Dogara Calls for Inclusion of Private Varsity Students in FG’s Student Loan Scheme

Fidelis David in Akure

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has called on the federal government to include students of private universities among the beneficiaries of its Students’ Loan Scheme, to cushion the effects of the fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

The former Speaker, who stated this at the 13th convocation ceremony of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, at the weekend, said there was need for government to ensure the students’ loan scheme is properly managed for the benefit of the teeming youths across the country, both in private and public tertiary institutions.

Dogara, who is also the chancellor of the institution, said: “Let me appeal to the federal government to consider the plight faced by students of tertiary institutions. While commending the Students’ Loan Scheme of this present administration, I join my voice in the call for the inclusion of private university students in the Students’ Loan Scheme of this administration as part of the palliative measures since they are also Nigerians.

“The scheme should also be properly managed for the benefit of the teeming youths of this country.”

Besides, the former lawmaker said since underemployment and unemployment are bedmates of poverty, eliminating them must be the focal point of government’s policies.

“I have said before that poverty is by far the greatest threat to our democracy. Those who doubted me have seen that threat manifest itself in vote buying and in the use of money to compromise electoral and security officials. On account of the sense of despondency and powerlessness that poverty breeds among the poor, the poor have and will always remain ever ready tools in the hands of tyrants and demagogues, who in the course of history have always found it easy to mobilise for the purposes of subverting democratic institutions.

 “Since underemployment and unemployment are bedmates of poverty, eliminating them must be the focal point of government’s policies. If we don’t ever make it to the point where we can have a rational conversation about economic justice, it would not be because it’s impossible to achieve but because we lack the right leadership. We have talked so much about ending so many things in Nigeria, now is the time to talk about creating wealth and ending poverty.”

He also called on President Bola Tinubu to resist the temptation to continue blaming others for the country’s national decay but rather concentrate on the solutions the promised.

In his address, the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Dr. Bode Ayorinde, said despite the harsh economic environment globally, the university’s Governing Council had prioritised and would continue to prioritise the welfare of its staff and students.

He enjoined the graduates to be good ambassadors of the university, admonishing them to go into the world and demonstrate the leadership attributes imbibed as students of the institution.

“Remember that as you go out, character maketh a man or a woman. You may secure the best job with your certificate, connection, or look, but note that good conduct is required to remain in employment and make progress in life. Society looks up to you for its reinvention,” Ayorinde admonished.

The acting Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Omolola Irinoye, disclosed that a total of 552 students of the institution were awarded first degrees while 37 students finished with first class honours from various departments of the school in the 2022/2023 academic session.

“Achievers University in this 13th convocation award degrees to 554 graduates with first degree graduates and 34 with postgraduate degrees. Of the 520 graduands, 37 had first class, 259 had second class upper division, 198 had second class lower division and 26 had third class grade,” he said.