….as it graduates fourth set

By Niyi Okiri

The Vice Chancellor of Trinity University, TU, Yaba, Lagos, Professor Clement Kolawole, has appealed to the Federal Government to extend the National Education Loan Fund, NELFund, programme to private university students, and that private universities should also benefit from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, TETFund.

In his words: “It is something we are entitled to as Nigerians. Our private universities and a very high percentage of the students are Nigerians, and are entitled to the commonwealth of this nation. TETFund should provide infrastructure and research funding for my university because I am producing Nigerian graduates that are useful to the country, and the fact that parents can toil to provide for their children to go to these universities should not be criminalised.

“It is not justified, because their parents pay taxes and proprietors of private universities pay taxes too.”
Prof. Kolawole was responding to journalists’ questions during a press briefing on Monday ahead of the varsity’s fourth convocation and eighth matriculation ceremonies, which will come to climax on Friday when degrees and diplomas will be conferred on over 200 graduating students, with 51 in First Class and 61 in Second Class Upper divisions.

On the revenue accruing from the conduct of the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, UTME, the don said “the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, JAMB, does not have to make returns to government from the monies made from candidates every year. It should equitably be shared, on percentage basis, to the universities where these candidates are posted.

Speaking on the quality of his graduates, he said, “Research informs teaching and teaching informs the quality of graduates you produce. Our graduates are equipped both in knowledge, skill and character and are making waves out there all over the world, in the seven years of the existence of Trinity University, and there will be more.”