The Chairman of Ajayi Crowther University Governing Council, Dr Olutoyin Okeowo, has expressed concerns over the choice of beneficiaries of Tertiary Education trust Fund (TETFUND) by the Federal Government.
Speaking during the official opening of the Modupe Okeowo and Abiodun Ayanlaja Senate Building, which he personally financed and donated to ACU, Okeowo pointed out that beneficiaries of TETFUND should not be limited to public tertiary institutions alone, calling on FG to extend the funds disbursement to private institutions, especially, faith based institutions.
The occasion also doubled as celebration of his 70th birthday.
He stated that the building is a donation from his family in honour of his mother, Chief Mrs. Modupe Adebukola Okeowo and his mother-in-law, Mrs. Abiodun Abibat Ayanlaja. Both died in September 2008.
At the event were Primate of the Church of Nigeria, Henry Ndukuba; Visitor to the University, Most Reverend Dr Joseph Akinfenwa; bishops from various diocese of the church; Chairman of the University Board of Trustees, Dr Wole Olanipekun (SAN); former Minister of State for Health, Dr Olorunibe Mamora; Vice-Chancellor of ACU, Prof Timothy Adebayo; and his counterparts from other universities, as well as other important personalities in Nigeria.
According to Okeowo, running a university requires considerable resources, tracing Ajayi Crowther University’s progress and successes to support it received from well-meaning individuals and organisations.
He said, “Private universities, like Ajayi Crowther University, face challenges related to funding, staff remuneration, infrastructure, and academic programs.
“Unlike public universities, private institutions are not beneficiaries of government funds like those from the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND). We consider this disparity unfair. The students and their parents, staff and management of private universities are also citizens of this country who have also directly or indirectly paid taxes from which TETFUND is realised.
“We humbly call on the Federal Government to urgently address this by extending the benefit of the fund to private institutions most especially Faith based University like Ajayi Crowther University that are not profit centers.”
He added that ACU is on a steady path towards growth, highlighting the commitment of the university to developing innovative and globally relevant programs.
In his welcome address, the university VC thanked Okeowo family, adding that the building would solve space needs of the University, while also congratulating Okeowo on his birthday.