The founder/pro-chancellor, Greenfield University Kaduna, Simon Nwakacha, has called on the federal government to support private universities and other tertiary institutions to increase access to quality tertiary education for Nigerian students.
Nwakacha said government institutions do not have enough carrying capacity to absorb the millions of students graduating from secondary school, hence the need for the federal government to assist private institutions with funding to enable them assist government institutions in providing quality tertiary education for Nigerian students.
Speaking shortly after receiving the “Epitome of Educational Development” Award of Excellence bestowed on him by the National Association of Northern Nigerian Students, at the Greenfield University City Campus, Kudenda, Nwakacha, who holds the title of ‘Onwa of Umueri’, said he dedicated the award to Greenfield University students who lost their lives during an unfortunate kidnapping by bandits at its main campus along Abuja – Kaduna highway.
“I want to urge government to, through its intervention agencies, support private institutions to ensure that Nigerian students excel in all ramifications. Government itself has been saying that it cannot do it alone, government needs people to come and assist them, so they should support private universities.
Z“During the recent Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU)’s strike, only private universities sustained education. Government is pumping much funding into public universities and same should be done for private universities. It is necessary they fund both private and public universities. In advanced countries, government was giving palliatives to Harvard and others.
Government carries all institutions along, not necessarily equally, but it should be inclusive,” he appealed.
