A former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for his education policies, particularly the introduction of Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND)
Dogara spoke at the Federal University of Lokoja when he delivered a a public lecture, titled: “Empowering the Future Generation: The Founders’ Vision and Legacy.”
The lecture was part of the week-long activities for the institution 9th convocation.
Dogara said Tinubu deserves commendation, especially for the establishment of NELFUND, which he said had given hope to students whose educational dreams would have been cut short for lack of fund.
He said, “Education remains our most powerful weapon against poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment. It is the idea of planting seeds of hope, creating pathways to opportunity, and building a place where talents are refined and human potential is unlocked.
“NELFUND, a programme designed to remove financial barriers to higher education for indigent Nigerian students with interest free loans has disbursed N99.5 billion to fund tuition and upkeep allowances.
“As we speak, and as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr. President has prioritised inclusivity and equity in access to education. We are witnessing the gradual dismantling of systemic barriers, particularly for marginalised grounds such as women and persons with disabilities. No one doubts Mr President’s commitment to ensuring that every young Nigerian, regardless of background, has access to quality education.
“To those who have often wondered why I promote President Tinubu s education policies, you have found one of the answers. Why would any sensible person who has benefited immensely from education do otherwise?”
The former lawmaker enjoined the graduands to use their knowledge to solve Nigerian problems and to develop a global mindset with local relevance.
“Think globally but act locally. While embracing international best practices, never forget your roots. The solutions to Africa problems must be African led, though globally informed. Weather you become engineers, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs or public servants, always ask: How can I apply global knowledge to solve local problems?” Dogara said.
