By Osaretin Osadebamwen
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Administration has called on the authorities of private universities to consider the less privileged and make their fees affordable to more Nigerians so they can benefit from their facilities.
The minister anchored his call on the sense of patriotism that propelled all such universities owners to invest in education ninth country expanding the opportunities for quality university education in the country.
“Certainly,(governmrnt) cannot set pricing in an environment like this where the private investor brought in so much money to compete with the outside world who are taking our children outside the country, that is why (I) commended them.
“Certainly, I will implore, invite, I will explore, I will call on their corporate social responsibility, senses judgement, their patriotism and nationalism, to reduce their cost of affordability to children of those who are not doing very well” economical, the minister pointed out
He said this Thursday soon after he commissioned twin hostel blocks of 360 bed space each for students accommodation at the Baze University in Abuja.
The minister who commended the infrastructural development in the growing campus said with affordable fees more Nigerians will them enjoy quality education.
He said the school has demonstrated commitment to providing the national quality education ans well as adding value to the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
Baze university which started in 2011 on a 33square meters with only 17 students but has grown to over 1000 students innthree years on an expanded land area of 3, 000sqm.
FCTA To Support Universities In Abuja-Official
The FCT Administration has expressed its readiness to support any University established in the Federal Capital Territory to ensure that younger generations of Nigeria enjoy access to quality education at affordable cost.
The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed gave this assurance while commissioning 720 beds New Student Hostels at the Baze University, Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister further assured that incentives would soon be unveiled to enable such Universities make their courses affordable to the majority of Nigerian families.
According to him, there are three more Universities that are about to come up in the Federal Capital Territory and that in the near future there may be no need for parents or guardians to send their wards out of the country for studies.
Senator Mohammed appreciated the uncommon efforts of Baze University in putting up quality infrastructure, which has potently reflected the rich diversity of our great country.
His words: “Today, this University potently reflects the rich diversity of our great country. As an Administration, we are indeed happy that the founders of this institution chose the Federal Capital Territory”.
“With over 33,000 square meters of academic and support facilities already in place, I can say that the rate of development has been phenomenal,” he emphasized.
The Minister reiterated that the opportunities in expanding academic faculties and non-academic workspaces by the University have created jobs and other economic prospects, which have improved the lives of FCT residents in particular and the nation at large.
Speaking earlier, the Vice Chancellor of Baze University, Abuja, Professor Michael Hodd noted that with the new hostels and other facilities, the University is poised to expand its students’ intake thereby taking it to greater heights.
The Pro-Chancellor of the University, Senator Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed commended the FCT Minister for his passion for education and his untiring efforts in maintaining peace and security within the FCT as well as the contiguous states.
