Education

Dangote refinery catalyst for economic growth in Africa – AASU

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2 years ago

The All African Students Union (AASU) has described the recently commissioned Dangote refinery and petrochemicals in Lagos as one that would serve as catalyst for the socio-economic growth and development in Africa.

The student body explained that the company with the capacity of 650,000 barrels per day production would in no small measure improve the economic standard in the continent, adding that the students from the 55 countries in the continent would do everything possible to see to the success of the project.

The president of AASU, Osisiogu Osikenyi in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state capital on Thursday ahead of this year’s commemoration of African Students Day on June 16 held in Addis Ababa, added that the employment opportunities from the project cannot be overemphasized, which he said would be advantage for the students.

While congratulating the new president of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his assumption of office, noted that his decision to sign into law the students loan bill is a strong signal that he would be committed to the welfare of the indigent students and the development of the nation’s education sector.

According to him, there is need for African heads of state and government to be more concerned about the progress of the education sector by dedicating more funds to the sector, saying that education remained the potent tool for industrial revolution in the region.

He said, “ AASU lauds The Dangote Group led by Alhaji Aliko Dangote as Africa’s Quest for Industrial Self-Reliance received a major boost last month with the historic commissioning of the 650,00barrels per day Oil Refinery by the Dangote Group being one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa with a hard-earned reputation for excellent business practices and products’ quality.

“We are not unaware of the ongoing campaign of calumny being mounted by disgruntled elements especially, the Fuel subsidy thieves, Nigeria’s Refineries Turn-Around Maintenance Consultants and unpatriotic modular refinery operators as well as other competitors who are feeling threatened by the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery; they are warned not to incur the wrath of students on the continent whose future had already been mortgaged by those diabolic rent seekers.

“ Dangote Refineries and Petrochemicals is one Project in Africa that is set to serve as catalyst for her accelerated economic growth and development.

“We therefore call on Governments of Africa and other stakeholders to continue to give their unalloyed and pragmatic support to Alhaji Aliko Dangote; and warm detractors who are enemies of Africa’s progress to desist from wanton smear campaigns on him and his investments that have been of tremendous blessing to Africa on all sides.”

On Nigeria’s government students loan law, the AASU president said, “ We, therefore, welcome the signing of the Students Loan Bill into law and decision to establish Education Bank by Nigeria’s new President Bola Ahmed Tinubu; and commends similar policies by other Governments in Africa.”

He frowned at the lingering detention and arrest of students across countries in the region over activism and fight for human rights.

“It is on this note that we demand release of all Student Leaders on the continent “arrested and detained” on sole basis of their activism, fight for social justice and advocacy for better Student welfare/ Education System in Africa.

“We, therefore, call on the Africa Union and other International Systems to swiftly prioritize steps aimed at stemming the ugly tide of “unreported” Student Rights abuse in Africa – as we also intend to “Name and Shame” Leaders responsible for these obnoxious acts,” Osikenyi said.

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