Take advantage of FG’s empowerment initiatives, Tinubu’s aide urges students

The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Students Engagement, Comrade Sunday Asefon, has called on Nigerian students in tertiary institutions to take advantage of the various empowerment initiatives provided by the Tinubu-led administration.

He said these initiatives are domiciled in several ministries and government agencies, such as the Ministries of Education, Youth Development, Science and Innovation, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), and the Petroleum Development Trust Fund (PTDF), among others.

Speaking in Port Harcourt during the Renewed Hope Student Leaders Engagement and Capacity Building programme, Asefon said the event aimed to enlighten students about the numerous initiatives the Federal Government is implementing for their benefit.

He pointed to Tinubu’s reforms in the education sector—such as the student loan programme, increased budgetary allocation to education, and the approval for the upgrade of institutions—as clear evidence of the president’s commitment to Nigerian students.

He urged students to stay alert and actively monitor the media platforms of relevant government agencies for opportunities.

Asefon assured that under President Tinubu, there would be no shutdown of universities due to strikes by lecturers, citing the administration’s reforms.

“The President has removed universities from IPPIS. Today, universities have the capacity to employ and manage their operations independently. The 20% deduction from their Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) has also been stopped, giving institutions access to more funds.

“This is the first time in Nigeria’s history that ₦5.2 trillion has been budgeted for education. It has never happened before. The President prioritises education, which is why such a large amount was allocated to the sector.”

He added that the President has fulfilled his campaign promises to Nigerian students.

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“NELFUND is part of his campaign promises, and barely three months after he was sworn in, he officially launched the fund. This demonstrates his commitment to Nigerian students—he is truly a promise keeper.”

Asefon, a former National President of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), explained that the engagement aimed to bridge the gap between students and policymakers.

“From my interaction with agencies, I discovered that many opportunities for students exist within MDAs, but these remain untapped due to a lack of awareness. This programme allows students to engage directly with representatives of the MDAs and NELFUND, and we believe that, after this event, they will return to their campuses and disseminate the information to their peers.”

He dismissed suggestions that the event—targeted at student leaders from the South-South geopolitical zone—had political undertones.

“We are not here for a campaign. Our goal is to inform and amplify the empowerment initiatives of Mr. President in the education and youth sectors. That’s why representatives of the MDAs are present—to present available opportunities to students,” he clarified.

Speaking during the event, the Managing Director of NELFUND, Mr. Akintunde Sawyer, addressed misconceptions surrounding the student loan scheme, stating that it is transparent and accessible.

He revealed that about 400,000 students had benefited from the loan, clarifying that while institutional fees are paid directly to the schools, upkeep funds are paid into students’ personal accounts—both of which are repayable.

“So far, we’ve had over 760,000 Nigerians register for this loan, and over 745,000 have successfully applied. Out of that, just over 400,000 students are currently benefiting.

“Their tuition fees are being paid, and some of them are receiving ₦20,000 monthly for upkeep. To date, we’ve disbursed over ₦80 billion to Nigerian institutions and students.”

He encouraged students to take full advantage of the facility to ease their own burdens and reduce the financial pressure on their parents.

Also speaking, Mr. Emmanuel Essien, a Director in the Ministry of Youth Development who represented Minister Ayodele Olawande, and Mr. David Atuwo, Special Adviser (Technical) to the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, highlighted various programmes and policies targeting students and youths.

They urged students to leverage these initiatives to improve their lives, even while still in school.

They also commended the SSA to the President on Students Engagement for organising the programme.

“Most times, students in higher institutions are left out of empowerment programmes. I commend the SSA for this wonderful initiative. We believe it will spread across the country, because our young people need to be aware of what the government is doing. There are so many opportunities being created for the youth,” said Mr. Essien.