The Vice-Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, has appealed to the Federal Government to provide stronger support for private universities, saying such institutions play an important role in developing Nigeria’s human capital.
Adeniyi made the appeal on Monday when education correspondents visited the university in Abuja.
He explained that private universities face considerable financial demands in their efforts to provide quality education, maintain infrastructure, employ qualified staff and meet regulatory requirements.
According to him, the cost of running a university extends far beyond the payment of salaries, as institutions must also provide essential facilities, maintain utilities and undertake major capital projects.
The vice-chancellor therefore argued that private universities should not be regarded simply as commercial ventures, noting that their graduates eventually contribute to the same national workforce as those produced by public universities.
Adeniyi welcomed efforts by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to involve private universities in selected research initiatives. However, he called for the expansion of such interventions to enable more private institutions to strengthen their research capacity and improve educational standards.
He said greater government involvement would also help private universities remain sustainable while continuing to provide quality tertiary education.
Speaking on Baze University, Adeniyi said the institution was founded about 15 years ago by its founder and Chancellor, Sen. Datti Baba-Ahmed, with the goal of raising the standard of university education in Nigeria and competing with institutions internationally.
He said the university’s location in Abuja gives it an advantage in attracting students from different parts of Nigeria and other African countries.
Despite receiving no direct government funding, Adeniyi said Baze University had continued to invest in its learning environment while trying to keep its fees competitive.
He added that the institution had maintained compliance with requirements set by the National Universities Commission (NUC), Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the Federal Ministry of Education.
The vice-chancellor said the university was also strengthening its academic profile by recruiting scholars from different countries.
He disclosed that plans were underway to introduce international external examiners who would evaluate the work of faculties and provide recommendations based on global academic standards.
On research, Adeniyi described it as essential to national development and said the university was establishing partnerships and programmes aimed at expanding its research activities.
He also said Baze University was focused on preparing students for a changing labour market by combining academic knowledge with entrepreneurial abilities and transferable skills.
According to him, graduates increasingly move between different areas of employment rather than remaining exclusively within the disciplines they studied.
He cited the university’s participation in the World Bank-supported IDEAS programme as one of the initiatives designed to provide young Nigerians with practical and entrepreneurial skills.
Adeniyi said the university’s objective was to produce graduates capable of adapting to the demands of a changing economy rather than limiting them to traditional career paths.
He also rejected the perception that Baze University mainly caters to politicians, explaining that while some politicians and senior professionals had attended the institution, its student population was diverse.
He said the university had students from Nigeria and other African countries, particularly from the West African region, while efforts were ongoing to expand partnerships with institutions and stakeholders in countries including Sierra Leone and Kenya.
Adeniyi said Baze University would continue to expand gradually while adhering to regulatory standards and maintaining its commitment to contributing to Nigeria, Africa and the wider global community.
