President Bola Tinubu, says his administration is ready to commit more resources to the education sector.
Tinubu said this is to ensure that every Nigerian child, regardless of their background, has access to quality education.
Arise TV reported that the President spoke on Tuesday when he played host to the leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) at the State House, Abuja.
He said that poverty should not be a barrier to education, emphasizing the transformative power of education in combating poverty.
“If we all believe that education is the greatest weapon against poverty then we have to invest in it”, he said.
”Poverty should not prevent anybody, any child, including the daughter or son of a wood seller, ‘Bole’ (plantain) seller or yam seller from attaining their highest standard of education, to eliminate poverty.
”If you eliminate poverty from one family, you can carry the rest of the weight. ”
Tinubu promised to consider requests made by NANS leaders but urged the students’ body to ensure unity among its members across the country to achieve more.
”You have to promote unity and stability among each other. You have to employ democratic means in your programmes and elections. I have to say anyone who is unable to accept and celebrate a free and fair election, does not deserve the joy of victory,” he admonished. l the students.
Tinubu expressed his appreciation for the student’s support of the removal of the subsidy on petrol, explaining the reasons behind the decision and the need to curb smuggling.
”I’m glad you understand the reason for the subsidy removal. We were at a point where Nigeria tried to draw water from a dry well and that is no longer acceptable and we equally must not continue to service the smugglers because they used to take our tankers and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) across the borders. We will put our money where our mouth is”, the President said.
President of NANS, Umar Barambu, who spoke earlier said the NANS leaders had come to thank the President for the signing into law of the Student Loan Bill, which will provide loans to indigent students such that no Nigerian student in tertiary institutions will drop out of school over inability to pay school fees.
“We are here to congratulate you and to thank you for what you have been doing for the country since you assumed responsibility as the President. We want to equally thank you for the Students Loan Bill,” Barambu said.
Declaring the students’ support for the removal of fuel subsidy, the NANS president said: ”It takes a great person to take that bold step of removing the subsidy on petrol. Some people contacted us to protest against that decision, but we said no!
”The well is dry and ‘Baba’ cannot give what we don’t have now. We have to accept reality and face that challenge squarely so that together we can rescue the country. Today we are saying ‘yes’ to fuel subsidy removal and we will stand with that decision.”
