PFN President Seeks Inclusion of Private Varsities As Beneficiaries of TETFUND, NELFUND
Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan The National President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to include private universities as beneficiaries of
Archbishop Francis Wale Oke, President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has urged the Federal Government to expand the beneficiaries of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND) and Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to include private universities and their students. Speaking at the fifth convocation ceremony of Precious Cornerstone University (PCU) in Ibadan, Oke, who is also the Chancellor of PCU, expressed concern over the exclusion of private institutions and their students from these government agencies.
He argued that this exclusion amounts to a violation of the rights of these students as citizens of Nigeria and that private universities and their students contribute significantly to the country's growth. Oke emphasized that private universities need the intervention to develop their infrastructures, just like public institutions, and that the students are bonafide citizens of Nigeria who deserve the same benefits.
He stated that the funding for TETFUND primarily comes from taxes paid by the private sector, such as banks and oil companies, and therefore, the private universities should be included in the fund. PCU has recently received approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC) to commence admissions into seven new undergraduate programs, including Nursing Science, Public Health, Medical Laboratory Science, Community Health Science, Christian Religious Studies, Music, and Performing Arts.
Oke highlighted that the new programs are a significant milestone in PCU's academic expansion and its commitment to national manpower development. The institution is dedicated to producing skilled, moral graduates who are critical thinkers and future leaders. Oke further explained that PCU encourages students to register companies to practice their businesses while studying and to take professional courses to become experts in their chosen fields.
The university recently graduated 148 students in 2026, with 25 obtaining first-class honors, 69 with second-class upper, 44 with second-class lower, and 10 with third-class honors. PCU boasts of producing skilled, talented, and professional graduates who will be employers of labor and job creators, not just job seekers. The university welcomes students from all over the country.
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