Former Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his education policies aimed at advancing the cause of education sector.
Dogara stated this at the Federal University of Lokoja while delivering a Special Public Lecture, titled “Empowering the Future Generation: The Founders’ Vision and Legacy” as part of the week long activities for the institution 9th Convocation ceremony.
The former speaker said the president deserves commendation especially for the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) which he stressed has giving hope to students whose educational dreams would have been cut short for lack of fund.
“Education remains our most powerful weapon against poverty, ignorance and underdevelopment. It is the idea of planting seeds of hope, creating pathways to opportunity, and building a place where talents are refined and human potential is unlocked.
“NELFUND – a program designed to remove financial barriers to higher education for indigent Nigerian students with interest -free loans had disbursed N99.5 billion to fund tuition and upkeep allowances.
“As we speak, and as part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Mr. President has prioritized inclusivity and equity in access to education.
“We are witnessing the gradual dismantling of systemic barriers, particularly for marginalized grounds such as women and persons with disabilities. No one doubts Mr. President’s commitment to ensuring that every young Nigerian, regardless of background, has access to quality education.
“To those who have often wondered why I promote President Tinubu’s education policies – you have found one of the answers. Why would any sensible person who has benefited immensely from education do otherwise?”
Dogara enjoined the graduands to take advantage of their knowledge to solve Nigerian problems, urging them to develop a global mindset with local relevance.
“Think globally but act locally. While embracing international best practices, never forget your roots. The solutions to Africa problems must be African- led, though globally informed. Weather you become engineers, doctors, teachers, entrepreneurs or public servants, always ask: How can I apply global knowledge to solve local problems?”
