September 27, (THEWILL) – The Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Students Loan Board, Dr Michael Amaegberi, in this interview with DAVID AMOUS OWEI, speaks on the vision of the Gov. Douye Diri Administration, in terms of supporting the education of the youth through a loan scheme. Excerpts:
Can you give us an update on the Bayelsa State Students Loan Board?
The board has so far given out loans to 4,000 students of Bayelsa State origin in institutions of higher learning across the federation. The beneficiaries include postgraduate students, particularly those pursuing their Ph.D. programmes and students of polytechnics who have difficulty paying their fees. We have been working very hard to make sure that we get alternative sources of funding because what we are getting from the state government cannot accommodate the increasing number of applications from students. The demands actually outweigh the supply of funds. The resources are really inadequate.
You would recall that in our last media chat, I explained that due to the increasing number of students applying for the loans, we were contacting corporate bodies such as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Nigeria Content Development Management Board (NCDMB), the Integrated Oil Companies (IOCs) and some philanthropists. That process is still on. We have approached the NCDMB and they asked us to submit our proposal .We are also looking at how we can launch a fundraiser that people, corporate organisations and public-spirited individuals would make donations. This is to ensure that more of our students go to schools without dropping out of their programmes due to lack of funds.
What could be responsible for the increase in applications?
Bayelsans have come to realise the importance of the Students Loan Board as a recipe for financial challenge. The premises of the board are always filled with students. The government has been doing well to provide the funds for the loans to be extended to the applicants. But it can hardly be enough. So, we have resolved to put the students in batches. That is where we are now. The state government pays adequate attention to the education sector because educating the youth is one of its top priorities.
Secondly, many students were skeptical about the scheme, while others did not believe in it at all. I am sure many parents and guardians did not see it as possible. But when the beneficiaries started testifying positively about it to their friends and relatives, applications began to surge. I can tell you that the news about the Students Loan Board spread fast and wide. Many came to see if it was real indeed. Thereafter applications began to pour into the board.
Again, the loan is without interest, but the guarantors have to sign an undertaking. Furthermore, the nation’s economy is tough at the moment and people need money to acquire education and meet other needs. There would have been many youths sitting at home without going to school because of funding. But the student loan scheme has provided them with the opportunity to be educated and to study the courses of their choice. This is why it is paramount that we do not allow the scheme to fail. It is of great importance to the government and our people.
Is the loan available to Bayelsans living outside the state?
The loan is not restricted to only those within the state. Bayelsans outside the state are also entitled to it. Many of them are beneficiaries of the scheme already. Irrespective of where you are, you will be considered. All you have to do is to send the relevant documents to your relatives at home who will collect the forms, complete and submit them to us for processing. Once it is verified that you are a Bayelsan, you will be paid. You must not be physically present to obtain the form.
Is there any plan to unveil the beneficiaries of the loan scheme?
It is still being considered. We need to do it so that skeptics and critics will be convinced that the loan scheme is real. So, unveiling beneficiaries to the world is in the pipeline. We do visit the students in their various schools to ascertain their status. We have not forgotten the plan. We plan to make it happen in a big way and to provide the opportunity for Governor Douye Diri to be present and address the beneficiaries himself. For now, the governor is very busy.
What is the transition process of the scheme as of date?
As the second Executive Secretary of the Bayelsa State Student Loan Board and having served for over two years, I can say emphatically that the vision and mission statement of the board are being pursued. I am not unaware of the challenges. The vision/mission is to ensure that we attain educational excellence by ensuring that students in public institutions have access to loans. A lot of Bayelsa students have benefitted from the loan scheme. Many more are coming. I can say that this is one of the best in Nigeria today where student educational loan is given out without any discrimination as to who is who or who knows who. Without a recommendation from anybody, the students come here, collect the forms and once we confirm that they satisfy the requirements, they receive their money.
What is your take on the scheme under the present administration in the state?
We give God the glory that we are running a government of continuity. As you know, transition from one government to the other is not usually easy. The previous government in the state laid a foundation which the present government is leveraging on and will continue in that regard. Governor Douye Diri is trying a lot and following up every good thing that his predecessor started, not only in the educational sector, but also in other fields. You witnessed the inauguration of a commercial flight at the Bayelsa state International Airport. That project was inherited from the previous administration and it has not created any challenge for this government to continue with it.
What are the larger expectations of Bayelsans?
Bayelsans’ expectations from this government are, no doubt, very high. Without any iota of doubt, I would say that this government is making commendable efforts. We are all aware of the litany of litigations that confronted this government at the beginning which, of course, created a lot of distractions for Governor Diri. There was also the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting nationwide lockdown. These factors practically impeded speed and progress of work in 2020. It would have been almost impossible to achieve the progress that has been recorded today. There is construction of access roads in the senatorial districts to make movement possible and seamless for the people. You can see the progress on the Ekeremor-Sagbama and Yenagoa-Oporoma Roads.
I would advise Bayelsans to be patient with the state government. This government came with peace and strong vision. Very soon, there will be an employment boom in the agricultural sector. We encourage skills acquisition and entrepreneurship. This explains why the state government has established technical colleges in each of the eight local government areas. It wants the youth to acquire skills and be self-reliant so as to become their own bosses and employers of labour. We are not against criticism. Let people criticise constructively. Those who believe that they have useful suggestions that can improve the performance of the government and quicken the development of the state should bring them without hesitation.
