TUNDE BOLAJI – MINNA
An activist and a former Student Leader, Comrade Lawal Abdulkadir Abugi has appealed to the state government to give a 50 per cent health subsidy to students across the state tertiary institutions.
He also made a donation of educational materials to 10,000 students across primary and secondary schools in Niger state.
Abugi, who is now a Senior Special Assistant to the Niger State Governor on Students Affairs said that students in Niger state deserve a better life adding that daily, the cost of livelihood keeps increasing making it difficult for students to get by.
The former students leader spoke at the launching of the Students Relief Program at the Idris Legbo Kutigi Conference Centre in Minna, at the weekend.
He declared, “We want to state and appeal fervently, that Niger State students deserve a better life and for that, we have agreed, henceforth we can only pay 50 per cent of our medical bills in the state just like the NHIS.
“We cannot afford the kind of expensive life that is before us. Even if that is the only thing we stand to benefit from the dying legacies of our forefathers, let us have a feel of a purposeful government of the people, for the people and bythe people.
“Your Excellency, this is a sacrifice that we all have to make, truly some things cannot be left hangingthese are but simple facts.”
Abugi stated that the state is sitting on a time bomb if it does not seek to harness the untapped energy of the youths in the state.
“The amount of energy expended by the youths during the “ENDSARS” movement, the restlessness and show of capacity by Limawa, Unguwan Daji and Dutsen Kura Boys. The “the mob action'” that span from mokwa down to Bida to Agaie and Lapai, and the list keeps growing is a clear indication that we are sitting on a time bomb.”
The former student leader then appealed to traditional rulers in the state to encourage all the traditional title holders to adopt a school in each of their local government areas to carry out educational reachout programme.
Speaking about his initiative, the Students Relief Programme, he said that it is an educational support programme meant to complement government efforts in the educational sector.
Abugi explained that the program seeks to enhance support for indigent students across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary institutions in the state while decrying the decay in the state’s education sector.
“This initiative was borne out of the desire to give back to society. We were once students, we know the challenges in the education system and since we are now with the government, we have decided to play our role as it is obvious that the government can not do it all.
“The state of education today is nothing compared to what was there before. The problems are numerous. This is an intervention aimed at getting the children off the street, everyone has a right to education and should be exercised,” he said
The State Governor, Abubakar Sani Bello commended the Initiator for complementing government efforts in the education sector saying that it is a laudable initiative.
The governor was represented by his deputy, Ahmed Muhammed Ketso restated the state Government’s commitment to revamping the state’s education sector.
Items donated to students and pupils included 50,000 exercise books, 1,000 mathematical sets, educational reading materials, infographics, first aid kits, and 1,000 treated mosquito nets.
