Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Vice Chancellor of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Professor Cele Njoku, has appealed to the Federal Government to extend the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) interventions to private tertiary institutions.
Prof. Njoku, a former Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Imo State, made the appeal on Wednesday during the university’s 10th pre-convocation press conference. She argued that the continuous exclusion of private institutions from TETFund support is unjustifiable.
According to her, private tertiary institutions play a critical role in complementing government efforts in expanding access to higher education. She maintained that denying them access to TETFund ultimately harms their students, who opt for private institutions because public universities often lack adequate capacity to admit all qualified candidates.
While commending TETFund for helping to bridge infrastructural gaps in public tertiary institutions, Prof. Njoku stressed that the time had come for the Federal Government to open the window of support to all tertiary institutions in the country. She noted that private universities also contribute significantly to national development by creating jobs and building human capital.
She further explained that TETFund support would help reduce the financial burden on private institutions, enabling them to deliver quality education at more affordable rates—an outcome that would benefit students directly.
Despite the high cost of running a university, the VC said GUU had continued to record remarkable growth, expanding from three Colleges at inception to 12 Colleges with over 54 Departments in just 13 years. She added that the university had maintained an uninterrupted academic calendar and would graduate no fewer than 334 students during its 10th convocation ceremony scheduled for Saturday.
Prof. Njoku stated that GUU had continued to excel in academics and extracurricular activities, disclosing that the university recently won 54 gold medals at the just-concluded sports fiesta for tertiary institutions in Abia State.
“We have some of the best equipment that even some public universities do not have. Our programmes are fully accredited and we do not borrow equipment during accreditation,” she said.
The VC also announced that the university’s founder, Professor Greg Ibe, had offered an overseas Master’s scholarship to an Engineering student who designed a Sand Conveyor as part of his research project. In addition, GUU continues to reward academic excellence by retaining its best-graduating students and supporting those who seek postgraduate studies abroad.
She highlighted the university’s emphasis on entrepreneurship, noting that every student must take a compulsory course in entrepreneurial studies. As part of the programme, students sew their lab coats and departmental uniforms on campus.
Prof. Njoku also noted that the university’s Language Centre offers courses in Igbo, Hebrew, French, German and Chinese to equip graduates with global competencies.
While commending the founder for his sustained investment in the institution, the VC reaffirmed Management’s commitment to maintaining GUU’s rising profile.
Responding to questions on the challenges confronting the institution, she appealed to the government for intervention in the areas of power supply, water and access roads.
She further disclosed that during the convocation ceremony, honorary doctorate degrees would be conferred on the immediate past Governor of Enugu State, Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; the Chairman of the Abia State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRM Eze Sir Linus Nto Mba; and a tourism magnate and Chairman of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (Imo State Chapter), Nze Okenze Obinna.
The 10th Convocation will be preceded by the induction of Engineering graduands on Thursday.
