By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

The Chancellor/Founder of Gregory University, Uturu (GUU), Abia State, Professor Gregory Ibe, has called on the Federal Government to support private ownership of universities in Nigeria to ensure production of quality graduates.

He made the call during a News Express interview in his country home of Uturu, Isuikwuato Local Government Area of Abia State.

The proprietor of GUU explained that lecturers in public institutions lack seriousness and commitment to their job, hence, students graduate with limited knowledge of their field of study.

Ibe wondered why universities that have been on strike for months will return to school only to resume exams.

While describing it as absurd, he said: “It is just of late that government is realising that all over the world, institutions are not run by government. So far as basic education is concerned, it can be free but beyond basic education, somebody needs to pay.

“There must be seriousness and commitment on the part of the teachers so that parents can get value for their money. Lecturers in public institutions do not take their work seriously, yet they are paid salaries at the end of the month.

“The moment private institutions are allowed to dominate, laxity on the part of lecturers will stop.

“Presently, with the no pay, there’s no researcher that would be ready to come to your institution for research work. If you make a budget to the national that you are inviting foreign Professors on the bill of ten thousand dollars monthly, they will cross it as unimportant.”

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