By Millicent Ifeanyichukwu
The Deputy Rector, Academics, Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Dr Ismail Badmus, has urged the Federal Government to prioritise scholarship to make the student loan scheme successful.
Badmus made the appeal at the end of a 10-day 113th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC) organised by the Muslim Students Society of Nigeria (MSSN), Lagos State Area Unit. at the Human Capacity Development Centre, Noforija, Epe, Lagos.
The 113th IVC with the theme , ‘The Benchmark’, had in attendance no fewer than 5,000 Muslim youths.
The deputy rector expressed fear that some students, parents and guardians might find it difficult to repay the loan if the economic situation of the country was not improved upon.
According to him, scholarship and bursary are very okay but loan, I don’t think it’s the best way to go.
“When you give somebody a loan, you want him to pay back and some students, guardians or parents are still facing the challenge of poverty. Getting them to pay back the loan may be difficult.
“Is unfortunate because my generation grew up with subsidised education. Those who excel were on scholarship.
“The average students had their education subsidised, I don’t think getting students to pay back loan is sustainable for the Nigerian education system.
“It’s like we are cutting off some people if we don’t subsidise education which I benefited from in public primary and secondary school,” Badmus said.
The participants engaged in various activities aimed at spiritual growth, personal development and community service, including a medical outreach.
The deputy rector
acknowledged that student scholarship was laudable.
He, however noted that the loan might not be sustainable for students if scholarship is not prioritised.
“I couldn’t send my children to public primary and secondary school because of the falling standard of education and we want to raise the bar again,’’ he said.
Badmus, however, noted that there was need for the Federal Government to stick to the United Nations standard on the percentage budgetary allocation to education.
According to him, there’s no shortcut to getting educated and the government should fund education.
He said, “It is freely funded elsewhere. Let the government get closer to that benchmark of the UN budgetary allocation to education.’’
Earlier, the Amir (President), MSSN Lagos, Kamoldeen Abiona, noted that members of the organisation were trained to be upright morally and academically during the 10-day programme.
He said the camping programme provided the participants with an opportunity to strengthen their faith, build meaningful relationships and develop valuable skills that would serve them in their academic, personal and professional lives”.