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In this interview, the Executive Secretary of Bayelsa State Students Loan Board, Dr Michael Amaegberi, spoke to Amos Okioma, on the mission and vision of the board and how the state governor, Senator Douye Diri, has sustained it to reduce the drop-out rate of indigent students with desire to further their education.
Excerpt:
What has been the journey so far for the Bayelsa State Students Loan Board?
As a board we have so far given out loan to 4, 000 students of Bayelsa State origin in institutions of higher learning across the Federation. And this number of course includes those pursuing their PhDs, those in professional courses like Law students and those in polytechnics, but have financial challenges in 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 does not correspond with the increasing number of application from students. The demand is actually outweighing the supply of funds, it is really inadequate. If you can recall, in our last media chat l told you that due to the number of students applying for the loans we are looking at other corporate bodies such as NDDC, NCDMB, IOCs and philanthropists and all of that. That process is still on. We have approached the NCDMB and asked us to submit our proposal .We are also looking at how we can launch a fund raising that people and corporate and spirited individuals can come and make donations to make sure that more of our students go to schools without dropping out of school due to lack of funds. We want to make sure students drop out of school rate is low as possible.
What is responsible for the increase in numbers applicants?
That is a good question. Bayelsans have come to realise the importance of the students’ loan board as a recipe for educational advancement and so this board is always filled with students as you can see for yourself. The government has been doing very well in providing the funds for the loans students, but it is slightly not enough. Hence, we resolved now to put the students into batches. That is where we are right now. There no funding challenges par say. The educational sector has been given prime attention by the present government.
Many reasons could responsible for the rising increase in numbers of applicants asking for loans to further their studies. Initially there were cases of disbelieve, people were skeptical, but after sometime beneficiaries of loans started to testify and told their friends about it. The news about students’ loan spread to everywhere and many started to approach the board to see whether it is genuine. Also, the loan is without interest and guarantors have signed undertakings. Besides, the economy of the country right now is a bit rough and almost everybody needs money. There are a lot of people ordinarily would have been at home and not schooling, but because of this scheme, they are in school. We try as much as possible to make sure the scheme does not fail.
What about Bayelsans outside the state. Has the scheme been of any succour to them?
The students loan is not restricted to only those within the state, but Bayelsans outside are also benefiting , because irrespective of where you are as a Bayelsan, what you need is to send your documents to your relations here who will take the form, fill it and attach it to your document and you will get paid. You must not be physically present to obtain the form.
You had earlier proposed an event to showcase the beneficiaries to the world, what happened to that plan?
We need to do that for skeptics and critics to be informed of the reality of the scheme. So about showcasing our beneficiaries to the whole world, it is in pipeline, even though when we visited the students in their various schools. We have not forgotten the plan. We are still making plans to make it to be large scale where the miracle governor, Senator Douye Diri himself will be present to address the beneficiaries and for now the governor have so busy. We will do it once we able to pin him down.
As the second Executive Secretary, what you can say about the loans body given the transition from the previous administration to the present?
As the second Executive Secretary of the board that has been in office for two years plus and so far the mission and vision is achieved and mission on the other hand is broader one. The mission is still work in progress. The vision is to make sure that students in public institutions have access to loan and a lot of Bayelsa students have benefitted .And a lot are still coming .This is the first of its kind in Nigeria, where a student loan is giving without discrimination against anybody, hence in absence of recommendation students come here to collect forms and once they satisfy the requirements they are paid.
Can you explain the transition of the scheme from the former governor to the present governor?
Glory be to God that we are running a government of continuity. It is not easy transiting from one government to another. The previous government 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 with every single good thing his predecessor started. Not just only educational sector, but in every other fields. You were witness to the inauguration of the commercial flight to the Bayelsa State International Airport.
What is your final word?
No doubt, Bayelsans expectation for this government is very high, but what l will say is that effectively this government is trying. We all are aware of what happened after recovering from litany of litigations which of course distracted the governor and the 2020 pandemic’s lock down. Even, if work was supposed to go on last year, it was nearly impossible, but work has started in the senatorial roads to access hinter land which hitherto could only be accessed through roads; am talking of the roads to Ekeremor – Sagbama and Yenagoa to Oporoma.
What is your advice to Bayelsans?
By way of advise, Bayelsans should be a little bit patient with the new government .This government came with peace, very soon in the agricultural sector a lot of jobs will be created. We encourage skill acquisition and entrepreneur. Hence that state government has established eighth technical colleges for the eight local government areas with the plan to encourage the youths to derive skills for self reliance and become employers of labour. It is not all about criticism as anybody with useful suggestions and proposals to move the state forward bring them to the table for collaboration and partnership.
