I first read Watty Piper’s 1930 classic, ‘The Little Engine That Could’, in my second year of primary school. The story is about a little train engine that was neither so big nor strong. Yet, what it lacked in strength, it compensated with a heart of courage and wheels of determination.
On the other side was a village nestled by mountains, where children eagerly awaited the delivery of toys and delicious treats they had been promised. Everything was set except for one big challenge: no train could convey that many goodies to the other side. With every train backing out, the little engine lingered in doubt. The mountain loomed high and the load was too heavy.
“Whoa!” it sighed in despair. “Maybe the other engines were right.” Though bigger and stronger, they’d turned down the task. But the little engine reflected on how much joy this would bring to the children and decided to try.
“I think I can, I think I can,” it whispered to itself, sliding forward to stomach the task. As it started its journey, the climb grew steeper, and the load felt heavier. As doubts started to whisper suggestions of surrender, the little engine repeated its mantra louder and louder. “I think I can, I think I can!” it screamed with each puff and chug. Its wheels spun with resolve, pushing forward, inch by inch, against all odds.
Finally, after what seemed like an eternity of struggle, the little engine reached the summit. It paused for a moment, basking in triumph and admiring the path downhill. Weeeeh! The little engine screamed as it joyously sped toward the children, chanting, “I did it! I did it!”
Piper’s tale didn’t state how long the little engine took to pull that feat. It could have been hours or days. But if we were to compare the engine to President Bola Tinubu’s Students Loan Scheme, it would take 297 days and counting. Even as we speak, the metaphorical train is still chugging uphill as the children on the other side squirm in hunger and suspense.
On June 12, 2023, Democracy Day, Tinubu signed the Access to Higher Education Act, 2023, into law to enable indigent students to access interest-free loans for their educational pursuits in any Nigerian tertiary institution.
The move was in “fulfilment of one of his campaign promises to liberalise funding of education,” a member of the then-Presidential Strategy Team, Dele Alake, said.
The Act, popularly known as the Students Loan Law, also established the Nigerian Education Loan Fund to process all loan requests, grants, disbursement, and recovery.
Originally scheduled to launch in September of 2023, the scheme’s debut was met with deferrals, leading to an indefinite postponement in early March 2024. In between, the nine-month journey was punctuated by new promises, affirmations, and deferments that sounded like a discordant orchestra.
For instance, the President, during the 29th session of the Nigeria Economic Summit in Abuja on October 23, 2023, pledged a January 2024 start. He said, “By January 2024, the new Students Loan Programme must commence. To the future of our children and students, we’re saying no more strikes!” More so, Tinubu proposed N50bn for its take-off in the 2024 budget he presented to the National Assembly last November.
The Minister of State for Education, Dr Yusuf Sununu, reassured the nation in January that the programme was imminent, citing a nearly ready application website and a 30-day loan processing promise.
“January is a reality. Already, the website is almost done. Application for beneficiaries is going to be online…and you can access your loan within 30 days,” Sununu told State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council meeting on January 17.
Yet, January came and went with no launch; the children waiting at the mountain’s base left listening to the labouring sounds of a still invisible train. The train was there. But none could see its smoke or its smokestack.
Come February, explanations for the delay emerged from the Presidency, with the Executive Secretary of the National Education Loan Fund, Dr Akintunde Sawyerr, promising to launch on the 21st of that month.
The President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, clarified that the delays were to broaden the NELFund’s mandate to cover skill development loans, as directed by President Tinubu.
Weeks earlier, on January 22, the President directed the Fund to extend interest-free loans to Nigerian students interested in skill-development programmes. He believed it is necessary to nurture diverse talents beyond traditional academia.
“This is not an exclusive programme. It is catering to all of our young people. Young Nigerians are gifted in different areas. This is not only for those who want to be doctors, lawyers, and accountants. It is also for those who aspire to use their skilled and trained hands to build our nation.
“In accordance with this, I have instructed NELFUND to explore all opportunities to inculcate skill-development programmes because not everybody wants to go through a full university education,” the President said after being briefed that Monday.
Then came an announcement for a March 14 launch, giving millions of Nigerians another near-goal experience. When that did not happen, the Fund felt it was time to stop the hide-and-seek altogether. No more dates until everything gets concluded said Sawyerr. He affirmed that the President was determined to get this thing right from the get-go and would not let any loopholes mar a programme so dear to his heart. Granted!
Perhaps this explains why the initially signed Student Loan Act, 2023, underwent a nine-month gestation period. Within that time, it endured separate considerations by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, which reviewed a report of the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund.
With the signing of the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, on April 3, 2024, the programme clocked nine months and 23 days of incubation since June 12.
During the mini-ceremony, Tinubu stated, “I have just signed a bill proclaiming the student loan effectively…we are determined to ensure that education is given the proper attention necessary for the country, including skills development programmes.
“This is to ensure that no one, no matter how poor their background is, is excluded from quality education and the opportunity to build their future.”
Turning to those in the room, he said, “We are here because we are all educated and were helped. In the past, we have seen a lot of our children drop out of college and give up the opportunity. That is no more; the standard and the control is there for you to apply no matter who you are as long as you are a Nigerian citizen.”
Nigerian students may have cause to celebrate this time. The little engine made it up the mountain. The smoke is visible now. But it is not yet Uhuru. The amended Act obligates the President to appoint a managing dirtector and two executive directors (of finance and operations) before things start. Thankfully, he ticked that box last Friday.
However, the journey is far from over until the board members are appointed and the loans start to go out. How long will that take? Another nine months? No one knows for sure. We can only hope that the little engine still meets the children it was meant to help when it finally reaches the other side. We hope those who’ve waited out in the cold these nine months have not dropped out of school when things kick off.
