The Vice-Chancellor, Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State, Prof. Sunday Elom, said government cannot fund university education alone, noting that parents/guardians of students, university management and the organized private sector have huge role to play in order to ensure that education is functional, qualitative and beneficial to society.

The Vice-Chancellor stated this on Monday, 13th December, 2021 during the 6th Convocation Lecture of the University, themed “Cost Sharing Option in Funding University Education in Nigeria” held at the Abubakar Rasheed Auditorium.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom speaking at the 6th convocation lecture
“The theme is strategically significant because it is our view that government alone cannot adequately fund university education in Nigeria. Expecting this to happen would be a pipe dream. We are advocating that other major stakeholders such as parents/guardians, university management and the organized private sector should join hands in funding university education in Nigeria. It is through collaborative funding efforts that education can become functional, qualitative and beneficial to society



“As a university, we have already set the ball rolling through the inauguration of the AE-FUNAI Parent’s Forum in 2016. Through their activities, many infrastructural gaps have been bridged. I therefore use this opportunity to thank the Forum for their numerous strides in the University.’”

Pointing out some of the efforts of his administration towards enhancing the internal revenue base of the University, Prof. Elom noted that since he assumed duty in February as the 3rd Vice-Chancellor of the University, he has reorganized and strengthened the AE-FUNAI Outlook Limited to handle consultancy services within and outside the state, in addition to existing businesses of block industry, paint factory, bookshop, restaurant and indigenous textile production.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom (C) in a group photograph with the Chancellor, HRM Oba (Dr) Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo (3rd L), the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman Governing Council, Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs (1st R), the Chairman, 6th convocation lecture, Prof. Charles Chike Onochie (2nd L) and wife, Mrs. Celina Onochie and guest lecturer, Emeritus Prof. Onyechi Obidoa (3rd R) and wife Prof. Mrs. Azuka Obidoa at the event


He further said “We have also established Agency banking in collaboration with the Zenith Bank. In addition, we are waiting for CBN license to start our university microfinance bank. Also in line with my agenda on assumption of duty, we have created a reserve area within the University land for planting of about hundred thousand fast growing timber trees by 2020. These trees will yield billions of naira in about 20 years. Our Centre for entrepreneurship is establishing a mega poultry farm soon. All these efforts are geared towards improving our IGR.”

Delivering his opening remarks at the event, the Chairman of the occasion and the former Vice-Chancellor, Renaissance University, Ugbawka, Enugu State, Prof. Charles Chike Onochie, noted that funding is paramount in the day to day running of the tertiary institutions to enable it achieve her goals, adding that without adequate funding, the university cannot function well. He also stated that funding enhances development of any University, advising universities not to rely solely on governments in developing tertiary institutions.


Chairman of the occasion, Prof. Charles Chike Onochie making his opening remarks at the event
Prof. Onochie speaking further, urged the Federal Government to recognize the private Universities as they are equally working and functioning to achieve a common goal of developing the Nigerian nation.



While speaking on the theme of the event ‘’Cost Sharing Option in Funding University Education in Nigeria’’, Emeritus Prof. Onyechi Obidoa, noted that after independence in1960, the funding of Public Universities has been a perennial discussion both in the Universities and the public. This according to him is natural because there is general awareness that the socio-economic development of any nation depends on the higher education, knowledge and the skills of her people. He added that with the increase in population, the demand and need for Higher Education calls for more Universities and the financial endowment to run the institutions also increased.


Guest lecturer, Emeritus Prof. Onyechi Obidoa delivering the 6th convocation lecture of the university
Prof. Obidoa, stressed that the financial outlay has not increased commensurately especially with global and sectoral competitions, thereby highlighting the factors that have worsened the situation which includes over dependence on the mono-culture of unpredictable wasting asset of fossil-fuels, traditional preference of academic education to skills acquisition through technical education, and frequent change in government and policy among others. He stated that all federal and state universities in Nigeria belong to any government in power and the funding of the Universities is there sole responsibilities.



Continuing, Prof. Obidoa averred that there is no sustainable university funding without the hard work of all in the system their individual field of research or study, adding that funding has to be sought for and fought for while urging the universities and their staff to make themselves attractive for funders and also establish internally generated revenue (IGR), to assist in generation of funds to the University.


VC, Prof. Sunday Elom in a group photograph with Chancellor, HRM Oba (Dr) Michael Aremu Adedotun Gbadebo, Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Pro-Chancellor/Chairman, Governing Council, Emeritus Prof. Nimi Briggs, other members of the Governing Council, rep. of NUC Executive Secretary, Mr. Boniface Odum and rep. of TETFund Executive Secretary, Mrs. Ebere Nwobu at the event


He further proposed three cost sharing options that could be used in funding of public universities in Nigeria – government or proprietor solution, internal solution and external/foreign solution.