From: Petrus Obi, Enugu
A former Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, has expressed concern over Federal Government’s inability to assist private Universities in the country, calling for a bill in the National Assembly to correct the anomaly.
Nebo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria’ Nsukka (UNN), who spoke during the Dedication of newly licensed Coal City University, Enugu, on Wednesday, described the stance of the Federal Government on private universities as ‘unfortunate’.
He expressed regrets that states, federal universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, among others, get reprieve from the Federal Government, while private universities are denied such opportunity.
According to Prof. Nebo, “It is unfortunate that the Federal Government has a stance on private universities. That is most unfortunate and unless there is bill from the National Assembly to correct that, it is going to be really tough.
Nebo, who has been appointed the Pro-Chancellor of Coal City University, Enugu, disclosed that the newly established university would be affordable, saying it is charging one of the lowest fees.
He said the new institution has commenced moves to design a curriculum that would be beyond minimum standard, adding that it was the vision of the university to groom students on entrepreneurship to make them employable and self reliant after graduation. Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu, Bishop Callistus Onaga had earlier in a sermon condemned the commercialization of education by some institutions.
While advocating attitudinal change, the cleric warned against the continued graduation of students that are not well nurtured, noting that most children spend more time in institution than they spend at home hence the need for proper grooming in institutions.
Also speaking, the Chancellor of the University, Chinedu Ani, explained that vision of the university was to expose the students to the world.
He said that they have intention to make the university an entrepreneurship based institution, stating that the institution is one of the cheapest in the country.
He assured that the university, which he said would be taking off with two faculties would be affordable.