By Adamu Hamzer Marree Talum
If we recall, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration removed subsidies on education toward the end of his tenure. Poor Nigerians were deeply affected by the decision. At a time when some students were paying between ₦27,000 and ₦50,000 annually, fees suddenly rose to more than ₦100,000 in some institutions. This increase placed enormous financial pressure on parents and contributed to countless university students dropping out.
When President Bola Ahmed Tinubu came into power in 2023, many Nigerians who were already suffering under the rising cost of education hoped that university subsidies would be reinstated. Parents expected relief from the growing financial burden of educating their children in tertiary institutions. Unfortunately, those hopes were dashed when the Tinubu administration indicated that it would continue with the policies of its predecessor.
Since then, parents have continued to struggle as university fees keep rising.
Today, students in some Nigerian universities pay more than ₦400,000 to study medicine. Postgraduate programmes are also becoming increasingly expensive, with some Master's and PhD programmes costing between ₦500,000 and ₦700,000, as recently reviewed at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
This raises a serious question: how can ordinary Nigerians, many of whom earn less than ₦100,000 per month, afford such educational costs?
It is against this background that the position of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar deserves serious consideration. He has argued that Nigerian students deserve access to free education rather than being burdened with student loans.
Education should not be treated merely as a financial investment that only those who can afford it have access to. It is a fundamental tool for national development, poverty reduction, employment creation, and social stability. When young Nigerians are denied access to affordable education because of their parents' financial circumstances, the consequences affect the entire country.
The National Policy on Education emphasizes the importance of providing equitable access to education for Nigerians. This principle should guide government policies, regardless of people's ethnic, religious, or socioeconomic backgrounds.
In a country where quality education remains increasingly unaffordable to ordinary citizens, how can we effectively tackle unemployment, corruption, insecurity, and terrorism? An educated population is better equipped to participate meaningfully in democracy, build businesses, secure employment, and contribute to national development.
Nigerians therefore need to take a critical look at the direction of education policies in the country. The future of our young people depends on the choices we make today.
At this critical moment, Nigerians should carefully consider leaders and policies that prioritize affordable and accessible education. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar's call for free education rather than student loans deserves serious national discussion as we seek a better future for Nigerian students and a stronger democracy.
Post a Comment