite their important role, private universities receive no financial support from TETFund.
The Vice Chancellor pointed out the contradiction in the law, stating, “The exclusion of private institutions, apart from the contradiction between Sections 3 and 7 of the law, is obviously unconstitutional, unfair, and unjustifiable.” She argued that the exclusion violates Section 18 of the 1979 Constitution.
ABUAD, known for its commitment to academic excellence, is currently mentoring several foreign and Nigerian universities. The list includes Benue State University, University for Industrial Development in Ghana, and the International University of Grand Bassam in Cote D’Ivoire.
Other mentored institutions encompass Benson Idahosa University, Ado Bayero University, Federal University of Technology in Akure (for Medical Programmes), Ecole Professionnelle Specialisee –Western Delta University in Delta State and La City in the Republic of Benin.
