Why Tinubu introduced student loans, written by Gbajabiamila
Presidential Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila said efforts are underway to ensure the launch of the student loan scheme in January 2024. He said this would ensure that Nigerian students have access to loans “to fund their funding”. their educational aspirations; ”
Gbajabiamila spoke at the convocation lecture of Yaba University of Technology (YABATECH).
While delivering a speech entitled “Empowering Nigerian Youths in the Modern Economy” at the 35th Convocation Ceremony, the former Speaker of the House of Representatives said that in order to make the process seamless, “applicants should apply online; will be verified and credit will be given.” Based on verifiable documentation and credentials submitted by them. ”
According to him, “The student loan program’s application system is designed so that there is no interface between the loan administrator and the recipient. Applicants apply online, are verified online, and submit verifiable You don’t have to know someone to qualify for these loans, making access to them truly equal.
“The student loan system answers part of the question of how to fund quality public higher education, but it does not answer all of it. About the future of higher education in Nigeria. Serious discussions must include a thorough consideration of ways and means to address the funding needs of public higher education institutions beyond government subsidies. There is no escaping the simple truth that education costs money, especially that the best educational institutions around the world are successful because they earn large sums of money through tuition, investments, and other means. Because it can generate profits.
“The simple truth is that if our institutions are to compete favorably, we must now It’s about needing more resources than are available.”
He said that in a perfect world, access to education would be a fundamental benefit given to all individuals from basic to advanced.
“And our Learning Center will be a grand citadel of research and innovation, open to all who seek knowledge by any means. But this is not a perfect world. This real world. , education is a commodity and quality education is even more important. “A central challenge for public policy is therefore the contradiction between the conflicting goals of access and quality. How can we fund quality higher education without imposing costs that make it inaccessible?
“We need an aggressive and sustained program of investment in education, not just in the physical infrastructure of classrooms and lecture halls, but also in technology hardware and software to foster information exchange and innovation. .
“In this new world we find ourselves in, nothing has changed more dramatically than the nature of work and the way productivity is measured. Today, many of the skills that guaranteed employment and a healthy income for previous generations However, advances in technology have made it unnecessary.
“This generation will not only be competing with each other for opportunities, but also in global markets, with students from all over the world, and with technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) tools, blockchain, and financial technology tools. Human functions in the workplace are increasingly being replaced. We must prepare with these realities in mind.
“To do this effectively, we need to develop a new understanding of the changing nature of work and the future of employment. There are limits to our knowledge, so we need to develop a new understanding of the changing nature of work and the future of employment. We are unable to cope with these changes or adapt to the inescapable changes in reality. We need higher institutions to carry out the important work of engagement, research and review needed to close the gaps in our knowledge. Cooperation between the government and the organized private sector is essential. We do this as a necessary preliminary step to focus public attention on these issues so that we can jointly confront current demands. This is a goal for our future that cannot be left to governments alone to pursue.”
Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, the university’s president, said the university focuses on youth empowerment through various programmes.
“Furthermore, to demonstrate how keen we are on the empowerment of our youth, the management team has announced that it will continue to work with industry advisors to strengthen its dynamic role in creating technical talent for Nigeria’s economic and social development.” We have established a committee,” he said.
According to him, universities are at the forefront when it comes to human resource development, technological advancement and youth empowerment.
As highlighted by the Rector, initiatives aimed at youth empowerment that the school has introduced include the Quadruple Helix Collaboration Scheme for Youth Empowerment. Establishment of technology marketing and product development center. YCT Industry Alliance Group (YIAG) programmes; student work and study schemes, etc.
He said, “Based on this, the academic committee of the university has carefully selected the theme for the lecture titled “Empowering Nigerian Youths in Today’s Economy.” This topic has important relevance for our country, which faces a variety of challenges and opportunities in a rapidly evolving global economy. It is essential to provide young people with the knowledge, skills and resources they need to navigate this dynamic economic climate and emerge as successful contributors to society.
“This problem cannot be better addressed than by the chief engineer in charge of the engine room that drives and coordinates all national activities and developments.”
This person has been actively and pragmatically involved in youth empowerment for several years, working with the ‘New Hopes’ Agenda of our Dear President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This is someone who fully understands the direction. We are privileged to have distinguished speakers share their expertise and experience in this field. We hope that this lecture will not only inspire our graduates, but also ignite their passion to pursue their dreams, overcome obstacles, and contribute meaningfully to the development of our country. ”
Source: guardian.ng