The Chairman, Committee of provosts of Colleges of Health Sciences and Technology in Nigeria, Dr. Johnson Ojo, has called for the review of the law establishing Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) to accommodate all tertiary institution in the country.
He said this on Saturday in Abuja at the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees and award of excellence on some eminent personalities by the American Heritage University of Southern California.
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He said that the current TETFUND act is exclusive and not in line with what is obtainable in other parts of the world.
Ojo, who delivered a lecture on “Education Financing for Global Equity and Inclusion”, said that Nigeria is one of the most defective countries in regards of giving special fund to institutions, and that colleges of health sciences and private universities should also be beneficiaries of TETFUND interventions.
He also said that Nigeria needs an education system that acknowledges both public and private providers, including an accountability mechanism to strengthen service delivery among various stakeholders.
“As at present, the TETFUND act is so exclusive. It is not inclusive of all tertiary institutions in Nigeria. It was tailored and being practised towards public universities, polytechnics and colleges of education owned by the government. But it is exclusive of Colleges of Health Sciences and Technology. The reason adduced to it is that it was university lecturers that fought for TETFUND.
“Both Obafemi Awolowo and Nnamdi Azikiwe fought for Nigeria’s independence but it is not only their children that are enjoying the freedom today.
“Therefore, TETFUND act should be reviewed in favour of all tertiary institutions and private institutions in the country like what is obtainable in China. The revenue of the federal government in which the money accrued to TETFUND is derived is not only generated by public institutions but generated by Nigerians. Everyone is expected to enjoy the benefits of government equitably,” Ojo said.
On the fears that extending such gesture to private institutions may lead to abuse of the process, he said regulatory agencies such as the National Universities Commission (NUC) would serve as watchdog and check for such abuses.
Speaking earlier, President, Global Scholarship Trust, Dr. John Adeniyi, said the awardees reflect the values and the history of the University as well as its philosophy which, according to him is to prepare graduates to be an asset to the community and be socially responsible, productive members of society.
He said, “They also reflect the mission of the University which states that mission is to provide higher education to a culturally diverse community of adult learners and prepare them with critical perspectives and contemporary skills.
“The Global Scholarship Trust on its part has been able to transform the lives of many youths as beneficiaries of its Scholarship Scheme. Many of those beneficiaries were perhaps wouldn’t have tasted higher education in their life lime.”
Among the awardees were Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni; Founder, Shamies Unusual Hearts Foundation, Ambassador Saratu Abdullahi; and Coordinator, Rice farmers association of Nigeria, Kwara State Chapter, Malam Adamu Saba, among others.
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