Baze varsity VC seeks government support for private varsities
By Uji A Iliyasu, Abuja
The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Gabriel Adeniyi, has called for greater government support for private universities, arguing that they contribute to the same national human-capital development goals as public institutions.
Adeniyi made the call on Monday when Education Correspondents visited the university in Abuja, noting that private universities face enormous financial pressures in providing quality education, maintaining infrastructure and meeting regulatory requirements.
He said private universities should not be regarded merely as profit-making ventures, stressing that the cost of recruiting qualified personnel, providing facilities and utilities, running academic programmes and executing capital-intensive projects was substantial.
“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.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that graduates of private universities ultimately join the same workforce and contribute to the Nigerian economy alongside graduates of public institutions.
“We are all citizens of this country. I don’t mind if TETFund wants to support us,” he said, while commending the Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for initiatives aimed at involving private universities in some of its research programmes.
Adeniyi, however, urged the government to extend such interventions, saying increased support would enhance the capacity of private universities to provide quality education and remain sustainable.
He also highlighted Baze University’s strategic location in Abuja, describing its position in the Federal Capital Territory as an advantage that makes the institution accessible to students from different parts of the country.
According to him, Baze University was established about 15 years ago by its Founder and Chancellor, Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed, with a vision to redefine tertiary education in Nigeria and build an institution capable of competing with leading universities globally.
Adeniyi said the university had deliberately invested in maintaining a serene and conducive learning environment while keeping its fees competitive despite receiving no direct government allocation.
He added that the institution had ensured compliance with the requirements of the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The Vice-Chancellor said Baze University was also strengthening its academic standards through the recruitment of scholars from different parts of the world.
He disclosed that the institution planned to introduce external examiners from abroad to assess the work of its faculties and make recommendations based on global best practices.
On research and development, Adeniyi described research as the “hallmark of development,” saying the university was building partnerships and programmes aimed at deepening its research culture.
He said the institution was equally focused on producing graduates capable of adapting to the changing demands of the labour market by combining their academic disciplines with entrepreneurial and other transferable skills.
According to him, the changing nature of employment means graduates increasingly work across disciplines rather than strictly within the fields in which they obtained their degrees.
He cited Baze University’s partnership under the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme as part of its efforts to equip young Nigerians with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
Adeniyi said the university was determined not to produce graduates without the skills and capacity required to navigate the realities of the modern economy.
The Vice-Chancellor also dismissed perceptions that Baze University was primarily an institution for politicians.
He explained that although some politicians and senior professionals had attended the university, its student population was diverse, comprising Nigerians and students from other African countries, particularly within the West African subregion.
He said the university was also working to deepen collaborations with institutions and stakeholders in countries such as Sierra Leone and Kenya.
Adeniyi said Baze University would continue to grow steadily and systematically, guided by regulatory requirements and its commitment to contributing to the development of Nigeria, Africa and the global community.