Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, the National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has called on the Federal Government to extend the benefits of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to private universities and their students.
During the fifth convocation ceremony of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU) in Ibadan, where he serves as Chancellor, Oke expressed concern that the exclusion of private institutions from these federal programs denies students their rights as citizens and hinders the universities’ ability to develop their infrastructure. He stated that private universities play a crucial role in educating Nigeria’s future leaders and therefore deserve equal support from the government.
Oke remarked that the federal funding initiatives should not solely benefit public institutions, arguing that private universities also contribute significantly to national development. He urged the government to recognize the importance of these institutions at a time when the funds are generated from sectors like banking and oil, which operate in the private sphere.
Additionally, Oke announced that under his leadership, PCU has received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence seven new undergraduate programs in fields including Nursing Science, Public Health, and Music. He emphasized that this expansion represents a milestone for the university and its aim to contribute to the skilled workforce in Nigeria.
With a strong focus on producing self-sufficient graduates who will be job creators rather than job seekers, Oke stressed the importance of academic excellence and innovation at PCU. He noted that the institution encourages entrepreneurial development, allowing students to register companies while completing their studies. The convocation marked the graduation of 148 students, adding to a total of 604 graduates from the university.
