Education stakeholders across some states, mainly in Kogi, Nasarawa and Niger, have expressed divergent views on the federal government’s proposed student loan scheme, with some hailing it and others dismissing it as a gimmick.

The federal government says the scheme will take off by January 2024.

Ibrahim Nasiru, a lecturer with the Department of Political Science, Prince Abubakar Audu University, Anyigba, Kogi, praised the government for the initiative.

However, Mr Nasiru frowned at the level of enlightenment campaign on the scheme, which he noted was generally poor in Kogi.

On accessibility of the loan, Mr Nasiru said the scheme is workable and sustainable.

Mr Nasiru said, “It’s workable because financial provision has been made for it by the government. It’s part of the palliatives the government intended to give out to the citizens.

“But the matter of sustainability depends on the way the programme starts and how it’s being worked on.”

Timothy Silas, the chairman of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Federal University Lokoja (FUL) chapter, described the scheme as a laudable programme.

Mr Silas also noted that the enlightenment campaign on the scheme was low in Kogi.

Speaking further, he said, “How sincere is that scheme? And who is actually qualified? To be frank, ASUU is not in support of the scheme

“This is because most of the apostles of the scheme enjoyed free education with allowances yet hid under the loan scheme to hike students’ school fees.”

Mr Silas described the loan scheme as a “gimmick”, adding, “This is simply because the government is not sincere.”

The Kogi director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Patrick Edogbamaya, said they had yet to be contacted or funded to carry out any enlightenment or sensitisation to the student loan scheme in the state.

“We are always ready to do our work as expected, but when we have not been directed, we can do anything on our own more so that such campaigns demand funds, ” he said.

Samuel Alu, chairman of ASUU, Nasarawa State University Keffi (NSUK) branch, said the scheme was not workable and sustainable.

Speaking in Keffi Local Government Area of Nasarawa State, Mr Alu said, “The scheme is not realistic, workable or sustainable because it’s not in favour of the common man, especially poor students.

“Conditions set for the students to access this loan are not tenable or feasible.”

Mr Alu said the only way forward was for the government to review the scheme positively in favour of the poor whom it is meant for and warned that except for the review, it won’t succeed.

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) and the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Niger said awareness of the loan scheme was low as many Nigerians were not informed about the initiative.

They said, “Information on the scheme was only being publicised by a section of the media and on social media.”

Bala Musa, deputy director of NOA, said many students and people at the grassroots were not aware of the loan, calling for more awareness for beneficiaries.

Abdullahi Jabi, chairman of the Campaign for Democracy, Human Rights Advocacy Civil Society, North Central Zone, said the initiative was a welcome development.

He said it came “with a lot of doubt on the implementation and strategies on who is qualified to benefit from it and who is not.”

Mr Jabi, however, said awareness of the system was zero, as student unions that were supposed to be the vanguards of advocacy among their peer groups on the loan were not doing that due to lack of interest.

He said many students were rather Interested in engaging in ‘yahoo yahoo’ activities where they would make quick money in millions.

Mr Jabi added that the scheme was not workable and sustainable due to the high unemployment rate among youths after graduation from higher institutions and completion of their NYSC.

(NAN)