Lagos:  Prof. Peter Okebukola, former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission       (NUC) has sought the support of education stakeholders for the development and growth of private universities in the country.

Okebukola, who made the appeal in Lagos on Wednesday, said that private universities were playing an important role in the education sector.

He said that the private universities had contributed significantly thorough the quality of their products, adding that they had expanded space for candidates who otherwise would not have had opportunities for university education.

“When you take a look at most graduates from the private universities, you will observe that they are very sound in morals and character as well as endowed in knowledge and skills of the various disciplines that they had graduated from.

“In Covenant University for instance, the facilities on ground in just about nine years of its existence, is much more than any public university can boast of in this country.

“The private universities have also set standard for quality in our system as well as set the tone for stability of academic calendar, quality of instruction and level of discipline which is what we strive for from products of all our universities,” the former NUC boss stated.

Okebukola, while noting that the carrying capacity of the private universities was small, observed that their absence would have put pressure on the public universities.

“There is no way we cannot afford to undermine the contribution of private universities in the country going by their ability to set the tone for sound education that is hinged on high level of research and development,” he said. (NAN)