In his recent national address, President Bola Tinubu once again placed Nigerian youths at the centre of his administration’s vision.
He spoke of his administration’s empowerment, job creation, and investment in education, especially the introduction of a scholarship and loan scheme, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), in which about 510,000 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria are said to have benefitted so far.
The beneficiaries are in 228 higher institutions across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
However, observers say the current number of students benefiting from the student loan scheme is very small compared to the country’s millions of students.
While the NELFUND has made significant progress in just one year, with over half a million applications received, the scale of the problem and the limited number of beneficiaries relative to the total student population suggests the scheme’s impact is still small.
Many Nigerians say by focusing only on the loans without bringing the entire issue of higher education funding into full focus, the government has only paid attention to the branch, rather than the tree itself.
Despite the Nigerian government’s stated commitment to youth empowerment, critics argue more needs to be done due to rising youth unemployment, insufficient access to quality education and vocation education and vocation training. The promise vs reality
Even though President Tinubu’s address highlighted his administration’s commitment to the youth, especially his administration’s different initiatives and increased investment in education, skills acquisition, and efforts to stabilize the economy.
These ambitions, on the surface, are commendable. Yet for many Nigerian youths, such promises have become familiar tails – echoed by successive governments, but rarely felt at street level.
For many youths, it is a difficult period, the reforms policies of the Tinubu’s administration have led to rise in cost-of -living.
‘It is a difficult period for youth in Nigeria, the current government is not doing enough for youth and they are not sincere,’ Tolu Oshukoyi, a lawyer said.
‘If Tinubu is serious there should be monthly stipends for the unemployed youth and women, that is how it is done abroad. Even the loan scheme, how many people are benefiting and it is enmeshed in corruption. That is why you see all these social vices and terrorism where our youth are lured into.’
Disillusioned with the state of affairs, in the last one-year, Nigerian youth have hit the streets in Lagos and many other states to protest against the current administration policies against the soaring prices of foodstuff and the high cost of living in the country.
The protesters had called for the reversal of the administration’s policies.
In February 2024, scores of youths protested at Ojuelegba part of Lagos State seeking the reversal of the current administration’s policies.
They were singing, and carrying placards with various inscriptions to make their grievances known about the current economic hardship.
‘We are here to protest the anti-liberal governance of Tinubu, the devastating poverty, the removal of fuel subsidy, and the devaluation of the naira.
‘Our people can no longer eat, and they cannot pay for their children to go to school. We need them to provide leadership to ease the suffering,’ one of the protesters had said.
Another youth led protest was held in late 2024 against the current administration style of governance.