Taraba Students Association seeks Humanitarian Minister’s intervention in education, others
The National Union of Taraba Students Association has organised a pivotal town hall meeting with Honourable Yusi Buba, the Special Assistant (S.A) on youth mobilisation to the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, to shed light on issues confronting young people in the state and seek viable solutions.
The meeting aimed to address the myriad challenges faced by students in Taraba State.
Hon Yusi Buba, who lent a compassionate ear to the cries of the students, understood their needs and identified the hurdles they faced in accessing basic amenities and education.
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During the deliberations, it was identified that an alarming issue affecting youths is the exorbitant increase in registration fees, The fee surge disproportionately affected individuals from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom engage in laborious activities such as farming to finance their education.
Another concern raised was insecurity in the areas where students reside, these communities are surrounded by the looming threat of attacks from bandits and kidnappers, making it nearly impossible for them to engage in farming or other income-generating activities. Consequently, the students find themselves in a precarious situation where the pursuit of education is hindered by the daunting challenges posed by insecurity.
One of the students’ urgent appeals to Hon. Yusi Buba was the intervention of the Honourable Minister in providing support and inclusion in programmes like Npower or any other student fund scheme.
The student believed that such initiatives would offer them opportunities to earn income and sustain themselves financially to pay their school fees.
The students revealed that despite President Bola Ahmad Tinubu’s approval for students in the country to access loans to fund their studies, students in the North East, including Taraba State, are experiencing difficulties in accessing these loans.
However, the students expressed optimism for a workaround alternative from the Minister of Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation, renowned for her commitment to wiping away people’s worries, especially in terms of poverty alleviation.
They said the minister’s dedication and the S.A’s commitment to youth mobilisation were emphasised during the town hall meeting.
Furthermore, the students sought to understand the aims and objectives of the minister and the specific responsibilities she shoulders, while also expressing their optimism that her intervention would pave the way for a brighter future for youths in North East.