The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has condemned Aisha Buhari’s plans to establish a private university in her husband’s name expressing that it is a glare reflection that ‘this leadership does not believe in public-funded education.’
The News Agency of Nigeria had reported that the wife of the president was planning to establish a new private university to be named Muhammadu Buhari University.
Responding to the disclosure, Deji Omole, ASUU Chairman, University of Ibadan, and Ademola Aremu, former National Treasurer of the Union, told newsmen that this is a joke taken too far.
“When I also heard about the proposed private university to be named after Mr President, I just looked at it as a joke taken too far,” Omole said.
“If we have a president in a country that has simply refused to fund public education and all we get from the family of the first lady is to establish a private university in collaboration with some foreigners, to me I think it is a disaster for this country and for a sitting president.
“The implication is that Nigerians should know that this leadership does not believe in public-funded education. Nigerians should support the struggle for the government to take education as a core investment upon which this country will be liberated.
“It is not the children of the rich that will solve the problems of Nigeria but the children of the poor and the tool they need is quality education.”
Aremu said he does not think the first lady is serious, adding that Nigeria already has “proliferation of universities and they are not taken care of”.
“Since they are policy makers, they will now formulate policies that will ground public universities aground for their interest to thrive. I thought we have actually left that era.
“I could remember that Obasanjo established Bells and we condemned it. Atiku established his own as Former Vice President. If you have private interest, you should not hold public office.
“If you have interest in anything private, I think it is proper to actually leave the public space for those who want to eager to serve the masses. How many people can afford the existing private universities existing in the country?
“If you want to help education, then increase the capacity of the existing ones. When you are holding a public office, don’t establish a private concern. She should wait until Buhari is completely out of office before thinking of bringing a private university in whatever name.”
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