By Steve Oko

The first female Vice Chancellor of Gregory University Uturu, GUU, Abia State, Professor Cele Njoku, has urged the federal government, to allow private tertiary institutions to also benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, (TETFund).

Prof. Njoku who was a former Rector, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Imo State, made the appeal during the 10th pre-convocation press conference of the university.

She argued that since private tertiary institutions are complementing the efforts of government in providing opportunities for citizens to pursue their careers in education following limited vacancies in public tertiary institutions, they should not be denied access to TETFund.

The VC noted that TETFund had played key role in bridging infrastructural gap in public tertiary institutions, adding that extending similar gesture to private institutions has become imperative and will be in the best interest of society.

She further argued that private tertiary institutions also assist government by providing job opportunities for citizens, hence, government should reciprocate their patriotic efforts by allowing them to benefit from TETFund.

Prof. Njoku said that TETFund intervention in private tertiary institutions would help to reduce their financial burden and ultimately rob off on their students

She, however, noted that despite the high cost of running a university, GUU had continued to make waves having expanded from three Colleges at inception to 12 Colleges with over 54 Departments in just 13 years.

The VC who said that the university had maintained uninterrupted academic calendar, hinted that no fewer than 334 students would be graduating during the 10th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday.

She said that the university had also continued to excel both in academics and extracurricular activities as it won 54 gold medals in the just -concluded sports fiesta for tertiary institutions in Abia.

The VC announced that the founder of the university, Professor Greg Ibe, had offered overseas Masters sponsorship to an Engineering student of the university who innovated Sand Conveyor in his research project.

She said the university had also continued to reward academic excellence by retaining its best -graduating students, in addition to supporting those who want to pursue their Masters programme abroad.

The VC who said that a course in entrepreneurial studies had been made compulsory for every student of the university for self reliance, explained that students now sew their lab coats and other departmental uniforms in the university.

She also said that the Language Centre of the university offers courses in Igbo, Hebrew, French, Germany and Chinese languages, to enable its graduates fit in properly in the evolving global community.

Commending the Founder for heavily investing in the university, the VC restated the commitment of the Management towards sustaining the enviable position of the university.

Responding to questions on the challenges of the university, the VC solicited Government’s intervention on the power, water and access road challenges confronting the institution.

She disclosed that, during the convocation, doctorate degree, honourary causa, would be conferred on the trio of the immediate -past Governor of Enugu State, Dr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; the Chairman of Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Sir Linus Nto Mba; and a tourism magnet and Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria Imo State Chapter, Nze Okenze Obinna.