The country has witnessed the signing of various bills into law in recent times since the emergence of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PBAT, among which is the Student Loan Act, which has generated enormous mixed reactions from the citizens. Some believe that the bill will ensure equal access to education for those with fewer privileges, while others are of the opinion that the stringent measures required to access such loans may prevent the realization of the bill’s objectives. More so, gray literature from reputable sources like UNESCO and the World Bank Nigeria has indicated that about 20% of the country’s population is out of school, bringing a lot of curiosity as to whether such a bill would help bridge such a gap. Education is no doubt one of the pillars of nation-building, and such a purpose could only be possible if quality education is made available to all regardless of social status and family income through the implementation of purposeful policies. Beyond the content of the bill and its criticism, it is also important for tertiary institutions in the country to put in place a system where students can assist in administrative work, research, or teaching roles to earn on-the-job experience and make money that could as well serve as a financial succor to the academic journey as experienced in developed nations.
However, on the contrary, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) suggested that the loan could have been termed a grant instead, and one would only wonder how many grants or scholarships had been awarded to the vulnerable and the poor in retrospect who were aimed at receiving quality education. Nigerian education has shown enormous prospects through many of its graduates who are making giant strides across the world, which is evident of our ability to foster through education, and it would only be wise of the government, agencies, and relevant stakeholders to put in place measures and policies that will strengthen the quality and make education accessible to all.
Science, yet another important aspect of the educational system that has the ability to sustain the economy of a nation, must be fully engaged and incorporated into our school syllabus across all levels in a manner that will be practically oriented to ensure students think outside the box to continually innovate products either individually or collectively as they graduate from one educational level to another. As such, the government must be willing to support the system in such a manner that local innovation is glorified, financed, and patronized through the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology. Since the PBAT administration seems to be making use of the media to the government’s advantage since its inception, it is also crucial to be on the lookout for young minds who have developed themselves scientifically and made technologically inclined innovations like electric cars, airplanes, automatic wash hand–basins, as witnessed through COVID, and many more in retrospect on social media. If indeed a creative mind is fertile land, then the government must be willing to support these scientifically inclined students through flexible policies and an enabling environment that will germinate the infrastructure development that we so desire in our land. Moreover, the 0.02% investment of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) into research, science, and technology is abysmally low compared to its counterparts around the world. As such, resource allocation must be significantly considered to finance notable research and technology-driven innovations.
It is important to emphasize that education and science are driving forces in the health sector, as both must mutually coexist to promote quality health. But then, it is worrisome that the Nigerian health sector is still below citizen expectations even when its allocation was increased by the last administration to have its highest allocation ever. This is another reason why we need quality education for all and science-driven innovation that can provide infrastructure assistance to the sector in terms of equipment, buildings, and medical consumables that can be locally produced, supplied at ease, and put to use in our various health institutions. At this crucial time that PBAT is making significant appointments that would form his cabinet, it is also important for him to prioritize competence, track records, professionalism, and integrity in assigning portfolios to these critical sectors of the country, most especially the health sector, which has witnessed leadership from only a sect of the multidisciplinary professionals in the sector who enjoyed rubbing their own heads beyond others at every slightest opportunity. The implication of this is that it will beef up professional wrangling in the sector, which will frustrate the system and its end users. As there are more competent individuals from other sects of the sector that could as well bring out the Nigeria of our dreams in such a capacity, leadership at this point in time is critical if PBAT truly wants the poor to breathe and exhale the renewed hope he promised.
Abdulrahman Abdulbasit Opeyemi, Medical Laboratory Scientist, Lagos.
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