The Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Students’ Engagement, Com. Sunday Asefon, has assured Nigerians, particularly students and poor masses of better deals that would help in dismantling the barriers of poverty and sufferings under the All Progressives led administration.
Asefon disclosed that ensuring that no student drops out of the tertiary institutions in account of poor backgrounds, and making sure that no Nigerian goes to sleep on empty stomach, remained the cardinal focus of the Tinubu-led administration.
The Presidential Aide, gave the assurance, while distributing free fuel and food palliatives to 750 commercial motorcyclists and students of tertiary institutions in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Capital, on Saturday, to mark his birthday.
The beneficiaries were drawn from the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ekiti State University, Federal Polytechnic and operators of commercial motorcyclists in Ado Ekiti capital city.
Asefon, represented by a student leader, Com Sikiru Aderibigbe, revealed that President Tinubu specifically conceptualised the students loan to ensure academic universality and curtail incidences of drop out in schools on account of poverty.
The Presidential aide maintained that several other initiatives, had been implemented, like the youth cash transfer policy to ensure that Nigerian graduates doing all sorts of menial jobs are empowered to take up businesses that befit their status.
Giving the breakdown of the beneficiaries, Asefon clarified that: “Instead of throwing parties with friends, I decided to demonstrate what President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been preaching that we must make sacrifices for the poor by distributing fuel and food palliatives to 250 Okada Riders and food reliefs to 500 students of tertiary institutions.
“You could all attest to the fact that Mr President has done a lot for the Nigerian students by initiating the students loan where thousands have benefitted.
“This current government is also giving out bailouts to youths to empower them as businessmen and that was the gesture I was replicating with this support to our people.
“Today, as representative of students in government, I can raise my head high in happiness that poor students can now go to university with the help of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund codenamed students’ loan. Those who are already in the system can also stay afloat and complete their education.
“So, I am happy that the issue of drop out and out of school children are being tackled headon under President Tinubu’s leadership”.
Asefon promised that he would continue to support the students and youths in Ekiti State for them to overcome the challenges of poverty and neglect , urging them to reciprocate the student-friendly presidential gestures under Tinubu-led administration, by being supportive to government.
Applauding the presidential aide for his constant touch and support for the students’ community, the Southwest Coordinator, National Association of Nigerians Students, Com. Sunday Owolewa, hailed President Tinubu for not betraying the Nigerian students.
Owolewa promised that the student population in the Southwest will continue to support the Tinubu’s administration to foster unity, peace and development across the six geopolitical zones of the country.
Essentially, the student leader appreciated President Tinubu for implementing the student loan to create a leveler between the students from rich and poor backgrounds to access tertiary education, saying this has endeared the President to the student community across the nation.
He commended Asefon for the gesture and called on other student leaders in position of authorities and influences to emulate the philanthropic deeds that would help in cushioning the sufferings of the student population.
Present at the event were the Chairman, Sunday Asefon Movement, Com. Fidelis Ojo Olaniyi, Directors of Students’ Affairs of all the benefitting tertiary institutions, NANS Chairman, Ekiti axis, Com Femi Asaolu, Nigerian Youth Parliament, Ekiti Central representative, Hon. Seun Oguntoyinbo, and stakeholders in the education sector.