By Chika Nwachukwu, Abuja
The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, has asked the Federal Government to extend support to private universities, arguing that they serve the same national purpose of developing human capital as public institutions.
Speaking on Monday during a visit by Education Correspondents to the university, Adeniyi said private institutions are under intense financial pressure to deliver quality education, maintain infrastructure and meet regulatory demands.
He said the notion that private universities exist only to make profit is misleading because of the huge cost involved in running them.
“Anybody who thinks it is a profit-making organisation is just making a mistake. Look at what it entails to hire staff, buy facilities, provide utilities and execute huge capital-intensive projects. It is difficult,” he said.
According to him, graduates from private universities eventually join the same labour market and contribute to the economy like their counterparts from public schools.
“We are all citizens of this country. I don’t mind if TETFund wants to support us,” he stated.
While applauding the Executive Secretary of TETFund for opening some research programmes to private universities, Adeniyi said more deliberate interventions are needed to help the institutions remain sustainable and improve quality.
He noted that Baze University, located in the Federal Capital Territory, was founded about 15 years ago by Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed with the goal of redefining tertiary education in Nigeria and building a university that can compete globally. Because of its location, he said, the school attracts students from across Nigeria.
Despite receiving no direct allocation from government, Adeniyi said the university has kept its fees competitive while investing in a serene learning environment.
He added that management has ensured full compliance with guidelines from the National Universities Commission, JAMB and the Federal Ministry of Education.
To raise academic standards, the VC said Baze is recruiting scholars from different countries and plans to bring in external examiners from abroad to evaluate faculties and benchmark performance against global best practices.
On research, he described it as the “hallmark of development” and said the university is building partnerships to strengthen its research culture. He also stressed the need to produce graduates with both academic knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, noting that the world of work now demands flexibility across disciplines.
He pointed to Baze’s participation in the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme as one of the ways the school is equipping students with practical skills for the modern economy.
Adeniyi also addressed the perception that Baze is a school for politicians.
He said while some politicians and senior professionals are among its students, the university has a broad and diverse population, including students from other West African countries.
He added that the institution is working to deepen ties with universities and stakeholders in Sierra Leone, Kenya and other countries.
He concluded that Baze University will continue to grow in a steady and systematic manner, guided by regulatory requirements and its commitment to Nigeria, Africa and the global community.
