The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called upon President Bola Tinubu to create a conducive environment for graduates of higher institutions in the country to access employment opportunities. This appeal aims to ensure the success of the student loan scheme, according to Dr. Sunday Afolayan, the Chairman of the Ikere-Ekiti branch of the NBA.
During a press conference held to announce the activities for this year’s law week of the branch, Dr. Afolayan commended the student loan scheme, but stressed the need for the government to take additional steps to ensure its effectiveness. He emphasized that if students were unable to secure employment after accessing the loan scheme while in school, it would pose challenges for the sustainability of the project.
Dr. Afolayan stated, “Student loans are good. I am speaking now from the angle of an academic sector; what students are currently paying as tuition is not the cost of education they are enjoying… So, the government should make it a total package; they must be able to guarantee job opportunities after school so that it will be easier for them to repay the loan.”
In addition to addressing the student loan scheme, Dr. Afolayan expressed support for the removal of fuel subsidies. He called on President Tinubu to allocate the freed funds towards vital sectors such as the economy, education, health, and power, to foster development in these areas.
He emphasized the importance of the law week’s theme for 2023, “Security and People’s Welfare in Nigeria’s Democratic Experience: Leveraging the Legal Practice as a Catalyst,” as a means to discuss how legal practitioners can contribute to the nation’s development. Dr. Afolayan urged lawyers to uphold the rule of law and advocate for justice and societal welfare.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Adeoye Aribasoye, who inaugurated the Law Week, commended the chosen theme, stating that lawyers are well-positioned to propose innovative strategies to address the identified security challenges. He called for collaboration among legal practitioners, emphasizing the importance of good laws and the need to find innovative ways to confront societal challenges.
Justice Monisola Abodunde, the President of the Customary Court of Appeal, Ekiti State, delivered a keynote address, urging legal practitioners to serve as catalysts for development by utilizing the law effectively in society. She sought the cooperation of the House of Assembly, under Aribasoye’s leadership, in impacting people’s lives through impactful legislation and the review of outdated laws for the benefit of the population.
