First of all, I have no personal beef or ish with private universities in Nigeria. Kudos to them. However I feel they are no match for the public universities.

Asides Covenant University which has been pursuing academic excellence rigorously, all other private universities are mere profit companies.

But even if you tell me to pick between covenant university and any first or second generation public university, I would still go for the public universities. Why?

1. They have a well established alumni of global reckoning.
2. They are not driven or motivated by profit as observed in private schools which are owned by private individuals or groups. They are driven by innate academic excellence.
3. Unlike private universities, they expose one to the real world of obstacles, manoeuverings, economy, and independence, all together laced with academic pursuit.

I know Covenant (and others) aims to be like Harvard university. But harvard, though private in ownership, is public in setting. The US government is a serious stakeholder in the university, so the university is not entirely private so to say.

Just my take. Don't crucify me abeg o....

Private universities are just glorified secondary schools.

SonOfEl:
First of all, I have no personal beef or ish with private universities in Nigeria. Kudos to them. However I feel they are no match for the public universities.

Asides Covenant University which has been pursuing academic excellence rigorously, all other private universities are mere profit companies.

But even if you tell me to pick between covenant university and any first or second generation public university, I would still go for the public universities. Why?

1. They have a well established alumni of global reckoning.
2. They are not driven or motivated by profit as observed in private schools which are owned by private individuals or groups. They are driven by innate academic excellence.
3. Unlike private universities, they expose one to the real world of obstacles, manoeuverings, economy, and independence, all together laced with academic pursuit.

I know Covenant (and others) aims to be like Harvard university. But harvard, though private in ownership, is public in setting. The US government is a serious stakeholder in the university, so the university is not entirely private so to say.

Just my take. Don't crucify me abeg o....

Good point but they are still good in their own right. If we'll managed a private Uni can still measure up. By d way pray mk I get d job that am seeking in a private Uni. Not a bad plc 2 start off one's academic career

You have to give the private universities time. No private university is even 2 decades old already and they are already ranking at par with State and federal universities. Covenant university is currently top 30 in Africa and top 3 in almost all reputable rankings for Nigeria. If you go yo researchgate and search for institutions, you would discover that Covenant university is releasing highly impactful Journals with high 'reads' all over the globe. ABUAD is also going places. However, the private universities also need to get their priorities right. I know CU is currently pumping a whole lot of Cash into research and even patented 25 products last year with the patent office. Also I agree with the OP that the private unis need to remain private yet also public, Covenant university is also going well with that, with per time courses that are comparatively cheap and fee waiver for first class graduates of any institution who would want to pursue an MSc degree.

Lalasticlala Myndd44

"Just my take. Don't crucify me abeg o...." OP; see reason why I no go talk

Federal uni remains d best

Not to state the obvious, but...

Public U tuition is cheaper, Private U tuitions is more expensive.

In the world we are going to be living in, facing the cutthroat competitors, it is imperative to look at the value of the diploma you'll be carrying for the rest of your life.

Some public colleges are elite enough to be worth their weight in gold. Some private colleges are equally and sometimes more prestigious. But most are average. Those that are free are not worth going to.

In the end, the one that graduates successful students is the one that matters, Public or Private. Some things, money cannot buy.

Attend an institution that continues to upgrade with time, just like university of Ibadan..
You can read about it here

University of Ibadan (1948)
OAU (1961)
Covenant University (2002)

Covenant University is indeed greater

Private University is well organized and managed better

university is about exposure,not jacking like hell....most privatee univ e.g igbinedion university ,u cant compare the level of exposure of the students to that of students in public univ...iuo boys know how to live well affter school,the urge to succeed is there..Sorry to burst ur head op,no be wetin u learn for school go put food 4 ur table..shikena

And by the way when it comes to research, only UI exceeds Covenant university right now as shown by webometrics( which measures research relevance). God willing, CU would displace UI on THE by next year-we are working aggressively to achieve that. Also, when comparing these universities remember that Ui is decades older than Covenant university. However, CU has more funds than UI and we've releasing publications at a very high rate, though these publications would only reflect in some months time on webometrics when Scholars across the globe would have used them for their own research. But lets be clear about one thing, we are going for number one in Nigeria and Africa.

@OP I think it is reckless and foolish to say "Asides Covenant University which has been pursuing academic excellence rigorously, all other private universities are mere profit companies" I am a graduate of the prestigious Ahmadu Bello university Zaria and i work with a lot of Bowen, Babcock graduates and they are doing good in their fields. I will not be too quick to condemn a school that i haven't been to. Yes a lot are just for profit without academic excellence but you cant just say all of them. Cheers

In a private university, you only learn academics and academics alone.

In a public university, you learn about academics and LIFE.

Not again. Aren't u guys tired of this. One thing I love about the private uni is the student teacher ratio.

Joseph ayo babalola university one of the best private university in Nigeria hit like if u believe

Hmmm

crapy comparisons... op u wey finish from public uni wetin e add for Ur table?

jomboliski:
Private University is well organized and managed better

uhm

You have said it all

Jaymaxxy:
In a private university, you only learn academics and academics alone.

In a public university, you learn about academics and LIFE.

private schools wey dey wear uniforms. i prefer public

Jaymaxxy:
In a private university, you only learn academics and academics alone.

In a public university, you learn about academics and LIFE.

why u dey lie,come igbinedion,u go know say the level of exposure of the students cant be compare to that of someone who is in public univ,get ur facts..am using igbindion univ,because i know what they are capable of

Too many restrictions in some private universities that makes you think if you're really still in secondary school.Public universities really makes you independent and at the same time ensures you follow set rules and regulations as it happens in real world.

If you have a chance to choose of UI or Covenant for research, jump at Covenant. By the way I've been to UI

Statsocial:
And by the way when it comes to research, only UI exceeds Covenant university

Una don start again o, although i attended a public uni, private uni guys are more than a match. Go to KPMG, PWC, Access bank, Stanbic, Diamond bank, Sclum etc na Babcock and convenant guys dey rain there. they mostly have better packaging than public uni guys. the same thing that happened to public secondary school will soon happen to Public unis.

I just SMH whenever I hear this topic.