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Poverty should not prevent anybody from getting quality education – Tinubu
After receiving them in the state house in Abuja, in his word, the president said “Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller,
President Tinubu after receiving the representatives of the National Association of Nigeria Students NAN throws his support behind helping every student get a quality education in a bid to return the educational sector to its former glory by providing opportunities for everyone to get educated even to the highest level.
After receiving them in the state house in Abuja, in his word, the president said “Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller, ‘Bole’ (plantain) seller or yam seller from attaining their highest standard of education, to eliminate poverty,”
The President expressed his firm belief that poverty should never hinder access to education. He emphasized the importance of investing in education, stating that if we collectively recognize it as the most powerful tool against poverty, we must allocate resources toward it. The President also highlighted the significance of eradicating poverty from individual families, as it would alleviate the burden for the entire society.
President Tinubu, who had pledged to consider the requests put forth by the leaders of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), urged the student body to prioritize unity among its members nationwide for greater achievements. He advised them to embrace democratic processes in their programs and elections, emphasizing that those who cannot accept and celebrate free and fair elections do not truly deserve the joy of victory.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to the students for their support in removing subsidies on petrol. He explained the reasoning behind this decision, emphasizing the need to curb smuggling and the unsustainable practice of drawing water from a dry well. He assured the students that the government would allocate resources accordingly.
Meanwhile, earlier, the leader of the NANS delegation, Umar Barambu, conveyed their appreciation to the President for signing the Student Loan Bill into law. The bill which aims to provide loans to financially disadvantaged students, ensuring that no Nigerian student in tertiary institutions will be forced to drop out due to the inability to pay tuition fees. Additionally, the bill which was sponsored by former House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila before being appointed as Chief of Staff to the president was signed into law by President Tinubu on Democracy Day, June 12.
Barambu further revealed that they had requested the President to review the constitution of the special committee overseeing the new Nigerian Education Loan Fund to include student representatives. They advocated for the inclusion of past national leaders of NANS while excluding lecturers and lawyers from the loans board, as specified in the Students Loan Act.
Regarding the contentious clause of the act, the NANS President expressed their concerns and suggested amendments. They emphasized the importance of including student representatives on the board and excluding organizations such as the Nigerian Bar Association and ASUU, as these entities already have their own microfinance banks to address their respective affairs. The students regarded their representation on the board as essential since they are the primary stakeholders.
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