A Nigerian lecturer, Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, has called on the federal government to provide equal funding opportunity to both Nigerian private and public university lecturers, through its TETFUND National Research Fund grants.
In a statement made available to ABN TV, Chukwu, a lecturer at Gregory University, Uturu in Abia state, decried the ‘special treatment’ given to public lecturers ahead of their counterparts in private institutions.
“I call upon the leadership of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for a change in views regarding this disavowal of the existence of non-public tertiary institutions,” he said.
“Professors and other lecturers in private universities should be given equal considerations and opportunities as their peers in public tertiary institutions. They are one and the same. When dispassionately examined, there are no congruent reasons adduced why those in private tertiary institutions should be sidelined.”
ABN TV recalls that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) had recently issued a call for Concept Notes from prospective beneficiaries for its National Research Fund, year 2020 grants cycle.
But Dr. Chukwu accused TETFUND of discrimination by allegedly favouring lecturers in public universities – over their private counterparts – in the arrangement, wondering if there were differences between both.
He argued that lecturers in private universities are saddled with more responsibilities than their counterparts in public institutions, and should be equally deserving of opportunities availed their public institutions’ counterparts.
According to him, “One is left to wonder when private universities would be fully involved in the scheme of things especially with regard to Nigerian tertiary institutions’ sustainable growth and development.”
“It befuddles one’s imagination to ponder on, if any, there are differences between professors in public and private Nigerian universities. I do not think there are any. In the eligibility requirements of the recently issued call for concept notes, it is clear, even to the untrained eye that academics in public institutions are more favoured over their counterparts in private institutions.
“Should dispassionate probes be conducted, lecturers in private universities are actually more engaged and are saddled with more responsibilities than their counterparts in the public institutions of learning within the country. Hence, they should be equally deserving of opportunities availed their counterparts in the public tertiary institutions.”
Dr. Chukwu accused TETFUND of sidelining private lecturers, saying, “through extended periods of time, this policy which copiously discriminates against non-public universities in the allotment of research grants by a public funded government agency has held sway and should now be put at bay.”
“In the quest for the advancement of all facets of Nigeria’s national life, all hands must be on deck to achieve the lofty dreams of our people. All seasoned academics who can, without bias to their tertiary institution of employment should be brought in to deliver their expertise and equally lead research teams, serve as Principal Investigators and make valued contributions as co-researchers within duly constituted research teams.
“Private tertiary institutions are owned, operated and managed by Nigerians and by right, are equal stakeholders in the Nigerian Project. What should be of primary importance is the acceptance of each team’s concept notes depending on its quality and ability to address national needs and requirements and not on whether such research teams emanate from tertiary institutions not owned by the government,” the statement added.
