By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
“I Don’t Believe in Loans” — Ex-Minister Tells FG to Stop Burdening Students
Former Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has urged the Federal Government to reconsider its approach to financing education, arguing that students should not be made to shoulder the cost through loans.
Shittu made the call on Tuesday during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, monitored by DAILY POST in Abeokuta.
The former minister said education should be treated as a fundamental right, particularly for children from poor families who may struggle to meet the rising cost of tertiary education.
He questioned the rationale behind giving students loans when many graduates remain without jobs years after completing their studies.
“Today, we have in this country graduates who graduated ten years ago and are still looking for jobs. They don’t have jobs and they are talking about giving them loans. I don’t believe in loans. I believe in fundamental rights,” he said.
Shittu also urged Nigerians to examine the education objectives contained in the 1999 Constitution, saying government has a responsibility to promote access to education and create opportunities for citizens to develop their potential.
He said raising and educating children should also reflect the traditional communal values where communities share responsibility for the welfare and development of their young people.
“In our local community, a child born into a community is the responsibility of the entire community to train, to educate and to provide for,” he said.
According to Shittu, the challenge is partly about government priorities and the management of available resources, noting that previous administrations had invested in education, healthcare and other social services.
He cited Rwanda as an example of a country that has invested in human development, arguing that Nigeria also has the resources to improve access to quality education.
The former minister further expressed concern about the economic difficulties facing students, saying he receives messages from young Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities, including food.
Shittu maintained that government policies should be judged by their impact on ordinary citizens, especially families already dealing with economic hardship.
He said greater investment in education would give young Nigerians the skills needed to contribute meaningfully to society while helping to address some of the social challenges that could arise from limited opportunities.
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