Students of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, have said President Bola Tinubu’s reforms in education, youth empowerment and skills development were restoring hope and improving prospects for Nigerian students.

The students disclosed this during a Democracy Day rally organised by the Students’ Representative Council (SRC) of the ABU in collaboration with the Northern Projects Coordination Office (NPCO) and the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND).

The rally, themed “Thank You, President Tinubu for Making Democracy Work for Students”, brought together students, youth leaders and education stakeholders to celebrate Nigeria’s democratic journey and discuss issues affecting higher education.

Speaking at the event, the president of the ABU SRC, Abdurrahman Saraki, described Democracy Day as an opportunity to reflect on democratic progress and the role of the youth in nation-building.

Mr Saraki said students were not merely leaders of tomorrow but active stakeholders whose participation in governance, policy formulation and democratic processes remained critical to Nigeria’s development and democratic consolidation.

He commended the federal government for introducing the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing the scheme as a transformative intervention that had expanded access to higher education for financially disadvantaged students.

According to him, NELFUND has provided relief and renewed hope to many students by ensuring that financial constraints do not prevent deserving candidates from pursuing their academic aspirations.

The student leader also praised the relative stability currently being enjoyed in public universities, noting that uninterrupted academic activities had restored confidence in the nation’s higher education system.

“A four-year course is now increasingly completed within four years. This development has brought greater certainty to students and their families and deserves recognition and sustained support,” he said.

Mr Saraki, however, urged the federal government to sustain engagement with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other stakeholders to address outstanding issues affecting the university system.

The SRC president also expressed concern over persistent security challenges, including kidnapping, banditry and terrorism, which he said continued to threaten the safety of students and other citizens.

Similarly, Mustapha Iyal, executive director of operations at NELFUND, said no fewer than 1,500 ABU students benefitted from the scheme.

He added that, at ABU alone, the fund has disbursed over N4 billion to beneficiaries.

Mr Iyal said the fund has disbursed loans to over 1.5 million people across Nigeria, with institutions in the northern part of the country accounting for about 60 per cent of the beneficiaries.

Earlier, Nasiru Magaji, representing the national coordinator of the Northern Projects Coordination Office, Shamsu Ahmed, said the Tinubu administration had introduced several initiatives benefiting students.

Mr Magaji described June 12 as a symbol of the Nigerian people’s democratic aspirations, resilience and commitment to national development, saying the sacrifices of democracy heroes continued to inspire generations.

He identified NELFUND, the deployment of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses to campuses, improved industrial harmony in universities and the Three Million Technical Talent (3MTT) Programme as key interventions.

According to him, the programmes are reducing economic pressures on students, improving access to education and equipping young Nigerians with digital and technological skills for global competitiveness.

“Through NELFUND, many students who faced the prospect of abandoning their studies now have renewed confidence in completing their academic programmes and achieving their educational goals,” he said.

Mr Magaji urged students to remain focused on their studies, embrace innovation, and contribute positively to national development while supporting efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s democracy.

He described June 12 as not only a celebration of political freedom but also an opportunity to reflect on progress recorded in education, youth empowerment and economic inclusion. 

(NAN)