By: Ogunleye Kolapo Olayemi
Let’s be honest, Nigerian students used to have it too easy. There was a time when education was affordable, in some cases even free, food was subsidised, hostels were decent, and universities like the University of Ibadan could confidently stand beside top schools abroad. Students went to class with eagerness to learn, lecturers actually taught with full belly, and people graduated without any serious financial trauma attached to their certificates.
It was however a risky system, one that produced leaders who enjoyed all these benefits and have now taken it upon themselves to improve things for the next generation. One of them is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who clearly understands that struggle is an important part of education.
Before he became president, students in schools like University of Ibadan, University of Lagos, and Obafemi Awólọ́wọ̀ University, were paying on average around ₦40,000-₦60,000 experience fee. Very unserious amount if you think about it. How do you expect a student to value education when that is what they are paying? But now, with fees rising to ₦150,000 and above, things have changed. Students are more focused. Nobody is wasting lectures again. Even if you are tired, the memory of your school fees will wake you up.
And just when you think it ends there, the president goes a step further and introduces a student loan scheme. This is where the real saving happens. Because now, you don’t even need to have the money, you can borrow it. Beautiful system. You can go through school peacefully and then start your life after graduation already owing maybe two million naira. And yes, that’s not a burden, please, let’s call it what it is, freedom!
Freedom to enter the real world with financial experience. While others are just looking for jobs, you are looking for jobs with purpose. There is urgency. There is direction. There is a reason to wake up every morning.Of course, this is assuming you even get a job quickly, which makes the whole thing more interesting. Imagine job hunting with debt already waiting for you. That is character development on its own.
And just in case anyone is still confused, the government through the then special adviser to the president, Dele Alake had also made it clear that universities in Nigeria are still “tuition-free.” Which is very comforting news. It means that all the money students are paying now is clearly not tuition, just other important things. Development fee, acceptance fee, ICT fee, faculty fee, departmental fee, and every other fee that helps you understand that while tuition may be free, education itself is not free. What you’re paying for is the experience fee. Hopefully that clarify things. Everything is working exactly as it should. Nothing is missing. Nothing is confusing.
Now, some students are already saying they might not pay back the loan. You will hear things like “owo ijọba, owo wa ni.” Others are even thinking the loans might later be used for politics or somehow be waived during campaigns. But let’s not be negative. It is this kind of thinking that shows we still have a lot to learn. This is a serious system for serious people. This is not that kind of government money they waive. This particular one has a purpose, it was designed for you, and you cannot escape it. After graduation, you are no longer asking questions about government accountability, you are asking how to pay your debt. You have been given direction. You have been put to purpose already.
People also like to bring up Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his free education policy. Yes, free education was nice, nobody is arguing that. But we have upgraded. We now have free loans. Free education gives you knowledge, but free loans give you knowledge plus responsibility. You don’t just graduate with a certificate, you also graduate with maybe two million naira in debt. And honestly, everything is about perspective. Debt is not a crime. After all, the richest people in the world are also the most indebted.
So honestly, we should appreciate what is happening. Nigerian students are no longer just students, they are already active participants in the economy. They understand debt, they understand survival, and they are preparing for real life in advance. Has the president not saved Nigerian students? He has. Our Hope has been Renewed!
