The Founder of Achievers University, Owo, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to exempt education from taxation and instead support the sector through subsidies.
Ayorinde, who is also the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the institution, made the call on Saturday during the university’s 15th convocation ceremony and 18th foundation anniversary in Owo, Ondo State.
He described education as a critical driver of national transformation, stressing that private universities were established not for profit, but to complement government efforts in expanding access to quality education.
According to him, private institutions shoulder responsibilities that government cannot adequately meet, adding that taxing education would undermine scholarships and free tuition in some programmes and lead to increased fees in others.
“To tax education is to stop scholarship and free tuition in some of our programmes and to increase the tuition of fast-selling programmes. This may prevent many aspiring students from accessing quality education,” he said.
Ayorinde noted that any surplus generated by private universities is reinvested in infrastructure and other developmental projects.
He warned that imposing taxes on educational institutions amounts to taxing knowledge, enlightenment and the future of young Nigerians, describing such a move as counterproductive and contrary to global best practices.
The Achievers founder cited countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa, where universities enjoy significant tax exemptions.
He added that taxing education would contradict national development goals, noting that no nation can industrialise without heavy investment in education, research and innovation.
“Taxation undermines research, innovation and knowledge production. This is an appeal to the Federal Government for urgent policy reform. Government should direct the Federal Inland Revenue Service and state internal revenue boards to grant full tax exemption, especially to universities,” he said.
Ayorinde urged the government to see private universities as partners in national development rather than taxable enterprises, stressing that the overall economic value of education far outweighs any revenue that could be generated from taxing it.
Earlier, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, disclosed that 705 students graduated across first and higher degree programmes at the convocation.
He said 72 graduands earned First Class honours, 318 obtained Second Class Upper Division, 223 finished with Second Class Lower Division, while 40 graduated with Third Class degrees. He added that 52 students completed postgraduate programmes.
Aremu also announced that students of the university would henceforth graduate with additional certificates or diplomas from the Institute of Diploma Practice, Culture and Language Development, alongside their main fields of study, to enhance their employability.
He commended the university’s management for making 12 academic programmes tuition-free and prioritising staff welfare through timely promotions and recognition of hard work.
In his remarks, the Chancellor of the university, Dr. Yakubu Dogara, congratulated the graduands and urged them to uphold the institution’s values as ambassadors of integrity.
Dogara, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, charged the graduates to innovate in a rapidly changing world and contribute solutions to national and global challenges.
At the event, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladelusi, was conferred with an Honorary Doctor of Science in Public Administration, while Prince Roland Olawumi Omowa received an Honorary Doctor of Science in Business Administration and Mr Folajimi Adetula was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science in Public Administration.
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