The All-Africa Students’ Union (AASU) has called for urgent action to make education in Africa affordable and accessible for all.
This call came during the 2024 Africa Students’ Day event held in Abuja, where AASU President Osisiogu Osikenyi Enyinnaya praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Student Loan Scheme and urged the African private sector to emulate Nigeria’s Dangote Group, the continent’s second-largest contributor to education after the Nigerian government.
Enyinnaya’s address commemorated the sacrifices of students who fell victim to the Soweto massacre on June 16, 1976, while protesting against educational injustice in apartheid South Africa.
He highlighted the escalating costs of higher education, noting that university students are now expected to pay an average of $3,000 in fees annually.
“Institutions of Higher Learning in Africa have gone on a spree of fee hikes with little or no palliative for students,” Enyinnaya lamented.
Applauding Tinubu’s Initiative
In response to the crisis, Enyinnaya applauded Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Students Loan Bill into law and establishing an Education Bank. He also praised similar initiatives by other African governments that provide relief to indigent students.
Despite Africa’s economic growth averaging a 4.3 percent GDP rise, education remains underfunded by governments across the continent.
Enyinnaya urged for more efficient use of public expenditure on education and called for innovative financing solutions, including public-private partnerships and private sector involvement.
Dangote Group’s Philanthropy
In a stirring call to action, Enyinnaya urged African private sectors to follow the example set by Nigeria’s Dangote Group. As Africa’s second-largest contributor to education after the Nigerian government, Dangote Group invests $24 million annually into Nigeria’s educational sector.
This includes infrastructural support to tertiary institutions, donations like the BUK Business School and Aliko Dangote Business Complex at the University of Ibadan Business School, as well as scholarships and remuneration for lecturers.
The AASU commended Africa’s wealthiest person, Aliko Dangote, for his philanthropy in education, health, and empowerment. “We hereby laud the large-heartedness of Africa’s wealthiest person especially for prioritizing his philanthropic works,” Enyinnaya stated.
Call for Collective Action
As delegates from across the continent gathered in Abuja, there was a collective resolve to ensure that education in Africa is fit for the challenges of the 21st century – equitable, innovative, and above all, accessible to every student.
The AASU president emphasized that the involvement of private sectors and innovative financing models are crucial to bridging the funding gap in education.
The 2024 Africa Students’ Day served as a reminder of the enduring struggle for educational justice and the ongoing need for comprehensive reforms. The AASU’s call to action aims to galvanize support from both public and private sectors to create an educational landscape where every African student has the opportunity to succeed.
