ABU Alumni: President Commends Tinubu’s Students Loan Scheme
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria
The President of Ahmadu Bello University, (ABU) Alumni Association, Dr. Ibrahim Sani Khalil, has commended President Ahmed Bola Tinubu for signing the Students Loan Act.
This commendation was given in Kaduna on Friday while briefing the press on the activities of the forth-coming association’s 16th Annual General Assembly.
The bill which would enable indigent students to access loans at interest-free he said is a step in the right direction.
Dr. Khalil, an architect by profession explained that the AGA will address some burning issues militating against the progress of the association with a view to charting a way forward.
He said despite challenges faced, there is light in the tunnel as some of these things are begining to fall into place saying, currently, the Alumni is enjoying relative peace.
“The essence of the AGA is to assess what we have been able to do for the last two years of stewardship.”
According to the President, Friday, 28th, is scheduled for the national executive committee’s meeting.
“We have the national consultative council which consists of all the national executive committee members. So also all the vice chairmen and secretaries of all the branches of the country, including Zaria.
“Also, it includes two representations from the faculties.
The activity of the AGA also includes Annual lecture titled, “Positioning Nigerian Students For Loan Scheme
to be delivered by the Secretary, Arewa consultative forum, Murtala Aliyu.
“This Loan Scheme, Act 23, was signed by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu towards part of what the government feels will take care of the yearnings of the Nigerian students, especially tertiary institutions.”
The lecture he added will give an insight on the advantage/s of such loan scheme to the students, the bank responsible and other needed information.
Dr. Khalil described the initiative as timely and commendable.
While calling on government on the need to invest in education, in the area of funding, the alumni he informed is also doing it possible best to contribute to the development of education.
“Now we have peaceful resolution in the alumni association with the university.
We must come together and work together on the issues of our university education.
The university must change how certain things are done for it to progress. The relationship between the staff, lecturers and the students must be cordial.” He sounded.
Speaking on the challenges, the association’s activities were slowed down due to some unforseen circumstances like the COVID-19, strikes, the electioneering period and the issue of insecurity.
However, despite all these things playing out, they were able to make measurable progress.
Recounting some of his achievements,
though rough it was when he took over owning to crisis between the university management and the alumni association on how things were done, things have improved. He said.
“However, last year when we did our AGA, where the Minister of education was represented by Prof. Modubo, all the management staff were there to show solidarity that yes, they have realized that despite lots of issues, the university needs the alumni association so also, the alumni association needs the university.
“Whether we like it or not, we must come in harmony and work together towards alleviating the issues of our universities.
We were able to have some peace resolutions on number of issues, made visitations to some ministers and head of parastatals to set things right.
“With new regime, we had new ways of doing things. We are able to synchronize the needed peace.
“We have developed our website and is a platform that we will use to bring our members together, both for their welfare as well as in helping the university in the area of development .
All things being equal, the alumni promises to focus on some projects for the development of the institution.
“We have projects languishing there waiting for us for completion.
Like the phase 2 of the development of the university.
“We have the secretariat where two blocks are yet to be completed. We have pursued and we keep in pursuing have a piece of land in Abuja for a benefiting structure for the alumni association.”
The President has assured commitment to ensuring that their dream for a benefiting structure for the association comes true.
