Mallam Usman Sule, a one-time university undergraduate, now a commercial bus driver?in Kogi,?has decried the high cost of education in the country.?
Sule?told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)?in Abuja on Tuesday that he dropped out out of the Kogi State University, Anyigba, due to high cost of fees.
He?described?the development as very frustrating, discouraging and worrisome.
Sule, who now drives one of the commercial buses belonging to?the Dekina Local Government Mass Transit?in the state,?called on the Federal Government to check the trend.
He said that this would?enable many Nigerians, especially the children of the poor to receive education.
“There is the?compelling need for the Federal Government to handle the issue of high cost of school fees charged by tertiary institutions in the country, with the commitment and seriousness it deserves.
“It is really worrisome and very unfortunate that?many prospective and brilliant students continue to face setbacks as they cannot afford the high of school fees being charged?by the institutions.
“Both the government and especially the privately-owned institutions should be compelled to reduce their fees, to an affordable level, in the interest of our children.
“That is if we are really serious with the fact that they are the leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
Sule, who told NAN that he was a 200-level undergraduate when he dropped-out of the university, said?that he was unable to foot the high cost of the school fees “because I have nobody to assist me''.
?He said he took to?commercial driving?to enable him?raise enough?money to return?the university to?bag his degree?in ?Public Administration.
On security, Sule?commended the Federal Government for ordering the dismantling of police road blocks on the highways, adding, “we are happy because there are no more checking points on the roads.''
“We are grateful to the government for that decision, but they should also do something fast about the dilapidating? condition of our highways,''?he advised. (NAN)