The Association of Pro-chancellors of Private Universities in Nigeria (APPUN) has called on the federal government to provide intervention funds to private universities at a single digit interest rate to help in the development of infrastructure and research programmes.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to the minister of Education Mallam Adamu Adamu in Abuja, the chairman, APPUN, Prof. Iyorvuese Hagher stressed the need for the federal government to provide the intervention fund for private university accross the country so as to create avenue for private universities to
access loan from Federal Bank to facilitate expansion of
infrastructures and research programmes, just as government has provided for the agriculture, textiles and Nollywood.

As a follow up request, Prof. Hagher also urged the federal, state
government and agencies to provide tax-holidays, exemptions and rebates for private universities to help them develop their
infrastructures.

‘’We request that import duties on educational materials, including medical equipment’s for our medical schools to be stopped or waived so that the educational sector will not die in a period of economic recession like this.

‘’We also urge the federal government to provide grant to defray the cost of high tuition fees in private universities in order to absorb a sizeable number of young men and women who are qualified but turned away admissions by public tertiary institutions in the country.

‘’We request that the same template that applied to Nollywood, rice production and textile industries be applied to education, especially Private Universities,’’ he said.

In his response the minister of Education who was represented by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Education Dr. Jamila Shu’ara said that she will deliver all the requests made by the Pro-chancellors to the Minister.

She added that she is hopeful that the Minister will act accordingly on their request.