All–Africa Students’ Union (AASU) Supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu On Students’ Loan, Worries Over Out-of-school Children

The All–Africa Students’ Union (AASU) has expressed worry over the astronomical rise in the out-of-school-children syndrome in Africa, which it said has “hit over 100,000,000 with Nigeria, Ethiopia, Tanzania, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and South Sudan and others topping the global figures.” Addressing a world press conference in Abuja, Sunday, the President of the union, Osisiogu Osikenyi, said armed conflict is robbing at least 28,000,000 of the children of education by exposing them to widespread sexual violence, targeted attacks and sundry challenges.

Advising more countries in Africa to endorse and respect the Safe Schools Declaration – currently supported by one hundred and eight countries – to take concrete measures to better protect students, teachers, schools, and universities from attack during conflict, Osisiogu Osikenyi described the high cost of education across Africa as unbearable for students.

Osisiogu Osikenyi however praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the signing of the Students Loan Bill into law, saying the student loan will leverage the education system and provide the avenue for the children of the poor to have access to quality learning. “We commend His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as we are excited to identify with the haste he is in to Renew Our Hope for Nigeria to assume prominently her role as the Big Brother in Africa. We thank him immensely for the Student Loan Bill that has kicked off in Abuja; among numerous other exemplary education policies and investments,” Osisiogu Osikenyi said.

Osisiogu Osikenyi further said: “AASU commends the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited led by Malam Mele Kyari for his strides, especially towards making the Nigeria oil company become the largest and most capitalised company in Africa via the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) that has provided the organisation with the opportunity to shed some of its toxic liabilities.”

Source: https://blueprint.ng/aasu-backs-tinubu-on-students-loan-frets-over-out-of-school-children/