Church-owned universities are forced to charge high tuition
fees because it is a costly venture to build and effectively
run schools without access to government subsidies.
This was stated by Reverend Felix Meduoye , the General
Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria , which
owns and runs the Macpherson University, Ogun State, Sun
News » reports.
Speaking with journalists as part of activities marking the
church’s Diamond Jubilee, Meduoye said the public must
not expect free education in faith-based schools because
running a schools is an "expensive adventure".
"But one foundation that I must lay here is that schools cost
a lot of money, not only to build but also in running them,"
he said.
"You may say, let them make everything free since they are
churches. But you know that the church also has primary
responsibilities, not only to man but also to God, for the
salvation of the human soul. And it is an expensive
adventure and expensive project too."
The General Overseer added that the cost implications come
about because the schools must offer quality education.
"Supposing we decide to build a school and just build
houses and say well, because we have built houses, let us
do it in a way that it will not cost us anything; and just bring
children there.
"You will see that at the end of the day, we will not give the
children the best.”
Meduoye added that the fact that government subsidies are
not extended to such schools mean they do not have the
extra funds available to government owned institutions.
"Some people say that faith-based schools charge more
than the Federal Government-owned schools.
"Again, I think that such people do not consider that faith-
based schools are not entitled to the subsidies that federal
universities receive.
He said, contrary, to opinions, the churches are not "out
there to make profit" but only breaking even "break even."
"But trying to break even in private school, when you don’t
have government subsidy, is not a cheap thing."
Student Pulse gathered that some faith-based universities
in Nigeria charge as much as
For example, Babcock University, owned and operated by
the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Nigeria, reportedly
charges between N620,000 to N3 million while the
Redeemer’s University, owned and operated by the
Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is said to
charge between N500,000 to N650,000 per annum.
It is however generally believed that the facilities available
at such private and faith based universities are much better
than what is available at government owned institution,
which may be the reason why Covenant University, Ota,
owned by the Winners Chapel was recently rated the best
university in Nigeria » .
They also have stable academic calendars, being immune
to strike actions.
In a related development, the Covenant University
authorities indicated a willingness to reduce its tuition »
fees. pulse.ng/student/expensive-tuition-fees-church-universities-can-t-be-free-because-they-cost-money-to-build-maintain-foursquare-go-id3490282.html

Who cares

But church pastor should live free.