Nigerian students have indicated that while the Access to Higher Education Act recently signed into law by Nigeria’s new president, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu may seem historic, the intervention is not really necessary.
In an online poll conducted by The Economy on Wednesday, most students who responded said creation of jobs or creation of policies that will ensure conducive environment for business and enterprise to thrive would be more needed. The students were concerned about the herculean processes to obtain such a loan and the ability to pay back after graduation since there are no jobs after graduation.
A student at the Plant Science Department, Cross River State University of Technology, Joy Itam in her response to The Economy opinion poll stated: “I think the idea of the loan is not necessary in our current situation. Instead of approving the loan why don’t they work on creating job opportunities for students? They’re giving us loans, how do they want us to pay back?
“The new government should focus on creating infrastructure, enable good economic environment for building of more factories and give the youth access to work in order to earn by themselves. How much loan do they think they can give to solve a student’s problem?”
For Goke Jeremiah at the University of Lagos, “getting the loan will be a whole lot of stress for an average Nigerian student. I won’t be surprise if the bulk of funds meant for the scheme ends up in the hands of civil servants and those who have the responsibility to disburse the loan.”
However, some of the students called for proper management of the scheme, devoid of favouritism and corruption.
Jude Offre of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, called for creation of a dedicated office for the student loan in each tertiary institution and creation of adequate awareness about the existence of the intervention at all higher institutions of learning in the country.
“Criteria or requirements for accessing the loan shouldn’t be so difficult so that it won’t discourage students from applying for the loan,” he responded.
Meanwhile, the National Association of Nigerian Students have visited President Tinubu over the Access to Higher Education Act which he signed into law on Monday.
The NANS delegation was led by the body’s National President, Umar Barambu.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after engagements with the President, Barambu revealed that they urged him to review the constitution of the special committee that will oversee the new Nigerian Education Loan Fund to include student representatives.
The NANS President said: “We thank the President for the Students Loan Bill.
“We have outlined the clauses that we are not too comfortable with. And part of them is the issue of that board that we mentioned to the President, which we said at least students’ representatives should be captured and there are some organisations that they put there, which to us, they don’t need to be there.
“We gave him an example, most especially the Nigerian Bar Association, ASUU. ASUU has its own microfinance bank running its own affairs without students on its board. So, I don’t think it’s wise for us to allow them to be inside our own board because it is purely students.”
In response, the President promised to consider the requests of the NANS leaders but urged the students’ body to ensure unity among its members across the country to achieve more.
“You have to promote unity and stability among each other. You have to employ democratic means in your programmes and elections. I have to say, anyone who is unable to accept and celebrate a free and fair election, does not deserve the joy of victory,” Tinubu said.
Shortly after signing the bill into law, Tinubu said he was happy with the enactment, citing that it was a dividend of the removal of petroleum subsidy.
“I’m glad you understand the reason for the subsidy removal. We were at a point where Nigeria tried to draw water from a dry well and that is no longer acceptable and we equally must not continue to service the smugglers because they used to take our tankers and Premium Motor Spirit across the borders. We will put our money where our mouth is,” he said.
“I was pleased, today, to have signed into law, the Access to Higher Education Act which provides interest-free loans to deserving students across the country who wish to further their education in tertiary institutions.
“With this Act we shall ensure that every deserving student has access to affordable and quality education, irrespective of their financial background,” he said.
