The debate over private university access to public research funds reached a new peak on March 16, 2026, following a viral address by Professor Foluke Unuabonah of Redeemer’s University. During a strategic academic forum, the Professor argued that the current policy, which restricts Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) grants strictly to public institutions, is an outdated barrier to national development.

The core of the argument presented this week rests on the fact that faculty members at private universities are tax-paying Nigerian citizens who contribute heavily to the country’s intellectual capital. Advocates from the university maintain that since private institutions train a significant percentage of the Nigerian workforce, they should be eligible to lead federally funded national research projects.

This advocacy has sparked a massive debate on social media since Monday, with many calling for a legislative review to allow TETFund to support research excellence regardless of institutional ownership.