The federal government asked university governing boards on Thursday to seek the assistance of charitable organizations and individuals for more project financing.
The advice was given by Adamu Adamu, Minister of Education, in Abuja yesterday during the inauguration of the governing councils of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University of Agriculture, Makurdi, and the Federal University of Agriculture, Zuru.
Adamu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Goodluck Opiah, cited difficult economic times and the government’s desire to increase private sector participation in tertiary institutions, and asked the councils to come up with ideas to generate more revenue outside of government allocations.
“To that purpose, the councils should reach out to charitable groups and people for extra funding of initiatives in the Institutions.” “The councils can also look at other sources of funding, such as endowments,” he said.
“In doing so, you must guarantee that the institutions’ master plans, academic briefs, and strategic plans are respected and that their contents are faithfully followed,” he stated.
Adamu also stated that the assumption that the chief executive or any major official of an institution should be from the community in which it is located has tainted the integrity of Nigeria’s postsecondary institutions.
He described the practice as strange and stated that merit should be the governing concept.
He challenged the municipalities to come up with ideas for generating more cash outside of government allocations.
