Hajiya Halimat Tejuosho Adenike, a well-known philanthropist based in Abuja, emphasized on Monday that the newly approved N45 billion student loan scheme reflects President Bola Tinubu’s dedication to empowering the country’s youth.

Tejuosho made this statement in Kaduna while supporting around 600 Nigerian youths across various skills and vocations to combat unemployment and vulnerability. This initiative, spanning all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, also aims to foster innovative 21st-century skills for self-sufficiency and livelihood support.

During the event in Kaduna, 100 beneficiaries from each geopolitical zone received items such as sewing machines, grinding engines, and hair dryers.

Through Hajiya Halimat, the CEO of QAT Foundation, Tejuosho highlighted that this empowerment event marked the 2024 World Humanitarian/International Youth Day with the theme “From Clicks to Progress: Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development,” and World Humanitarian Day with the theme “The Time is Now to Act for Humanity and Protect Humanity.”

She urged Nigerian youths to be patient with the Tinubu administration, noting that meaningful changes take time. 

Tejuosho outlined that in the past year, the Tinubu administration has demonstrated its commitment to youth through the student loan scheme, with N45.6 billion already processed for payment. Additionally, over N570 billion has been allocated to the 36 states for livelihood support, and 600,000 nano-businesses have received government nano-grants, with 400,000 more expected to benefit.

She also mentioned that 75,000 beneficiaries are set to receive N1 million micro and small business loans with single-digit interest rates starting this month. The APC government has established 10 MSME hubs in the past year, created 240,000 jobs through these hubs, and is working on 5 more hubs, which are anticipated to be completed by October.