The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has continued its grassroots enlightenment campaign in Lagos, bringing the message of government achievements and future plans to residents of Alimosho Local Government Area.
Speaking at the forum, Mrs. Osilaja Olabisi, Assistant Director at the Federal Information Centre, explained that the outreach was designed to give citizens first-hand updates on the policies and projects of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration. She noted that the initiative, launched by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, aims to correct misconceptions and encourage Nigerians to tap into available opportunities.
Olabisi highlighted gains made in the last two years, including stability in the university system, introduction of the student loan scheme, improvements in primary healthcare, and renewed investment in agriculture and electricity. She stressed that government has expanded power supply by over 1,500 megawatts and introduced new agro-technology initiatives that support household-level food production.
“We want Nigerians to know where we are coming from, where we are, and where we are heading. President Tinubu has taken steps in education, health, agriculture, and power. Our role is to share these facts with you so that people stop saying ‘na lie, na lie’ when these programmes are real and available,” she said.
Chairman of the Alimosho Local Council Development Area, Mr. Akinpelu Ibrahim, also addressed participants, calling on residents to focus on opportunities created by government policies rather than dwelling on negativity.
“We must use this platform given to us by the President to benefit ourselves and our communities, rather than shouting negative words. Let us all tap into the programmes so that the benefits will reflect in our homes and our local government,” Ibrahim advised.
On the education sector, Mrs. Gloria Dawodu, another official from the Ministry, emphasized the importance of the Student Loan Scheme, describing it as a life-changing intervention.
“In the past, many bright students could not proceed to the university because of school fees. This administration has removed that barrier by providing loans with no hidden charges. All you need is your admission letter, your National Identification Number, and access to the online portal. With a phone and internet data, you can apply from anywhere,” Dawodu explained.
She added that the loan covers more than tuition fees, easing the burden on families and ensuring that young Nigerians can pursue higher education without interruption.
A resident of Alimosho, Mr. Gbola Ladunjoye, welcomed the initiative but urged the government to ensure that loan repayment does not become a burden.
“I love education, and I appreciate what the government is doing. But our concern is that students should not be chased around like loan defaulters from private money lenders. Many students already struggle to feed, and that is why we see unrest in schools. If government can also bring back grants or bursaries, it will help families like mine. I once tried applying for the loan for my children, but the process did not work. I hope the system can be made easier,” he said.
Another participant, Mr. Kelvin Ikija, described the enlightenment programme as timely, stressing that the information shared would help citizens link others to opportunities.
“They spoke about the student loan, the health insurance scheme, and the agricultural programmes. For me, I may not benefit directly because I am already working, but with what I have learnt here, I can pass this information to young people around me who are not in school but want to return. That way, more people can key into these opportunities,” Ikeja noted.
The enlightenment forum, attended by religious leaders, market women, youth representatives, and stakeholders from the agricultural and health sectors, was part of an ongoing nationwide campaign to strengthen public trust and promote active citizen engagement in governance.
The theme of the sensitizatiion campaign is the “Tinubu Administration Mid-Term Report” to Alimosho Local Council Development Area of Lagos State.
Reporting by Niran Odufayo