By Grace Udofia
Abuja — Pro- Chancellors of private universities in Nigeria weekend, urged the Federal Government to extend its funding programmes to the private universities to enable them contribute significantly to the growth of education.

Professor Iyorwuese Hagher, Chairman of the Pro-Chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria, made the call at the third meeting of pro-chancellors of private universities in Abuja.

Hagher explained that the issue of funding for education was constitutional, adding that every Nigerian had the right to benefit from the Federal Government’s interventionist programmes.

According to him, private universities are focusing attention on practices that make a difference in the society in their campuses.

Hagher, who was represented by Secretary of the association, Prof. Dogara Gwama, said: “As the nation is faced with a severe economic decline, there is only one sure way out of this recession.  The nation must educate and re-educate more tertiary students.

‘’Tertiary education creates jobs, and raises incomes if the goals of the universities are in tandem with national development goals.”