Baze University Calls for Government Support

• Baze University's Vice-Chancellor called for greater government support for private universities in Nigeria.
• Private universities contribute significantly to national human-capital development goals and should not be viewed solely as profit-making ventures.
• The financial pressures faced by private universities are substantial, with costs including hiring staff, buying facilities, and executing capital-intensive projects.
• Baze University has invested heavily in maintaining a serene and conducive learning environment while keeping its fees competitive despite receiving no direct government allocation.

Private universities should not be viewed solely as profit-making ventures but rather as institutions contributing to national human-capital development goals.

Baze University's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, has been vocal about the need for government support to private universities in Nigeria. The university, established by Senator Datti Baba-Ahmed 15 years ago, has invested heavily in maintaining a serene and conducive learning environment while keeping its fees competitive despite receiving no direct government allocation. This commitment to quality education is not unique to Baze University; many private institutions are working tirelessly to provide top-notch education to students from diverse backgrounds. However, the financial pressures faced by these universities are significant, with costs including hiring staff, buying facilities, providing utilities, and executing capital-intensive projects. The Vice-Chancellor emphasized that private universities should not be viewed solely as profit-making ventures but rather as institutions contributing to national human-capital development goals.

Private universities like Baze University play a crucial role in Nigeria's education sector. With graduates joining the workforce and contributing to the economy, these institutions are essential for national development. The Vice-Chancellor pointed out that the university's strategic location in Abuja makes it accessible to students from different parts of the country. This accessibility is critical, given the limited number of public universities in Nigeria. Furthermore, private universities are not solely focused on producing graduates who can adapt to the changing demands of the labour market by combining their core academic disciplines with entrepreneurial and other transferable skills.

To strengthen the capacity of private universities like Baze University, more support from the government is needed. The Vice-Chancellor commended the Executive Secretary of TETFund for initiatives aimed at including private universities in some research programmes. However, he emphasized that more needs to be done to ensure these institutions can provide quality education and remain sustainable. This includes access to government funding, which would enable them to invest in infrastructure, staff development, and research. By supporting private universities, the government can help bridge the gap between public and private education, ultimately contributing to national human-capital development goals.

Lawyers advising clients on establishing or partnering with private universities in Nigeria should be aware of the potential benefits and challenges highlighted by Baze University's Vice-Chancellor, including access to government funding and regulatory compliance.

Source: Original reporting via [Source]