They help fund it — but can’t access it. Now, private universities are pushing back.
Private universities in Nigeria are turning up the pressure for access to the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, calling their exclusion unfair and overdue for change.
Leading the charge is Lateef Folorunsho Oladimeji, Vice-Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, who argues that private institutions indirectly contribute to the fund through taxes paid by the organised private sector — yet get zero benefits.
His message is simple: review the law, fix the gap.
Oladimeji says the current setup is hurting research in private universities, forcing them to rely heavily on partnerships and external grants that don’t always meet their needs.
Beyond funding concerns, he highlighted efforts to keep Al-Hikmah competitive — from boosting research and global collaborations to pushing entrepreneurship, where students are expected to graduate with registered businesses.
The call now is on the National Assembly of Nigeria to amend the law and open the door for inclusion.
Bottom line: private universities want a seat at the funding table — and they’re making their case loud and clear.
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