NANS Urges President Tinubu to Convert Student Loan Policy to Scholarships
In a statement released on Wednesday, NANS President, Pedro Chibuzor Obi, advocated for the conversion of the student loan policy to grants or scholarships, emphasizing that this approach would ensure easy access to education for Nigerian students. The association stressed the importance of proper funding for the education sector and prudent management of allocated funds as crucial steps to guarantee quality education for students.
Binye-lum 
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has called on President Bola Tinubu to convert the Student Loan Scheme initiated by his administration into grants or scholarships for students. NANS issued this statement in support of a similar call made by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).
In a statement released on Wednesday, NANS President, Pedro Chibuzor Obi, advocated for the conversion of the student loan policy to grants or scholarships, emphasizing that this approach would ensure easy access to education for Nigerian students. The association stressed the importance of proper funding for the education sector and prudent management of allocated funds as crucial steps to guarantee quality education for students.
NANS expressed concerns about the potential impact of the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, signed into law by President Tinubu, arguing that it might exacerbate the existing problem of limited access to education. The association highlighted the significant fee increases by universities since the introduction of the Act, suggesting that it could make higher education financially unattainable for the less privileged.
The statement urged the Federal Government to consider scrapping the Act and replacing it with grants and scholarships. NANS proposed the creation of a scholarship board to identify and support excellent and indigent students.
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The association emphasized that the fundamental solution to challenges in public education lies in proper funding, opposing any policy granting financial autonomy to higher institution managements. NANS argued that such autonomy could lead to new revenue-seeking strategies, further burdening students and absolving the government of its responsibility to fund education.
